HaircuttingStories.com

Happy New Year
Author: The Flattopper
Content: R
Location: Salon
Category: Consensual
Type: Fiction
Post date: Monday, June 15, 2009
Language: English
Rating: 4.44 average from 43 readers
Page views: 5642

Jennifer, bald for a year and a half and half way through laser hair removal treatments on her head, had departed her  parents home where she and her fiancee Alex Wilson had spent the previous five days.  It had been traumatic for Jennifer when Alice, Jennifer's Mother, had been unable to accept the idea that Jennifer would remain bald, even for her wedding.  The reconciliation, which had occurred  on the last day of the visit, because of the intervention of Jennifer's cousin Risa and her sister-in-law Lucie, had been a huge burden lifted from Jennifer. Now she looked forward to  her stay with Alex's family which she had visited briefly the previous summer.
 
Tuesday December 27th
 
Alex's Family
 
Jennifer's reconciliation with her Mom had lifted her spirits considerably.  Tuesday morning's breakfast had been joyful and the ride to the airport happily filled with talk about the upcoming wedding of Jennifer and Alex and  of Alice and Ray coming to visit them in their new condo.
 
An uneventful flight back to the city followed by a two hour drive to Littleton and they were being warmly greeted by Alex's little sister Julie and parents Nora and Frank.
 
“Oh, wow Jennifer, you look so great,” Julie exclaimed.
 
“Thanks Julie,” Jennifer smiled at her exuberance.
 
“I'm so glad you could come Jennifer.  We'll have a good time together.  And you look quite charming too.” Nora told her as she gave her a hug.
 
“Thanks Ms. Wilson.  I'm very happy to be here,” Jennifer said as she planted a kiss on her cheek.
 
“Jennifer, you shouldn't be so formal.  You can call me Mother like Alex or just Nora.  After all I'm going to be your Mother-in-Law.  Truth be told I'm already your Mother-in-Law since you and Alex have been acting just like you're already married.”
 
Jennifer laughed “You're very sweet Mother Nora.  And how are you Dad?”
 
“I'm very happy to have you and Alex visit us for the holidays, that's how I am,” Frank said with a chuckle.  “You're a striking young woman and I'm happy to have you be part of our family.”
 
“You're very generous Dad.  I'm honored to be part of your family.”
 
When the effusive greetings had finally run their course, they sat in the family room for a while where Frank served them chardonnay while they recovered somewhat from their long day of travel.
 
“Mom, doesn't Jennifer look great with her head shaved so smooth?”
 
“She's very attractive and elegant.  All those pictures of you that Alex has sent me by e-mail has finally convinced me, Jennifer.  You're quite a beautiful woman and, I have to admit it, baldness becomes you,” Nora acknowledged.
 
“Finally, she admits the obvious,” Frank said, laughing uproariously.
 
That evening passed happily for Jennifer and Alex.  Her acceptance by Alex's family had her feeling relaxed and buoyant.  She entered into the banter enthusiastically as they shared bowls of homemade soup and salad.
 
Wednesday December 28th
 
The next morning after a restful sleep she woke up refreshed and began to nuzzle Alex.  He responded and soon they were engaged in a prolonged round of lovemaking.
 
“You're feeling pretty cheerful aren't you,” Alex teased her.
 
“You noticed!” Jennifer giggled.  “What's that old saying – happy as a clam.  That's me.  Your family is great.  I already love them.”
 
“And having your Mom come around was a huge thing.  Your folks are pretty terrific too.  I think we're both pretty lucky.”
 
“I'll second that.  Is that breakfast activity I hear downstairs?  Maybe we'd better shower and you can shave me.  I wouldn't want to miss breakfast.”
 
“You're on.” 
 
Julie
 
Nora, Frank and Julie had gotten up early with the intention of fixing a gourmet breakfast for Jennifer and Alex.  Frank was preparing his only special yeast raised waffles, Nora was preparing coffee and sausages and Julie was fixing bowls of fresh fruit.
 
“Mom, I want to have my head shaved like Jennifer.  The more I see her the more I want to do it.”
 
“Julie!  You shouldn't do that just because Jennifer is bald.  I'll not consent to you doing that,” Nora responded.
 
