Winning haircut poor Thomas by Barbershop memmories

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The following day (tuesday) i met Thomas at the school gates at home time,

In assembly that morning, Thomas was stood about 5ft to my left just 4ft in front of me directly in my line of vision with the headmaster on the stage so i only had too lower my eyes a touch to look at him.

Wow, that really is short, i've never seen anything as short and severe as that in my life, it's fantastic. I WANT ONE. I thought to myself.

The back and sides of his head had been shaved so high and still looked bald but not quite as shiny as they did on monday.

How was it today, anyone bother you, i said as we walked home.

Yeah, a bit, that boy watto and his mate Wicksey were calling me names and saying horrible things to me in registration class this morning before assembly,

Like what, i asked,

Watto said , " look at the little creep sat at his desk with his short back and sides,,

Bald back and sides more like it, don't you mean, said wicksey, fancy being made to get a haircut as short as that, aahw did you cry, i bet you did.

I remembered what you said about bullies.

Why would i cry, i like it like this, no one made me , i said and tried my best to look happy and not bothered about it.

Ha Ha, yeah, right, and How funny was it yesterday morning when Mr Drake told him how smart he looked.

Ffing creep wants to be Drakeys little pet.

They didn't realise that Mr Drake our form teacher was in the stock cupboard and had heard what they said.

Everyone, in your seats NOW! He shouted

Not you Watson, or you, Wicks.

I will not tolerate bad language or bullying, back here after assembly,, i think you both know what for.

Brilliant! If you get any more bother from them Just tell, ok.

Yeah ok Chris, i will.

Did uou ask your Mam about comming with me to table tennis club tonight at the sally army youth club.

Well, er, erm, yeah but,,,

But what, i asked as we stopped outside my house,,
She said i could invite you for tea cos she want's to meet you first,,
Ehh,

Orrr please don't laugh Chris,

I,m not laughing at you, it just sounds a bit old fashioned and funny that's all,, come on in a minuet.

Hi Mam, this is Thomas.

Thomas looked up at my Mam, " pleased to meet you miss, he said as he held out his hand, Oh my, How very polite,

Well it's a pleasure to meet you too,
my Mum said as she shook his hand.

He's comming to table tennis with me tonight,,, well? That's if his Mam lets him.
She's invited me round for tea, she wants to meet me first to check if i'm good enough, i said with a chuckle.

I never said that!, Thats not what i meant.

Don't be such a tease Christopher, now look, you've made your little friend go quite red.

I think Mum calling him little was the main reason for his embarrasment, Thomas was the smallest boy in his class.

What time's your Mam doin tea Tomt?

Mum doesn't get home till six.

Great, we've got 2 hours yet, we'll listen to some records upstairs while i get changed, ok Mam, yeah but not to loud ok.

You didn't really want it that short did you, i said as we sat down in my bedroom, course not it's terrible he said as he bowed his head and rubbed the palm of his hand up the back of his head,

It's not that bad, i said to him reassuringly, i quite like it, i used to get a short back and sides haircut when i was younger, most infant and junior school kids did back then and that was the best bit.

What was, he asked as i took my school shirt and tie of and put my Fred Perry t shirt on.

That,, what you're doing now, rubbing your hand up the sides and back, i couldn't wait for the barber to finnish and get out of the chair,, i used to love that bristly feeling and the sound they made when i rubbed them.

Yeah, i kinda know what you mean, i quite like that too but when i got out of the chair and did that, all i felt was smooth bare skin, when i rubbed it a little harder it made a squeeky rubbery noise.

So how did it end up like that, cummon Tom we've got loads of time,,,. Tell me the whole story.

Well ok, but prommise you won't laugh, or tell anyone else ,ok.

Yeah course not.

On saturday morning i thought i was just going to my usual hairdressers for a tidy up with my Mum.
The final rehersal at my old school started at 10 oclock, it was our last practice before the choir competition on sunday.

That was Southwell minster school, wasn't it?

Yeah,,,, anyway,, after we had breakfast, Mum said that Mr Baxter was picking us up.

Now hurry up and get changed, your old uniforms all been washed and ironed.....

Mr Baxter?

Isn't that your old choir master,

The one your Mam's going out with,

The really strict one you told me about,,..

Didn't he give you the cane on your second day there just for forgetting to call him Sir.

I'd finished getting changed and was sat next to him on my bed.

Yeah that's the one, he's moving in with us after their engagement next week, he said with a kind of sad gloomy looking expression on his face

Does she know he caned you.

Yeah, she wasn't bothered at all, she said it's a shame their aren't more teachers like him.

