HaircuttingStories.com

With apologies to JimB who wrote the original story which I took up and carried forward.

"I guess you're going to let your hair grow out again," Norma said as they walked back from the store and passed a small barber shop.

"What do you mean. I never said that," Cheryl snapped.

"Well its been six weeks and you told Bonnie Ann that we would be back in two weeks."

"I would have too if I hadn't gotten so much flack from Mom."

"I got just as much as you especially about the nose stud. Mom really had a fit. That was worse than the haircut. I really liked the feel of getting that haircut though. Dad thought I was crazy. But they're OK with it. Mom agreed that I could keep my nose stud if I wore a very small one."

"I know. My Dad was the same. I just wanted things to cool down. After all we did get them to let us keep the nose studs. My Dad was really cool about that. Do you really want to get you hair cut the same way again, Norma?"

Both Cheryl and Norma were the youngest of three. Cheryl's 20 year old sister was in college and working at a summer camp. Her 23 year old brother had already gotten his master's degree and was working for a large company half way across the country. So Cheryl was given a lot of leeway. Her sister and brother thought she was getting away with murder compared to them. Norma's 21 year old brother and 24 year old sister had jobs out of state. Like Cheryl, Norma was being given a lot more freedom than either of her older siblings had gotten. But both of them got good grades, and hadn't gotten into any serious trouble, so nose studs and crewcuts were indulged without too much disapproval.

Norma hesitated. She wasn't sure she wanted to reveal just how much she liked the feeling of the clippers and especially the feeling of the shaving cream and the shaving around the sides and back. "I really liked the feel, and I like the way it looks. It feels so cool and I think it looks really wow. But I don't have the nerve to go there by myself."

"I know. I feel the same way. OK, let's do it. I have my allowance, how about you.?"

"Yeah, I got it yesterday. When do you want to go?"

"If we're going to do it, it should be before the concert next week." Both girls had received permission to attend the first rock concert of the summer. The group was one of their favorites, and the featured singer had an orange crewcut. Cheryl and Norma thought she was "really cool."

After their last adventure, Cheryl had been reprimanded about driving the car on her learner's permit without an adult present. That part of their adventure had gotten her into more trouble than the nose stud and haircut. In fact that turned out to be more important than anything else. It had taken the focus off Cheryl's other adventure and had resulted in strict orders not to pull that trick again. So driving to Bonnie Ann's for their haircuts was out.

"How are we going to get there? You can't drive without getting in a lot of trouble and neither can I."

"Its not that far Norma. Why don't we just walk. We could make it in half an hour. We don't have to get dressed up this time. You remember Bonnie said she knew out parents. She's not going to ask any questions."

"OK, but when, tomorrow? If we're going I don't want to keep waiting and I don't want to be there with a lot of guys either."

"Tomorrow is Tuesday. I suppose there won't we a lot of people there in the morning. But what do you care if some guys are there. The guys we know thought we looked really cool. You know that Tony likes you and he kept wanting to feel it. I'll bet he's going to want to go out with you. And I think that Rich is going to get up his nerve to ask me. He didn't say anything, but he keeps looking at me."

"I don't care really, I would just feel funny if some older guys were there and stared at us. Let's go tomorrow, but I think she doesn't open until 10 o'clock. You can come to my house at 9:30 and we can go from there. I think it's closer that from your house."

The next morning Cheryl woke early in anticipation. She showered and got dressed choosing her beaded black jeans and her favorite bright red shirt. There was some kind of party at the rec center today so that would be her excuse for the clothes. She looked at herself in the mirror and ran her hands through her hair, now about an inch long at the longest. She applied a little gel and blow dried it back with her brush so that it stood up straight. She thought that even after 6 weeks her crewcut still looked pretty good, but she would not be satisfied until she got it cut again. She got a funny feeling in her throat and elsewhere when she thought of the clippers on the back of her head. She felt scared and eager at the same time. After a few minutes she went back to her room and got the tiny ruby stud that she knew she could wear without any comment from her Mom. After hesitating she decided on some very discrete eye makeup for the same reason. Satisfied, she went downstairs for breakfast.

"There you are Cheryl, .... oh, that looks real cute. What's the occasion? Anyway" she continued without a pause, "I wanted to tell you that I have to go buy some things for the garden club party next week. And I have to go to the bank and some other errands too. I could use some help around the house. Why don't you start the laundry for me. Strip your bed too."

"Mom!, Norma's coming over. We were going to the rec center today" Cheryl protested.

"Well, you'll just have to take time to do the laundry anyway. Norma can help if she's here and you'll get it done sooner. You can go to the center, just be sure to get back in time to finish before I get home. I should be back by three."

"Yeah, like Norma can make the washer work faster. OK, I'll start right after breakfast." Cheryl figured that she could get started, go with Norma to the shop and finish the laundry after they got back. She breathed a sigh of relief because her Mom was distracted and wasn't going to ask any more questions.

She poured a glass of orange juice, and started some toast. It was the 8-grain bread that she had discovered that she actually liked, particularly when it was toasted. That came about when she got involved in the animal anti-cruelty protest march and that led to her decision to become a vegetarian. And that, of course, caused all sorts of arguments with her parents who claimed she would die of malnutrition if she didn't get enough protein and vitamins and calcium, and Mom would have to cook all sorts of stuff especially for her, and if Norma wanted to be a crazy vegetarian she could just make her own meals, and..... But it had all worked out after all, and Mom had even discovered the food pyramid and decided that maybe Cheryl wasn't a completely crazy teenager after all. Fruits and vegetables now had a more prominent place in the house.

"Bye Cheryl. Don't forget the laundry."

"OK, Mom, I'll get it done."

