Kai discovers the skinhead culture by Bald K

---

Kai was a sixteen-year-old that lived with his Mother, stepfather, and stepbrother in a modest three-bedroom semidetached house on a respectable estate. Kai did not see much of his parents due to his stepfather being a long-distance coach driver who main jobs involved being away on the continent and his mother being a care worker at a care home and mainly worked night shifts. Kai was preparing to leave school after completing his final exams while his stepbrother was at college and had a part time job at a supermarket. Kai and Toby his stepbrother were fortunate to be given a generous monthly allowance by his mother and stepfather so he could afford whatever clothes he chose. Kai had a regular routine of appointments with his hair stylist, James on the first Saturday of the month just to get the ends of his collar length black hair trimmed, whilst Toby would get his mother who was a stylist at a modern unisex salon to style his hair with the latest trend. Kai was getting more disillusioned with how he looked; Kai did not want to be just a face in the crowd with the latest fashionable blowout fade haircut or modern mullet along with the current must have clothes, Kai wanted to be his own self, somebody who stood out in the crowd, not somebody who people would not give a second glance to. Kai knew what career path he wanted to take and had provisionally enrolled on a three-year course to become a chef to help fulfil his one passion in life which was cookery, Kai worked in a kitchen at a local pub at the weekend helping make pies and other dishes from scratch and preparing the Sunday roast lunches with the other chef before serving customers in the pub. Kai would also make family meals for his parents whenever possible creating dishes from scratch.

"If everybody could put their pens down," Mr Miller told the students as the time expired on Kai’s final maths exam.
Kai placed his pen on the desk knowing that he had completed all the questions required to pass the exam easily. Kai watched As Mr Miller and another teacher collected the exam papers before allowing Kai and the other students to leave the exam hall.
"Are you coming to the leavers party tomorrow?" Paul asked Kai. "Ben and few others will be there."
"Nothing else on as my father is away in France and my mum is working," Kai replied. "Could meet up in the afternoon?"
"Sure, what time are you thinking?" Paul asked Kai.
"I finish my shift at three, so shall we say three-fifteen outside the city hall?" Kai suggested to Paul.
"Sounds good to me," Paul replied. "See you tomorrow."
Kai watched as Paul got into his mother’s car and drove off before walking the short distance to his home and let himself in. Kai walked into his bedroom and stripped out of his school uniform for the last time and pulled on a jogging vest and a pair of shorts and filled his water bottle before leaving the house and started out on a five-mile run.

Kai woke the next morning and quickly showered and dressed before going downstairs into the kitchen where he saw Toby sitting on a chair with his mother placing curlers in his hair ready to perm.
"Why are you getting your hair permed man?" Kai asked Toby as he put some bread in the toaster and poured himself a glass of orange juice.
"Getting a modern mullet mate, just fancied getting the rest of my hair curly," Toby told Kai.
"You would look good with curls and a blowout fade," Toby’s mother said to Kai as she prepared the perming solution to put on Toby’s hair.
"No way would I be seen dead with curly hair," Kai told Toby’s mum. "I don’t want to be just a face in the crowd."
"You would prefer to spend twenty-five notes getting the ends of your hair trimmed by James," Toby said to Kai. "How long do you actually spend in the chair as James trims your hair?"
"James washes and conditions my hair and the appointment lasts for forty minutes," Kai told Toby.
"I could trim your hair free of charge," Toby’s mother told Kai as she soaked Toby’s hair with the perming solution.
"Whatever," Kai said as he buttered his toast before putting it on a plate and walked into the lounge. "Are you working today?"
"Day off today," Toby told Kai. "Working nine till three tomorrow."
"Must be great fun pushing a shopping trolley around the supermarket picking customer orders," Kai said to Toby. "See you later curly."

Kai walked out of the kitchen and into pub carrying two cheeseburgers and chips and walked over to where a group of four skinheads were sitting and placed the plates in front of two of the skinheads before walking back into the kitchen and picking up the other two cheeseburgers and carried them over to the skinheads and placed the plates in front of the other two skinheads.
"Can I get you any sauces or anything?" Kai asked the skinheads.
"Could we have some ketchup please mate?" One of the skinheads said to Kai
No problem," Kai replied as he walked over and picked up a couple of bottles of tomato ketchup and placed them on the table.
"Cheers mate," a skinhead said to kai.
"They look well good with their haircuts and clothes," Kai thought as he made his way back to the kitchen. "The earrings as well look good."
"You ok?" Steve asked Kai.
"Yeah," Kai replied as he picked up two more meals and made his way out to the bar.
"You need to run the clippers over your skull," Kai heard one of the skinheads said to another skinhead who had about an inch of hair on his head.
"I know but with my cousins wedding next Friday I have promised to not shave the skull," the skinhead replied. "I have got to take the rings out of my ear as well."
"They really do look so good with the haircuts," Kai thought to himself as he made his way back to the kitchen and took the lasagne out of the oven. "The piercings looks really good."
Kai made his way to the toilets and looked in the mirror and contemplated how he would look with his hair shaved off and wearing the boots and braces as he washed his hands as one of the skinheads walked into the toilet.
"You ok mate?" The skinhead asked Kai. "That was one of the best burgers I have had."
"We make our own burgers fresh to order," Kai told the skinhead. "That is one hell of a short haircut."
"Yeah it is," the skinhead laughed. "Give you a skinhead crop if you like."
"Nah it’s cool," Kai replied as he walked out of the toilet still thinking how he would look with that haircut.

