An Unexpected Audience - Part 2 by Clipperaddict

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Part Two
Picking up where we left off. "Annie" the high school senior with the bouncy bright red curls has just replaced me in the barber chair. I’ve offered to pay for his haircut and give him $250 if gets a shaved high and tight horseshoe flattop. He is blushing profusely and stammering as he thinks about the offer. "Eh, I’m not sure. It would be quite a shock for my parents and family who are coming into town for graduation. Would you consider letting me wait until Saturday, after graduation?". I’m thinking about it when out of the blue Annie’s buddy ‘Shampoo Boy’ stands up and walks towards me. "I’ll do it! If you make me the same offer.". Well, that’s a no-brainer. "You’re on. Would you mind if your buddy goes ahead of you?" I ask Annie who is looking pretty shell-shocked. "You’re serious?" Annie asks his friend. "Yup. I was thinking of shedding the mop for the summer anyways, and $250 will pay for new brakes on my car.". Shampoo boy is all in. Annie gets up out of the chair and his buddy takes his place. Mac (the barber) wastes no time getting him caped up. I go to sit down in one of the waiting chairs ready for the show.

Mac calls me over and says, "Seeing as you’re paying for this, do you want to take the first pass of the clippers?". Without hesitation, I step forward and take the Osters 76 from him. Check to see the 00000 blade is attached. "Straight back from his temple?" I ask Mac. He nods, I switch the clippers on and place them at his right temple. He is staring straight ahead at the mirror and grins. I take that as my signal and plow the Osters straight back through his 8 to 10 inches of super shiny dark straight hair. "No turning back now." Says Mac as he takes the clippers from me and proceeds to take them straight back from his left temple to complete the bald ring. "Alright young man, you’ve seen enough. Next time you look in that mirror you’ll hardly recognize yourself. You’ll have the manliest of manly haircuts you can get.". With that Mac turned the chair away from the mirror before stripping the back and sides of the pretty long hair.

I sit down across from Annie who is completely captivated by watching his buddy’s transformation. "What are you thinking?" I ask him. "Wow, I can’t believe he’s doing this. I’m kind of in shock." he replies. "Are you wishing you’d taken my offer?" I ask. "A bit yeah." he responds. We both keep watching as Mac executes the most amazing transformation I’ve ever seen live in a barber shop. I’m impressed by how cool Shampoo boy is. Taking it all in his stride. The first slightly uneasy response comes as the Osters touch down for the first pass of the landing strip. "Whoa!" he says, "That’s something else." as his eyes open wide. "Feels great, doesn’t it?" I chip in. He nods. "Wait till you feel the straight razor scraping away the stubble from your landing strip. It’s a whole other level of sensation." I can see him processing what I just said as he shuffles a bit in the chair. "Got to keep still buddy," says Mac, "or you may end up with it all coming off.".

As expected, Mac does an outstanding job. You can tell he is really enjoying himself and making sure every last hair is in order. Shampoo boy, who I find out is called James, looks completely different. His facial features are defined. His strong jaw looks amazing, and his blue eyes are sparkling, no longer hidden behind the ridiculously long bangs. James readies himself for the Bay Rum aftershave having seen my reaction earlier. I was impressed. He took it way more calmy than me. Mac puts his hands on the back of the chair to turn it around. "You ready to see the new, improved you?" he asks. James nods as the chair spins slowly towards the mirror. He is stunned as he sees himself for the first time. His hands automatically come up to feel the shaved whitewalls and landing strip. He is fascinated with the smooth strip on top of his head and breaks out into a broad grin as his hand rubs it back and forth. "What do you think?" Mac asks. "I thought his was bad-ass, but this is bad-ass on steroids! I didn’t see this coming when we got here this morning, but I absolutely love it! It’s going to be a blast seeing everyone’s reactions. What do you think Nick? (Annie)". Nick is out of his seat standing right behind James. He can’t resist giving James’ head a rub. "I got to hand it to you man. That took some major balls. You look completely different. I don’t think I would recognize you if I hadn’t seen it happening. Good for you man. Good for you."

Mac ushers James out of the chair and I hand him his $250. "You earned it young man." I say, shaking his hand. I swear he looks taller and fitter than when he came in. I settle up with Mac, and am about to head out when I hear Mac talking to Nick who he has just caped up. "Same again?" he asks quite seriously catching Nick off guard. He pauses before replying smugly "Well, I would, but unfortunately, James took the cash." I stop in my tracks and turn back around. "I’d be more than happy to use the ATM next door to get you $250. What do you think?". Nick is blushing as James pipes up "Come on man. How awesome would that be. You gotta do it."

You’ll find out what happens next in Part 3. What would you like to happen?

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