Cheryl finished her toast and gulped down a small glass of milk before heading back to her room to grab her sheets and pillow cases. She hauled them downstairs to the laundry room where she stuffed them into the washer, dumped in some detergent and some fabric softener, set the cycle and hit the start button. She had just gotten back to the kitchen when Norma rang the back door bell and let herself in.

"Hey, Is anyone home? It's me Norma."

"I'm right here, Norma."

"You look great Cheryl. Are you ready to go?

"Not yet. Mom made me take care of the laundry, and I want to get it all down here before we go. Come on, help me carry it down."

"We have to do the laundry! Give me a break. All right, let's get it over with and get out of here."

"Is that it?" Norma asked as they dropped they laundry baskets on the floor.

"Yea, but we'll have to sort this stuff when get back. Mom never takes care of my things the right way, so at least this time it won't get ruined."

The two vegetarian teenagers with crewcuts and nose studs headed down the street. Three blocks later they came to Cherrydale Avenue, the main commercial street in their neighborhood. Bonnie Ann's shop was a block and a half down a side street that was 4 blocks north on Cherrydale. They knew the route exactly. Norma had driven her Mom's car there and had almost gotten side swiped when she made the left turn without paying attention to the on-coming traffic.

The two girls were quiet as they got closer to their destination. As they approached Peachtree Street, where Bonnie's shop was located, Norma broke the silence. "Do you have a funny feeling in you stomach like I do?"

"Yeah. The last time was different. But now I know what its like. I want it, but my stomach is doing flip flops thinking about it."

"Me too. I couldn't keep my hands off the back of my head, especially the part that was so smooth." "I got my undies wet" she confided in a soft voice.

"Norma! You did? Well, so did I back home when I kept feeling it while I was looking in the mirror. It felt so wild. I want to feel it like that again."

As they crossed the last street before the block where Bonnie Ann had her shop, a car passed them and parked in an empty spot a few doors from the shop. As they approached a woman in her 30's stepped out of the car along with two girls, one of them only a few years younger than Cheryl and Norma.

They were close enough to hear the older of the two girls exclaim "Remember Mom you said that I could tell her how to get it cut."

They turned in to Bonnie's shop followed closely by Cheryl and Norma.

"Well, hello Debbie, I didn't expect you and the girls until next week."

"Hi, Grandma, Mom promised that I could tell you how I wanted it cut," Jenny cut in excitedly.

"It that so Jenny?"

"I agreed so long as she didn't do anything too extreme," Debbie said. "She's been pestering me for a week, and since I was going to be near the shop anyway, I gave in and brought them both in a little earlier than usual."

In the meantime Cheryl and Norma had sat down, a little awed by all the activity. Bonnie was just putting a cape around a young man. In the other chair a boy about their age was sitting while a new barber was arranging her equipment.

"Debbie, I want you to meet my new barber. This is Ginger. She's a real barber and really knows her business. She saw that I had the empty chair, and came in to see if she could join me. She actually has a good clientele. I think its going to work out well. Ginger, this is my daughter Debbie and those are my grandkids, Jenny and Missy."

"I'm glad to meet you, Debbie, and of course you too Jenny and Missy. Maybe you'll let me cut your hair sometimes - maybe when your Grandma goes on vacation."

"Do you know how to give a good crewcut? That's what I like the best and I can only get it cut that way in the summer."

"You bet I can. Maybe not quite as good as you Grandma, but real good."

"Is he going to get a short crew cut? I can check it out if he does. He would look nice with one." Jenny continued in her non-stop fashion.

"Grandma, can I change the station to my favorite? I'll turn it back before we leave."

"Sure Jenny. I like your music. Its different and interesting."

Bonnie Ann finally took note of Cheryl and Norma. "Well, its Cheryl and Norma isn't it? I'm glad to see you liked your haircuts and decided to come back, although you could have come a little sooner. Its going to be a little while. I hope you don't mind the wait"

"Oh, we don't mind," Cheryl said as she took a quick glance at Norma who nodded yes. They sat down to wait, fascinated by what was going on.

Jenny went to the back of the room and began to fiddle with the radio that had been playing some rather bland rock music. What came on after a while was unusual. It was new age, eastern and something else. It lent a hypnotic background to the sounds of the barbershop.

Jenny stopped at Ginger's chair just as Ginger had asked her young client how he wanted his hair cut. "You should get a really short crew cut. It would look very nice on you" she said to him. "Don't you think so Ginger?"

Surprised, Ginger responded "I'm sure it would," before she could stop herself. The boy in her chair seemed more surprised than Ginger.

"Well, you'll just have tell her to do it then" Jenny said to him while watching him intently.

After a pause, he stammered " Ah, well, I guess so" obviously puzzled by the exchange.

"Of course. I'll bet Ginger will give you a great high and tight. Right Ginger."

"Well, sure, if that's what he wants." "How about a nice high and tight? Ginger heard herself ask, wondering what had come over her.

"OK" was the response.

Meanwhile Debbie was perplexed by Jenny who seemed to have taken over the shop. "Jenny! you shouldn't be so bossy."

"Its OK Mom, he just needed a little help."

Norma sensed something but didn't know what to make of it. Jenny seemed to be radiating an aura that was filling the shop. She looked at Cheryl who looked back and responded with a little shrug, as perplexed as Norma.

Jenny sat down in front of Bonnie Ann's chair and looked intently at the young man with a shaggy grown out haircut sitting in it. He was obviously aware of the scrutiny that Jenny was giving him.

"What are we doing today? Bonnie Ann asked in her most professional manner.

"Well, its summer. Something short I suppose."

"A crewcut perhaps, maybe a short one" Bonnie Ann offered.

"Yeah, that sounds good, a really short one."

"How does a high and tight sound?"

"That sounds good."

He had been watching Jenny during this exchange, wondering what her reaction would be. He could feel the electricity in the shop and he felt the need to say something but didn't know what.

