Story 6 : Lost the battle to my friend on hair length

Lost the Battle!

After graduating from High School, I went to work for my father in the

construction business.  I could have had a desk job, but I liked the out of

doors.  I started from the ground up.  I didn’t mind it at all for I wanted

to learn the business so that was a logical place to begin.  As a lark while

in High School, I began to let my hear grow.  I really liked the idea of the

short styles that were beginning to be turned out at the barbershop, but I

took on my best friend who dared me to let my hair grow.  I told Brad that I

would let my hair grow as long as he did…..BIG  MISTAKE!  During High

School, it was fun and after we graduated, we continued on the quest.

When I began working for my dad and working out of doors, the long hair did not

seem to bother me that much.  I was used to it by then.  However, when

spring came, I found that I was uncomfortable with the long hair, but Brad

hadn’t given in so I wasn’t either.  The first three years that I worked for

my father, the hair kept getting longer and longer.  The hair got so long

that it became a problem.  My hair is blonde, extremely thick, and straight.

The hair was well below my shoulders - actually to the waist.  Not only was

it becoming a pain, but it really took a long time to wash and dry.  I even

got to the point where I asked my mother if she would braid it in one big

braid.  Of course Mom was happy to do it.  Dad came in the day Mom was

braiding my hair for the first time and he just shook his head and said,

“Tom!  Isn’t it about time for this foolishness between you and Brad come to

a screeching halt?  That braid looks so bad.  To think my son would walk

around with a braid is really going a little too far.”

I looked up at him as Mom was finishing and said, “I hate this hair.  I

wished I could get it all shaved off, but I sure am not going to let Brad

win this one.”  Dad just shook his head and said, “That hair of yours had

better not get in the way of safety on the job.  Yes!  I am concerned about

you and my other workers.  I assured Dad that I would make sure that it didn

’t become a safety issue.  When I went to work, I just put the big braid

inside of my shirt and it didn’t cause a problem.  I sure hated it, but I

couldn’t bring myself to let Brad win.

I did notice that when I washed my hair and Mom gave me a big, tight braid,

the hair dried slowly and the braid became tighter.  I still was fighting

it.  This went on for the rest of the year and then I received a call from

Brad.  It seems he wanted to get a job while going on to college and he

needed to cut his hair for the job.  I said to myself, “YES!  I’ve won.

Thank God that it is over.”  Brad was away at school so I couldn’t go and

watch him get his hair cut, but he E-Mailed me a series of pictures of him

getting his hair cut.  I was happy to see the pictures, but I wasn’t that

thrilled as to the style he got.  He still had hair on the top of his head

that well over 4 inches long.  He did look great when the cut was finished.

I almost shouted in the phone while speaking with Brad about the pictures

and the fact I could finally get rid of some of this hair.   When Brad and I

hung up, I was ecstatic!  Finally it was over.  Brad had lost the battle.  I

didn’t say a word to the folks.  Spring was in the air and the air

temperature began to increase and the sun was shining more and more.  I

thought it would be a good time to lose some of this hair and begin to get a

tan.  I wanted to go Trout Fishing so I had planned my vacation such that I

would have my vacation in the spring.  I had 3 full weeks of fishing.  As

you can tell, I love to fish.

Dad usually took off some time about this time, but he had several new

project beginning and he couldn’t get off.  I do finishing work, so since

the projects were just started, by the time I returned to work, the

finishing work would be beginning.  I thought that was great planning.  Dad

agreed to my plan.  Since Brad now was cutting his hair on a regular basis,

I was so looking forward to visiting the barbershop for the first time in

about 5 years.  As we were eating breakfast, Dad said, “Tom!  What are you

going to be doing your first day of vacation?  Trout season doesn’t begin

for 3 days.”  I surprised both Dad and Mom when I said I was going to get a

haircut!  They both looked surprised and I said, “Brad finally gave in and

he has cut his hair so I will get to get mine cut.”  Dad said, “I bet you

will be glad to get rid of that mess.”  The next thing I said shocked both

of them.  I said, “You know!  I have gotten used to this hair.  It will be

most difficult getting rid of some of it, so I guess I will just get the

ends trimmed so it looks a little better when it isn’t braided.”  To that

statement, Dad just shook his head.

