Why Did You Wait So Long?

Why Did You Wait So Long? By James

For many years, I have had strong romantic feelings for Stacey.  I can trace my feelings for Stacey all the way back to that very first day in kindergarten when I saw her for the first time.  Boys at that age think of all girls as yucky. But, for some reason I did not see Stacey that way.

I can still remember Stacey from that first day. She was wearing a white frilly blouse, a very short navy blue skirt, white knee-highs and Mary-Janes. To me she looked like a sweet angel on the play ground. What I felt that really  made her stand out to me was her very short brown pixie haircut. Almost all the other girls, of that age, had long hair, but Stacey’s short pixie made her standout against the other girls. Stacey looked like a true gift from heaven to me, that day.

Being from small rural town I knew that Stacey and I would be spending a lot of time together through our school years. This would make many a day far more bearable with Stacey in the being in the same classroom.

As each year passed, Stacey’s hair grew longer and longer from that short sweet pixie cut she had . Stacey’s hair, first grew into a short pageboy her next new hair style. Then, Stacey’s next style was in junior high school when she grew it out straight  just plain straight. Her hair at that time fell just above her shoulders in length. By the time of our freshmen year in high school started, Stacey’s was sporting a  straight shoulder length style with long sweeping bangs. I thought it a  rather plain style, just like a lot of other girl in school at that time. No matter what hair style or length that Stacey wore, I could never get the picture of Stacey wearing her hair styled into that pixie short pixie she had that first day I saw her.

My feelings did not wane for Stacey, even though her hair kept growing, they just grew stronger.  I  daydreamed of when I could get Stacey to cut her long hair short again.  Thinking everyday of when was this day would finally arrive? Having no idea that, that day was closer then I ever imagine.

Stacey and I started dating in our freshmen year in high school. All of our friend thought we made a really cute couple. The handsome football player and the cute little cheerleader.  As each year in school our feelings turned from infatuation into young love and then into real love.

One day near the end of our senior year I said what was on my mind. This would change our relationship and strengthen our love for one another forever. The day before our graduation ceremony, Stacey came over to visit me. She had a present for me. It was her senior picture. It was a little different than others. It had a picture of her at present, but superimposed was her Kindergarten picture, with that short pixie haircut.

I loved the picture and gave Stacey a big kiss. Then I said something that took her by surprise and me too. I said, “Boy I wish you still wore your hair short.” I could not believe what I had just said. Stacey looked at me in a state of total shock. Shock came over Stacey’s face as I could not believe what I had just come out my mouth.  We were both speechless.

Finally Stacey became composed again. She looked at me and said, “You want me to cut my hair?” I looked her in those big beautiful brown eyes of hers and said, “Yes,  I would really like that if you would do that for me.” She smiled shyly and said, “I thought you liked long and that’s why I never cut it short.” Yes, I do,  but I really like short hair better especially on you, Stacey.”

Stacey then started telling me about what a pain her long hair is. How it took almost a half an hour for her to get it styled every morning for school. How it seemed to take forever to brush. Stacey told me that it seemed to take an hour for her hair to dry after she shampooed it. I am just over it, if you really mean what you said about you wanting me to cut my hair short, “I will do it!”

Stacey then stopped talking. Again she looked me right in the eyes and said, “Jim, I know if I cut it short it we are both going to be happy, because I can see it in your eyes. So I will do it if you are willing to pay for the cut” I shot back, “Sure I will and I will give the stylist a great big tip too. Continuing, “Considering it’s my graduation gift to you from me.”

The day after our graduation, Stacey and I went down to the salon where she had her hair styled. I asked her if she was nervous. She smiled and said, “What girl wouldn’t be? But, Jim it is going to be worth it as this is what we both want.”

We went in and Misty, her stylist was waiting for us. Misty said, “I see you brought your man with you.” Stacey smiled and said, “I sure did.” She then introduced us.