"Grandma, I'll bet he really wants to you to shave him but hasn't been able to say so. Isn't that right?"

"Jenny!" was all Debbie could manage to say before Bonnie Ann's customer responded "Actually, I had been thinking about doing that. What do you think?"

Now Bonnie Ann was getting caught up in the spirit of things. She couldn't quite figure out what was happening, but she had the feeling that the morning was going to be interesting. She could sense an unusual atmosphere in the shop. It seemed to happen when Jenny was around. But today it seemed especially electric, almost tingling.

She checked her customer's profile and felt the shape of his head before she gave her verdict. "You will look just fine. I think a shaved head would be really nice and you would like it" she heard herself say, thinking to herself, ‘that's not quite what I intended to say.'

"OK, go for it." He watched as Jenny broke out into a big smile and settled down to observe.

Ginger had already begun working on her customer. She was using a No. 0 blade on the sides and back, with the intention of using a No. 000 from the hairline up about half way and then using a No. 1 guide on the top.

Cheryl and Norma had been as drawn into the events as everyone else. They sat nearly hypnotized by the what was happening.

Bonnie Ann picked up her heavy duty clippers and replaced the No.0 cutter head with a No. 000. She began on the left side and began working the clippers up the side. Ginger stopped to watch. Her young customer was equally fascinated by what he was seeing. As Bonnie moved to the back of her customer's head, Ginger finally went back to giving the promised high and tight.

Bonnie Ann continued around her customer's head slowly reducing all except the top to barely detectable stubble. Now it was Cheryl and Norma's turn to be riveted by the action as Bonnie moved to the front and pushed her clippers from front to back, methodically reducing all that remained of her customer's hair to the same fine stubble.

"Grandma, he's going to look really good" Jenny exclaimed. "Will you shave him with your razor. I like that the most."

"It wouldn't be a real shave if I didn't, would it?" Bonnie Ann brushed off the loose hairs from her customer's head and applied a hot towel. She collected a large handful of shaving cream and removed the towel.

Cheryl and Norma sat on the edge of their chairs as Bonnie began to apply the warm foam to her customer's head carefully rubbing it in.

Cheryl, swallowed, trying to relax, but felt the tension building in anticipation of her own time in Bonnie Ann's chair with warm shaving cream on the sides and back of her head. She turned to look at Norma, who was tightly gripping the arms of her chair, intent on Bonnie Ann's actions.

Ginger was nearly done with her customer. She stopped to observe Bonnie and without further thought put down the edging clipper that she was about to use and went to the shaving cream machine instead. Gathering a small handful of the warm foam, she applied it generously along the hairline of her teenage customer.

Jenny smiled when she saw what Ginger was doing. Ginger began stropping her razor. Beginning on the right side she carefully removed the foam, shaving a neat line around the right ear, while a voice in her head wanted to know why she was doing it, since it would be nearly impossible to tell that it was shaved.

As she started to work on the back, a voice interrupted her concentration. "That feels good" came from the teen in her chair. To her surprise she hear herself say, "Yes it does feel good. Would you like me to shave it higher? That's how a real high and tight is done."

"Sure. Maybe I should get it all shaved."

"I'd be happy to do that for you if you want."

I'm not sure. Just do what you said before."

"OK, smooth shaved back and sides, coming up."

Ginger got another handful of foam and applied it up to the curve of her client's head on both sides and on the back. She knew just how high she had used the 000 clippers and after stropping her straight razor again began slowly removing the foam and the small amount of hair remaining starting on the left side. She pushed his head forward and began shaving the back from high up near the crown where she had clippered his "landing strip" so that it continued into the clipper shaved back.

Cheryl had stopped watching Bonnie Ann and was concentrating on what Ginger was doing. She swallowed hard and her stomach did a little flip of anticipation.

Jenny was watching Ginger also. As Ginger finished the left side of her young client and started to wipe off any stray foam, she stood up and walked over to get a closer look.

"That looks really good Ginger. What do you think?" She directed this last to Ginger's client as he brought his hand from under the cape and reached up to feel the back of his head. As he felt it he released his breath which he had been holding in anticipation. He nodded. Jenny let out a little trill of laughter. "I knew you would. Its feels great doesn't it?"

"Let me put on a little talc and it will feel even smoother. Then you'll be all done" Ginger interjected.

Cheryl had put her own hand to the back of her head at those words but quickly brought it back down. She felt an eager anticipation to get in the big barber's chair.

Bonnie had finished her customer and had applied a little baby oil and was now toweling it off. She swung him around to face the mirror and held up a large hand mirror so he could see the back of his head.

Debbie had been watching Bonnie's customer remembering how much she had liked it when her husband Doug had kept his head shaved for the summer two years ago. She couldn't keep from observing "You do a really good job Mum." Turning to the young man she observed "It does suit you."

"Thanks, I like it and it feels really good."

"I knew you would like it. And you should let my Grandma keep it shaved for you every week. She's the best" Jenny interjected.

"Well I guess I'll have to. I like this place. I really enjoyed getting the shave. Thanks Jenny for suggesting it. I think my girlfriend will like it too."

"Does she have short hair? You should bring her with you next time" Jenny chattered as she climbed into the barber chair. She was just tall enough not to need a booster.

Missy, who had been almost completely quiet since arriving stood up and turned to Debbie, "Mom can she cut my hair?" pointing to Ginger. "Of course Missy." Debbie responded. Missy walked up to the big chair and stood in front looking up at Ginger. "Will I have to get on that board?" she asked. "Well why don't we just try it without the board and see" Ginger responded. Missy climbed into the chair and sat up. "Well Missy you are a little bit too low, but I think I have just the ticket for you." She went to the back of the shop and rummaged around in the storage closet where Bonnie Ann kept extra supplies. There she retrieved a thick cushion. Reaching under the counter she pulled out the two inch thick telephone directory.

