Well, Casey and I are still together. I suggested his computer firm to the hotel manager for updating the hotel’s antiquated network system. The manager thought it was a good idea and for two weeks now Casey has been at the hotel every day.
I have tried not to get jealous today, but, Casey has been at the front desk with Peter all day. Being the perverted little flirt Peter is, he has made moves on Casey every chance he could. Peter would look over in my direction to see if I was watching. Most of the time I was. Casey thought the whole thing was funny. Needless to say, I did not. I know too much about Peter. I have no idea how any of the haircuts turned out today - - that is until my last customer came in.
It was about 9:00pm, I was cleaning up from a customer - - pretending to clean up the same area in front of the door to the shop. Peter had a baseball game on his small TV and Casey was over there watching it with him. I was about to use my broom as a weapon on Peter, when a guy came up and asked if the shop was still open. I almost said no. Then I looked at him. Not too tall but very well built. Thick blond hair that came just below his ears and well below his shirt collar in the back and long thick sideburns. Did I mention his ice-blue eyes. I took a deep breath and told him I was getting ready to close, but I would be happy to give him a haircut. (He had no idea how happy.) I turned and waved to Peter and Casey who had noticed the new customer. Peter smiled wryly. Casey did not. Maybe I could get even.
He sat in the chair nearest the door. I asked him what he would like. He said that he had never been in a real barber shop before and that he usually trimmed his own hair. I smiled and said he did a good job. (Obviously he never trimmed too much off anywhere.) He hesitated and then said he wanted a really short cut. Now I’m not one to stop another person from improving themselves, but, I suggested that maybe it would be good to try something somewhat shorter-than-usual rather than chopping it off too short. Silence. Oh boy, now I had done it. I suggested I wash his hair and that way he could have more time to make up his mind. He nodded. So over to the sink we went.
I got him situated and I turned on the water slowly. I tested the water to make sure I wouldn’t scald him and then slowly and gently ran the water through his thick wavy blond locks. He relaxed once I started to shampoo his hair. I gently massaged his scalp feeling those beautiful locks in my grasp. This took a while. (I wanted to give him as much time as possible to make up his mind - - yeh right.) I rinsed the shampoo out and turned to reach for the conditioner and I saw that both Peter and Casey were watching from across the hotel lobby. I smiled.
The conditioner was sweet smelling like peach blossoms and my client smiled and said it reminded him of home. Cue me. I ask where he was from. Atlanta, GA. Was he just visiting or had he moved up here? He had just moved.
I massaged his scalp again with the conditioner in. This too took some time. I said by the way my name is Cal. He’s Grant. I rinsed the conditioner out and wrapped a towel around his head. We moved back over to the chair next to the door. I checked to see if we still had an audience. Yep. Very intent on the activities in the shop.
I just sort of dried his hair. Just so it would not drip too much. I ran my fingers through his hair and smiled and asked if he had made up his mind. Yes. He wanted it really, really short. Not just short, not just really short, but really, really short.
Well, of course, I was forced to give in. I got out the blow dryer and my over-sized brush and started to dry his long thick hair. I started on his left and slowly worked from front to back making sure I fluffed and caressed as much as I thought I could get away with. I worked around to the back and around to his right. When I finished I turned and saw that my audience had moved over to the lobby chairs facing the shop just outside the shop.
I got out my favorite razor and took a deep breath and put the #0000 attachment on - - he did say really, really short. Starting on his right, I placed my left hand on his head and tilted it away. Then I clicked on the razor. I started at the bottom of his long thick sideburns and slowly moved up the side of his head till I reached the top. I continued starting next to his ear and slowly moving the razor through that long thick wavy hair watching it fall into his lap and onto the floor in golden heaps.
I moved just behind him and started just behind the ear and slowly moved the razor up continuing slowly gently but firmly tilting his head forward. The long locks were being reduced to almost nothing. I kept moving the razor slowly up to the crown and working my way towards his left.
When I got to just behind his left ear, I firmly and gently tilted his head away and again moved the razor up the side of his head. I finally came to his left and moved the razor from the bottom of his long thick sideburns up to the top of his head. I retraced my steps in reverse all the way around to his right side. I took off the #0000 attachment and cleaned up the back of his neck and created a defined line around his ears.
I put on the #1 attachment and clicked the razor on again. I tilted his head forward and started on his right at the front and moved the razor over the top of his head showering his lap with those long thick golden locks. I continued moving front to crown slowly and firmly reducing his long locks to stubble finishing up on his left side.
Then I got out the shaving cream and smoothed it around the sides and back of his head. I took out my trusty straight edge and started on his left and shaved from top down to where his sideburns had been. I continued around to the back starting at the crown and moving to his neck. I continued around to his right side and finished up where his sideburns had been. Then I decided what the heck, and I put shaving cream on his face and then proceeded to give him a nick close shave. I took my time and moved slowly. When I was done I was pleased to see that I had not nicked him.
I took out my favorite tonic - ice mint - and gently applied it to his smooth sides and back of his head and to his face. He smiled and said he liked that.
I went back and picked up the razor again and removed the attachment and got my flat top comb and proceeded to even the top leaning in as much as I dared. When I was done I brushed the little hairs off his face and neck and removed the cape. He rubbed his hands over his nearly bald head.
I held my breath. He smiled and said he liked it and wished he had done it sooner. I told him it did look good on him and he paid me and left rubbing his hands on his head.
Well, of course I had to sweep up all that thick wavy hair on the floor. So, I proceeded to do so fully aware that my audience was still there. In a few moments I felt someone’s hand on my shoulder. Casey turned me around and looked into my eyes and told me never to do that to him again. Then he turned around and shut the shop door in Peter’s face and put the closed sign up and pulled the blinds.
He got into the chair and said. “My turn.”
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