Misty asked Stacey, “Just a trim right?” Stacey looked at Misty and said, “No. I want you to give me a really short haircut!” Misty looked at Stacey’s long brown tresses and said, “How short?” “I want it over the ears and I want a shaved nape.” “Are you sure girl? That would be quite a change and your man probably likes long hair, right.” Misty replied to Stacey’s request. “No, we have talked this over and we both decided that short haircut is the way to go. This is my graduation present from Jim, so we needed to agree on my haircut.” Misty said, “OK, lets look over the books and get you a really cute style.” We all agreed and we started to look over the books.

We had been looking at books for close to an hour and we almost gave up. Then Misty came out with a hairstylist trade magazine and said, “There is a long to short makeover in here. But,” Misty said, “it is really, really short and I don’t think you want to go that short do you?”

Stacey and I looked the whole picture article over. We did not say a word. When we finished we both looked at one another and said, “That’s it!”  Said Stacey in a very excited tone in her voice. Misty said, “Let’s get started, time is a-wasting girl.” Stacey asked if it was alright if I went along to watch. “Well, seeing he is paying the bill I think he is entitled to,” Misty said with a smile. And back to Misty’s cubicle we went.

Stacey quickly sat down in Misty’s styling chair. Misty turned the chair to face the mirror on the wall so I could watch everything and so could Stacey. Misty placed a cape around Stacey and put Stacey’s hair up in a ponytail. “Take one last look at your long hair, girl, because it coming off.” And with that she took a large pair of shears and removed the ponytail with very little effort. It fell to the floor. Just then I noticed tears forming in Stacey’s eyes. I was afraid she felt she had made a mistake. But, the tears soon stopped and dried as Misty continued cutting the rest of Stacey’s hair.

Misty said, “We might as well get this over quickly.” So she grabbed a pair of clippers and placed a number 2 guard on them. She turned them on and started to buzz the right side of Stacey’s head. Stacey let out little sweet moans of joy and relief as Misty ran the clippers over her head. I do have to be honest I was getting excited  watching all that hair coming off Stacey’s head, as it fell to the floor with her long ponytail.

The more Misty clipped the more Stacey looked scarred and on the point of total panic.  Stacey  had what I thought was a look of regret on her face as Misty covered the nape of her freshly buzzed nape with warm shaving cream. Then out came a straight razor. Misty’s hand she made quick work of the stubble on Stacey’s neck. When Misty finished Stacey’s nape looked smooth and totally bare of any hair.

Misty finished now finished with the back and sides, now she was going to start on the top of Stacey’s head. It appeared that Misty had  gotten out a pair of scissors that are used for thinning out thick hair, like Stacey’s was on top. Now, Misty started cutting Stacey’s hair which with every snip became far more finer and shorter.  As the cutting continued, Stacey’s hair fell to steady to the floor like it was a brown snow storm.

Misty was finally finished. The remnants of Stacey’s long and beautiful brown tresses now lay piled deep on the floor, waiting to be swept up and thrown in the trash bin.  Some finishing touches were needed on Stacey’s bangs, which were now reduced to a very short length. Misty finally held up a mirror so Stacey could get the full and complete look at her new style front and back of her head. A wide and bright smile came to Stacey’s face. I had never seen Stacey smile like that before.  I could a warmth in my heart before.  “Just what I wanted, Misty. It’s perfect,” Stacey said to Misty.

As Misty took the cape off Stacey, I ready the money to paid Misty for her excellent work.  Paying Misty I included a fifty dollar bill, that I had gotten as a graduation present, as a tip.  “Are you sure you want to give me that big of a tip” Misty said to me. My response was ” Yes I do Misty, as you turn Stacey into my perfect dream girl.” Stacey’s  smile lite up the whole salon, as we let together.

We headed back to her house, from the salon in my car. Stacey gave me a very dreamy look as we drove together, me and my new short haired beauty. Then, she said to me, “Now that I have a new style I think it is about time you do something about that worn out head of hair of yours. Now don’t you think it is time to get an up to dated cut yourself?” We both laughed as we drew closer to Stacey’s house.

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