“You said that Jennifer looked beautiful.  Why are you so negative.  Do you think I'll be ugly?” Julie asked.
 
“She's a grown woman.  You're still just a girl.  You're too young to be doing something like that.”
 
“Mom, I'm almost eighteen!  I'm not a little girl.  I know I'll look good with it shaved.  Dad, say something!”
 
“I usually end up being yelled at by both of you when I stick my foot into a disagreement that you're having, but  I guess I have to agree with you Julie.  You'll be eighteen in three months and can do what you want then.  Nora, she's never been wild like some of the other kids her age.  I don't think this is an indication that she's about to go off the deep end.  And if Jennifer is accepted with her bald head, how can we do any less for Julie?” Frank added.
 
“You're just taking her side because you're so hung up about Jennifer.”
 
“There is something to that, but I still maintain that we have to have the same standards for Julie that we have for Jennifer.”
 
All right.  I'm not going to win that debate.  I give up.  Do what you want Julie.  I won't try to stop you.  Just don't ask me if I think it looks good even if everybody says it does,”   Nora said, a little exasperated, but with a twinkle in her eye.
 
“Thanks Mom.  You'll like it just wait and see,” Julie said as she gave her a kiss.
 
“Oh, something smells wonderful,” Jennifer said as she and Alex arrived in the kitchen.  “Can I help?”
 
“Not a chance.  This is our treat,” Julie said.
 
Following the breakfast they relaxed in the recreation room where Nora and Frank wanted to know all about Jennifer's family and her work.
 
“I have to make a telephone call.  I'll be right back,” Julie said at one point in the conversations.
 
Julie spend most of the afternoon with Jennifer talking about her High School activities and her plans for college in the fall.  She had already been accepted by the best college in the state.  Later the two of them insisted on helping Nora fix the big dinner that she had planned.  Once again Jennifer felt herself being drawn in warmly.  It was a comforting feeling.
 
Thursday December 29th
 
Jennifer and Julia
 
Thursday morning after breakfast Julie announced that she had to do a little shopping for their New Year's day feast.
 
“Jennifer, would you like to come with me on a few errands that I have to do.  Mom wants a few things from the grocery and I have a couple of things I need to do.”
 
“Sure Julie, if Mother Nora doesn't need me in the kitchen.”
 
“No.  Go ahead with Julie.  We're not doing anything fancy tonight.  You need to get out a bit.  You've been cooped up here for two days.”
 
“I'm taking your car, OK, Mom?”
 
“That fine Julie.  You have the list.”
 
“Yes.  Let's go Jennifer.”
 
“I have an appointment the first thing Jennifer,” Julie said as she pulled into a parking place on a side street.  “We'll have to walk back to the main street.  It's about a block.”
 
They chatted about the wedding as they walked.  Jennifer had already invited Julie to be a bridesmaid which she had accepted with delight.  Jennifer showed her the picture of the little beaded lace cap that she planned to wear under her veil and Julie had independently suggested that the bridesmaids should wear them also.  They were talking about the color of the bridesmaids' gowns when Julie stopped in front of a shop.  The window had the name of the shop in large gold letters – Hair We Are.  Jennifer thought it was a rather lame pun, but it was obviously an up to date shop.  
 
“Well, hair we are,” Julie said giggling at her own joke.  “I have an appointment in about ten minutes.”
 
They walked in to be greeted by one of the two thirty something women working on customers.  The three chairs looked modern and new, and the remainder of the shop was well appointed with lots of chrome fixtures.
 
“Hello Julie.  I'll be with you in about fifteen minutes.  I'm running a little behind schedule.”
 
“No problem Stacy,” Julie responded.
 
“What are you having done?” Jennifer asked as she took off her knit cap.
 
Julie giggled.  “That's why I wanted you to come with me – for moral support.  I'm getting my head shaved.  Mom wasn't happy, but she gave in when Dad said that he thought I was old enough to make up my own mind.  Besides I want to be bald for the New Year's party we're going to and I want to practice being a bald bridesmaid at your wedding.  I was lucky to get in.  Stacy had a cancellation.”
 
“So that was the telephone call you had to make yesterday”  Are you sure you want to do it right now.  You could wait until after school is out and do it then if you're still interested,” Jennifer said trying to be the voice of reason in case Julie was being impulsive.
 