Oh wow!, keep going, i won't interupt you anymore i said.

Come in, we're nearly ready, Mum shouted when she saw him at the door .

Mum is always more strict with me when he's around,, straighten your tie and pull your socks up Thomas,,, Mr Baxter has told me all about the senior choir gudges old fashioned values and preference for smartness so we need to do our very best to get on his good side don't we.

Yes mum, i suppose so, i said.

You were right Alice, he does look much smarter in short trousers, Ha,, their you go Thomas. All that fuss and carry on for nothing. What did i tell you. You just don't suit long trousers, you're to small, it'll be different when you sprout up a bit.

Hello Thomas, hello Sir, well done, you look very smart.

On the drive to the barbers Mr Baxter looked at me sat in the back through his mirror.

Your Mum tells me you've never been to a propper gents barbershop is that right.

Yes Sir.

I've had a long chat with Mr Fletcher, he knows how we want it

I think he's got a bit of a treat planned for you.

We parked outside Fletchers barbershop, i'll get on and see you back here when i'm done shopping.
They kissed and i heard my Mum say, i love you.

Now Thomas, best behavior for Mr Baxter and do as you're told do you here, i won't be long, bye now, ok bye Mum.

Mr Baxter looked down at me, you heard your Mother, you will do as i say is that understood.

I nodded, i don't think i heard that, now answer me properly and remember your manners.

Sorry Sir, yes Sir i said.

The barber opened the door, ahh Mr Baxter good to see you, is this the boy you spoke to me about, yes this is Thomas,, say hello Thomas.
Hello Sir, pleased to meet you i said and shook his hand.

Mr Baxter took hold of my hand and led me into the barbershop.

I'm just making a cuppa would you like one,

Yes why not,

Milk no sugar for you isn't it paul,

Thats right

As he made the coffee out the back, Mr Baxter took my blazer off and hung it up,

We sat in the chairs directly behind the barbers chair,,,, just listen and do exactly what he says and you'll be fine, he said quietly.

At that Mr Fletcher came in with the coffee,

He put a padded board accross the arms of the chair and turned it round, over here young man, chop chop he said,
As i approached him he put his hands under my armpits, lifted me up, and plonked me down onto it,
The last time a barber did that to me i was about six, how old does he think i am, it made me feel stupid, the tissue and cape he tucked in around my neck felt so tight and butterflies started in my stomache as he pumped the chair up then turned me round.

I looked at myself in the mirror as he took various items from a drawer under the counter and arranged them on top of it.

Eerm just a trim and tidy up please Sir,

He didn't answer me, he just carried on arranging things on the counter, when he finnished he opened a ciggarette packet, he gave one to Mr Baxter and he lit it for him then lit his own.

Very smart and very short, that's how his Mother wants it, i'm sure that's what you told me on the phone yesterday.

Something like a really good old fashioned and traditional short back and sides with a side parting, i think you said.

Yes thats right,

He put his ciggarette out, came over and combed through my hair.

Back and sides clipped and shaved and just enough length left on the top for a parting, how does that sound.

Err, yes, that sounds like just the ticket.

And how does that sound for you Thomas.

I didn't like the sound of it at all, i felt like crying, i just looked up at him.

Is this really your first time in a gents barbershop ?

Yyyy yes sir, i stammered.

Well, you can't really now what you want can you,

So lets just get started shall we.

Ok now put your head right down for me and keep very still, he clamped my head with his left hand, and picked the clippers up off the counter, right down i said and he pushed my head down even further.

The clippers made a loud CLACK as they burst into life which made me jerk, he tightened grip much harder and forced my head right down causing my whole body to move foreward.

I felt the buzzing clippers press hard at the base of my neck and run quickly all the way up the back of my head,he did this six or seven times then spun the chair round away from the mirror, i could see Mr Baxter sat directly in front of me watching my ordeal intently as he twisted and tilted my head from side to side relentlesly running the clippers up the sides.

When the clipping stopped he brushed all the loose hair away.

Give the top a real good thinning out please.


After the thinning out , he cut the top and combed it over to the right then combed it all foreward again and tucked a towel in around my neck.

He started slapping a razor on a leather belt.


I just couldn't help it.


Help what.


Are you alright Tom.


I cold feel my eyes welling up, i don't want to say anymore, not right now, it was so terrible.

No, course not, i'm teally sorry.

I'll tell you the rest another time ok.

Yeah ok, but you don't have to if it upsets you that much.

No, i want to tell you but not just right now ok.

Yeah ok, no worries.

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