Red hair up in smoke

One morning I woke to a familiar smell
Of cigarette smoke.
Thinking what the hell I walked into the kitchen and ask my wife Jerri if she was smoking again.
She said no. I was in doubt of her answer but thought maybe I was just wrong about the smell.
Few weeks went by and Jerri came to bed and smelt like smoke. I inquired and she explained that her co workers and her had stopped at the bar on the way home for a drink.
I ask, Are you sure?
She said if you catch me smoking I’ll let you pick my next haircut.
Knowing my favorite was a clippered pixie she was putting her long red hair at risk.
Few days later I woke to the smell.
Again she was in the kitchen making coffee. I told her if she was having a smoke and coffee in the morning it was ok.
I just didn’t want it to turn into a life controlling habit.
She offered her hair again if I caught her smoking.
I set cameras in the back yard sitting area that I suspected as the likely location of the morning smoking.
Viewing the video I was shocked to see that it wasn’t my wife but my oldest daughter.
Ellie was eighteen and getting ready for college.
I let it go on a few more days and then told her mother what I had seen.
Jerri promised to talk with Ellie.
Jerri was unaware of the cameras but true to her word she spoke with Ellie but instead of stopping the smoking she joined her.
I showed Jerri the new video of the two them smoking and reminded her of the promise.
She said no that she was just showing Ellie how stupid she looked smoking.
No dice I said let’s go to the barn.
I did all the haircuts in the barn.
Plenty of room and no mirrors. I burred the boys in the barn every year when school was out for the summer. Every year they cried and whined abut it but it happened. Some
Times the neighbor lady would bring her two boys over as well.
Jerri wasn’t happy. She argued her point. Cried and cussed saying it just wasn’t fucking right. She knew I had caught her and was correct in expecting her to keep her promise.
When we got to the barn I didn’t put the cape on her or even let her sit down.
I took my scissors out of the drawer grabbed a handful of red hair and crunched through it without waning.
I threw it on the floor inviting her to sit in the chair.
I capped her and started playing with the clippers to worry her.
I plugged the clippers in flipped them on. Tuned them in. I listened to the popping sound when I turned the adjusting screw to far to the left then back to the right finding the sweet sound of the buzz.
Jerri sat nervously.
Lit a smoke and said. Hell I’ve been caught.
Might as well enjoy one more.
Pushing her long red hair aside. I brought the clippers buzzing with the perfect humm supporting a #2 guard to her neck.
Please think about what you are fixing to do. She begged.
I am. I replied lifting the clippers cutting away a strip of red hair reducing it to short stubble. Moving over I set the clippers in made anther pass.
Now she had a nice two inch clippered path to the top of her head.
I stopped to enjoy my work for a second.
She ask if it was good or what.
I said yes everything was good.
Then she ask me to just get it done.
Started clippering once more letting all
that red hair hit the floor in large clumps.
Buzzing and rebuzzing the sides and back to make sure it was all just stubble.
Then I went to work on the top
With scissors and a comb. Lifting and whacking and chomping it down to a cool 1 inch long. Pieces of foot long red hair sat in her lap and all over the barn floor. Jerri sat crying saying I can’t believe you did that.
Ellie walked in the barn observing what had happened. She picked up the hand mirror and showed her mother the haircut results.
To my surprise Jerri jumped up took
The scissors from my hand. I figured what hair I had was at risk but she quickly without mercy grabbed Ellie by her hair. Then chopped a big chunk off the top it was cut almost the scalp. Then invited Ellie to sit. Her first reaction was no but Jerri held up the mirror and Ellie melted into the chair sobbing.
Jerri didn’t blink just picked up the clippers and started shearing bangs first across the top right on off the back. The red hair was raining down. Littering the floor.
I said at least I gave you a two leant haircut not just a buzz.
Jerri said let me fix that. Pushed the #2 guard off and started shaving the side with a pass over the ear.
One pass after another the stubble was reduced to smooth white skin that was even brighter against the red hair.
The three boys stepped into the barn to see what was going on. The oldest said shit yall I knew it was going to be her turn sooner or later.
The youngest said it’s that time again.
I just agreed and said next.

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