"See you in the morning," Steve said to Kai as Kai slipped his jacket on.
"Laters," Kai replied as he walked out of the kitchen and into the bar. "I see the skinheads have left," Kai sighed. "I wanted to get to talk to them."
Kai walked the short distance to the city hall and saw Paul waiting for him.
"What’s the plan then dude?" Kai asked Paul.
"I need to get the haircut and then we could do some gaming before the leavers party," Paul told Kai.
"Sounds ok," Kai replied shrugging his shoulders as they made their way to a Turkish barber and walked in.
"No waiting, that’s good," Paul said as he walked over and sat down in one of the barber chairs.
"Guess so," Kai replied as he sat down in a waiting chair.
"What is it to be sir?" The barber asked Paul as he caped him up.
"Blowout taper," Paul replied.
"Typical Paul has to go with the flow," Kai thought to himself as the barber ran his comb through Paul’s hair before picking up his clippers. "He always follows the fashions."
"You next?" A young man asked Kai as he walked into the barbers.
"Just here while my mate gets his haircut," Kai told the young man.
"What will it be?" The barber asked the young man as he caped him up.
"Number four on the back and sides and trim the quiff," the young man told the barber.
"No problem," The barber said to the young man.
Kai watched as the barber picked up his clippers and after running his comb through the young man’s hair started to run the clippers up the back and sides high up close to the crown.
"Yeah that’s a cool start to his haircut," Kai thought to himself as he watched the barber remove more of the hair from the side of the young man’s head.
Kai continued to watch as the barber finished shaving the hair down to half an inch on the back and sides of the young man’s head before trimming the remaining hair on his head.
"How is that?" The barber asked the young man as he showed him the back of his head.
"Perfect," the young man replied.
"Like the blowout?" Paul asked Kai as he got out of the barber chair.
"Why do you have to follow fashion?" Kai asked Paul. "Looks ok I guess."
"At least I know what fashion is, and my aunt is perming it when I get home so I have got the latest fashion hairstyle," Paul replied. "When was the last time you tried something different?"
"I like my hair how it is," Kai replied. "My stepbrother, Toby had his hair permed this morning and got a modern mullet."
"Toby has taste more than you with your boring haircut and clothes," Paul said to Kai.
"Maybe I don’t want to be just a face in the crowd," Kai said to Paul. "Are we gaming now?"
"Nah, I don’t want to be seen with a loser like you," Paul told Kai. "See you at the leavers party if you can be bothered to come."
"Whatever," Kai replied as he walked off towards his home.

Arriving home, Kai made his way to his bedroom and switched his laptop on and logged onto the internet and entered skinhead style in the search bar. Kai read about the different types of skinhead that was around, reading about the traditional skinhead before reading about the more extreme racist skinheads that emerged.
"I wonder what type of skinheads they were in the pub?" Kai thought to himself as he browsed pictures of skinheads. "The haircut makes them stand out from the fashion followers at the school, especially with the with the rings in their ears."
Kai found himself searching for skinhead clothing and boots, finding himself getting more into finding out about the skinhead culture before he heard his mother arrive home. Switching off his laptop, Kai made his way downstairs to greet his mother.
"Hello love had a good day?" Kai’s mother asked Kai.
"It was cool," Kai replied. "There is a school leavers party tonight."
"I can give you a lift to the party if you like," Kai’s mother said to Kai. "I will give you some money for drinks and for a taxi back home."
"Thanks mum," I made us a casserole it is in the slow cooker," Kai told his mother.
"You know how to look after me," Kai’s mother grinned.
"It should be ready in about an hour," Kai told his mother. "I am just popping out for a bit."
Kai slipped his jacket on and made his way back into the city centre and made his way to a shoe shop and looked in the window to see if they had any boots on display. Disappointed Kai turned away from the shop where he saw the young man who was getting his haircut the same time as Paul sitting on a bench.
"Mind if I sit next to you?" Kai asked the young man.
"Feel free mate," the young man replied. "You were in the barber shop when I got my haircut?"
"Yeah, my mate Paul got his fashionable blowout haircut," Kai told the young man. "I am Kai by the way,"
"Nice to meet you Kai, I am Callum," Callum replied. "Are you not a slave to fashion?"
"Nah, I want to be my own person like you, not a slave to fashion," Kai told Callum.
"I get where you are coming from," Callum replied. "I just got bored of fashion like you and have been getting into psychobilly music."
"Never heard of that style of music," Kai admitted to Callum. "Guess in one way I follow the latest music trends."
"I must admit my aim when I walked into the barbers was to get a flattop style haircut, but I chickened and got the usual haircut," Callum told Kai. "You looking at getting a new look?"
"Seriously, I do not know," Kai lied. "I am only sixteen and it may be a bit of a to bigger step for me."
"I know where you are coming from," Callum replied. "Look if you need help in getting a new haircut look me up."
"You sure?" Kai asked Callum.
"Sure, are you on Facebook?" Callum said to Kai.
Callum and Kai added each other on Facebook and also phone numbers before Kai made his way home.
"What do you think of my new look?" Toby asked Kai as Kai walked into the kitchen. "Fashion icon or what?"
"If that is the fashionable summer haircut I am definitely not going to get mine done," Kai told Toby. "Curls look a bit tight."
"The look is for the curls to be tight," Toby told Kai. "I am off to see my bird."
"See you whenever," Kai replied as he switched the television over to watch the football.

