Tom Visits Nikki

Its mid morning, its been steady without being extremely busy. My name is Nikki and I work in a barbershop with 2 other girls. It's a three chair shop open 6 days a week. Usually just two of us are in at one time, except for Saturdays like today. I'm sitting out the back with Jane and Katie as I apply the last coat of nail polish to my recently manicured nails whilst the shop is empty at the moment. After blowing over my nails to cause them to dry quicker I pick up a cosmopolitan magazine and flick through it. Time pass as we chat aimlessly amongst each. The door bell tinkles and peer into the front of the shop. A scruffy man in need of a good haircut places himself in the waiting area. I place my magazine down and stand up, "hmm someone needs a haircut…… I've got this one…".

Walking over to my chair in my favourite white off the shoulder top, boot cut levis and pointed heels, I pick up my large red cape off the arm of my barber's chair shaking any loose hairs off it. I invite you to come and have a seat. As you walk over I push down on the pedal of the chair to cause it descend. I stand behind the chair, both hands resting on the back, cape tossed over my shoulder. Once you are comfortable I walked beside you and reach for the neck tissue. A long white strip is torn clear off the role then quickly fastened around your neck. You feel my nails against your neck as the tissue is pulled tight. Next I remove the cape from my shoulder and unfurl it with a flick of my wrists. Its then settled over you and drawn tightly closed around the neck tissue.

"Now… what are we doing today?" I question as I run my long fingernails through your hair, "Its been a while between haircuts hasn't it?" I say disapprovingly as I tussle your locks. "Something quite a bit shorter I imagine darling…? Perhaps clipped nice and short around here" I run my nails up the back of your neck, "definitely needs it". You nod. "hmm have you had a crewcut before…?" I ask as I run my comb over your longish tresses. You seem a little nervous and reply with a "no". "I think that would look nice. It will certainly suit you sweety and if you don't get a lot of time to come to the barbershop it will last longer for you, what do you think." I don't really wait for a response before reaching for my clippers. The chair raises a little as I give the pedal a few quick pumps. Just then Katie walks past with a broom, "Katie come here for a second" She walks over to you. 'What do you think of a crewcut…?" She runs her nails through your locks, you love the feeling of your hair between her fingers. She then looks at your face in the mirror, "I think it will be perfect, perhaps a #1 atleast, definitely short" she says as she scratches your head gently with her squared nails and gives you a smile. I agree with Katie and flick on the clippers.

I place my left hand on top of your head and push it toward your chest, you comply, but even if you refused you wouldn't have a lot of choice. I slowly make the first pass up the back of your neck to remove most of the bulk. Lots and lots of hair tumbles down behind you and falls around my feet. After the majority of the back is shorn I make quicker and more precise strokes. I love using my clippers. The back is clipped extremely close to a very short #1. The pressure from my hand is released and your head comes back up right. Next I begin to make passes up the temple and behind your ear. This all happens so fast as I expertly clip you. Both sides and back are now down to a #1 and all that remains is long shaggy locks on the top that I've been eying off since you walked in the door.

I can tell your nervous about this part and I think its cute, however that's not gonna get you out of having a well needed haircut. This is the part I've been waiting for and it's the part you've been dreading. You look like a nervous little boy who is about to receive an unwanted summer haircut from his mother or sister. The clippers still hum in my right hand as I give you a little smile in the mirror, we both know… You feel my left hand come to the back of your freshly clipped neck. For the last time I run my long nails through and tease the length that is left on top, with a smile i place the clippers at your forehead and draw them back. All the cut hair falls off the back and down to the floor where the rest of it already lays. Pass over pass is made as your whole head is now reduced to a very stylish modern crewcut. I smile as I continue to shear you, I don't think you've taken a breath for the last 30seconds, "poor baby….." I think to myself. After the final pass is made the clippers are shut off and I pick up an outline trimmer. Before you know it your haircut is over. You seem relieved, I walk in front of you and grab your jaw in my right hand. You feel my nails slightly dig into you cheek as I turn your head from side to side to inspect my haircut. "Muuuuuch better" I say as I dust the little clippings away from your face and your neck. I unclip the cape and continue to dust with my fluffy pink brush. One of my boots rests on the chairs pedal as you begin to descend. I gently whisk away the cape and the neck tissue shaking the loose hairs. The tissue is dropped to the floor and the cape placed over the arm of my chair.

We walk to the register together as you study your haircut in the other mirrors. You pay me for my service and turn to leave. "You'd better be back soon or we'll have to go shorter next time…"