I left the house and was on my way to get my hair cut.  I was looking

forward to it, but I wasn’t.  As I was driving to the barbershop, I couldn’t

decide how much to get cut off.  When I arrived at the barbershop, the place

was packed.  I wasn’t about to go in with all of those eyes on my huge

braid.  I didn’t know why, but the first shops I stopped at, were extremely

busy.  I went looking around for a barbershop that wasn’t busy.  I found one

and it took me a few minutes to find a parking spot.  As I was walking back

to the barbershop, I noticed four men in uniform.  They were walking ahead

of me and I could see that they all had really short haircuts.  They went

into the barbershop and I followed in after them.

I couldn’t wait to see what cut they were going to get.  I guessed they all

would get a light trim.  It turned out that the four were State Policemen.

They were in uniform so no doubt they would be going out on patrol after

their haircut.  I sat and watched.  The barber, Ned, was a young man of

about 25.  He had one client in the chair and he was getting a short ivy

league so I got to see the finished product and it looked really sharp -

well cut.  I knew I was in the right place.  The first officer got up and

said hi to Ned and sat down in the chair.  As the cape was put around his

neck, Ned said, “The usual Stu?”  Stu said, “Yep!”  That was all that was

said.  In no time what hair Stu had on his head was gone.  I was really into

this cut since this is the first really clipper shaved haircut I had seen.

Well!  It turned out not to be a clipper shave but a razor shaved cut.  Talk

about hitting the jackpot.  I couldn’t believe my eyes.  In no time Stu was

shaved twice and his head glowed.  Talk about shine.  He looked really

AWESOME with that shiny head in the uniform.

When he came over and sat down, I told him how fantastic I thought he looked

with the head shaved.  Stu thanked me and noticed the huge braid I had.  The

braid was inside of my shirt, but you could see a small portion of it at the

collar.  Stu didn’t say anything other than Thanks!  The next officer was

getting the same treatment.  He too looked AWESOME with the shiny head and

his uniform.  I thought, ‘there is something about a man in a uniform with a

bald head that I think looks so terrific.  Ben stepped from the chair and

thanked Ned for a great cut.  Ben came over and sat down next to Stu.  As he

sat down, I said, “Great look!”  Ben thanked me and asked me what style I

was getting.  I was facing him so he didn’t see my braid.

Cal was next and when Ned finished, he too was sporting the Head Shave and

he looked equally fantastic as Stu and Ben.  Stu and Ben were talking with

me so Cal came over and sat on my other side.  I looked at him and told him

how great the cut looked on him.  He too thanked me and as he and I turned

to talk with Stu & Ben, Cal asked me about the braid.  He said, “Why would

any man in their right mind want a braid that big?  Why would any man want

hair that long?  I laughed and told the three of the wager that my classmate

and I made and that Brad had finally given in and I won.  They all wanted to

know what I won and I told them that I won the distinction of letting my

hair grow longer (time) than Brad.  They wanted to know if I was going to

get it cut off and I told them I couldn’t bring myself to getting it cut.

They wanted to know what I was doing there if not for a haircut.  It old

them I needed to build up some courage to try and get the hair cut a little.

As we talked, Jim was just about finished.  He too got his head completely

shaved.

Just as Jim was finished, in walked a Marine recruiting officer.  He had a

very short haircut.  I knew from experience of the four state policemen,

that he too was going to get a head shave.  He looked fantastic the way he

was.

Just then, Ned said, “Next!  I think you young man is next.”  I got up and

didn’t know what to do.  I wanted short hair, but I just couldn’t bring

myself to tell Ned, to cut it off.  After all, it has been with me for over

5 years.  I said, “Let the Marine here go first.  I am on vacation so I am

in no hurry.  The Marine thanked me and sat down.  Yep!  I was right.  The

marine was getting his head shaved.  The more hair he lost, the better he

looked.  I made that comment with the four state policemen.  They were

waiting for the Marine.  It seems they are good pals.  When the Marine was

finished, he got up and Ned invited me to take the chair.

I stood up and thought, ‘should I do it?’  Just then, Jim pulled my huge

braid out and said, “Young man!  This has got to go.” Just then the Marine

saw it and said, “Cripe!  That has to be the biggest one I have ever seen in

my entire life.”  I grinned and he asked me, “What is going on here?”  I

took the time to tell everyone including Ned the story.  Ned said, “I hope

you came here today for me to cut that disgusting thing off.”  I said, “I

came here to get some of it cut.”  All six of them said, “Oh!  NO! NO! NO!

It all has to go.  You aren’t going to get out of here with just a little

trim.  We will see to that.”  For some reason, I wasn’t the least nervous as

I sat down in the chair.  Ned put the cape on me and pulled the braid out.