“I'm sure.  I'm not just being a rebellious teenager.  I've had that thought for years after I saw some pictures of girls getting shaved for some cancer fundraiser.  When I saw you the first time I was really impressed with the way you looked so great.  I was certain that I wanted to do it, but I was going to wait.  When I saw you again day before yesterday you were so gorgeous and confident that I knew I wanted to do it now.  So that's what I'm going to do.  I guess you could say that I'm being impulsive, but I'm not.  It''s just that everything seemed to come together and I'm ready to do it.”
 
That conversation had been held quite quietly.  A blow dryer and conversations among the two operators and their customers had kept it from being heard.   Jennifer had taken off the knit cap that she had put on for the walk in the winter chill.  Trish, the other operator, had suddenly noticed her baldness.
 
“Julie, introduce us to your friend,” Trish, said.
 
“I should have done that earlier.  Sorry.  This is Jennifer Colson.  She's marrying my brother Alex next July.  I'm one of the bridesmaids.” Julie said.
 
“Glad to meet you Jennifer.  I'm Trish.  I seriously like your head.  I hope I'm not sticking my foot in it.”
 
“Nice to meet you too.  And no, you didn't stick you foot in it.  I'm bald by choice.”
 
“Really!  The usual thoughts went through my head, so I wasn't going to say anything.  Like Trish said, you look great like that. I've seen a few women with short buzzes or shaved and they almost always look good.  'Course if I started promoting it I'd probably put myself out of business,” Stacy laughed.
 
“It's not going to happen anytime soon,” Julie responded.
 
“Do you have a job?  You wear a wig I suppose.”  the woman that Stacy was working on said.
 
“I do have a job.  I'm a financial analyst in a title and escrow company.  And no, I don't wear a wig.  Once in a while when I'm meeting a particular client, I wear a cute little turban.  Of course I wear something when it's cold like it is now if I'm going to be outside for a while.  That's what I did today,” Jennifer explained.
 
“I'm ready for you Julie,” Stacy said.
 
“That's interesting.  Don't you get a lot of people staring at you or making comments?” Trish asked.
 
“Not much anymore.  I'm a pretty conservative dresser, so I don't draw much attention.”
 
“What are we doing today Julie.  You were in just a week ago weren't you.”
 
“That's right.  This time I'm doing what I've always wanted to do.”
 
“Well, what's that if you don't mind telling me.  Otherwise I have a hard time doing it,” Stacy laughed.
 
“Why shave my head of course,” Julie said in a very serious tone of voice.
 
“Be serious.  What do you want done?  A short cut or color maybe.”
 
“I am being serious.  Give me a nice smooth shaved head.  That's what I want.”
 
Trish turned to Jennifer.  “She's just putting us on isn't she?”
 
“Well, I've already suggested that maybe she shouldn't do it, so I'm not the best person to ask,” Jennifer answered.
 
“I'm absolutely serious Stacy.  When I saw Jennifer with her shaved head a year ago, I knew that I wanted to get mine shaved.  When she arrived on Tuesday and I saw her again, I decided that I had to get it done soon.  That's why I'm here.  I'm eager to see myself with a smooth bald head.  Please do it for me.”
 
“What're folks going to say when you walk in with a bald head?” Stacy asked.
 
“Nothing much.  I've already talked to them about doing it and they're OK with it.  You can call them if you want.”
 
“Well.  I guess you must be serious.  I've given girls your age some strange hairstyles, but shaving a woman's head is a first.  Jennifer, how did you get your first head shave?” Stacy asked.
 
“In a barbershop, although I'd already cut it a lot shorter than Julie's before I went,” Jennifer answered.
 
“And if you don't shave me, I'll go straight to a barbershop and get it done,” Julie threatened.
 
Jennifer laughed.  I think you'd better give in Stacy.  You'll probably enjoy the experience.”
 
“It'll be an experience, That's for sure,” Stacy laughed.  “I hope you weren't expecting a barbershop shave with lather and a razor.  I can't do that.  I don't have shaving cream much less a razor of any kind.  The best I can do is to use my edging clipper.  That's almost as good as a razor, but I expect you'll be able to feel a little something.  It won't be as smooth as a wet shave.”
 
