Plucking Up the Courage

by Michael Garrett

I paced up and down the street, stomach churning. My college days were over. I had an interview for a job at a prestigious law firm and my hair was a shaggy mess. I really wanted this job and so this mop of hair had to go. I found an old-fashioned barber shop tucked away in a side street, heart beating like you wouldn't believe, I opened the door and went in.

I had never been in a traditional barber shop before so the first thing that hit me was the smell of hair tonic. The barber had just finished with a customer who paid then left. There was one guy in front of me about the same age. The barber called him over , the guy sat in the chair and the barber said "what will it be" I was stunned to hear this guy ask for a short back and sides , trimmed above the ears and to be finished with haircream. The barber was a guy in his late fifties I guess so he knew what this guy wanted.

He put the cape around his neck , combed his hair into a side-part and then got to work with the clippers. It was jaw dropping , the hair was falling like snow. Fifteen minutes later, the guy looked at himself in the mirror. Clean shaven sides and back top combed and slicked with a perfect side-part. They chatted for a moment, the guy was ecstatic with the haircut and barber, needless to say, was very proud of his work. He sold the guy a tub of brylcreem and then it was my turn.

I felt as if I was in a trance when a voice cut through the mist and said "you,re next son" I couldn,t remember the last time anyone had called me that. I got up, went over to the chair and sat down. He put the cape around my neck and said "What's it going to be." I said in a voice that sounded unreal "I'd like the same haircut as the last guy". I have to say not only was he a good barber, he had this knack of putting people at their ease. He asked me if I was new around here , what were my plans and so forth. I told him about my job interview and he told me that he would make sure I was the smartest applicant there. He was as good as his word. Twenty minutes later, when I looked in the mirror, I was amazed at what i saw. A complete transformation. Sides and back clean shaven, razor sharp side-part and every hair gleaming with a coating of brylcreem. He sold me a tub of brylcreem and gave me a few tips on how to keep this style. He wished me good luck and I left.

Anyway, that was six months ago. I got the job and i,m doing really well. I have my haircut every other Saturday, short back and sides of course. I take more pride in my appearance than I ever did before due in part to the job but also because of my first trip to the barber. He always asks how things are. The last time I went he told me that three teenagers had come in for a haircut and left with a haircut just like mine.

THIS IS A TRUE STORY. Guys , I know it can be nerve racking but once you've made the leap, you know you've done the right thing.

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