"That was so boring last night with all my so-called mates comparing their new trendy blow out fades with the top permed hairstyles," Kai thought to himself as he got his bike out of the garage and made his way to the gym to do a workout before his shift at the pub started.
Arriving at the gym Kai changed into his workout clothes before locking his bag in a locker and made his way to the main hall of the gym and done some warmup exercises before walking over to the weights section and selected some dumbbells and started doing some weight exercises. As Kai was doing his weight exercises Kai noticed a couple of the skinheads that were in the pub the previous lunchtime doing some weight exercises.
"They look so good with the shaved heads, and I like the spider tattoo one of them has," Kai thought to himself. "They certainly stand out."
Kai carried on with various weight exercises and failed to notice the skinheads walk over to him.
"You ok mate? You work at the partners pub don’t you?" One of the skinheads said to Kai.
"Yeah, I work in the kitchen and serve the food," Kai replied. "You look so good with the shaved heads, and I like the tattoo you have got."
"Are you in the pub today?" One of the skinheads asked Kai.
"Eleven till four," Kai replied.
"Fancy meeting up when you finish?" One of the skinheads asked Kai. "Just have a chat and a drink."
"I would like that," Kai replied as he felt his pulse start racing.
"See you in the pub at four then mate," One of the skinheads said to Kai before walking out of the gym.
"Maybe they can help me in my quest to become an individual not just one of the typical teenagers in the crowd," Kai thought to himself as he made his way over to the treadmill and started a run.

"Take a seat mate," One of the skinheads said as Kai walked into the bar after finishing his shift. "I am Dylan, the one with hair is Troy."
"Only the two of you?" Kai asked Dylan.
"Brody is on his way and Tommy is with his grandparents for a wedding anniversary dinner," Troy told Kai.
"I am Kai, I have just left school," Kai told Dylan and Troy.
"So, you like the skinhead look?" Dylan asked Kai.
"I don’t honestly know," Kai admitted. "I mean it looks great on you."
"What do you like about the way we look?" Troy asked Kai.
"It makes you stand out from the crowd, not a fashion boy with the latest is hair trends," Kai told Troy.
"Do you want to stand out from the crowd? Not be a victim of hair fashion?" Troy asked Kai.
"I think so," Kai replied. "Can I ask what sort of skinheads you are?"
"We are just skinheads into ska and oi music," Dylan told Kai. "I have been a skinhead for about a year now."
"We are not the racist skinhead type, just traditional skinheads," Troy reassured Kai. "Do you have racist inclinations?"
"Until I researched skinheads yesterday I did not know about racist skinheads," Kai admitted to Troy. "How long have you been a skinhead?"
"About the same time as Dylan," Troy told Kai. "I hit eighteen a few days ago."
"I am only sixteen, maybe I am too young to be a skinhead," Kai sighed.
"Nah man, never too young to be a skinhead," Dylan told Kai. "What else do you like about the skinheads?"
"The way you dress, you are individuals," Kai replied. "You are not mainstream."
"Oi Brody, the bar is over there, get three pints in and whatever young Kai wants," Dylan shouted over as Brody walked into the bar.
"Just a diet coke," Kai said to Brody.
Brody purchased the beers and Kai’s diet coke and sat down next to Kai.
"Looking at joining the skinhead brigade are you?" Brody asked Kai.
"He likes the way we stand out from the crowd which is what he wants to do," Dylan told Brody.
"But he thinks at sixteen he is too young to get his hair shaved off," Toby said to Brody.
"Mate I was a skinhead at fifteen, three years ago," Brody told Kai. "Got booted out of school for breaking the school rules on length of hair."
"You see, you are not too young to be a skinhead," Dylan told Kai. "We will support you if you shave the hair off."
"You are maybe too young for any tattoos, but you can get the ear pierced if that is what you want," Brody told Kai.
"Look guys, I appreciate what you are saying but could you give me time to consider if I do want to be like you," kai asked the skinheads. "I might like to run it past my parents before I take the plunge."
"Your parents will more than likely try to persuade you not to shave the head," Dylan told Kai. "It may be better if you try the shaved head and grow it out if you don’t like it."
"Give me a bit of time to consider if I am ready for taking on a drastic new look," Kai said to the skinheads.
"We are having a party next Saturday night to celebrate Alex’s eighteenth birthday," Dylan told Kai. "It is here in the pub and Alex is becoming a skinhead by braving the shave here."
"I have seen the posters advertising Alex getting his head shaved along with his brother Jacob," Kai said to Dylan.