“I hadn't thought of that,” Julie exclaimed in surprise.  “Well, I was going to get an electric razor and shaving gel like Jennifer uses anyway, so I'll just do it today and shave it smooth tonight or in the morning.”
 
“You'll need a little makeup of some sort to make it look more natural.  I was able to buy some summer makeup that gives a nice glow, but that was in the summer.  There must be a good department store around her somewhere,” Jennifer told her.
 
“Milton and Reed  is just a few blocks from here,” Trish interjected.
 
“All right Julie.  I'm convinced.  I guess I'd better get started,” Stacy said.
 
“Please!” Julie said with some exasperation at the delay.
 
Stacy took a larger clipper out of her drawer, fiddled with it a bit, hesitated then put it back and picked up her scissors and comb.  After some more hesitation she combed up the hair in the back and attempted to scissor it off, which proved to be too much for her regular scissors.  Finally she just put the scissors into the hair at about the top of Julie's ears and started to cut around her head.  That seemed to work reasonably well so she continued around the sides then returned to the back where she went down to about the bottom of Julie's ear and carried out the same procedure.  Now Julie had two very obvious steps in her hair along with some long strands hanging down at various places.  Finally getting into the spirit of what she was doing Stacy began to work more efficiently, picking up the hair on the top of Julie's head and scissoring it off at about two inches.  Julie's hair was now a mess of lengths, mostly two inches or less except for the long strands in front of her ears and around the back.  A few more applications of her scissors and these long strands were gone.
 
“Why don't you just use your clipper Stacy?  Wouldn't that be faster and easier,” Julie asked, still a little irritated at Stacy's reluctance.
 
“You want me to use my clipper right now?” Stacy asked.
 
“Of course.  That's why I came.  Why are you making such a big deal out of it?”
 
“OK, I was just trying to go easy on you,” Stacy said, sounding a bit put out herself now.
 
Stacy put down the comb and scissors and picked up the clipper again.  This time she didn't hesitate and put the clipper at middle of Julie's hairline and plowed it back over her head leaving  clumps of cut hair on both sides while a large clump fell onto the cape and slide off to land on the floor.  A second and third run and the left side of the top of her head was denuded except for short bristles.  More large clumps fell onto the floor. 
 
Jennifer saw Julie's eyes go wide as she experienced the sensation of the vibrating clipper running over her head.  She smiled as she watched Julie take a deep breath and exhale slowly as she savored the exhilarating feeling of the clipper rapidly denuding her head. After a moment as Stacy continued to run the clipper over her head removing more and more of her hair Julie returned Jennifer's smile.
 
The process of clipper shaving of Julie's head continued apace as Stacy wasted no time, working as rapidly as she reasonably could.  She attacked the back running the clipper up and over the crown, then worked on the right side, working around Julie's ear.  The left side followed suit and in short order Julie was essentially bald.  Stacy went over her head with the clipper a few more times here and there to take care of some spots where the overlap had been less than desirable.  Finally she had finished and turned Julie to face the mirror.
 
“I hope that was fast enough for you,” Stacy said, still a little piqued at what Julie had said to her earlier.
 
“It looks great!” Julie exclaimed.  “I can't wait to get it shaved as smooth as Jennifer.  Oh, and I'm sorry about being snotty and giving you a hard time.  You were just trying to make sure I didn't freak out and I shouldn't have gotten impatient.  I know this seems like a crazy thing for me to be doing.”
 
:It's OK.  I should have known that you had your mind made up and didn't want me to drag it out like that.  I'll go over it with my edger now.  That will get it closer so you'll have an even better idea of what you're going to look like.”
 
Stacy took the small edger from its charging stand.  “I'd better clean and oil it before I get started.  I'll be using it quite a lot for once.  I hope the battery holds up,” she laughed.
 
Jennifer had watched Julie's transformation with some fascination.  She hadn't been certain how well it would turn out, but seeing Julie's enthusiasm, she knew it would be a success.
 
As Stacy went over Julie's head with the edger the shadow of light brown hair that the large clipper had left behind largely disappeared leaving her head with only the paleness of newly exposed skin.
 
“That feels so nice Stacy.  I never imagined that having my head shaved would be such a wild experience.  Is that how it is with you Jennifer?”
 