He looked at me and said, “We were just joking!  What do you really want

done today?”  I looked at the five officers standing there.  I winked at

them and said, “Ned!  Let’s take it all off!  I have been waiting for this

for over 5 years.”  I then said, “How about you five having a go at cutting

the braid off?”  They all smiled and began rubbing their hands.  I told Ned

I wanted to save the braid as a reminder of my foolish years!  Ned put a

big, tight rubber band around the braid close to my head.

The Marine came up to me and asked me if I was nervous and I told him I wasn

’t.  I said, “I can’t wait to get rid of it.”  He picked up the scissors and

made of slice and said, “Dam!  Your hair is really thick.  Each had a go at

it and when Tom got his turn, the braid came free.”  Ned said, “I bet you

have one strong neck having to hold up this!  He picked it up and said, “It

must weight 2 pounds.”  He walked in the back and weighed it.  He came out

and said, “Boys!  I was wrong, it weighs almost 3 pounds.  Now that is a lot

of hair.”

Ned laid the braid aside and said, “Well young man, how are we going to

finish this?”  I said, “My name is Tom.  I don’t know.  It sure feels great

the way it is.  I will let it up to the officers.”  They all looked at each

other and grinned.  I was hoping they would say, “SHAVE HIM!” but they didn’

t.  The all walked forward and said, “Give us the clippers.”  Each one took

a turn and before I knew it, I looked pretty much skinned.  I was loving

every moment of it.  When they each had a turn, they handed the clippers

back to Ned and then said, “SHAVE IT!”

I was surprised that all five of them sat down and waited for the haircut to

end.  When I was turned around to face the mirror, I was so happy to see

that shining head!  BOY!  Did it look and feel great.  I thanked all of the

men.  They all came to me and shook my hand.  I was congratulated by all.  I

paid Ned and gave him a good tip.  I picked up my huge braid and left with

the officers.  I sure did feel great.  The first rays of sun hit the head

and it felt so good.  I couldn’t get over how smooth my head was and the

sensations I suddenly became aware of.  I knew right then I wouldn’t let

hair grow on my head again.  What a feeling!  When I got home, the folks

were out so I went to my room and looked more closely to my bald head.  I

loved what I saw.  Then it dawned on me that I didn’t ask Ned what he used

to get my head to shine.  I did notice that he put something on my head once

the cream was washed away but I didn’t know what it was.  I got on the phone

and called him and he told me what he did.

I now know I will go back each week for Ned to give me a good shave.  I was

sitting in the living room watching TV when the folks came home.  They

couldn’t believe their eyes.  They both had to rub my head and Dad said,

“Son!  That haircut looks great on you.  I do hope you will consider on

keeping it.  It is you.”  Mom said, “I can’t get over how masculine you look

and how your eyes really stand out.  I have never seen them so blue.  The

bald head suits you perfectly.  Do keep it shaved!  I love it!  Did you save

the braid?”  I told Mom that I did.

Well for the next three weeks, I didn’t let the hair grow back.  Each week I

went to Ned’s and he gave me a good shave.  It felt so good for him to do

the shaving.  I loved doing the shaving myself, but I do like to have

someone else do it.  The feeling is totally different.  When I went back to

work, my skin had gotten a good tan on it.  I felt great and was still

loving the freedom I experienced the very first day of the shaving.  My

fellow workers couldn’t get over how different I looked.  They all gave me a

positive approval.

That summer, Brad came home and he couldn’t get over my bald, tanned head.

He said, “WOW!  That looks great!  I thought about doing something like

that, but I couldn’t bring myself to asking for it.”  I couldn’t pass up the

opportunity to invite him to go with me to Ned’s and get cleaned up.  Brad

said, “I’ll go with you, but I won’t get my head shaved.”  I thought, ‘I bet

he will!’  Sure enough my five friends were there as I knew they would.  I

knew the day and time they will be there so I made sure we were there just

before they came in.  I introduced Brad to them.  Brad seemed a little

uncomfortable, but when it came his turn, he got in the chair and said, “I

would like a trim.”  The guys spoke up and said, “Trim!  That is Ned’s

specialty.  So Ned, give the young man a trim.”  Ned leaned forward and said

to Brad, “The trim they are talking about is like Tom’s there.”  Brad said,

“GO  FOR  IT!”  That surprised me.  Later he told me he loved the look the

five had and me so he wanted to try it.  He loves it.  So Brad and I have

come the full circle.  We both started off our relationship in grade school

with crew cuts and here we are coming out from under long hair to a bald

head.  Brad didn’t know if he was going to keep his head shave, but I sure

do know I am.  There is no other style I would want.  The officers sure know

what is best.