"OK Missy, stand up on the foot rest and I'll get this set up for you." She placed the telephone directory on the leather seat, and topped it with the cushion. "All set. Can you make it?" Missy scrambled up onto the seat and then onto the makeshift booster. At 10 years old, but still small for her age, she had not liked having to sit on the black booster board across the arms of the chair that her Grandma had used when she cut Missy's hair.

"Alright Missy! That's better. You should tell Ginger what you would like too" was Jenny's encouraging words from her perch in Bonnie's chair. She knew that Missy thought she was too old to have to use a booster.

Ginger proceeded to put a paper strip around Missy's neck and cape her. "Well Missy what kind of haircut are we doing today?" Missy's hair was growing out from a pixie style and was still only 3 inches long - just long enough to begin to get in her eyes. "I want it cut really short" was her immediate instruction. Ginger looked at Debbie for confirmation. Before Debbie could respond, Jenny spoke up. "Mom, remember that picture I showed you. Missy liked that. It would be perfect for her." "Please Mom, that's what I want" was Missy's reaction.

"Well, OK if you're sure. It's summer so it will grow out before school starts. Jenny you seem to know how it should be cut. Can you tell Ginger?" Debbie too seemed to have come under Jenny's spell. Bonnie smiled to herself. She had watched Jenny work her magic before.

"It's a No. 2 on the sides and back and a No. 3 on top except for the front where it should be about a half inch - just enough longer to make a little fringe" was her quick instruction. "You could taper the sides and back up a little with a No. 1" was her final instruction.

Bonnie had put a cape on Jenny during this exchange. As she look up she was surprised to see that both of the earlier customers had taken seats seemingly engrossed in the proceedings.

"Are you going to tell me what you want, Jenny?" Bonnie asked. Jenny seemed to be concentrating on Missy and Ginger.

Jenny turned back. "Sure Grandma. Get closer so I can whisper. It's a surprise." "Don't worry Mom, it's not a Mohawk." Bonnie leaned over and Jenny whispered her instructions. When Bonnie said "OK" Jenny broke into a big grin, knowing that Bonnie had agreed that it was not too extreme as Debbie had instructed.

Ginger brushed and oiled her clippers. Putting on a No.2 guide she put her hand on Missy's head and pushed it forward with the instruction "head down please Missy." Missy obliged and Ginger ran the clippers up the back of her small head. She make several passes up the back then instructed Missy to hold her head up again while she repeated the process first on the left side then on the right. She hesitated for a moment and then decided to start with a three quarters inch guide on the top. With a few slow passes Missy was clippered to a short pixie. "Well Missy you're looking a lot better already" was Ginger's comment as she changed guides to a number 3 as instructed. Now she started near the top of Missy's head and ran the clippers back over the crown. Satisfied, she took off the guide and picked up her comb. She began the careful work needed to blend the sides into the top so that there was no line separating the two areas. And of course the front section had to be blended to the rest of the top with a little bit of fringe in front. She decided not to shorten the front but to feather it so that it formed a wispy fringe. With the top done Ginger decided to use the No.1 guide in Missy's nape area and on the sides about an inch above the ears.. "Head down again Missy" she instructed. She ran the clippers up to the top of the occipital bone where she brought it away from Missy's head. She went from left to right making sure she followed an even line from ear to ear. Returning to the left side she started in front of Missy's ear clippering up about an inch before starting the taper. She folded Missy's ear down so she could get the clippers behind it and clippered up to the previously defined line. A couple of more runs brought the sides around to the back. .She followed the same procedure on the right side. Satisfied she took off the guide and began the precise job of blending the three sections using the clipper over comb method. Not yet satisfied with the result she continued blending with scissors and comb. She wanted to be sure that Debbie, and especially Bonnie Ann, recognized that she had done a superior job.

Bonnie Ann began Jenny's cut with a number 1 guide. Jenny's hair was thick and dark brown and Bonnie Ann knew that even a number one would not look extreme. Jenny's hair was already cut into a longish crewcut, Jenny had described a modified flat-top with a "low and tight." meaning that the sides and back would be cut close only a little way above the top of the ears. Bonnie intended to shave it up about an inch - enough to satisfy Jenny but not so much that Debbie would object too much. The top would not be perfectly flat, but it would be shorter in the middle with a little curve to blend with the short sides and it would stand up nicely in front with a little help. Bonnie Ann thought of it as a low and tight brush cut.

As long as she could remember Bonnie Ann had always wanted to have a crewcut. She finally got the courage to get one when she was about 19 years old and just finishing up barber school. She still remembered the moment when she sat in the chair and with a mouth so dry that she could hardly speak, said to one of the other graduates, "give me a crewcut." So periodically she had succumbed to the urge. But most of the time she satisfied the urge by giving other women and girls short cuts and crewcuts. Debbie had worn a long crewcut many times to the delight of her husband Doug. Apparently the urge was in the genes because Jenny would have a crewcut all the time if she could. Even Missy seemed to have caught the bug and kept her hair cut short, perhaps influenced by Jenny's urging. So now Bonnie Ann felt the urge for a crewcut and with her new barber Ginger she knew she could not resist for long.

Those were the thoughts that went through Bonnie Ann's mind as she continued to work on achieving the cut that Jenny had requested. Knowing that Jenny loved the feel of the clippers she took her time, slowly running the clippers up the sides and back of Jenny's head.

"Feels good doesn't it?" Bonnie Ann broke the silence, noticing how Jenny pushed her head into the clippers.

"I like the way you do it Grandma. It feels neat. I keep telling some of the other girls at school how good it feels. They're all too chicken to try it - all but Sandy. I think she wants to do it."