“I think it was a little different.  I was still sorting out my emotions then so I probably wasn't really aware of what it felt like.  When Alex shaves me on the weekends it feels really good.”
 
“Just how long have you kept you head shaved Jennifer,” Trish finally had to ask.
 
“A little over a year and a half now.”
 
“You're growing it out for the wedding aren't you?” Stacy asked.
 
“Actually I'm not.  I'll be a bald bride.  Alex is quite happy with me just the way I am.  Besides it a little late for me to do it now.”
 
“Six months should give you plenty of time for it to grow out enough for a cute short style,” Trish said.
 
“It's not going to grow – at least not much of it is going to grow.  I'll be permanently bald by the time of the wedding,” Jennifer said.
 
“What does that mean?  Why won't it grow?” Stacy asked perplexed.
 
“I've already had two laser treatments on my head.  I'll have one or two more in the next three months.  After that there won't be any more hair growing, or none to speak of.”
 
Stacy and Trish looked at her in openmouthed astonishment.  “Oh my God!” Trish exclaimed.
 
Stacy was flabbergasted.  “Why in the world are you doing that?  Why do you want to be bald?”  She asked.
 
“It's a little hard to explain in a way that's going to make sense to you.  In a nutshell, several of my previous boyfriends were more interested in my hair than in me as a person.  The last one persuaded me to let my hair grow and get it colored blond.  I've always liked my hair short and I hated being a blond.  So when we broke up I had it shaved off.   Alex was interested in me as a person.  He didn't care if I was bald, in fact he appreciated it.  When he asked me to marry him I said yes before I realized that I had said it.  Some time after that I realized that I enjoyed being bald and didn't want to have to keep shaving it everyday.  So I did what was necessary to stay bald.”
 
“So you're happy being bald and don't find it awkward when you go out or to a party and things like that?” Trish asked.
 
“I'm quite happy being bald.  I don't have any problems.  Alex and I go to parties, social events, shows, movies and anything else we want to.  We get some double takes and sometimes people want to ask about me being bald.  It doesn't bother me at all any more.  I feel more free than ever.  I really don't want to have hair any more.  I like who I am and how I look.”
 
“I can't argue with that.  You're done Julie.  You can hardly feel anything.  You look quite good bald.  I think I could easily become a fan of the bald look for women, especially having two good looking bald women right here in front of me.  So what do you think?” Stacy said with a chuckle as she turned. Julie to face the mirror.
 
“Wow!  I like it!  I love it!  I think I look great.  What do you think Jennifer?”
 
“Absolutely! You do look good - angelic and appealing, but we need to get to the store and find you some make up for your head so it will look more natural.  It might take a while to pick up some color this time of year.”
 
“I'd like to see you when you've shaved it smooth and have put on a little color. I think you look terrific right now though,” Trish joined in to voice her approval.
 
“Thanks Trish.  And thanks for doing it for me Stacy.  Now I need to buy a shaver, shaving gel and some makeup.  I'll come by some time when I'm around.  The kids at Breckenridge are going to freak out when school starts next week.  I'm going to have fun showing off my nice smooth head,” Julie laughed.
 
“Put on your cap Julie.  Your head will be very cold outside.  You're not used to it being exposed,” Jennifer advised her.
 
“I forgot.  It's going to take a few days to get used to the idea of putting something on my head whenever I go outside.  How long did it take you?”  Julie asked as they walked out with their heads covered with their knit caps.
 
“It wasn't winter when I got mine shaved the first time.  I had time to get used to it a little at a time in the fall.  When my head started to feel cool I knew I'd need something to wear.  You're starting at the coldest time of the year, so it could be a much bigger shock,” Jennifer explained.
 
“You're right.  Even with this cap I can feel the cold a little.  My hair used to help keep my ears warm,” Julie said.
 
“There is that too.  I wouldn't mind having some kind of cap with ear flaps if I could find one that didn't look really awful,” Jennifer laughed.
 
After arriving at the car they drove the few blocks to the department store where they found parking in the parking garage across the street.  A covered walkway at the third level took then across the street to the store.
 
“This is pretty neat Julie.  We could  use some of these back in the city,” Jennifer said.
 
