Miscommunication

Have you ever had a day when you are misunderstood at each turn? We all have had those days. I know I have and I had one today. Most of the time miscommunication hasn’t really caused any great problem. Usually it can be caught in no time and fixed.

Well! Today I went to visit Zack, my barber. For a long time now, Zack has been trying to get me to let him cut my MOP, as he calls it. My hair is really thick and curly. It is a very light tan/blonde color. The hair is curly enough that what appears to be about 3 inches of hair usually is about 7 inches if pulled all the way out. I usually have Zack trim up around the neck area and let he hair just touch the collar.

Each time I go in, Zack begins with, “Dave! How about you let me get rid of this MOP?” I always answer no and we go from there. Today Zack came up with a statement that I didn’t pay any attention to and that got me into trouble. Zack said, “Dave! Sometime let me relieve you of this MOP or if you want, I can do it today.” Now if you look at that statement, it was designed to get me one way or another. I didn’t pay any attention to the structure of the statement. To my dismay and horrors, I answered, “OK!”

Now Zack always cleans up my neck with the clippers so that wasn’t unusual. I didn’t think anything about him using the clippers so I was sitting there relaxed. All of a sudden I felt the clippers go up the back of my head and right down the top to the forehead. Of course a huge amount of curly hair fell on my lap. I jumped and asked Zack what he thought he was doing. He replied, “I’m getting rid of the MOP as you said.” I said, “What are you talking about?” Zack said, “I said I could do it right now and you said OK!” I sat there for a minute and analyzed how this could happen and then I realized he did end his sentence in such as way he could have mistaken my OK as saying, OK, do it now. Of course it was too late to do anything but let Zack finish what he had started. By the looks on his face, he was very happy to do just that. Thanks goodness no one was waiting to see this humiliation that has begun and will continue.

I told Zack, “Finish it. I guess I am going to find out soon if I like a short haircut.” Zack laughed and said, “You are going to love it. Trust me!” To add insult to injury, Zack made sure all of the hair he cut off, landed on my lap so I could see how much I had on my head. The mound grew and grew. Finally I said, “Zack! Stop already! Do you have a bag of hair back there! Zack laughed and said, “Dave, you had one huge amount of hair on your head. I am surprised that you neck didn’t get tired holding up all of this hair.”

I had known Zack for many years and he is a great guy. I knew he had ‘hit’ me with that statement knowing I would say OK and he would take it to mean, OK, take it off. I must say that after most of my hair was cut off, I was beginning to enjoy it all. When Zack finished, he got a large, clear plastic bag to put my hair in. He told me to take it with me to remind me of the time when I didn’t have enough good sense to get it cut off.

As I was putting the hair in the bag, I didn’t pay any attention to Zack and he was putting warm lather on my head. Before I knew what was happening, Zack began shaving my head - right up on top. By then it was too late. I thought the clippers going over my head was a thrill, the razor caused chills to go down my spine. When he hit the crown, things began to happen. I only hoped things would get back to normal by the time he was finished.

When Zack finished, I was slowly turned around and I couldn’t believe that the person I was looking at was me. I must admit it took some getting used to, but I finally decided I liked it after I ran my hands over the smooth surface. The feeling was outstanding. Zack looked at me and said, “Feels great, doesn’t it?” I looked at him and said, “Amazing! This is really wild! Thanks for this!”

I paid Zack and left with my big bag of hair. As soon as I stepped outside, I realized for the first time there was a slight breeze in the air. It sure did feel great. As I was walking down the walk, I met my best friend Al. Al just about fell over when he saw me. He asked me how I got the courage to go for a drastic hairstyle. I told him what had happened and that I thought Zack had planned it.

Al looked worried. I asked him what the problem was. He told me that the last time he went in to get his hair cut, Zack wanted to go short with me and I told him the day that Dave goes short, I will be right in for the same. I told Al I would go and hold his hand. Al was on his way in to see Zack so I went with him. When we entered, Zack was busy giving himself a haircut. We couldn’t believe what we were watching. Zack was removing all of his hair. We asked him why and he said, “After I finished Dave’s head, it looked so good that I couldn’t stand it, so I am going to shave my head.”

When Zack finished with the clippers, he motioned for Al to take a seat. Zack said, “Ok! Al! I will take care of you and then I will finish this.” Al said, “Oh! No! Zack! Don’t let me stop you! Go ahead and finish your cut. I want to watch this!” Zack said he didn’t know about shaving the back of his head - he had never tried it before. Feeling like I would like to be helpful, I offered to take care of the back of the head. Zack looked at me and said, “I don’t know if I trust you, you might want to get revenge.” Then he laughed.

It wasn’t long before Zack was finished and he looks super. He said he knew he was going to keep this cut for a long time since he loved the feel of it and the look.

Al hopped into the chair and Zack put the cape on him. Zack picked up the clippers and before Al could say a word, a wide shaved strip appeared right on the top of his head. Zack grinned and said, “You thought I had forgotten what you said the last time you got your hair cut, didn’t you?” Al, laughed and said, “I was hoping you had.” Before long Al was shining also. Just think 2 head shaves in a row.

I have continued to keep my noggin shaved. Al let his grow back until he had about 2 inches of hair and then had Zack shave him again. Al said he loved to watch the hair fall when he gets shaved. After several years of this, I decided to let my hair grow and do what Al does. When my hair got about an inch long, I noticed that I was into the MPB phase of hair growth. I was glad to see it all shaved off again and I knew that was the last time anyone would see hair on my head. Al and I continue to visit Zack once a week and let him shave our heads. Strange as it may seem, having someone else shave you head, feels much different than when you do it yourself.

I am a confirmed Head Shaver. So it takes me about 5 minutes longer in the morning. It is well worth the time it takes. Sure beats shampooing and drying the MOP!