Bourne Academy 8 – Inspiring the Hair Dream Team

Brenda Shearer, The Bourne Academy’s barber, proudly observed Sara, her bald young apprentice, confidently preparing an extremely nervous Mary Rogers, the youngest of the academy governors, for an even more extreme haircut than Brenda had given her previously.

Sara had expressed her interest in hairdressing as a future career and, with Brenda to guide her, she had quickly mastered the basic technical skills. Brenda had recognised her talent and noted her enthusiasm when she had shaved her friends’ hair.

Sara had been authorised to shave them following a rebellion in which they had attempted to oust Heather and Brenda a month earlier. Sara’s friends had tricked her into allowing them to shave her head so they could place the blame on the headmistress. They had lied to the governors, saying it was a punishment shave by Brenda. However the truth had come out, and the headmistress thought Sara had come off worst from the whole incident. Rather than Heather expelling them, Sara’s friends had begged their bald colleague to shave them too, as a punishment.

Sara’s advancement in hairdressing made it easier for Brenda’s to resign from the academy as the discipline she had instilled on behalf of the headmistress would continue. But, most importantly for Brenda, a loyal presence would remain in the academy to support her plans in the future.

= * = * =

Heather Richards, the headmistress of The Bourne Academy, had made excellent progress in turning around the fortunes of the once-prestigious educational establishment. After months of hard work and dedication, things were finally starting to look up. But the credit did not solely belong to Heather, as she had an ally in Brenda Shearer, the academy barber who had collaborated with her from the beginning.

Brenda was an intimidating woman with a no-nonsense attitude. When she arrived at the academy, she wasted no time in implementing Heather’s strict regulations for haircuts. The headmistress required all students to have the regulation bowlcut and all tutors to have the regulation flattop. Weekly maintenance trims were also mandatory.

At first, there was resistance from students and their parents. However, with Heather’s authoritative support and Brenda’s unwavering dedication, they soon accepted the regulations. As a result, the academy had a more disciplined and focused atmosphere. Brenda had completed her assignment and after four months, all students and tutors had the regulation haircuts. And now, she was ready to leave to embrace other business opportunities.

Brenda had given warning of her intentions two weeks earlier after successfully imposing a regulation haircut on a tutor for the first time. Heather had expected Holly Green, the tutor with responsibility for politics and the environment, to offer the most resistance to the policy. And she was. But once Brenda had severed Holly’s long plaits and she had reduced her remaining hair to a severe flattop, then any defiance from the remaining tutors faded away.

Inspecting a line of tutors, all with the severe regulation haircut, made Brenda and Heather feel fulfilled and immensely proud. For that reason and for all the support Brenda had provided, Heather was not ready to let her go. She had become an integral part of the academy and had done an excellent job in turning things around. Since Brenda had first broached the subject of her departure, Heather had been pleading with Brenda for her to reconsider her decision.

= * = * =

‘Are you sure you won’t stay, Brenda?’ Heather asked with a hint of desperation in her voice, knowing this was the day that Brenda intended formally resign. ‘We have done such remarkable things together, and it is just the start. The mid-year intake, weekly maintenance and random inspections will need your presence.’

Brenda smiled at Heather’s concern and reassured her. ‘You’ve done an incredible job turning this place around, Heather. But there is simply not enough for me to do here full-time and justify the academy’s generous salary. Besides, there’s other challenges out there for me. However, do not worry, I have a suggestion that will take care of everything.’

‘Please tell me,’ Heather urged, her eyes lighting up with hope.

‘I would like to propose Mary Rogers as the governor with special responsibility for maintaining appearance standards,’ Brenda said. ‘I have been extremely impressed with her involvement and interest in our methods. She will oversee the intakes, perform maintenance as scheduled and undertake random inspections of students and tutors. I know she would excel in that role.’

‘I’m inclined to agree with you, Brenda,’ Heather chuckled. ‘Since you cut her hair short and she has been dressing conservatively, she has been a real stickler for the rules. I would not want to be a student – or a tutor – disciplined by her after they had missed a maintenance appointment.’