“Yeah.  I read something about it.  Milton and Reed paid for part of it, that's why they got the skywalk.  They'll pay for my parking ticket if I buy something,” Julie explained.
 
A few minutes the two of them arrived at the cosmetics section.
 
“What was it you used Jennifer,” Julie asked.
 
“It was a creamy lotion called 'summer glow' or something like that,” she answered.
 
A middle aged woman finally took note of them.  She made an obvious effort not to stare at their bald heads.  “Can I help you,” she asked.
 
Julie quickly spoke up.  “Yes.  I'm looking for something called 'Summer Glow.'  It's a  creamy lotion that adds some color and shine to your skin.  I just had my head shaved and it's a little pale.  I want it to look more natural.”
 
The clerk was taken aback for a moment.  Finally she recovered.  “Just a moment.  I remember seeing a product like that in a box of miscellaneous leftovers in our storage closet.  I'll try to find it.  I'll be right back.”
 
A few minutes later she returned.  “I found it.  It's for legs, but it should work on you head just as well.”  She opened the tube and dispensed a small portion onto the back of her hand.  “It does have some color and it's supposed to add shine too.  I don't know if you want shine though.”
 
“Oh, I want it shiny.  What do you think of the color Jennifer,” Julie asked.
 
“Well, it's not perfect, so you'll need to blend it around your face, or you could just use it all over your head face and neck.  That might actually look quite good.”
 
“Hey! I like that idea.  Your head and face always seems to have a little shine.  Is that what you do?”
 
Jennifer laughed.  “You've figured out my secret.  Actually I just use a little shiny makeup that has the same color as my natural skin tone.  Last summer I did let myself develop some tan and had to use 'summer glow'  to even out everything.  That's gives it a lot of shine.  Alex likes that fresh faced look and so do I.”
 
“I want to do that too.  By the time of the wedding I want to have a nice tan so I can do it very shiny.” Julie giggled.
 
The bemused clerk waited patiently while the two bald women had this conversation.  When a break in the conversation finally arrived she spoke.  “Would you like to purchase this?”
 
Jennifer responded quickly.  “Yes, we'll take it.  Do you have two tubes?  And I'd like her to have a preview of it so she'll have an idea of how it's going to look and if she'll need any other makeup to go with it.”
 
“A preview?”  the clerk asked obviously perplexed.
 
“Yes.  Could you apply it to her head so she can see how she looks?”
 
“Uh, sure. I can do that.  I'll go get another tube also,” she said as she hurried back to the storage room to retrieve it.
 
“OK, here's the other tube.  Could you sit in this makeup chair,” she asked Julie, who promptly sat down in the little makeup demonstration area.
 
Applying some of the lotion to a small makeup sponge, the clerk hesitated, then made a tentative application to the right temple of Julie's head.  A few more rather hesitant strokes of the sponge and she seemed to overcome her initial trepidation and began applying the lotion in earnest.  When she tried to rub the sponge from front to back over Julie's head she immediately encountered the resistance provided by the short bristles remaining from Julie's clipper shave.
 
“You'll have to go from back to front and down on the sides and back.  Her head isn't as smooth as it should be because they only used a clipper.  After she gets a good shave it will be nice and smooth,” Jennifer said.
 
The clerk's eyes opened wide in surprise, but she quickly recovered.  Having arrived at a good strategy for applying the makeup, the clerk began to get over her astonishment at having two bald women in front of her.  As she continued applying the makeup to Julie's head she finally ventured to ask the question that had been demanding to be voiced. 
 
“May I ask you why you wanted to have your head shaved?”
 
“Oh, I've wanted to have my head shaved for a long time,” Julie said.  “I've seen pictures of women who were bald and I thought they looked really good.  When I met Jennifer last year I thought she looked great with her head shaved.  Now that she's permanently shaved  I couldn't wait any longer to get it done.  I want to get used to being bald, so that it will feel perfectly normal when I'm a bridesmaid in Jennifer's wedding in July.”
 
“You like being bald?”
 
“I think it's great.  I love how I look.  I'm not sure I'll ever want to let it grow again.”
 
“What does she mean by you being permanently shaved?” the clerk directed her question to Jennifer.
 
“I decided to have my hair permanently removed.  So now I'm actually bald – almost no hair grows.  I'll keep shaving for a little while longer, but after my next laser treatment, I'll probably stop.”
 
