Barber College Scholarship Material

Back in elementary school, circa 1970's I was attracted to pinball, much like a gambler is attracted to a slot machine. The completed skill shot brought forth flashing lights and sounds with a high score much like the cherry high that addicts keep searching for. I had a friend of mine, Chris the paperboy, he always had cash on him. My job was to alleviate the burden of his heavy pockets.

One day Chris was walking past my house with a $5 bill in hand. That crisp picture of Lincoln framed in green caught my attention. I asked Chris where he was going. He replied to get his hair cut. I told him that we could spend the $5 on playing pinball and I could cut his hair. It sounded like an all around win for both of us.

Well we proceeded to go through the quarters playing the Wizard, Fireball and anything else that had a back glass that caught our eyes. Soon enough the quarters ended and it was time for Chris's haircut. The only problem was as an 11 year old, I had yet to enroll in Barber College. 

I put a folding chair in the bathroom and took the sharpest blade I could find to sculpture his overgrown oily mane. A straight razor in my hand proceeded to feather his hair in directions that I had never seen before. After about 5 minutes under the blade I cringed from what I saw. I was thankful that I didn't try cutting my hair first. When Chris saw his designer straight razor cut he howled with disappointment. Since I still had a since of humor I just laughed trying to make light of his life. He walked home with his eyes welling with water.

The following day Chris had a brush cut. The Marines would've eyed him with pride. I suppose that there is an underlying moral to this story. I only wish that Chris's parents hadn't been so cheap and had given him tip money as well.