HANKS, Part time job part 2 by Barbershop memmories

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How much do i owe you, the Mum of the 3 boys asked Hank.

Lets just call it 2 pounds for all three, how's that, M'aam.

Oh, great, thats very reasonable and i really do appreiciate how quick you've been, she looked up at the round clock on the wall above the long mirror that ran all along the wall above the worktop, is that clock right she said.

Yes M'aam.

Perfect, i really can't thank you enough, we even have a bit of time to spare now she said as she went into her handbag and got her purse out.

I was sat on a high stool at the rear of the barbershop, with my elbow resting on the counter worktop, my chin resting in the palm of my hand a few feet in front of the open doorway that led into the kitchen.

From this stool I had the perfect vantage point,
Looking straight ahead along the counter worktop which was about 12 feet long, as was the mirror that ran along the wall above it, Hanks barber chair was just 5 or 6 feet along the counter from where i was sat , the large shop front window and frosted glass panel entrance door ran the full width of the shop, the new red vinyl bench seat ran along in front of the window and was where the Dad and his 2 sons, both of which had typically longish hair, where sat.

To my left was the longer bench seat that ran all along the back wall opposite the mirror, this was where the 3 boys where still sat.

I was looking accross at the 3 of them
Sat there with their scout caps on thinking to myself how almost normal they looked,,
Quite typical and similar to lots of boys their age who in the past would have left this very barbershop sporting the same looking severely clipped short back and sides haircuts as handed out by Mr Fletcher when it was Fletchers shop.

Under their scout caps was however, was a very different story indeed.

Ever since Jasons haircut had began, i say "haircut", but, headshave,, would be far more accurate,,.

From the moment Hank held the buzzing Oster clipper blades with no guard on them at the front of Jasons forehead under his fringe and i saw the almost pure white band of bare looking scalp the width of the clipper blades start to appear in their wake as he ran them front to back over the middle of his head i had sat there watching intently,,, totally engrossed and amazed at what was going on right in front of me just a few feet away,
But at the same time, always being careful not to stare for to long, now and then turning my head away breifely and looking out of the window at someone as they walked by it, in an effort to look less interested.

Out of the 3 haircut (headshaves) the latter 2, the twins were very different to their older brother who went first,

The twins seemed to enjoy their time in Hanks chair, both sat very still for him
looking straight in the mirror watching and smiling throughout as all their hair came off,, they really liked their new bald look, WOW, its great they both said as they rubbed their hands over their heads feeling the tiny bristles when he finished.

Poor Jason however, was a very different story,

As he sat in Hanks chair, looking straight ahead at himself via the large mirror in front of him.

His reaction was the complete opposite of his 2 younger brothers.

At the very instant the clippers began their journey accross the top of his head,,, his eyes opened wide and his mouth gaped open in total disbelief at the severity and speed of the headshave he was witnessing in the mirror right in front of him.

WOW,,, his brothers sat on the bench watching him both said simultaneously.

Then one of the two boys sat on the bench in front of the shop window looked up at his Dad and said to him quietly,

I know you said we both have to get our hair cut short before we start back at schhool on monday.

Yes that's right son, the new headmaster at Blue coats is very keen on appearance and smartness, he's a very good chap so i've heard, and afterall it's only hair,,, don't look so worried, it's not exactly the end of the world, is it.

No,,, i don't really mind all that much, but when you say short, you don't mean short like that boys there,, do you.

His laughed quietly, no no, just a nice smart short back and sides for you both will do fine

Jasons eyes flicked to the right and left very breifly to look at all of them via the mirror in front of him.

Hearing them talking about him meant they were all watching his ordeal which made it so much worse

In an effort to look less shocked he closed his mouth shut but as he did so, his lips and chin began to tremble a little, trying very hard and to his credit, he somehow managed to hold back the tears that were starting to well up
In him and stayed composed right to the end,, looking almost calm by the time he got out of the chair and sat down,

The scout cap he disliked so much and never liked wearing suddenly became his best friend, he picked it up of the bench where he'd left it and put it on immediately.


Hank was at the till which was just behind me to my left as the boys mum looked for her purse.

Would you like to take a seat sir.

Ee'm not for me, It's just these two today.

Very good Sir,, Hank looked over at them and smiled, would one of you two boys care to take a seat,

Neither of them moved and both of them were now looking very nervous indeed, the fact that they had just witnessed 3 boys a similar age to them get their heads shaved almost bald and me with my back and sides shaved completely bald, looking very smooth and shiny probably had quite a lot to do with it.

I doubt they had ever seen anything like it in their lives.

Go on Peter, be a good lad now, in the chair,
Peter still didn't move.

ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE,, NOW DO AS YOU'RE TOLD AND GET IN THAT CHAIR, His Dad was now pretty angry.

Peter nervously stood up and slowly and shakily walked over to the chair and sat in it.

Hey Chriss.
I quickly turned and stood up, i looked at Hank.

Be a good kid and ask the gentleman if he'd like a tea or coffee.

I walked overto him.

Please sir, would you a tea or a coffee, it's on the house.

Yes err, why not,, a tea please, one sugar thankyou, he said to me with a smile,, he seemed to calm down in an instant.

As the boys mum was handin Hank the money the twins stood up, look Mum, look mum, our new haircuts are great

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