Waking the next morning, Kai switched on his laptop and googled skinhead boots and looked at the boots that came up in the results Kai saw the cherry red boots that Dylan was wearing in the pub. Kai clicked on the link and saw the price of the boots.
"They are not cheap," Kai thought to himself. "I have the money in my savings though."
Switching off his laptop, Kai walked into the bathroom and quickly showered and cleaned his teeth before walking back into his bedroom and looked in the mirror at his black hair that had grown just over the collar and was creeping over the top of his ears. Kai dressed and made his way to the kitchen and made himself some breakfast.
"Morning curly, how did your girl like your new trendy look?" Kai asked Toby as he walked int the kitchen
"She loves it," Toby replied. "Unlike her brother Ciaran who wants to be different."
"Ciaran is a rebel," Kai laughed. "What is he planning?"
"F*** knows," Toby replied. "I had better get off to work."
Kai finished his toast and fruit juice before slipping his shoes and a lightweight jacket on before making his way into the city. Arriving in the city Kai heard his phone ring.
"HI Paul you ok?" Kai said as he answered his phone.
"Dude, so sorry about Saturday can we meet up and do some gaming today?" Paul said to Kai.
"I guess so, what time do you want to meet up?" Kai replied.
"I will be in the city in like thirty minutes," Paul told Kai. "Meet up at the usual place?"
"Yeah ok," Kai replied. "See you in thirty."
Kai put his phone back into his pocket and walked into a shoe shop and wandered around looking for boots like he saw the skinheads wearing.
"Can I help you?" A young man with short brown hair asked Kai.
"Do you do any boots?" Kai asked the young man.
"Any particular type?" The young man asked Kai as they walked over to where men’s boots were on display.
"Cherry red boots," Kai replied.
"We only have these eight eyelet Doc Marten boots in that colour," the young man told Kai. "Would you like to try a pair on?"
"If I had the money I would have liked to try them on," Kai lied to the young man.
"We do have interest free credit available as they are over one hundred pounds," the young man told Kai.
"I am not old enough to get credit," Kai sighed. "Thanks for your time."
Kai walked out of the shoe shop cursing that he did not try on the boots as he could have easily paid for them and made his way to the city hall to where he saw Paul Waiting for him.
"You ok?" Kai said as he walked over to Paul.
"Yeah, looking forward to flying out to our apartment in Tenerife tomorrow for three weeks," Paul replied. "When I get back my father managed to get me a job at Portal Electronics in the finance department and I will go on an accountancy course with them."
"Just because you father is head of Finance you manage to get a job just like that," Kai told Paul.
"I need to call in Trendz and get a few new shirts and other stuff for my holiday," Paul said to Kai. "We will go gaming after that."
"On your father’s credit card as usual," Kai replied as they made their way to Trendz and walked in.
Kai watched as Paul browsed through the latest designer shirts and shorts before selecting a couple of Tommy Hilfiger and other designer clothes and paid for them with his father’s credit card before walking out of Trendz and into ultimate game zone.

Kai arrived home after his gaming session with Paul and made his way home where he saw that his father had arrived back from his latest trip to France and walked into the house.
"Hey dad what did you bring me back this time?" Kai asked his father as he walked into the lounge.
"I got us some cheeses and decent red wines," Kai father replied. "Are you coming to your cousin’s twenty-first birthday on Saturday?"
"Best I don’t," Kai replied. "You know and me and Grant do not get on and the last time I saw him it ended up in a fight."
"How can I forget it as it was my sisters silver wedding party," Kai’s father sighed.
"I gave Grant a real good black eye though," Kai grinned. "He thinks he is so much better than me."
"All that home schooling his father gave him as he is the headmaster of a private school," Kai’s father replied. "That is all he done during his school holidays was study more."
"Are we doing a Chinese for tea tonight?" Kai asked his father.
"Why not," Kai’s father replied. "I will order it for eight tonight."
"I will be in my bedroom for a bit," Kai told his father. "Get the sweet and sour king prawns,"
"What the hell have you done to your hair!" Toby’s father shouted out as he saw Toby’s new hairstyle. "Is that hair permed?"
"It’s called fashion dad," Toby replied. "Yeah it is permed and mother done it on Saturday."
"My son has to get his hair permed like a girl," Toby’s father sighed.
"What did they say at work?" Kai asked Toby.
"Not a lot," Toby replied.
Kai made his way to his bedroom and switched on his laptop and logged onto James’ website and clicked on appointments. Kai found his appointment for Saturday morning and clicked on the cancellation button to cancel his appointment.
"I can reschedule if I need to," Kai thought to himself as he clicked on the YouTube button and typed in oi skinhead music. Kai clicked on a collection of oi skinhead music and started to listen to it as he laid on his bed.

Saturday finally arrived and Kai woke early and showered before getting dressed and going into the kitchen to make himself some breakfast.
"I wonder if they will try and persuade me to lose my hair today?" Kai thought to himself as he made himself some toast.
"What time is your appointment with James this morning?" Kai’s father asked Kai as he walked into the kitchen.
"James called me last night and has cancelled as he has gone down with a heavy cold," Kai lied. "Do you want some toast?"
"Two slices please," Kai’s father replied. "Do you want some juice?"
"Please," Kai replied as he put two slices of toast on a plate and handed it to his father. "What time are you leaving for Grant’s party?"
"We are leaving just after lunch and should be back early tomorrow afternoon," Kai’s father replied.
"Shall I cook the roast beef for five tomorrow afternoon?" Kai asked his father. "Toby will be home from work by then."
"That will give us plenty of time to get back from the hotel." Kai’s father replied.
"I think I will call in the city before I head into work," Kai said to his father as he read a message from Callum on his phone asking he if fancied meeting up.
"Would you like me to give you a lift into the city?" Kai’s father asked Kai.
"Yeah, that would be great," Kai said to his father as he sent a message to Callum to meet him at the city hall in thirty minutes.

