Leslie’s Barbershop Visit

Leslie’s Barbershop Visit

By JimB ©opyright February 2018

When I was young I used to get my hair cut in the barbershop, like all the guys in town.

It wasn’t unusual to see a female with short hair getting a trim there.

The barber was very good.

One lady came in regularly was Ms. Brown.

She would bring her son and daughter with her.

He would usually get the average boy’s haircut.

His sister would get a trim of her Bob.

Mom would get a boyish cut. She looked good in it.

I always looked forward to watching her get a hair cut.

One summer day, I was passing by the shop and saw Ms. Brown taking her children into the shop.

I decided I would go in and watch.

Her son got a buzz cut today.

Then, it was Ms. Brown’s turn.

I watched as the barber did her work. It was great, as always.

When she was done, she got up and motioned to her daughter, Leslie.

“Today, Leslie is going to grow up some,” said Ms. Brown.

Leslie climbed into the booster seat the barber had placed on the chair.

Ms. Brown talked to the barber how to cut her hair as she draped the cape around her daughter.

Ms. Brown took her seat and gave Leslie one of those looks that say, “If you know what’s good for you…”

Leslie was seven.

She had long, curly, blonde hair.

I could see she wasn’t very happy about this.

The barber took one of the long curly strands and cut it near the hairline.

She gave it to Ms. Brown.

Leslie’s eyes just stared at the bouncy curl now being tucked into an envelope.

I was anxious for this cut to start.

The barber gathered her hair into a ponytail, placed the scissors close to her neck and cut it off.

She dropped the mass of curls to the floor.

I could see the tears begin to build in Leslie’s eyes.

The barber began cutting around her hair line.

Little blonde strands fell on the cape. She now had a nice little boy’s cut, somewhat.

Ms. Brown nodded her head and the barber went back to work.

Using the comb over scissors method, she shortened the hair on top to a length of two inches.

Leslie’s bottom lip quivered as gold clippings fell to her shoulders. I just kept hoping it wouldn’t stop.

Then, the barber picked up the clippers.

Ms. Brown smiled and nodded.

She pushed Leslie’s head forward.

Using a comb with the clippers, she started tapering the back without a guard.

Suddenly, the most wonderful thing happened!

A car outside backfired and Leslie jerked her head up and over simply by reflex!

The clippers plowed past the comb, up the back and into the top of her head.

Ms. Brown looked and gave the barber an understanding smile and a nod.

“Sorry honey, there’s only one thing I can do now,” she said to Leslie.

She was crying now as her head pushed downward.

The barber placed the clippers at her nape, still with no guard, and pushed them upward.

She continued buzzing upward.

Finishing the back, she tilted her head up and to the side as she did each side.

Blonde clumps were falling at an amazing rate, building up and rolling down to the cape!

Finally, she placed the clippers at her crown and pushed them over her head.

Ms. Brown hugged her daughter and said something to her to stopped the crying and even brought a smile.

She walked over to the barber and told her something.

Then, sat in the other barber chair as Leslie watched and smiled.

The barber pushed her head forward.

She buzzed her hair as short as her daughter’s!

She wasn’t finished.

She filled her hand full of shaving cream and rubbed it all over her head.

With a straight razor, she shaved it all off!

Ms. Brown stepped for the other chair and walked to Leslie.

Titling her head, Leslie touched her mom’s shaven head.

Moving her little fingers over the smooth skin she began laughing and smiled.

Ms. Brown walked back to the waiting chair and knotted to the barber.

The barber started lathering her little head. Leslie just sat smiling. Ms. Brown smiled.

“Leslie,” Ms. Brown said, as the barber began stropping the straight razor on the leather strap.

“Do not move around.”

Leslie shook her head “yes” and said, “Yes mommy.”

By JimB ©opyright February 2018

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