“Oh!” was all the flustered and tongue-tied clerk could manage to say.
 
“That's looking very good Julie,” Jennifer said to her as the clerk finished blending the makeup so that the transition from her face to her newly shaved head was almost undetectable.
 
“There, I'm finished.  This is the strangest experience I've ever had while working here and I've been here for fifteen years.  Is it possible that more women are going to go around bald like that?” she asked somewhat plaintively.
 
“I don't think you have to worry much.  If you work here for another fifteen years you might see two more,” Jennifer laughed.
 
“Where are the shavers?  I need to get one – a good one,” Julie said.
 
“You'll need some of those little sponges for putting on your makeup,” Jennifer suggested.
 
“Oh, right.”
 
Julie paid for her new makeup and sponges, then waited patiently while the clerk explained where in the store the personal grooming section was located.  When they arrived, they were greeted by a rather elderly man who explained that he worked in the Company office, but was filling in for the regular clerk who was ill.  He seemed unfazed by two bald women checking out the electric shavers and almost immediately suggested a battery operated wet/dry model.  On examination it proved to be a more recent version of the shaver that Jennifer used.  Shaving gel and shaver purchased, they were soon on their way.
 
“Do I have everything I need, Jennifer?” Julie asked just before they reached the entrance to the skywalk.
 
“I think so.  I also think you'll be a terrific bald bridesmaid,” Jennifer said.  “I hope you don't run into too much razzing when you start school again.”
 
“I'm sure there'll be some, but I can handle it.  Some of the guys are going to think I'm a freak, and some of the girls are going to think it's very cool.  Everybody will stop paying much attention to it in a couple of weeks.”
 
“That's right, but you're in High School and you know how kids your age are.  They can be pretty mean sometimes.  You need to be prepared for some nasty stuff.”
 
“I know.  I can take it.  I'm not going to get into a peeing contest with anybody.”
 
“Good.  That the right attitude.  Where are we going next.”
 
“There's a special grocery store across town that carries a lot of Asian things that Mom likes to use in some of her special recipes.  Wasabi powder is one.  They have some special Chinese cabbage that she likes.   She wants some other stuff too.  It shouldn't take long.”
 
An hour later they were pulling into the garage.  Julie took off her knit cap, retrieved the bag of groceries from the back seat and waited as Jennifer grabbed the bag with the makeup and razor. They walked through the family room into the kitchen where they met Nora.
 
“I got  everything you wanted Mom,” Julie said as she plopped the grocery bag onto the kitchen counter.
 
“And I see you got everything you wanted too,” Nora said as she looked at Julie's shaved head.
 
“I really like it Mom.  I think it looks great,” Julie said as she walked over to Nora and hugged her.
 
Nora returned her hug.  “Maybe I'll get used to it sooner than I thought.  You do look sort of innocent and sweet,” she admitted.
 
“Wow! Thanks Mom.  That's great!  It makes me feel wonderful!”  Julie's face lit up as she gave Nora another big hug.
 
“I suppose I'll just have to get used to the idea of having bald women in my family,” Nora chuckled.
 
“I'll certainly appreciate having a beautiful bald sister-in-law,” Jennifer added.
 
“Maybe one of these days you'll have a bald Mother-in-law too,” Julie joked.
 
Nora turned to look at her and rolled her eyes.  “Don't push it,” she said as she returned to working on the dish she was preparing for their New Year's day celebration.
 
“Can I be of any help,” Jennifer said as she watched Nora chopping an onion.
 
“No, this is my own special concoction.  It's for Sunday's dinner.   You two go get something to eat.  There are sandwich fixings and a big bowl of fruit.  Frank is taking us to his favorite pizza place tonight.
 
“OK.  Where're Dad and Alex now,” Julie asked.
 
“In his shop.  I think he wanted to show off his latest project to Alex,” Nora laughed.
 
“Alex would really like to have a shop like that.  He's told me a lot about the things Dad has done and the things he's built.  Actually Alex seems pretty handy with tools himself.  He has a couple of nice things that he made when he was a member of a woodworking club and could use the tools in an industrial arts school – a little end table for one.” Jennifer said.
 
“Well, I'm&n

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