Kai thanked his father as he got out of the car and walked over to a bench by the city hall and sat down to wait for Callum to arrive.
"Dude still got your hair then," Callum said as he sat next to Kai.
"Looks like it," Kai replied. "What do you fancy doing?"
"I fancy looking in the new retro clothing shop called blast from the past," Callum said to Kai. "Then we could grab a coffee or something?"
"Sounds good to me," Kai replied as they set off for the retro clothing shop.
Callum and Kai walked into blast from the past and wandered round checking out the various clothes they had when they came across a section for oi and punk and Kai checked out the bleached jeans and the polo shirts they had while Callum checked out some t-shirts from psychobilly bands.
"Can I help you guys?" A young man with a liberty spiked Mohican asked Callum and Kai.
"Just browsing thanks mate," Callum replied. "That is a great Mohican haircut you have got."
"My old man was heavily into the punk scene, and I have got into it," the young man told Callum. "Yesterday he took me to see Dave who runs his own barber shop and Dave sculpted this Mohican for me."
"Looks rad mate," Kai told the young man. "Do you have any fourteen eyelet cherry doc boots?"
"We have cherry docs and grinders in the shoe section," the young man said to Kai. "You looking at the skinhead scene?"
"Not sure to be honest," Kai lied as he followed the young man to where the boots were. "F*** they are not cheap."
"We only have the eight eyelet cherries," Lewis told Kai.
"Do you have the grinders in size nine?" Callum asked the young man. "I am getting into the psychobilly scene quite a lot."
"I will just go and check," the young man said to Callum.
"Are you getting into the skinhead scene?" Callum asked Kai.
"I met up with a small group of skinheads in the pub I work in," Kai told Callum. "I like the way they stand out like the guy here with his Mohican."
"Not got them in that size, but I could order you a pair and they should be here in the week," the young man told Callum. "If you want a proper psychobilly haircut visit Dave at his shop."
"Where is his barber shop?" Callum asked the young man.
"Just off head street up church lane, tell Dave that Lewis told you about him," Lewis told Callum. "He could start you off a horseshoe flat."
"You up for coming with me to get a horseshoe?" Callum asked Kai. "Give me some support."
"I have to be at the pub by eleven to start prepping the food," Kai told Callum. "I will come with you, but I may have to leave."
"Do you want me to order you in some fourteen eyelet cherry docs?" Lewis asked Kai. "They will be here next week."
"What if I decide I do not want them?" Kai asked Lewis.
"We can send them back," Lewis told Kai. "But I have a feeling you will be wearing them next weekend.
"Maybe," Kai grinned. "See you next weekend."
Callum and Kai walked out of the shop after thanking Lewis for his time and made their way to Dave’s barber shop and pushed the door open and walked up the stairs to see a young man with a shaved head caping up a young teenager.
"Take a seat and I will be with you soon," Dave told Callum and Kai. "What are we doing with your boy?" Dave asked the boy’s father.
"He has just joined the army cadets, and his captain told him to get a haircut," the boy’s father told Dave. "Short back and sides then?"
"Could do a high and tight hairstyle taking the top down to a grade one and zero blade the back and sides." Dave suggested.
"What would you like Richie?" Richie’s father asked Richie.
"Skinhead style," Richie confidently told his father. "The high and tight that captain Tubbs suggested."
"One high and tight skinhead style coming up then," Dave said as he snapped the grade one guard on the clippers and switched them on and lifted Richie’s fringe, placing the clippers at his hairline. "You sure you want the grade one high and tight skinhead style?" Dave asked Richie.
"Positive," Richie replied. "Get it done."
Kai watched as Dave ran the clippers over the top of Richie’s head removing nearly two inches of dark blonde hair.
"That is one short haircut," Kai thought to himself as Dave removed the guard and started to shave the back and sides to zero before blending the hair. "That looks cool though."
"What do you think?" Dave asked Richie as he showed Richie the back of his head in a small mirror.
"Looks cool," Richie grinned. "What do you think dad?"
"You look like a skinhead without the skinhead clothes," Richie’s dad told Richie.
"Better get me kitted out then," Richie told his father as he got out of the chair.
"Will need to get past your mother first with you getting this haircut," Richie’s dad said as he paid Dave for the haircut.
"If Richie wants kitting out I suggest you visit blast from the past," Dave said to Richie’s father."
"Can I dad?" Richie said to his father. "Please."
"Let’s get this haircut past your mother first," Richie’s father told Richie as they started to walk out of Dave’s.
"Who is next?" Dave asked as he looked over to Callum and Kai.
Callum got off the waiting bench and walked across the floor and sat down in the barber chair.
"What will it be then?" Dave asked Callum as he caped him up.
"I met up with Lewis and told him I was getting into psychobilly, and he suggested that I got a horseshoe flat," Callum told Dave.
"You have been to blast from the past then," Dave said to Callum.
"I have ordered some grinder boots," Callum told Dave.
"You have got the right shape of face and with your quiff it will not take any training to keep it erect," Dave replied. "All the way to the wood for the back and sides?"
"All the way to the wood?" Callum asked Dave with a look of confusion."
"Shaved smooth and shave the shoe in," Dave replied as he picked up a different pair of clippers.
"Why not?" Callum grinned. "It will grow out if I don’t like it."
"One horseshoe flat coming up," Dave said to Callum as he switched the clippers on.
Kai watched as Dave ran the clippers up the side of Callum’s head depositing half an inch of hair into the cape. Dave expertly ran the clippers round the back and sides of Callum’s head. Dave checked the back and sides and then picked up a flattop comb and started to reduce the hair on the top of Callum’s head to just over an inch before expertly sculpting the sides into a classic flattop style.
"We can leave it like this or take it to the shoe," Dave said to Callum as he showed Callum the flattop he had created in a small mirror.
"Let’s try the shoe," Callum confidently told Dave.
"You got it," Dave said as he picked up a pair of edger clippers and started to create the horseshoe on top of Callum’s head.
"That is one hell of a haircut," Kai thought to himself as he watched Dave creating the horseshoe.
Dave finished shaving the horseshoe and put the edger clippers down and picked up a shaving bowl and brush. Dave worked up a good lather in the shaving bowl and spread a generous layer of shaving soap over the back and sides and the horseshoe. Dave put the shaving bowl down and picked up his razor and placed a new blade in it and started to carefully shave the back and sides of Callum’s head before carefully shaving the top to create the perfect horseshoe flattop. Dave checked he had not missed any spot with the shaving and then checked the remaining hair stood to attention perfectly making sure it was level.
"Do you like it?" Dave asked Callum as he showed him the horseshoe flattop in the small mirror.
"I f***ing love it!" Callum shouted out. "It will make me stand out in the crowd!"
"Sure will," Dave laughed as he removed the cape. "Use this butchwax to keep it looking sharp."
"Wow, the feeling of having no hair on the back of my head is so weird," Callum said as he rubbed the back of his head. "Are you getting a haircut now?" Callum asked Kai.
"I need to get to work mate," Kai lied. "You look great with your haircut though."
"Pity," Callum said as he paid Dave for his haircut before walking out of Dave’s shop with Kai. "Have a feel of my smooth head dude."
"It sure feels weird," Kai said to Callum as he rubbed the back of Callum’s head. "I am meeting up with the skinheads I met at four in the partners if you want to join us."
"Nothing on this afternoon, I will see you at four," Callum said as Kai set off to the partners for his shift.