‘Exactly,’ Brenda agreed. ‘I also would like to suggest that students with an interest and an aptitude for hairdressing, perform the induction and maintenance cuts as part of their vocational training under my guidance. And the first apprentice I would like to nominate for that role is none other than Sara Dart.’

Heather’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Sara Dart?’ she asked incredulously. ‘Is she still bald?’

Brenda nodded with a mischievous grin. ‘Yes, she enjoys me shaving it for her,’ she said nonchalantly.

‘I bet she does,’ Heather grinned, ‘but you should not really. You should let her grow it out so she can have a bowlcut like all the other students, so we can have uniformity. That is what it is all about.’

‘When anyone asks why she is still bald, she tells a harmless lie. She fibs that Heather Richards’ has ordered her to keep it shaved as a continuing punishment for her part in the rebellion. She’s sharp, that girl.’

‘She certainly is,’ Heather nodded approvingly. ‘No doubt Sara will jump at the chance, but have you spoken to Mary Rogers about this?’

Brenda shook her head. ‘Not yet, but with your permission, I will.’

‘Of course,’ Heather said with a smile. ‘It sounds like a perfect solution.’

‘How are things going with Mary?’ Heather asked, curious about their budding relationship.

Brenda Shearer had cajoled Mary Rogers, the youngest of the governors, into having her hair cut into the student’s regulation haircut. She had functioned as an unwilling victim, but it was clear that Mary had immediately fallen under Brenda’s spell, as well as enjoying the domination that came from haircutting by another woman. Since that first meeting, Brenda and Mary had shared many intimate haircutting moments and no woman’s neck had ever been continually smoother than Mary’s.

Brenda’s smile widened as she became uncharacteristically bashful. ‘We’re having fun. I must trim her hair at least there or four times a week which always develops into something exciting and enjoyable and -’

‘Too much information!’ Heather grinned, holding up a hand to silence her tales from a locked barbershop.’

‘She still intends to marry the up-and-coming politician from the wealthy family. Although she is sad that I am leaving, she will not cause you or I any problems. We will stay friends.’

‘I’ll be sorry to see you go in a few weeks, Brenda, but I wish you well and hope we get a chance to work together again in the future.’

‘Thanks, I hope so too, Heather,’ Brenda smiled, ‘In the past, I have collaborated with the same women at different educational establishments, all sharing your admirable high standards.’

= * = * =

Later that day, Mary Rogers came to the barbershop and Brenda Shearer presented her with the proposal that Heather had approved.

‘Wow, thanks, Brenda,’ Mary said excitedly. I like the idea of policing and maintaining the academy’s exacting standards.’

‘You’ll find it a tough job, I’m sure,’ Brenda winked, ‘but someone has to do it.’

Mary chuckled. ‘But when you go, who will I send them to for shearing?’

‘Ah, I was just coming to that,’ Brenda replied and, right on cue, there was a knock on the door that she had been expecting. ‘Come in.’

‘Wow,’ Mary said, as the young woman walked confidently in. ‘You’re bald.’

‘Am I?’ the visitor said anxiously, with a straight face, as she rubbed her head. ‘Oh dear, what I am going to do?’

‘The first thing you can do, Sara, is behave,’ Brenda admonished with a smile, while her visitor grinned, ‘and allow me to introduce you to Mary Rogers, the youngest of the academy’s board of governors. Mary, this is Sara Dart.’

‘Hi Sara,’ Mary said, captivated by the sight of the bald student. ‘Can I touch?’ Sara giggled and nodded. ‘Wow, it feels like glass.’

‘Mary, I think you can stop polishing Sara’s head now,’ Brenda gently cautioned, after she had indulged in an uncomfortably long massage of the student’s scalp. Mary, suddenly feeling guilty, quickly withdrew her hand and smiled sheepishly. ‘Sara, you might remember, was caught up in the rebellion a few weeks ago but she has since shown a remarkable talent for hairdressing which she is considering pursuing when she leaves the academy in a few months’ time.’

‘Why is she still bald?’ Mary questioned. ‘In my role as hair inspector, I should be ensuring that all students have the regulation bowlcut, shouldn’t I?’