Bonnie switched to a half inch guide and began clippering the top, leaving the front section for later. Jenny was going to get a very short crewcut.

Ginger finished carefully snipping Missy fringe with the tip of her scissors. "Its almost done Missy. I just have to trim the edges. Would you like to feel it?"

"OK." Missy got her arm out from under the cap and put her hand tentatively onto her head. Feeling the short soft bristles, she rubbed more vigorously enjoying the sensation. She broke out into a broad smile. "Its neat!" she exclaimed. Debbie also found a big smile on her face at seeing Missy's reaction.

Ginger picked up her edging clipper and turned them on. Before she could begin, she heard Bonnie say, "Use your razor Ginger. She likes it." Putting the clippers back, Ginger spread a little shaving cream around the ears and on the nape of Missy's head.

To her surprise Missy spoke up "I like this part the best. Its really cool." Ginny stropped her razor again, wiped off most of the cream around Missy's ear and delicately trimmed the hairline. On impulse she trimmed Missy's sideburn so that it had only a slight downward angle toward the front. She thought it looked good. Turning Missy so she could reach the neckline, once again she wiped off most of the foam so she could see where the hairline ended. This time she did not hesitate before deciding to shave the hairline up about a quarter inch and make it a wide "V."

Meanwhile Bonnie had finished with Jenny's cut. She now sported a short brush cut gently rounded on top with the middle cut down to less than a quarter of an inch. Bonnie had used a number 2 guide followed by comb and clippers to get the effect just right. The sides and back were closely clipped to above Jenny's ears by about an inch. Above that it was tapered from near zero to an eight of an inch which then blended into the longer hair on top. "Well its about done Jenny. Looking good! You ready for me to clean up the sides and back?" Bonnie already knew the answer to that question.

"OK, Grandma, I've been waiting." Bonnie spread cream around the sides and back of Jenny's head, carefully rubbing it in little circles. As she did Jenny pushed her head into Bonnie's fingers in pleasure at the feeling. Bonnie stropped her razor again, a little more than usual, to prolong the process. She began on the left side of Jenny's head away from Debbie and slowly slid the razor down to Jenny's ear. She working toward the back her strokes got longer as she started at the widest part of Jenny's head and removed the foam and hair down to the hairline. Slowly and methodically Jenny's "low and tight" began to reappear, although in fact it had already become apparent before the final shaving.

In a rather bemused tone Debbie inquired, "You're shaving it up pretty high aren't you Mum?" She seemed caught up in the procedures and couldn't mount a real objection.

"I think it's just right for her. It's going to look real good when I'm done. It's what she wanted and its not too extreme in my opinion." Bonnie had cleaned the excess foam from Jenny's head and now proceeded to add some gel to the top. Picking up a blow dryer she directed it toward the front of Jenny's head while she brushed her hair vigorously. In a moment Jenny had a perfectly erect brush cut with perfectly smooth sides to go with it. With her scissors she made a few tiny cuts here and there where she spotted some invisible imperfections in the precisely sculpted outline of Jenny's brush cut. Finally she was satisfied.

"There you go Jenny! Have a look." Bonnie swung the barber chair around so that Jenny could see herself in the mirror. She also picked up the large hand mirror and held it behind Jenny.

Jenny looked at herself. A hand stole from beneath the cape to feel the smoothness of her nape that she could see reflected in the two mirrors. "I love it Grandma!" she exclaimed. "Its perfect. I want to keep it this way all summer!"

At that moment Missy had gotten down from Ginger's chair. She walked over to Jenny's chair and looked up to observe Jenny's transformation. "That's cool Jenny." Turning to Debbie she said, "I like the way Ginger cut my hair. It feels neat."

"She did a very nice job - cool, and easy for the summer. Thank you Ginger."

"What do you think Mom? Isn't it cool. I want to keep it this way all summer," Jenny interjected

"I don't see why not. I'm sure your Grandma will be happy to oblige. It is pretty cool. I like the way it looks from the front. Isn't there some singer who has a haircut like that?"

"You're thinking of ‘Pink', but hers' is a little different and its really colored pink."

"I hope you not going to try to persuade me to let you do that. Purple highlights was quite enough."

"Oh, Mom, don't worry, I like it this way. Anyway, I think you should let Grandma give you a cut like you used to have. You looked really great in that picture. Then we could all have almost matching haircuts. That would be really cool."

"Yeah, Mom, I think you should." was Missy's endorsement of this idea.

"That's a great idea Debbie" Bonnie added. "You know that Doug really loved it when you had a crewcut. Besides it going to get hotter, and who wants to have to take care of a lot of hair! As far as I'm concerned that was the best look you've ever had."

"Well, I'm tempted. I liked it myself. And Doug really took to it. He was disappointed when I let it grow out."

"Well that's settles it. As soon as we do Norma and Cheryl, I'll give you a nice crew cut for the summer. OK?"

"Say OK, Mom, I know you want to. It'll be great, and you'll love it." Jenny was sending out waves of enthusiasm and persuasion.

"OK, I guess I've been talked into it. It would be impossible to turn you all down anyway."

Norma and Cheryl had watched these proceedings in complete fascination and as the two haircuts came to an end with growing anticipation with their own looming transformations. For that was what they realized was somehow inevitable. Knowing that now even Debbie was going to get a crew cut only heightened the anticipation.

"Well we have two open chairs for you two if you want to use then" Bonnie Ann said to Norma and Cheryl.

"Cheryl, is it OK with you if I have Bonnie do mine and Ginger does yours?" "OK" was the only response as Cheryl headed toward Ginger's chair.

"What's it to be this time. It certainly has grown out since the last cut. Do you both want the same as before?

"I think you did Cheryl's shorter than mine last time. I would like mine at least that short - maybe shorter. What do you want Cheryl."