"Kai can I ask you a really big favour?" Mike said to Kai as he walked into the kitchen. "We have an eighteenth birthday party tonight and Claire has gone sick."
"The party where Alex gets his head shaved?" Kai asked.
"That’s the one," Mike replied. "Basically, I just need you to help prep the buffet,"
"I was invited to the party by some skinheads that I met last week, so no problem," Kai told Mike. "What time do you need me to do the buffet?"
"If you can make the sausage rolls with Steve after we close the kitchen and prepare the sandwiches after you take a couple of hours off." Mike replied. "Are you thinking of becoming a skinhead?"
"Maybe," Kai grinned. "Would it be a problem with you?"
"None at all," Mike laughed. "I will bung you forty notes cash in hand for the extra work."
"Nice one," Kai said to Mike as he phone vibrated to say he had received a text.
Kai saw the text was from Dylan telling him that with the party he would be getting to the pub about six. Kai sent a message back saying that he would be in the pub but might be in the kitchen. Kai then sent a message to Callum telling him about the change of plans, a few minutes later Kai received a message from Callum saying he would get to the pub about seven.
"All sorted," Kai told Steve as he picked up two pie and chips and walked out of the kitchen.
"Are you thinking of going skinhead?" Steve asked Kai as Kai walked back into the kitchen.
"Seriously I do not know, I like the way they stand out with the haircut and clothes," Kai admitted to Steve. "I do not want to be just a boy that blends in with the current trendy teenage boys."
"I get where you are coming from," Steve told Kai. "My brother was a skinhead to avoid being just somebody in the crowd."
"I did not know you had a brother," Kai said to Steve. "Does he live here still?"
"Neil joined the navy a couple of years back and got married last year," Steve replied. "If you want to come over and try on some of his skinhead clothes you are more than welcome."
"How about on Monday as the kitchen is closed?" Kai suggested.
"Ok, we will sort a time out tomorrow," Steve replied.

"Thanks for doing that Kai," Mike said as he handed Kai the money. "You can join the party now."
"Thanks Mike," Kai replied as he put the money in his wallet and walked out of the kitchen.
"Still got the hair then," Dylan said to Kai. "You have done a great job with the buffet."
"Looks like I still have hair on my head," Kai grinned as he picked up his diet coke. "Hey Callum, how did your parents like your haircut?" Kai asked Callum.
"Bit surprised at the new look but both are cool," Callum replied.
"Kai, meet Alex and his brother Jacob who are braving the shave tonight," Dylan said to Kai.
"I see you are suited and booted ready to take on the skinhead look," Kai said to Alex and Jacob as he saw them with the boots and braces.
"Sure am, we are not fashion slaves," Jacob said to Kai. "I understand you are the same age as me."
"Sixteen and not got a permed burst fade," Kai grinned. "Dave is doing you haircuts?"
"Dave is our uncle," Alex told Kai. "You are welcome to join us tonight."
"Thanks, but I will pass on that for tonight," Kai replied. "I am still considering if I submit to the clippers."
"Your choice," Jacob said to Kai. "Let’s get the heads shaved," Jacob said to Alex.
Kai watched as Alex and Jacob walked over to where Dave and their parents were waiting for them. Kai followed Dylan and other people over to watch as Jacob sat down, and Dave wrapped the cape round him and tucked it in.
"As you know just over nine months ago, Alex and Jacob’s gran was diagnosed with cancer and Alex made the decision to grow his hair until his eighteenth birthday and ask his family and friends to donate to cancer research with Alex and Jacob having their heads shaved," Alex’s and Jacob’s father announced. "I am pleased to say that between them they have raised over three hundred pounds."
Kai and the other people in the room gave a round of applause as Dave ran a comb through Jacob’s dark brown hair and flicked the switch on the clippers.
"Nine months of hair will soon be history," Jacob grinned. "Get it done Dave."
Kai watched as Dave ran the clippers down the centre of Jacob’s head removing nearly four inches of hair on the floor. Dave continued to shave Jacob’s hair off his head before switching the clippers off and spread a layer of shaving cream over the remaining stubble and picking up a razor shaved Jacob’s head smooth.
"You look good shaved," Dave said to Jacob as he removed the cape and Jacob stood up and rubbed his smooth head. "Your turn Alex," Dave said to Alex.
"Before I submit to the razor, I would just like to thank you all for coming tonight and donating money to the charity," Alex said to the crowd before sitting down.
Dave caped Alex up and ran the comb through Alex’s curly brown hair before switching the clippers on and placing them at the centre of Alex’s forehead and ran the clippers down the centre removing Alex’s curls. Dave continued to shave Alex’s head and was soon lathering up the remaining stubble and then shaved Alex’s head smooth.
Alex stood up after Dave had removed the cape and rubbed his bald head before walking into the toilet with Jacob and looked at his new look in the mirror.
"Yeah, it’s a keeper," Alex said to Jacob. "I rock the bald look.
"Same here," Jacob grinned. "Let’s get back to the party."