‘Sara has special dispensation, as she is still serving her punishment for the act of rebellion with her friends,’ Brenda lied.

‘Is that true?’ Mary asked doubtfully.

‘No, of course not,’ Brenda giggled, ‘but, for now, Sara likes to be bald, and I like to shave her head.’

Sara giggled too, nodded her head vigorously, and used her fingers to confirm her head’s smoothness.

‘Anyway, Mary,’ Brenda went on, ‘I’m quite sure she would like you to help her keep it smooth for a while longer.’

‘Now?’ Mary asked excitedly.

‘No, not now,’ Brenda stated bluntly, ‘as we have other matters to deal with.’

Both Mary and Sara looked disappointed but, thinking ahead to future opportunities, they winked at each other.

‘Sara, as you know I will be leaving the academy shortly, and I have informed the headmistress that I am confident that you can manage the maintenance cuts for students and teachers, as well as the conducting the regulation haircuts in a couple of days for the new arrivals.’

‘Wow, thanks Brenda,’ Sara gushed. Then, looking at the governor, she quickly added, ‘er, I mean, Miss Shearer.’

‘To support you, Mary Rogers now has responsibility to enforce adherence to the academy’s haircut standard. I am confident you will both work well together.’

Sara and Mary looked at each other, smiled, then nodded. ‘One thing though, Miss Shearer,’ Sara interjected. ‘In her new policing role, shouldn’t Mary’s hair be different from the students and even different from the tutors? The bowlcut does suit her, and I am sure a flattop would too, but a buzzed or bald head would set her apart from the rest of the academy … well, apart from me.’

‘Excuse me,’ the governor piped up, ‘I am here, you know, and I am confident that my family would prefer me not to be bald. They were all angry when you gave me my first bowlcut, and -’

‘You’re right, Sara,’ Brenda interrupted, ignoring the governor’s complaint. ‘If Mary is to assume her new role in the academy, then it would be appropriate for her to have the tutor’s regulation haircut – a nice flattop – and, what’s more, you will be the one to cut it for her.’

= * = * =

‘No, I can’t have that,’ whined Mary, on hearing that Brenda had asked Sara to give her a flattop haircut.

‘You can,’ countered Brenda, ‘and you will. Holly Green complained to you, as a representative of the board of governors, about me giving her the flattop. But you said how nice she looked, and you would be taking no further action. You even said you might ask me for the same style.

‘No, I only said that to -’

‘So, that’s all decided,’ Brenda declared, clapping her hands together with finality. ‘Take a seat, Mary, and Sara will get you prepared.’

‘No, I can’t,’ Mary bleated. ‘I need to think about my family … and my boyfriend … and my boyfriend’s family.’

‘They accepted your bowlcut, didn’t they?’ Brenda clarified, bludgeoning Mary as she guided her to the barber’s chair.

‘Well, yes … in the end … but -’

‘And they wish you to perform a useful role in the community, which demands a shorter hairstyle?’ Brenda continued while nodding appreciatively towards Sara who, without her noticing, had covered Mary with a haircutting cape and secured it firmly around her neck.

‘Well, yes, they do … but -’

‘Good, then they should be happy about the sacrifice you are freely making,’ Brenda said agreeably. ‘So, Mary, look at the reflection in the mirror and tell me you don’t want to proceed.’

Standing directly behind Mary, the governor, was the bald student Sara. Brandishing hairclippers and displaying an eager and enthusiastic smile, the apprentice was eager to go.

Mary gulped at the delightful vision of Sara about to go to work on her. The young governor was breathing more quickly and more heavily – the cape rising and lowering as she did so – as she took in the wonderful sight. Mary timidly smiled back at the confident Sara. As the apprentice barber applied the gentle but insistent pressure of one finger on the back of Mary’s head, she obediently lowered it until her chin touched her heaving chest.

Sara glanced at her mentor for guidance, but Brenda Shearer smiled, before whispering, ‘You’ve got this, Sara.’