"We agreed on the same for both of us. I liked the feeling of the smooth sides" Cheryl said.

Jenny had been watching the two of them intently. She knew they were eager for their haircuts, the feel of the clippers and even more the feel of the razor. "I'll bet you would really like to have a high and tight horseshoe. That would look good don't you think Grandma?"

"A horseshoe high and tight would certainly be shorter than what you had before Norma. Quite a bit shorter. I think it would suit you quite well. What do you think Ginger. Would it work with Cheryl."

Ginger looked at Cheryl while thoughts churned in her mind. ‘I'm going to give this girl a high and tight horseshoe? Should I say no? What will she think? Am I crazy? What is Bonnie Ann thinking?' Even as this last thought surfaced, she realized that Cheryl's head was just the right shape, large, but not too large and nicely rounded. She nodded assent, and said, "just about perfect" in response to Bonnie's question.

"Well Cheryl, it's up to you. So what's Norma going to get?" Bonnie said smiling, almost certain what the outcome would be.

"You should go for it Cheryl. It will be outstanding." Jenny exclaimed excitedly. She seemed to have the whole shop under her spell. The shop suddenly became quiet in anticipation. Cheryl licked her lips, took a deep breath, then exhaled. She licked her lips again. She started to speak but nothing came out. She cleared her throat. Finally she spoke, softly but determinedly "I want a high and tight horseshoe. Shaved too."

"Awesome. Way to go Cheryl" was Jenny's response.

"What about you Norma" Bonnie asked.

"I want the same as Cheryl."

"You're sure about this?" Ginger gave Cheryl a chance to change her mind.

"Yes, I'm sure." Cheryl said, no hesitation now.

"OK, here we go" Ginger picked up her new Forfex battery powered clipper. The blades were set to half a millimeter. She started on the right side as usual. Her new clipper was very quiet compared to her trusty Wahl, but seemed to be just as capable, and it was a lot lighter to handle. She pushed it into Cheryl's hair while holding her head gently with her left hand. Cheryl seemed eager and relaxed. She pushed up about 2 inches before she pulled away and dropped the trimmed hair onto the cape. A few passes around the ear and the side of Cheryl's head was beginning to be exposed. As she started upward behind Cheryl's ear, Cheryl seemed to push back against the clipper.

"Feels good doesn't it?" Ginger commented.

"Umm" was all Cheryl got out with a little affirmative nod of her head.

Bonnie was working her clipper up the back of Norma's head. She noticed that Norma was more relaxed than she had been the last time when she had given both Cheryl and Norma their first crewcuts. She worked the clipper more slowly to allow Norma to savor the sensation. Norma took her hand out and reached up to feel where Bonnie had already clippered. Bonnie paused.

"It will feel even better after I finish" she said.

"I know, but it feels really neat now" Norma responded as she took her hand away.

Ginger had finished her preliminary clippering of Cheryl. Now she decided on a half inch guide to begin working the top of Cheryl's head. With a few passes she had reduced the grown out crewcut to a length that allowed her to begin the serious work of creating the horseshoe. She removed the guard and picked up a large straight flat comb.

Standing in front of Cheryl she carefully positioned her head exactly straight up.

"Hold real still for me so I can get this part exactly right" she ordered Cheryl.

"OK." Cheryl visibly tensed to comply with this command.

Ginger positioned the comb and cut off all the protruding hair. She moved the comb over and repeated the process. In short order Cheryl's hair had been reduced to three eights of an inch in front to an eight of an inch further back. Ginger then began the delicate free hand work that she needed to do. Starting at the front in the middle without taking off any hair at the front she guided the clipper back so that it encountered the top of Cheryl's head about two inches back from the front hairline. She continued the clipper back over the top of Cheryl's head leaving only short stubble in its path. Twice more she carried out this process, leaving a "landing strip" that began with a curved front widening to two inches back and over the crown. Cheryl sat rigidly throughout this process.

"Well it getting there Cheryl. Its going to be really sharp, especially after I clean it up for you. I just have to work on the wings a bit more."

Ginger picked up a thin comb and began working the sides of the horseshoe slowly reducing it to about a quarter of an inch in the middle to nearly zero at their ends. She went back to the top and made the wings thinner as they went from front to back. They stopped before the rounded back part of Cheryl's head was reached. Ginger checked out her work and seemed satisfied. But she was not yet finished. Now she picked up her small battery powered trimmer. It had very close cutting blades - less than a quarter of a millimeter. With this she began to shave the sides and back of Cheryl's head. First she did the sides, taking the trimmer up to the horseshoe before lifting it from Cheryl's scalp, now fully exposed. In the back she went up to and over the crown, again just missing the inside of the horseshoe. Finally she ran the trimmer over the "landing strip" cleaning it up as she had promised. Cheryl was now left with a small one and one half inch wide front section about three eights of an inch at its longest, connected to two wings that were only a half inch wide and a quarter of an inch long that faded out when they reached as far back as the crown of her head. The rest of her head was completely clipper shaved. But more was to come.

The audience of Missy, Debbie and the two earlier customers sat riveted by what was happening. Jenny watched intently, seemingly concentrating on every movement made by Ginger or Bonnie as she watched first one then the other. No one moved or spoke. Only the sound of a clipper or the occasional word spoken by Ginger, Bonnie or the murmured response of Cheryl or Norma broke disturbed the soft soothing sounds of Jenny's exotic background music.

Norma now sported a "horseshoe high and tight" essentially identical to Cheryl's. Both were about to be receive the final act in what had become a drama in the eyes of the onlookers.

Ginger unsnapped the cape from Cheryl's neck and placed a towel around her neck. She replaced the cape, snapped it and folded the towel over the cape.

