VS Baldy
I was always a loner. I was an only child of a single mother and we were pretty poor. When I finished high school I enrolled in the local community college studying literature. I did pretty well and won a full scholarship for an MFA program at a place far away in Massachusetts. I had no money but if I kept my grades up I’d be ok.
My multi-bus trek from small town Iowa to Massachusetts was uneventful but long, Bridgewater MA with a suitcase and $18 to my name. I had to make this work. I went to check in at orientation and was told some very bad news. Because I was 3 days late there was no more housing, they assumed I wasn’t coming so they awarded housing to someone else. Not only was I now homeless, I had no way to get back home. Devastated.
“Is there anything I can do”
“Sorry young man. And if you don’t take the assigned classes this semester your scholarship will not only be revoked, you’ll be in arrears the price of the semester.” the stern registrar said.
I began to have a melt down.
“Oh my god, oh my god! I’m marooned and have no resources. Please help. Is there anything available?”
Mr. Tellus, the registrar, thought for a moment, took a breath and then made this suggestion:
“Three blocks from here, same side of the street you’ll find a stand alone building that has a storefront barbershop called ‘Nicole’s’. She often has a room available for students only that are willing to put in some hours around the shop and building and follow her guidelines. The college has an unofficial relationship with her business to help promote extraordinary academic achievement. Why don’t you pay her a visit and see if anything is possible?”
“Thank you Mr Tellus! I’ve always been a great student. I’m sure I won’t let you or her down!” I was saved!
I made my way down the street and found a rather modest looking building with a somewhat weathered sign that just said “Barbershop”. I entered and was struck by the bright overhead fluorescent lighting and the brown linoleum floor. There was a wooden bench for the waiting area and the smell of stale cigarette smoke. There was a single barber chair on the other side of the room where sat a man having his shiny head being buffed by a lady barber. She wore a white smock and black jeans. She had long black hair in a high pony tail with very short blunt bangs.
“Hi, I uh …” I began to announce myself.
“Have a seat. I’ll be with you in a few minutes.” The lady barber nonchalantly said.
“I’m not here for a haircut.” I said, trying to clarify myself.
“I know who you are. Tellus called. Now have a seat.” this time a little annoyed. Then she returned to the client. Buffing his head until it almost glowed. “Ok Greg. See you next week. And best not be late.” The client meekly got up from the chair.
“Yes Miss Nicole. I’m real sorry.” He gave her some cash and then quietly left the shop. Then Nicole organized some of her tools and then walked over to me.
“You must be Eric. Follow me.” She then turned around and began to head back to the barber chair. From her smock she took out a Virginia Slim 120 cigarette, lit it up, and then began the short tour and orientation. She opened up a door to the right of the chair and led the way down the hall. There were two or three doors and a staircase at the end of the hall. She then opened up the door on the right to reveal a small windowless room. There was a cot, a desk, and an empty bookshelf. There was an empty closet too.
“Here’s the deal Eric. This is your room. No TV, radio, guests or talking. This is a quiet house. This will help your studies. I’ll post chores on the bulletin board in the hall, but you’ll get the routine down in a couple weeks. A lot of sweeping and dusting, I smoke a lot. As long as you follow my rules and keep your grades up the room is yours. You accept the deal?” Taking a drag from the cig she pierced my soul with her glare. I was apprehensive, intimidated, a little scared, but also desperate.
“Yes Nicole! Many thanks. I won’t let you or the school down.”
“That’s Miss Nicole” with warning glance.
“Yes, sorry, Miss Nicole”
“Ok. Leave your bag here and follow me.” I followed her trail of smoke back to the shop. She put the cig in the corner of her mouth, grabbed the hair cutting cape and with her head gestured for me to the barber chair. A lump came to my throat. I hated haircuts. My hair has been in a ponytail for 15 years. Seeing my hesitation she piped in cooly yet sternly “Hop up Eric, we gotta get rid of that shit on your head.”
“Ah, Miss Nicole, I appreciate the offer but I’m a long hair kind of guy. Maybe a trim down the line but …” Nicole then takes the cig out of her mouth, takes a big drag and breaks the news:
“Well, then, Eric, there’s the door.” she glaring at me, pointed to the door. “Oh god, this can’t be happening” I thought to myself. I was frozen in fear and desperation.
“Well?” she implored.
I felt the room spinning and my legs wobbly as I sat in the barber chair.
“Well?” she asked again
“May I please have a haircut Miss Nicole?” Putting the cigarette out and lighting another one she added:
“I’m shaving your head Eric. All my tenants must be bald. Now be a good boy and ask nice.”
On the verge of a panic attack, my eyes welling with tears, trapped and defeated, I meekly asked “Miss Nicole, will you please shave my head?”. Planting the cig back in her mouth she fastened the cape on me.
“Of course I will.” Her first order of business was taking the scissors and snipping off the pony tail. Then she revved up the balding clippers and planted them center of my forehead and began to peel away, strip by strip on the top of my head, my hair. A long ash fell on my cheek as she began balding my left side. Holding ear down, squinting one eye because of the smoke, she went on to bald my right side and back. I was staring at myself in the mirror. The image blurred through my tears. Piles of hair on my lap and floor. Nicole then lathered me up with shave cream and sternly shaved my head three times.
As she was shaving me bald she went over more details of my duties and expectations.
“Now Eric, I expect you in this chair every morning at 6:45. You will have my coffee ready and first pack of cigarettes opened for me on the counter. You will be balded every morning during your stay here. Any poor academic reports, poor attendance, poor chore duty, bad attitude will be met with the strap.” Here she pointed to her leather razor sharpener. “Oh yes, I will administer corporal punishment.”
My face blanched as she said that and she began my first head buffering. Now shining like a cue ball, she uncaped me.
“Now sweep up this place and then head to your room.” Devastated, I hesitated. “Or” she continued “You can leave.”
Trapped and defeated I began my first sweeping.
She lit another cigarette and began to head upstairs
“I’ll see you at 6:45 am for your daily.”
to be continued