"What time shall I come round tomorrow?" Kai asked Steve as he put his jacket on after finishing the Sunday lunches.
"Ten in the morning sound ok to you?" Steve replied. "I am out with my bird in the afternoon."
"Sure, I will see you at ten," Kai replied.
"Oi Kai, over here mate!" Dylan called over as Kai walked into the bar.
"See you have had a fresh shearing," Kai said to Dylan as he walked over and sat down.
"Dave just done it," Dylan told Kai. "What are you up to?"
"Going home to cook the Sunday roast, how about you?" Kai replied.
"Parents are away until tomorrow so at a loose end," Dylan told Kai.
"You are welcome to come back to my place," Kai said to Dylan. "We have plenty of beef so you could have a meal with us."
"You sure?" Dylan asked Kai. "I don’t want to intrude."
"We always have meat over and I can peel a couple of extra potatoes and do some more veg," Kai told Dylan.
"Thanks mate, I will get some beer at the supermarket on the way if that is ok?" Dylan said to Kai as he finished his pint.
Dylan and Kai left the pub and made their way to the supermarket where Dylan purchased some beer and a couple of bottles red wine before walking back to Kai’s home.
"My mum and stepdad are back from my cousins party," Kai said to Dylan as they walked into the house. "HI, how did the party go?" Kai asked his mum as he walked into the kitchen. "This is my friend Dylan.
"Party was boring," Kai’s mum told Kai. "Nice to meet you," Kai’s mum said to Dylan.
"Nice to meet you," Dylan replied.
"Dylan’s parents are away, and I invited him to have a meal with us," Kai told his mum.
"I have bought us a couple of bottles of red wine and some beer," Dylan said to Kai’s mum.
"Who is the skinhead?" Kai’s stepfather said as he walked into the kitchen.
"This is my new friend, Dylan," Kai told his stepfather. "I have invited him over for Sunday dinner."
"Nice to meet you sir," Dylan said to Kai’s stepfather. "Would you like a beer?"
"Thank you Dylan," Kai’s stepfather said as he took a bottle of beer from Dylan. "You don’t see a lot of young men with a skinhead crop and boots."
"I guess I like to be different sir," Dylan replied.
"I will do the veg," Kai said as he got some potatoes out of the pot. "I will be through soon."
Dylan followed Kai’s stepfather into the lounge and sat down in an armchair.
"How long have you been a skinhead?" Kai’s stepfather asked Dylan.
"About six months, when I met a couple of other skinheads and they taught me about their culture," Dylan replied. "Do not worry I am not involved in the racist side of being a skinhead."
"That is good to hear," Kai’s stepfather said to Dylan. "Do you think Kai might be looking at getting his hair shaved off?"
"It would be his own choice, but I do feel he is getting into our culture," Dylan replied. "Would it be a problem with you or his mother if he had his hair shaved off?"
"I would not have any problem with Kai becoming a skinhead," Kai’s stepfather told Dylan. "I think his mother would be fine with it as well."
"Fine with what?" Kai’s mother said as she walked into the lounge with a glass of red wine.
"If I took Kai to the barbers and he got a skinhead haircut," Dylan said to Kai’s mother.
"Kai is his own person," Kai’s mother replied. "If he wants to be a skinhead I would not have a problem with it."
"You just might have a skinhead son tomorrow then," Dylan grinned.
"Who are you?" Toby said to Dylan as he walked into the lounge. "Have a fight with a lawn mower?"
"This is Kai’s friend, Dylan," Toby’s father told Toby. "He is staying for dinner.
"Whatever, I will be in my room," Toby said as he walked out of the lounge.
"I see he is a fashion slave boy," Dylan laughed.

"You can certainly cook," Dylan said to Kai as he put his knife and fork on his plate. "Let me buy you lunch tomorrow."
"Sure, I would like that," Kai replied. "What time do you want to meet up?"
"How about midday outside the city hall?" Dylan suggested.
"I will be there," Kai replied. "Fancy listening to some music in my room?"
"I had better make a move," Dylan said to Kai. "Thanks for having me."
"You are more than welcome," Kai’s mother said to Dylan. "See you soon."

