I got into my car and drove down the highway, pulling a u-hall trailer with me. I had heard about a huge estate sale/auction on the other side of state and I was determined to be there after calling the manager and asking what sort of things were going on the block. One particular thing caught my attention. He told me that he had an old-fashioned barber?s chair for auction and a few prized possessions to with it. I asked him what sort of extras but he told me that as part of the process he had been instructed not to disclose the contents of the box until the buyer promised to take very good care of the chair. I could not imagine what would be included but I was determined to see the chair and do everything possible to secure the purchase.
I got to the designated area and parked my car. I locked the doors and looked at my watch. I had about half an hour to walk around and check out the items. As it was a public auction, there was no need to submit a private bid. I was walking around but I did not see the chair. I finally found one of the employees and asked: ?I would like to see the contents of this block.? I opened the auction brochure and showed him the page.
?I am sorry, sir. There has been a serious bid put on it by a man who is determined to purchase. The owner has respectfully asked us not to show the item until he gets here. At that time she is going to put it on the block as a silent auction item,? I was told.
?You mean I cannot get a look at it. Just a sneak peek?? I asked. I took out my wallet and showed him a $50.00.
His eyes lit up and he took me aside. ?That would be for me?? he asked. I nodded my head. ?I am not supposed to do this. I could get into a lot of trouble. Come back in exactly 20 minutes, as everyone will be busy trying to find seats and getting settled in. Go to the back living room. I will be waiting for you,? he said as I handed him the $50.00 bill. He folded it and I continued walking about.
Twenty minutes seemed to drag on but eventually I heard the booming microphone asking everyone to be seated in the main room. I had been hanging around in the hallway and as people started moving in, I moved out and made my way down the hallway. I got to the back room and stepped inside. ?Close the door, quickly,? I was told. I did.
I looked around. There it was in the corner. A red vinyl backed chair with cast iron footstep so that the customer could get into the chair. Draped over the back were three stripped capes. ?May I touch the capes and the back of the chair?? I begged.
?Make it quick,? I was told. I stepped forward.
?One question and I will let you go. What can you tell me about the history of the chair? Who owned it and what is the contents of the prized possessions?? I asked.
The employee looked at me. ?Are you planning to bid on the chair? If not, I cannot tell you. If you are then I think I should let the proprietor know that there is a second serious bid for the chair and its contents. I am sure the owner will want to meet you and the other gentleman who has placed a silent bid,? he asked.
I looked at the chair. It was in excellent condition, mint condition at that. Original white paint around the bottom of the lift, an original lever to tilt the chair and pump it up. And black painted footrest. The red vinyl wasn?t even scratched. Whoever owned the chair previously knew how to take care of it. ?Did the previous owner use the chair?? I asked.
?Yes, on his wife and daughter and he owned a barbershop that catered exclusively to females,? the employee said. ?He died very young of AIDS and his wife sold the business. She did ask for his personal chair and his effects. Now she needs the money to start a new life. Too many memories. She is asking as an opening bid $8000.00 for everything. The other man has offered $8000.00 unseen. He is coming to take possession. That is why I said if you are interested, I need to tell the proprietor as soon as possible,? he said.
?Do you know at all what is in the box?? I asked.
?I heard something about ponytails, braids, even a number of videos of actual cutting but that is just what I heard,? he said. ?Look, Mister. If you have a reserved seat you better get back out there and soon. There are security walking all around. So shall I tell the proprietor??
I nodded. ?Tell him to bring it out,? I said. ?Let?s see how serious this other guy is and if there are any others who might be interested.?
?Would you like to place a bid so that I can tell the proprietor?? he asked.
?I will do it from the room,? I said.
?As you wish, Sir,? he said.
I walked back into the bidding room and took my seat. I looked around trying to ascertain who the other bidder might be. Maybe he was here maybe he was on the phone. I had no idea. The employee was walking toward the booth. I don?t know what was said but I guess he told the manager that there was a second bid on the chair. I was paying attention to the bidding when a security guard approached me.
?Sir, would you accompany me to the back room?? he asked.
I got up from my seat and followed. ?I understand you made an inquiry about a certain item? You asked to see it. The employee could be fired for showing it to you and for accepting this,? he said as he handed me back my $50.00.
?I am sorry. I meant no disrespect,? I said. He nodded his head. ?Look I wanted to see it. I drove 400 miles to look at it. I read about it in a society newsletter. When I saw the name I recognized it. I remember the man from years back.?
He looked at me. ?I also remember his wife. I used to go to school with her. She may not remember me but I do remember her. She was a beautiful woman and I had a serious crush on her. Look, I would cherish this chair. I am a serious collector of old artifacts,? I said.
?She does not want to sell it to just any old person. She wants to sell it to someone who will use it,? the security guard said. All of a sudden a beautiful woman entered the room. I looked at her. She noted me. She looked at the room and nodded to the guard. He opened the room and she walked in. ?I think you should leave, Sir. I will tell her your intentions.?
