"the Haircut Tale" by Bob Atkinson

"the Haircut Tale"

(c)2010 Bob Atkinson

on the way home

stop to shop 

in Green Valley stores

was it fate? I cannot say

or something much, much more

"Oh, sweetheart dear a haircut place

can I come in with you?"

she says in a soft voice

almost like a "Coo"

in we go to the unknown

to see a girl with some clippers

a hair cut's dandy

no counter candy

seems we're alone

darting here and there

in the back of the store

a girl seemed to have things to do

not related to customer care

nobody in this place

deserted like some ghost town

she didn't seem to smile and cheer

'bout strangers coming 'round

out of "shear" frustration

a lady eating her lunch

walked to the front

disgusted

that her partner didn't help us

"?may I help you please?"

she said

irritated not at us

she seemed to be friendly

when there was work to be done

seated me in the rocking chair

didn't know what's to come

will I survive this?

or be shot out of a gun?

Hunny jumps up from her chair
to discuss the deed's execution
the whys, the how to's
and all its implications



more for serious than fun
wasn't to her a joke
how my hair was cut
and looked at by other folks

the implications, complications,
evaluations, salutations 
(just making sure you're still awake)
but not color for heaven's sake
were on her mind
a plan for cutting was laid

I just sat there 
and watched them in the mirror

knowing it would be a laugh a minute
not a thing of terror

like a comedy on the TV
only, she and I were in it
pacing over question marks
and fiddling with our fingers

would we get the boot?
couldn't really say
if the cutter saw the cuttee
as entertainment or prey

was just again the same

as breakfast in the morning

giving due and proper deliberation 
as to the important question

which side of the toast

to butter?
are two feet better than three?
is Santa really jolly?
and
?can "up" be fed like your belly?

which hair goes this way?

which hair goes that way?

should we comb it to the front?

oh heck we can shave it

and do it from the start

what's your name?

Hunny said

as she stared at my bald spot

"Ebony?" that's a pretty name

should we now get started?

"we could do it this way?

we could do it that way"

Hunny said with a straight face

"?do you disagree, or concur??"

wished I could cover my face

I laughed at her performance

wasn't to her a game

but it seemed as if

at that moment

we were in a play

now, I had left my mommy

home since I was eight

when I went to get a haircut

never done it this a'way

but, Hunny has a way

makes me do what she wants

not out of anger

but out of love

the macho in me disappears
when confronted with her cravings
no selfish desires or other fires
motivate my undertakings

I find no more manly duty
gives me better compensation
than making her smile broadly
with a kiss, a squeeze and a hug

the partner re-appeared

from her room in the back

when a customer, with appointment

came in and asked:

"?can I have my haircut please

I'm perfectly on time?"

"be with you shortly,

gotta get organized"

the partner went to her station

the one next to us

and for 20 minutes proceeded

her fingernails to dust

Ebony then asked me

how I was taking all of this

told her I was happy

with two ladies doting on me

how could it be otherwise

never had such attention

of those so concerned

for my filaments' perfection

so it was

on a sunny day

we laughed and toured

our lives away

were at ease

just being together  not knowing what's to come

seeking our bit of fun

here in the land of sun

Contact Bob Atkinson