Ginger went to the shaving cream machine and collected a handful of foam to the winding sound of the machine. Returning she carefully spread the foam on the sides and back of Cheryl's head. Looking over she saw that Bonnie was doing the same thing to Norma, except that she spread some shaving cream up over the top of Norma's head. Bonnie made a quick nod to Ginger whereupon Ginger spread some of her foam up over the crown of Cheryl's head. She carefully stropped her razor in preparation for the completion of Cheryl's horseshoe high and tight. A very extreme version of that style. In fact one that she had never done before, although she had done some shaved horseshoes before, but none in which she shaved part of the "landing strip."

Starting on the right side as was her habit, Ginger wiped off a little foam near the point where she planned to start. This was nearly three inches above the top of Cheryl's ear. Slowly she removed the foam and short hairs in a path down to in front of Cheryl's ear leaving it completely smooth. She continued the process, first over the ear, then behind the ear, each time starting just below the small wings of hair that defined the horseshoe. Cheryl had taken several deep breaths during this process. Finally she closed her eyes savoring the sensation as Ginger began shaving the back of her head. Ginger had already shaved both sides of Cheryl's head, a departure from her usual routine, but she wanted to do the back and gradually work up to the top. She began the back lower than the sides, carefully scraping away the foam and hair of the nape. She started again this time higher up and carefully shaved all the way down again smoothing out any spots missed on the first pass. On the third pass she was up nearly to the crown of Cheryl's head. Slowly and carefully she shaved it clean right to the tips of the wings of the horseshoe.

Pausing she said to Cheryl, "I can stop here or I can finish shaving it to make it a perfect horseshoe. Should I continue?"

Cheryl was in a near hypnotic trance. This time she really couldn't speak. She knew that she was getting a haircut that was much more extreme than she had anticipated, but she wanted it and the feeling of the razor on her scalp. It was the most sensuous thing she had ever experienced. After a moment she made a slight up and down motion with her head.

Ginger lowered the chair so she could easily get to the top of Cheryl's head. She rubbed the foam to make sure it was well worked in. She spread it a little further toward the front. Once again her razor did its work on Cheryl's scalp, moving from back to front in the direction of hair growth. Now she carefully sculpted the horseshoe, very wide in the back slowly narrowing until it formed a curve in the front. Inside this outline Cheryl's head became perfectly smooth. Ginger felt it at various places and was not yet satisfied with the result.

"I'm going over it again to be sure I didn't miss any spots and to make it really smooth. OK."

Again Cheryl's response was a barely detectable nod of agreement.

Ginger spread more foam over Cheryl's mostly bare scalp. This time she used a safety razor knowing that she could get a smoother finish that way. She shaved the sides and back against the grain feeling to make sure no hair had remained. She did the same on the top, going over it several times to make it as smooth as possible. Finally satisfied she used a warm damp towel to wipe away any leftover foam.

"This will make it really nice" she told Cheryl as she applied some scented oil to Cheryl's mostly shaved head. She massaged her scalp with the oil. Using a soft cloth she removed the excess oil, leaving a soft sheen when she had finished. Still there was one more thing to do. She applied a small amount of gel to the little hair that remained and with a small brush got it to stand up in front and on the sides, sharply defining the horseshoe.

"Are you ready to take a look at it? Ginger asked. Once again Cheryl nodded assent.

Cheryl had been so engrossed that she had been almost completely unaware of her surroundings. Now she took note of the audience. As Ginger swung her around to face the mirror, she caught a brief glance of Norma - just enough to see that there was no hair on the sides of her head and only a little on top. She was not able to see that Norma's head had been shaved except for the horseshoe of hair that began in front and extended in two narrow wings just past her ears.

Cheryl stared into the mirror, at someone she barely recognized. She turned her head from left to right to see the bare sides of her head. Tilting her head forward and looking up she could see the expanse of bare skin on the top of her head. Ginger was holding up a large mirror behind her. She could see that nothing interrupted the smooth skin on the back of her head. She reached up to feel her head. Running her hand from the top of her head to her neck all she could feel was soft silky skin.

"It feels soooo good" she said as she felt the side of her head. She let out a big sigh and smiled as she felt the short bristles of her horseshoe, all that remained of her hair.

Ginger unsnapped the cape and dusted her neck before wiping it with a towel to make sure there were no bits of hair left. Cheryl stepped out of the chair to comments from the audience.

"Cool" pronounced Missy.

"You guys are really awesome" declared Jenny. "Can I feel it?" she asked Cheryl.

"Very daring" commented Debbie.

Tommy, Ginger's first customer was intrigued. "I've never seen a girl with a haircut anything like that. That took a lot of guts."

Cheryl had already inclined her head so that Jenny could feel the smooth shaved areas. Now she did the same for Tommy.

Norma had been more aware of what was happening and had watched the faces of the audience while Bonnie had been shaving her head. Her natural exhibitionism had easily gotten the best of her caution. So when Bonnie had asked if she wanted a complete shave except for the horseshoe she agreed immediately relishing the expressions of astonishment on the part of Debbie and Bonnie's first customer.

He spoke for the first time, "I never imagined having an experience like this. This really is a special shop. If something like this happen very often I'm going to have to come in every week for a head shave. I think that both you and Cheryl look fabulous Norma. That's the best haircut I've ever seen on a girl. I think I'll have to get my girlfriend to come here. But I think it will have to be when Jenny is here also. I wonder how I'm going to arrange that."

Bonnie and Ginger stood behind their chairs while Cheryl and Norma received all the attention of two recently crowned celebrities.

"Well Debbie, are you ready?" Bonnie finally broke in on the chatter.

"Oh, well, I guess I am." She stepped into Bonnie's chair and sat down.

"Do you have something particular in mind?

"No. I'll let you decide Mum. You've always done it right."

"Grandma always does it just right Mom. Don't worry. It will be great." Jenny reassured her.

