Memorial Day Haircut by Carstairs

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By Carstairs (Author's Note: It was always my intention to write this story. Somehow, however, it took a year and a half. This is a sequel to Christmas Haircut from December 2002. Feel free to take a moment to refresh your memory on that story, then enjoy.)

Ever since I'd gotten my wife clippers for Christmas, we'd been having a grand time. I'd given her free reign of my hair, and every two weeks, she kept me in a razor shaved high and tight that looked incredible. Over the last five months, she'd actually gotten quite good at the blending. My hair looked like it had been done by a professional.

Last weekend, we'd been visiting Christy's parents. I spent some time helping (ok, watching) her dad work on the car in the garage. After a while, we had lapsed into a companionable silence. Then he broke it. "You know, Memorial Day is coming up. That's usually considered the start of summer."

I had to laugh. Ever since I'd let Christy give me the family winter hair cut of a high and tight, he and my brothers-in-law had been dropping teasing hints that I need to get the induction cuts they did for the summer. "As I've been telling you, it's completely up to Christy. I've left my hair in her very capable hands." The subject had been dropped.

Memorial Day weekend, I was due for another cut. Frankly, I'd come to think of my hair as long two weeks out. And it would drive me crazy until we had a chance to cut it. When we'd gotten up Saturday morning, Christy had begged off until Monday. I had a feeling I knew what was coming.

Monday morning, we lazed around in bed as long as we could. Extra days off aren't to be wasted! Finally, Christy sat up. "Guess we should get going if we're going to be at my parents on time." Every year, they had a summer kick off BBQ for the family. They had a pool as well, so the day promised to be lots of fun.

Reluctantly, I agreed with her. "You are still planning to give me a hair cut before we go, right?"

"Grab a chair; I'll meet you in the bathroom."

I did as ordered, placing the chair in the usual place in front of the mirror. Throwing my shirt in the hamper, I sat down to see what would develop.

Christy pulled the clippers out of their box. "You know, I've heard that today is considered the start of summer."

I tried my hardest to keep a grin off my face. "I seem to have heard that somewhere, too."

"I guess that means a summer cut is in order." The clippers came to life in her hand, no guard on the whirling blades.

"If that's what you want." Not that I minded by this point. I'd been hoping she'd want to keep her family's tradition alive. It didn't make that much difference in length, and I wanted to see what it looked like on me.

The clippers made short work of my hair. Not that there was much to worry about before. When she was done, I sat staring at myself in the mirror. With the dark blond stubble, I looked close to bald. And it looked great, too. I could see from Christy's eyes she approved as well.

"I believe the maintenance schedule is once a week for the summer, sir," she went back to the business tone she often used as my "barber."

I stood up and brushed myself off. "So noted. If my wife approves, I'll be back next week."

She stopped me and gave me a lingering kiss on my way to the shower. "I'll take that as a sign she likes it," I murmured.

* * * * * * * * * * *

We had a friendly debate before we left as to whether or not I should wear a hat to hide my new haircut like I'd done at Christmas. In the end, we decided that was just a little too clichéd for the second time, so I just showed up with sunscreen on my head.

We were the first to arrive. Christy's mom let us in, taking our potato salad contribution. Looking at my head, she just grinned.

While Christy went with her mom to the kitchen, I headed out back where her dad was already fiddling with the BBQ. We chatted for a few minutes before he even looked up from what he was doing. When he saw me, he paused in mid sentence. Then a grin grew over his face. "Looks sharp, Son," he said as he reached out to rub it. "You'll find you really love it for the summer."

"I already do. The sun feels so much better on my scalp like this."

Just then, Chad, Christy's older brother, walked out the screen door. Instead of greeting me with a handshake, he rubbed my head and grinned. "Looks like you're a member of the clan for good now."

I returned the favor, rubbing his almost bald head. "I can think of worse fates."

The youngest, Charlie, who arrived a few minutes later, greeted me in the same manor. Ever since Christy and I started dating, I'd felt accepted by her family. But this had reached a new level, and I loved it.

Charlie's girlfriend, Stacy, looked at the four of us when the women joined us a couple minutes later and shook her head. Sue, my sister-in-law, grinned knowingly. "No use fighting. Just accept it."

I nodded my head. "They've gotten to me. I don't think you'll ever get Charlie to change."

"As if that's a real problem," she said as she led the way into the pool.

Diving into the pool was when it really hit me. I love the water and spend as much time in it as possibly. But my old hair required me to comb it when I got out or it would never be the same. Now, I knew I wouldn't have to deal with that all summer. I knew I'd never let my hair grow back to where it was six months before.

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