It was her. She still looked as beautiful as she did when I knew her in high school. They had been high school lovers. She went on to law school and he went to barber school. Even when she was in university she always wore her hair short. I remember her telling some girlfriends that he cut her hair for her. And he did it often. She even had him come to the dorm to keep her trimmed.
I remember the first time she came into class with short hair. Her hair had been long prior to the first day of university. He was already enrolled in barber school and he needed a model for a show. She volunteered to be his model and he got her to go super short with a clipper cut. When she came to school, she looked stunning. Her hair clippered very short and tight to the neck. Her bangs cut short and the top feathered. She looked like a little boy, so short yet so sexy. Of course being tall and having a long neck accentuated her new style.
On the day she graduated, he cut her hair short, buzzing the back and sides very high. I remember just seeing bits of hair on the sides, around the ears and the bangs. She could have passed for a boy, no doubt about it. You could have sworn that she was entering the army. Yet, it did not seem to bother her.
Now her hair was long again. It touched the middle of her back. It was straight and I was willing to bet it was silky, soft. I was making my way back to the bidding room when the door opened. She walked out and past me. She went into the bidding room and to the manager?s booth. He picked up a phone and spoke to someone on the other line. The discussion seemed to be heated. Finally the manager announced: ?Ladies and gentlemen, there has been an addition to the bidding. If you will open your pamphlet to page 19, block #14 will now be a public bid. For your consideration the owner is $10.000. We will leave it for your consideration and open the bidding in half an hour,? he said.
I looked around and watched as she walked along the back wall. She looked around and finally took a seat behind me. I could smell her erotic perfume. Her large brimmed hat touched my shoulders. I turned slightly. ?I want you to have it,? she whispered. I caught what she had said. ?No, don?t turn around. It has been a long time, Jason. How have you been?? I nodded. ?You always knew, didn?t you Jason? You knew who cut my hair. You knew I was always his model. He experimented on my hair. He had perfected a solution that would grow my hair almost instantaneously. I miss him, Jason. I loved how he took care of me. The feel of his strong hand on my shoulders as he told me to lower my head. How he would cut off my braid or ponytail and then he would buzz my neck. It made me so bothered.?
She sat back up. ?Not to anyone else, Jason. I know you will take care of it. I know you liked it when I came in to class. I know you wanted me but you could not. I was already his and he did take care of me, always,? she said.
The manager looked at his watch. ?Ladies and gentlemen, we have one last item on the block today. The contents of page 19, block #14. This old-fashioned barber?s chair owned by ?????????????????. Representing the owner is his dear wife. The barber?s chair is an original chair with a neck rest, which holds the tissue dispenser. The old leather strap to sharpen the straight razor hangs at the side. The box of possessions includes and old brass cream dispenser and four ivory handled straight razors from Japan. I understand there are some other personal items of sentimental value, which will not be disclosed at this time. The owner?s wife has placed a value of $10,000 on the block. We would like to start the bidding at $7500.00. Do I have an opening bid??
A voice over the PA system came through and placed the opening bid. I tried to detect some aggression in his voice. It was there. I don?t think he liked the idea that it was open now to the public. ?My braids are in the box,? she said, ?including the one you cut for me.?
Yes, I had cut her hair once. He let me do it as I was dating one of her girlfriends. And we took both girls back to his barbershop one evening after a drink or two. Her friend wanted to see how good he was with his tools. I sat back and watched as he cut off her hair. ?Anyone could do this if they had a steady hand. Even Jason could do it. Here, Jason,? he said as he handed me the scissors. ?Finish the cut.? I stepped up to the chair, gripped her braid, opened the blades of the scissors and cut through the long black braid. It hung from my closed fist. I held it in both hands and he told me to keep it if I wanted. But I gave it to her. I remembered how bothered I was when I cut it off. And I remembered the smile that was on her face when I stepped back to the chair beside my date. I was almost in tears when he flicked on the switch of his clippers and he touched her neck with the teeth.
?Jason, don?t let it go to anyone else. Please, don?t. For me, for his memory,? she begged. I raised my paddle and raised the bid. Others got into the bidding as the employee dug into the box and showed a couple of the braids. There was lots of excitement on the floor. ?Jason he videotaped my haircuts, all of them,? she said. I raised the bid again. The voice on the PA sounded again. The bid was up to $8300.00. I raised my paddle again and raised it to $8500.00. Someone else raised it to $8650.00.
?Did he videotape the time I cut it for you?? I asked. She touched my shoulder. The touch told me what I wanted to know. I raised my paddle and raised it to $8900.00.
The bidding went back and forth between the gentleman on the PA system and myself. ?Jason, I have not had it cut since he passed away. I want to sit in the chair one last time before I give it up, but only to the right person,? she said with a touch of fear in her voice. The bid was not $9500.00. He had raised it again. Someone else in the audience raised it to $10,000.00. I sat back. The manager raised his gavel. $10,000.00 going once????.. The voice raised it to $11,000.00.
?Do you know who he is?? I asked.