Kai made his way into the city and walked to the city hall where he saw Dylan and Troy waiting for him.
"How are you doing?" Dylan asked Kai as he walked over."
"Yeah ok I guess," Kai replied. "Where are we off to for some lunch?"
"Got something to do first," Dylan told Kai as they set off towards head street and walked up church lane and made their way into Dave’s barber shop.
"Morning guys," Dave said as he got out of the chair and picked up a cape. "Who is first?"
"That will be me," Troy replied as he sat in the chair. "Take it all off."
"Finally going for the full-on skinhead then?" Dave said to Troy as he tucked the cape into Troy’s polo shirt.
"Yeah I guess so," Troy replied as Dave changed the blade on the Oster’s to the 00000 blade.
"Do you want your hair shaved to a skinhead crop after Troy?" Dylan asked Kai as Dave switched the Oster’s on.
"I need to run it past my mum and stepdad," Kai replied as he watched Dave run the Oster’s up the back of Troy’s head removing about an inch of hair.
"Look, I will back you up if you get the hair shaved off after Troy," Dylan told Kai. "If you don’t like it you can grow hair back."
"I really don’t know what I want," Kai lied knowing that he wanted to sit in the chair and get his haircut to the same as Dylan and the other skinheads.
Kai watched intently as Dave continued to shave Troy’s hair off leaving just a slight hint of stubble on his head.
"Seriously mate I will back you up with your parents if you want to get your hair shaved down to a skinhead crop," Dylan told Kai. "Just think what you were saying when we first met up about you wanting to stick out in the crowd, not being a fashion slave."
"Maybe I was just saying that as I was with you," Kai sighed. "Maybe I do want to be just a nobody in the crowd."
"Nah mate, you want to be one of us, I know you do," Dylan said to Kai. "You don’t want to be a nobody; you want to be your own individual person that sticks out in the crowd."
"There you go one skinhead crop," Dave said to Troy as he switched the Oster’s off and removed the cape. "Are you next?" Dave asked Kai.
"Seriously mate, you know that you want to join with me and the other skinheads," Dylan told Kai. "You will be one of us, a brother to me and Troy."
"Come on mate, you can do it," Troy said to Kai. "We will be here to support you through the change to your lifestyle."
"Do it," Kai thought to himself as he felt the butterflies starting up in his stomach. "Dylan is right you do not want to be a nobody in the crowd, you want to be somebody that people will notice."
"Do it, Kai, become one of us," Dylan said to Kai as he put his arm round him. "I will stand next to you as Dave does it if you want me to."
Kai tentatively stood up and walked the short distance to Dave’s barber chair and sat down as Dylan and Troy walked over and stood by his side.
"Come on become a brother to the skinheads," Troy said to Kai. "You will look so good with your hair shaved off."
"What is it to be?" Dave asked Kai as he caped him up. "Do you want your haircut like Dylan and Troy?"
Kai felt the butterflies get more intense as he looked at his reflection in the mirror with his black hair hanging just over his collar and creeping over his ears.
"Just say it mate," Dylan said as he stood next to Kai. "You know you want to become a skinhead brother."
"You will look great with a skinhead crop," Troy reassured Kai. "I was feeling it a bit when I told Dave to finally make me a skinhead.
"You want this," Kai thought to himself as he felt Dave run the comb through his black hair. "What’s with turning the chair away from the mirror guys?"
"Just so we see the look on your face as you see yourself as a skinhead," Dylan grinned. "Trust me you are going to look great as a skinhead."
"Do it," Kai told Dave as he felt his body tense up and his hands gripped the arms of the barber’s chair.
Kai felt Dave gently push his head forward and then felt the cold steel of the Oster’s on the back of his neck before moving up the back of his head and deposited locks of Kai’s black hair into the cape.
"Oh well I guess there is no going back now," Kai said with a nervous grin on his face.
"Can give you a high and tight like I had done on Richie when you came in on Saturday," Dave told Kai as he carried on Shaving the hair from the back of Kai’s head.
"Looking better already," Dylan told Kai. "You will rock the skinhead."
Kai watched as more of his black hair fell into the cape as Dave shaved the sides of Kai’s head.
"Last chance of having hair on the top of your head," Dave said to Kai as he placed the Oster’s at the centre of Kai’s forehead.
"I have come this far, shave it," Kai told Dave.
"Go for it mate," Troy grinned. "Get you the boots and braces soon."
Kai felt the Oster’s shave the hair from the top of his head and felt Dave run his hand over his head to make sure he had not missed any hair.
"Nearly done," Dave said to Kai as he switched the Oster’s off and placed them back on the hook.
Dave then spread some shaving gel on the back of his neck and round the ears before expertly shaving the stubble off.
"Ready to see Kai the skinhead then?" Dylan asked Kai.
"Yes," Kai replied with a hint of trepidation in his voice.
"There you are then," Dave said as he swung the chair back to face the mirror.
"Oh f***!" Kai exclaimed as he saw himself in the mirror with his black hair now just a slight trace of stubble on his head. "I f***ing love it!" Kai said as he pulled his arm out from under the cape and rubbed his head. "Thanks for helping me get the haircut I craved," Kai said to Dylan and Troy.
"Told you that you would rock the skinhead," Dylan told Kai as Dave removed the cape. "Just need to kit you out now."
Kai rubbed his head again as he got out of the chair and got his wallet out to pay Dave for his haircut.
"I will get this," Dylan said to Dave. "My welcome to the skinhead culture for Kai."
"Thanks brother," Kai said as he slipped his lightweight jacket on. "See you in a few weeks to get the skinhead redone," Kai told Dave.
Kai followed Dylan and Troy out of Dave’s barber shop and felt the warm spring air on his freshly shaved head.
"Lunch at the Vic then?" Dylan suggested to Kai and Troy. "Then it will be time for Kai to show his parents his skinhead haircut.
"S***, what are they going to say when I walk in with my head virtually shaved?" Kai thought to himself as he followed Dylan and Troy to the Vic for lunch.

---