"I know just what will be exactly right for you, Debbie. Actually rather conservative I'd say."

When Debbie got into the chair, the audience sat back down. With no customer at hand Ginger sat in her barber's chair to watch the show herself. She could still feel the electricity in the air and realized that it had something to do with Jenny, but she couldn't figure it out.

Bonnie caped Debbie and turned her away from the mirror. What she had in mind for Debbie was a brush cut that was a slightly longer version of Jenny's. It would be the shortest cut that she had ever given Debbie, but she was sure that Debbie would like it when she finished. She knew that she could get away with a even shorter style, but decided that Debbie would likely be happier with the longer version and would be coming back for trims more often. Maybe later she would go for a shorter version, even a short buzz cut. No reason to make too radical a change.

Bonnie put the number 2 guide on her clippers. Starting in the back she ran the clipper up, up to the top of the occipital bone before coming away. A second and third run began to define the nape area. Several more runs were needed because Debbie's hair had grown our to three or four inches from a previous nondescript short cut. Finally satisfied, Bonnie Ann began on the right side. (Bonnie Ann was left-handed.) Once again she ran the clipper up behind the right ear. Moving to the front, she quickly clippered the temple area and around Debbie's ear. Moving around to the left side she did the same operation on that side. With the bulk of the hair below the ear tops now removed she could begin shaping the basic style. But before beginning that process she decided to reduce the remaining hair to a better working length.

"Debbie I'm going to use a one inch guide on the top now just to make it easier to work with. So don't worry, I not skinning you." Debbie had been sitting rigidly in the barber chair, obviously tense.

"Its going to look great Mom, just wait" was Jenny's contribution to helping Debbie relax.

Now Bonnie Ann began the real haircut. Taking off the one inch guide she replaced it with a No. 3 guide. She had decided to keep the back tapered lower than the sides, making it a little more conservative. Starting behind the right ear she clippered up to the crown of Debbie's head before she lifted off the clippers. She continued until the nape area was evenly clippered to three eights of an inch. Beginning again at the right temple she pushed upward to the curve of Debbie's head before tipping the clipper away to begin a taper. Bonnie Ann continued the line to the back of Debbie's ear where she matched it to the already clipped area . She repeated the process on the left side, but this time starting behind Debbie's left ear and working forward. Finally she was satisfied with the basic shape. Now she attached a three quarter inch guide on the clippers. Before using then she decided to get Debbie's hair to stand up a little more so she applied some gel and brushed it vigorously. Satisfied she picked up her clippers again.

During this process the six previous customers sat without a sound and watched intently. All attention was focused on Bonnie Ann and her daughter Debbie. Bonnie Ann continued her careful and profession job of shaping a perfect brush cut for Debbie. Carefully positioning Debbie's head she ran the clippers from the middle of Debbie's forehead to the crown. She did the same to both sides of the original path. Replacing the three quarter inch guide with a one half inch guide she began the process again, but this time she did not touch Debbie's head with the guide until near the middle of her head. The paths to each side of the middle were left a little longer than the middle. She was shaping a slightly curved brush.

Bonnie Ann removed the guide and picked up a large comb. Holding it vertically she began shaping the sides so that they blended with the top. Moving toward the top she changed the angle of the comb from vertical to nearly horizontal. This process was repeated on both sides. Now she used a smaller comb to finish the tapering of the sides. No demarcation from the No. 2 guide to the No. 3 guide and the one half inch guide would be visible. Bonnie was meticulous in her work. The audience sat riveted by her artistry. Even Ginger watched intently. She recognized that she was seeing a supremely skilled barber working to achieve a perfect result.

Finally satisfied, Bonnie used her small edging clippers to clean up Debbie's hairline. Finally finished. She spun Debbie around to face the mirror.

"There you go Debbie" was all she said.

Debbie inspected herself from all angles finally putting her hand up to feel the result. "Oh, Mum, it looks fabulous. I don't know why I was so hesitant. I love it"

The barbershop suddenly erupted in applause and comments from the watchers.

From Tommy, "It looks great Ma'am."

"Wow, Mom, that's the best crew cut you've ever had. Grandma did a supper job. You really look great" was Jenny's enthusiastic response.

"That's really cool Mom. Can I feel it?" was Missy's response.

"It's a great look for you Debbie. Let me know what Doug thinks" Bonnie Ann interjected.

"He's going to flip. He has always liked it when I had it cut short. I guess we're all going to be coming back in about three weeks from now on. We can't let these haircuts start to get too ragged can we?"

Everyone was standing up and the spell seemed to be broken. Even Jenny's strange music had stopped.

"We had better get going Mum. I still have some errands to do."

"I'll get your regular music back on Grandma. And Grandma when are you going to get a crewcut. That would be awesome. We could have three generations with crewcuts." Jenny knew that Bonnie has sported a crew cut on several occasions, but she knew it had been several years since the last time. She wanted to get a picture taken of all of them with their crewcuts.

Tommy was about to leave when the door opened and a forty something mother and her 5 year old son came in. A perplexed expression appeared on her face as first a young man with a freshly shaved head, then a young teenager with a smoothly shaved high'n tight walked out of the shop. Her perplexed look turned to wide eyed amazement as first Debbie followed by Missy and then Jenny left the shop saying their goodbyes to "Mum" and "Grandma." And this parade was followed by two attractive teenage girls with their heads nearly shaved. As they left with assurances that they would be back in 2 or 3 weeks, she stared at them in dumbfounded. astonishment.

As the door to the shop closed, Bonnie said "Can we help you Ma'am? Her head jerked around as she responded to these ordinary words. The astonished look slowly faded.

"Oh, well I.... yes, uh, do you do regular boy's haircuts?"

Ginger started to giggle, then both she and Bonnie burst out laughing. It had been an amazing morning.

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