?An old friend who wants to fantasize about the cutting. All he wants is the videos. He has no love for the chair or for the model. Jason, I always loved you. I ???????????,? she said.
?And I always fantasized about how he would ask you to model for him. I always wondered how your hair grew back so fast. Now I know. But you were always the cutest girl on campus. He was lucky to have you. I think we all knew he was sick. Yet he told me that you made him happy,? I said. ?Look I want to see how serious this guy is about the bid. Do you know where he is calling from??
She nodded her head. ?He is actually here in the building. He does not want anyone to know who he is, publicity issues. High profile,? she said.
?Can you get the two of us together in one room?? I said.
?Maybe,? she said. ?Let me see.? She got up and walked to the booth. She spoke to the manager. He looked at the audience and nodded.
?Ladies and gentlemen, it seems the bidding is being done mostly by two gentlemen. The owner has asked for one final bid from each participant in a private room. The owner will then decide who she will sell the contents to. This is unorthodox procedure for us but it is wish of the seller. If the two gentlemen will follow me to the back room, please,? he said. I stood up and walked to the back room.
In the back room through a curtain he walked in. He stood in front of me. ?You were influencing his bid. I saw you whispering to him. I think I should have the right to purchase the contents of the block,? he said.
?You only want what is inside because you happened to walk into his shop when he was cutting my hair. You saw the video and begged him to sell it to you. You knew who he was and you knew who I was. You also knew about his formula. You tried to steal it from him. You first tried to buy it from him, then you tried to break in and take it, and then you tried to burn down the shop. I know. He knew,? she looked at him.
She looked at the manager and she turned to us. ?Gentlemen, I know you both want this chair and the contents. You for the wrong reason,? she said as she looked at him. ?I doubt you even care about the chair. You want the formula more then anything else. Give me your bid,? she said. He looked at her and smiled. His gold tooth showing as he spread his lips. He looked at the chair and at me. ?There is no way you can afford what I am willing to pay for the formula. So here it is. I will pay $75,000 for the block.?
I looked at her. There was no way I could match that. I shook my head. ?I am sorry. I can?t meet that,? I said to her as I turned.
?That makes it mine,? he said as he reached into his pocket and took out a cashier?s cheque. He handed it to the manager.
The manager looked at her. ?You could still withdraw the item from the block and sell it as you wish, privately,? he said.
She looked at me. She looked at him. ?No, you can?t do that. You have my cheque. It is mine,? he said.
I looked at her. ?Will you care for this and never sell it to anyone?? she asked. I nodded my head. ?Will you cherish what is inside the box and keep it forever in remembrance of me?? I nodded my head again. She took the cheque from the manager and looked at it. $75,000 is a lot of money, Jason. It will help me start a new life overseas. But,????????????????,? she said as she turned to him and ripped the cheque in half and then in half again. She threw the pieces of the cheque into the air. ?What was your opening bid, Jason?? she asked me.
The manager spoke up: ?The first bid was $7500.00 by the gentleman on the PA. This young man raised it to $7750.00,? he said. She nodded her head. The manager struck his gavel on the corner of a bookcase. ?Sold for $7750.00?
The old man walked out of the room in disgust. I stood and looked at my possession. She too walked out of the room. I handed the manager my cashier?s cheque and wrote in the amount. ?Keep your promise, Sir. She trusts you with this.? I stood back as he walked out of the room. I walked over and ran my hands over the red vinyl. I grabbed the lever and tilted it back. I was amazed with how well it had been maintained. I even sat down in the chair and turned it around.
I was sitting in the chair. I had what I wanted. What I had come for. I closed my eyes and smiled to myself. A hand touched my shoulder. I was startled. I turned around. She stood behind me. ?Promise me you will keep this well maintained. It was his life; his prized possession. Don?t sell it to anyone at any cost. Keep what is the box in remembrance of me,? she said. She walked over to the chair. ?May I sit in it one last time?? I nodded my head. ?Jason, I have not had my hair cut since he passed away. Do you think you could do it as well as he did? Jason, please cut my hair like you did once before. Please throw that cape around my neck and let me feel the clippers on my neck once again before I leave for Europe.?
I walked over to the door and locked it. I spun the chair around, wrapped her neck in a white stripped cape. I then pumped up the back of the chair to a point where I was comfortable. I grabbed her long black hair, twisted it into a tight ponytail, grabbed a piece of string and tied it tight to her neck. I let the ponytail drop and it hit the middle of her back. I reached into the box and found a small black case. I opened it to find a pair of gold scissors. I gripped her ponytail, opened the blades and cut into her thick hair. As I did, I remembered that night as he stood beside me and told her girlfriend: ?See even Jason has a steady enough hand to cut hair.? I severed the ponytail from her head and held it in front of he to see. She sniffled a bit and nodded her head. I put down the scissors, reached into the black bag and removed his clippers. I flicked the switch and placed my hand on her shoulder. As she did when the four of us were in his shop, she lowered her head for the last time. ?This is for you, dear. I miss you and I will always remember,? she said.
Author: hairman001Copyright protected ? 2003Copyright legal and registered
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