eric cartman
Annie’s heart pounded as she glanced at her phone: 8:45 a.m. She had exactly fifteen minutes to make it to her Political Science class, a class she couldn’t afford to miss. Her fingers shook as she stuffed a textbook and notebook into her backpack, slung it over her shoulder, and bolted out of her dorm. The crisp morning air stung her face, but she didn’t slow down. She sprinted across campus, weaving through clusters of students strolling leisurely toward their own classes.
The lecture hall was on the far side of the university, and Annie cursed herself for hitting snooze one too many times. She could still hear Dr. Malcolm Greene’s stern voice from the first day of class: “Attendance points are non-negotiable. Late arrivals will not be given credit. Period.” Those points were a lifeline for Annie. After bombing the last exam, her grade had slipped precariously close to failing—just under 60%. She needed every single attendance point to scrape by. Missing today wasn’t an option.
By the time she reached the lecture hall building, Annie was breathless, her lungs burning from the cold air. She climbed the stairs two at a time and shoved open the heavy wooden door to the lecture hall. Inside, Dr. Greene was already mid-sentence, his booming voice echoing through the room. He paused for a moment when he spotted her.
The clock on the wall read 9:02 a.m. Annie’s stomach dropped.
“You know the rules, Ms. Harper,” Dr. Greene said without missing a beat. “Attendance points are only given to those who arrive on time. I’m sorry.”
Her legs felt heavy as she slumped into an empty seat in the back row. She could barely focus on the lecture, her mind spinning with the crushing realization: without those points, she wouldn’t pass the class. Her scholarship—the one thing allowing her to attend this university—depended on maintaining a minimum GPA. If she failed Political Science, everything would fall apart.
As the class wound down, Annie was barely aware of the lecture wrapping up until Dr. Greene clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention.
“Before you go, I have a unique opportunity for those of you looking for extra credit,” he announced. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he reached behind the podium and pulled out an electric razor.
Confused murmurs spread through the room. Annie’s eyes widened as Dr. Greene flicked the razor on. The loud buzz filled the air, drowning out the whispers.
“Extra credit for anyone willing to shave their head. Right here, right now. A full buzz cut will earn you 10% added to your final grade.”
The room went silent. Then, nervous laughter rippled through the crowd. Annie’s jaw dropped. Was this some kind of joke? She instinctively touched her hair—long, dark, and flowing well past her shoulders. She had spent years growing it out, trimming it just enough to keep the ends healthy. Her hair was her pride, her identity, her beauty.
Dr. Greene continued, undeterred by the shocked expressions. “It’s a simple trade: courage and commitment in exchange for a grade boost. Anyone interested?”
The razor’s hum filled the silence. No one moved. Annie’s mind raced. Ten percent. That would boost her grade well into passing territory. She thought of the hours she’d spent studying, of the anxiety that had consumed her since her last exam. Failing wasn’t an option, but… could she really do this?
Her hands gripped the edge of her desk. It was just hair, right? Hair grew back. But her scholarship? That wouldn’t come back if she lost it.
Before she could overthink it, Annie shot up from her seat. “I’ll do it,” she said, her voice shaky but loud enough to cut through the stunned silence.
Gasps rippled through the room, and Dr. Greene’s smile softened. “Brave choice, Ms. Harper. Come on up.”
Her legs wobbled as she made her way to the front of the room. The murmurs of her classmates followed her, but she ignored them, her focus locked on the chair Dr. Greene pulled out. She sat down, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst.
“Are you sure about this?” Dr. Greene asked, holding the razor near her head. “Once we start, there’s no going back.”
Annie swallowed hard and nodded. “I’m sure.”
Dr. Greene placed the razor at her hairline. The first buzz sent vibrations through her skull, and she flinched as the razor cut through her thick, dark hair. Long strands tumbled down her shoulders, landing in her lap and on the floor. She bit her lip to keep from crying.
With each pass of the clippers, more of her hair fell away, leaving behind a rough, uneven buzz. Annie’s breathing grew shallow as she caught glimpses of herself in the reflection of the window. Her once-prized locks were disappearing before her eyes, replaced by a bare, vulnerable scalp.
The buzzing stopped, but Annie wasn’t prepared for what came next. Dr. Greene grabbed a can of shaving cream and spread a thick layer over her freshly buzzed head.
“Wait… are you actually going to razor shave it?” she asked, her voice incredulous.
Dr. Greene nodded. “You can back out now, but then you won’t get the extra credit. And you’d have lost your hair for nothing.”
Annie closed her eyes and sighed. “Just finish it.”
The cold blade of the razor scraped against her scalp, removing the last remnants of her hair. Each stroke felt surreal, as if she were shedding more than just hair. When he was done, Dr. Greene wiped her head clean with a towel and stepped back.
“Congratulations, Ms. Harper,” he said with a smile. “You’ve earned your extra credit.”
Annie stood up slowly, her head feeling lighter in every sense of the word. The class erupted into applause, but she barely heard it. She reached up to touch her head, her smooth scalp foreign under her fingertips.
Pulling out her phone, she opened the camera and stared at her reflection. The girl looking back at her was unrecognizable. Her head gleamed under the lecture hall lights, and while a part of her mourned the loss of her hair, another part of her felt…sexy.
