Satisfyiing Mother by Vijith

---

This is a story from my childhood. I was around 11 years old. The school had closed. Summer holidays had started. Back in those days we had 15 days of holidays followed by 10 days of school and then another one and a half months of summer holidays.
I came back from school and my mother had prepared some nice snacks. As me and my sister enjoyed the snacks and tea, she asked me - " don't you feel hot?" The indian summers were hot and i always struggled with them. She had a simple solution - which was to shave my head but i had resisted. But she never gave up. The reminders and coaxing continued through October. And i got the last one 3 months back. This time, i said "Sure. but you have to take me for any hair cut and you have to instruct the barber on what to do". She usually didn't come and delegated to my sister instead with whom i had my way and got a real short hair cut.
But i had underestimated her resolve. She said "Come let's go". I tagged along - i liked her and did not want to disappoint her. So i decided to go with what comes. The barber shop was a small shack with a single barber who was an old man. He had been a barber in the military. It was a 10 minute walk from our house. Down the street and left. There were no other customers and he beckoned me to sit in the seat. I climbed up and sat. He looked at my mom who said " Give him a good cut for the summer".
The old man draped the cloth, wet my long hair and started cutting with the scissors. This looked like his usual routine. I was wondering what summer cut he was planning to give. After 10 minutes, he had shortened my hair and looked up at my mom who said "Run the clipper and make it shorter". Those days we had the manual clipper which caused a nice sensation. I always loved this part of the haircut. He bent my head forward, i felt the cold machine touch the base of my neck and make it's way upwards with a clickety clack sound. Except that this time it didn't stop at the bottom side and went all the way up. this continued for 5-6 times. He prepared to do the sides when my mom asked :"Can you run it twice more at the back?". The old barber got angry "You want to shave his head?without telling him?" I won't agree. I'll cut it the same length all over. To which my mom replied "I told - give him a cut for the summer. Ask him if you should do what i say". The barber said "Not without his consent. I don't do such things. you didn't tell him and he didn't tell me when he sat here. he is my regular customer". My mom said "Ask him once?" He asked me - "what should i do?" I had known my mom's intention and didn't want to disappoint her. So in a faint voice said "Do what she says. I'm ok".
But he was adamant and did not agree. He buzzed my hair short with the manual clipper. Said "Here - this will help for the summer". My mother was upset. She said : "I won't pay you". he said "I won't go against my principles. keep your money". He ended the cut, removed the cloth, dusted me and i got off.
My mom was upset but i felt very nice. The head felt light and i gushed "So cool. Is this what you wanted? This is really good". She said "No. I wanted you bald". "I'm bald isn't it? I asked" - the mirror revealed a very thin lining and i could see my scalp so technically i was bald i thought. Touch your head she said. I did. Do you feel the hair? "a bit" i said. She said "That should be skin and smooth. You look very cute with that and i want to stroke your head". "But that barber didn't do my bidding" She exclaimed in anger and disappointment. Can you go to another barber and ask him to shave this off?" She asked. I was non commital. I did not like making such requests to barbers as they should not think that's my default request. She said that this will not happen as they listen carefully to instructions each time.
So we reached home. My sister was there and saw my cut and said it looked good. My mother was not in a good mood. She asked what happenned and my mother told her the whole story.
By now i started to feel guilty and sad that i had not asked the barber to finish the job. It didn't enter my head. She muttered. I picked then money that she had set aside from the haircut adventure, said "I'll come in a while" and slipped out. Intending to correct the mistake. I walked rapidly to the barbershop and entered just a bit earlier than another mother-son duo who were walking towards the shop.
The barber gave me a quizzical look. I sat on the plank on the chair and said "take all of it off as my mother had told". The mother who had entered praised me to her son "What a good boy he is - this is how you too should be". The boy had a pale expression on his face and i knew what was coming. The barber meanwhile draped me with the cloth and set to finish off the unfinished business. The clipper again went clickety clack and i enjoyed the second set of runs when i felt the metal against the skin on the backside.From the mirror i saw that the mother broke into a warm smile and the boy was not too happy.The run on the sides again didn't take long. I saw the slight dark covering on the side first become light and then completely fair. The barber then placed the clipper on my forehead and ran it up. The last remaining dark canopy became light. The final run started with my skin on the top part making contact with the cold machine and it felt good. Just then my sister trooped in "You're here? I thought i'll come and see what you came here for ". She also broke into a wide grin and said "So finally you did it? Good. Mom will now not be upset". The barber prepared to remove the cloth when the lady in the room asked "What about the small pieces inbetween? remove that too, it will look clean". My sister agreed and the barber proceeded to put shaving cream. The mom watched all this with great interest and happiness. He then used the brush to spread the cream. I expected him to use the shaving blade in front but he removed a razor from a box. As he bent my chin, my sister asked "It's not blunt right?" To which he replied "he is the first customer" and i could feel the blade scraping on my scalp. After 5 minutes, he seemed to be done and tilted my head to do the right side. I saw that the clean look had now started looking smooth. The razor had done it's job. It was skin all the way. I shuddered wondering how i'll carry it off as my head tilted to the right and then down again as the backside was now the barber's focus. After another 3 minutes, he seemed to have been done. The clipper came out and machined the lining of my forehead and a last run all over. I looked up to see a completely different me. My head was shaved smooth and perfect. My sister said " This is the perfect look. It looks well done". The other lady there got up and again praised me for sitting patiently. As i got off the chair, the other boy got on the chair and she said "Same cut for him too- right?" she confirmed with the boy who nodded as he had no choice
i paid the barber and came home. When i rang the doorbell my mother opened it and it was a surprise for her. She became really happy "woow! thank you so much" she said as she repeatedly ran her soft hand over my head. Now the heat did not affect me but my mom's touch made me happy. She was also happy and there was happiness all around. She then said :" Can you go to shyamala aunty's house and give her these sweets?" I took some sweets and went. Their house was 3 houses away from ours. She had only daughters. I felt a bit embarassed and was wondering how her daughters would receive me. I rang the doorbell and she opened it and exclaimed "Ohh so cute. I wanted to touch your smooth head too - tell thanks to your mom. And she ran her hands all over my forehead and head".

---