= * = * =

Sara, the bald barber needed no further encouragement from Brenda Shearer. She drove the blade of the hairclippers up Mary’s neck. Their relentless journey finished high up the back of her head. Snippets from Mary’s former bowlcut came tumbling down onto the cape and bounced into her lap. Above the sound of the hairclippers, Sara was only able to hear Mary’s subdued whimpering.

Enthused by her first pass, Sara repeated the action and quickly removed the overhanging hair from the back of Mary’s head. Moving to one side, Sara dispatched the hair above one ear, and then moved around to do the same with the remainder of the longer hair.

All that remained of Mary’s locks were short tufts on her crown that Sara sprayed with water. She then worked a strong styling product into the damp hair and massaged it thoroughly. Mary was moaning rhythmically in concert with the movement of the firm young fingers on her scalp. Movement under the cape causing the snippets of hair to tumble from her lap, suggested that Mary was enjoying the experience.

Using a large comb to lift sections of hair on Mary’s crown, Sara rattled the blade of the clippers over the top until each strand was sufficiently short to stand erect, and at the same height as each neighbouring hair. The apprentice barber diligently worked back and forth, and from side to side, with the comb and clippers until the brush-like hair on Mary’s crown presented a perfectly level and flat surface.

Taking the electric shaver, Sara ran them over the sides of Mary’s head, along her neck and up the back of her head until the skin was completely smooth. Using a fine comb and the clippers, she faded the brush-like top into the bald back and sides until she was satisfied that Mary’s flattop haircut was perfect.

She stood back, allowing her mentor to inspect her work but Brenda knew there was no need. Even with Sara’s limited experience, the bald apprentice barber had shown a natural aptitude for producing perfectly styled and extremely short haircuts.

Sara whisked away the cape from Mary’s body. The governor guiltily moved her hands from her lap to the arms of the chair. She appeared as flushed with embarrassment at having her enjoyment interrupted, as she was at having her arousal made obvious to those who were watching.

Although Sara was young, she was fully aware of what Mary had been doing. To demonstrate that she understood and saw no shame in her action, the young barber gently ran her fingers over Mary’s smooth skin and lightly bounced her palm on the prickly spikes of the hair sticking up on her crown. Ostensibly checking for smoothness, Sara knew she was also giving pleasure. Mary let out a little embarrassed squeal of delight.

‘Sara has done an excellent job, Mary,’ Brenda Shearer pronounced, ‘and you be proud she’s on your team for maintaining the haircut standards at The Bourne Academy after I’ve left.’

‘Mm … er, yes,’ Mary squeaked, attempting to control her emotions, ‘very proud.’

Sara held up a mirror so that Mary could view the lack of hair on the back of her head. The governor nearly fainted seeing that, from behind, she appeared completely bald.

‘Next time, Mary – when it’s just the two of us – perhaps I’ll take it just a little bit shorter,’ Sara breathed seductively. ‘Would you like that?’

Mary swallowed, then swallowed again, trying to find her normal voice. ‘Yes,’ she squeaked with a sheepish grin, adding, ‘er, yes, please,’ in an approximation of her usual tone.

Despite her obvious desire for Sara’s undivided attention, Mary was wondering what her boyfriend was going to say now that he was engaged to a woman that looked ready to join the armed forces. Then there was his family. And Mary’s own family. However, in that moment, Mary did not care as Sara had invented a need to review the smoothness of the young governor’s neck.

‘Great, ladies,’ Brenda declared, pleased by their mutual attraction, ‘so, that’s all good.

= * = * =

Brenda was delighted that Sara Dart was proving such an invaluable asset, ably supported by the keen younger governor, Mary Rogers.

Implementing Heather Richards’ policies so that students would appreciate the importance of discipline was just the start.

Ensuring all students, tutors and, increasingly, the governors had fallen into line and met her rigorous standards, was commendable.

Maintaining those disciplinary standards was essential for the continuing smooth running of The Bourne Academy.

Despite the academy barber’s imminent departure, the dream team of Sara and Mary had proved themselves both motivated and capable of ensuring Brenda Shearer’s excellent work continued.

TO BE CONTINUED