A Busy Day at Master Barber's Busy Barber Shop (Part 8)

Ma’am then turns to Bella and said… “After the haircuts I think we should treat Master Barber and Imee to a coffee and snack at Mazza Gallerie. It is small upscale shopping mall in Chevy Chase on the border of Maryland and Washington, DC. There is a McDonald’s and my favorite Mazza Café and Subway there. My treat …. And I will not take no for an answer Bella”

Bella looked at Stephanie, the female police office (Ma’am) with a smile on her face and said “Ma’am YES Ma’am”.

As Imee walked back towards the chair where Alcee had just been shorn and was still handcuffed, the Barber shop door opened and a lady wearing an Indian Sari walked in with a teenage child who looked very tense and had tears on his eyes. 

The mother looked at Sir and said “Good Afternoon I am after a proper short back and sides for this young man………he starts Grammar School next week.”           

Master barber looked at the lady and said “Sure no problem Ma’am”.  He then turned to Bella and the Female Police Officer and said with a smile on his face “Strange times have changed….. Grammar Schools would never have enrolled or allowed any boy with that boofy hair he has to enter their gates let alone for any St Edwards boy to even be seen with long hair right! ” 

Bella smiled and said “Sir my neighbors’ younger brother back home attends a military school and I remember his dad having to take him for a drastic haircut the night before his admission interview because the school was so..so strict and boys with long boofy hair are usually tagged sissy’s and  automatically refused admission without any thought or hesitation”

The Female Police Officer (Madam) looks at boy’s mother and asks” you mean he is going to be a St Edwards Grammar Boy…. Right?” 

The boys’ mother answered “yes my son here is a very smart boy and was chosen because of his grades”.

“Sir, he really needs either you or Imee to take care of him I think Sir” The Female Police Officer (Madam) said to Master Barber before looking at the boys mother again and with a firm voice said “Well you brought him to the right place, all St Edwards boys must be well groomed short back and sides haired boys and looking at your little man here with his boofy long sissy hair, he needs more than just a trim from some fancy shopping mall salon apprentice.  The barbers here will be able to rectify this problem, so take a seat here in the waiting area and do not worry. You young man get your bum into that chair over there” pointing to Imee who was removing the cape and handcuffs’ off Alcee.

“Now keep your mouth shut boy. Go and wait your turn in the chair there” yelled Master Barber at the soon to be St Edwards Grammar Boy also pointing him to Imee’s direction.

Master Barber (Sir) looked at the boys mother and said”ma’am do not worry we will rectify his problem, and make a Grammar School boy out of him, I promise you ma’am”.

The boy’s mother just looked at Sir with a sign of relief on her face and said “oh thank you  ... thank you sir …”

As the boy walked slowly and hesitantly towards Imee, Alcee’s bum had left the barbers chair making room for boy’s bum. Imee looked at the boy and said with a firm and assertive voice “hurry up ---- here boy”.  The boy gave Imee a distressed look showing his unhappiness and mental suffering, grief and anxiety that this visit to the Barbershop was causing him.

Again Imee could be heard saying “hurry up ---- here boy” as the boy finally stood in front of the chair and frowned at his mother saying “मैं अपने बालों मम्मी कटौती नहीं करना चाहते हैं ... और इस व्याकरण स्कूल माँ के बारे में परवाह नहीं है” I do not want to cut my hair mummy...and do not care about this Grammar School mummy, before his mother replied with a loud and firm voice “मुझे लगता है कि नाई कुर्सी जोनाथन में आपको ले जाने के लिए पहले आप अपने बाल कटवाने मिल जाएगा और आप ग्रामर स्कूल के लिए जा रही हो जाएगा, तो एक मूर्ख की तरह व्यवहार कर रही रोक” you will get your haircut and you will be going to Grammar School, so stop behaving like an idiot before I have to carry you into that barber’s chair Jonathan.

Suddenly, a loud and commanding voice sounded “Sit DOWN on that chair now and don't move!" as Master Barber Snapped at Jonathan. 

Jonathan was somewhat shocked by Sir’s authoritative and commanding voice and immediately followed his orders sitting the barbers chair.

Imee, the lady haircutter then grabbed a neck strip and secured tightly around Jonathan’s neck with just enough room to breathe. She then picks up a white cape and with a sudden violent flick emanating from the action places it around Jonathan’s body, simultaneously pulling the cape up securely and forcing it around his neck, pinning it securely and fastening the stud of the cape tightly around Jonathan’s neck.  

Jonathan felt the pressure of the stud in the back of his neck. The sensation of the cape around his arms and below his knees resting and stroking his bare skin seeing he wore school boys' shorts.

Jonathan looked up in absolute silence at his reflection and the long thick hair that dragged over his face several inches below the chin and the sides and back which also dragged down inches below his neck and the barbers white cape around his shoulders one last time.

"Now stay there and don't move till sir has finished with the other hooligan" said Imee with a loud and serious voice pointing to Cindy who was already handcuffed to the barber’s chair next to his and caped waiting her turn to be shorn.

Imee looked at Sir and said "He's all ready for you Master Barber”.

Master Barber had just finished a telephone discussion at the counter and walking towards the chair where Cindy the female hooligan was waiting to be shorn when Bella looked at Stephanie the Female Police Officer (Madam) and said “why doesn't Sir finish with that boy first seeing his mother is waiting and you said you need to call for the police van to take the girls back anyway Madam?

“Great idea Bella” replied Madam before walking up to Sir as he approached the barbers chair Cindy sat in and said “Sir I think you could take care of the boy here first seeing his Mum and Grammar School are waiting for him Sir”.

Sir replied “ OK …. Ma’am”

Sir walked towards his workbench and picked up the Electric Andis Clippers, and a bottle of clipper oil again, he oiled the machine yet again before applying the 3.5 - 3/8” blade to start with taking into account the long tresses of hair that covered Jonathan’s head.

Master Barber (SIR) came back behind Jonathan who was in the chair with something in his hand but the Jonathan didn't get a chance to see any part of it other then the cord that was leading to it and said out loud “All off Regulation Grammar School Short Back & Sides for Jonathan here ma’am right” to Jonathan's mother who sat in the waiting area.

Jonathan’s mother (Mum) was so proud; nobody in her family had ever been clever enough to go to a grammar school so much so that she had told everyone she met about it.

Mum looked at Sir and pondered for a moment was a tidy up sufficient or does he really need Regulation Grammar School Short Back & Sides she thought?

“OK I think a bit shorter than what he has now.. and like you said Regulation Grammar School Short Back & Sides would be good Mr. Barber Sir” with smile of relief on her face.  But what mum didn't know was Master Barber’s Regulation Grammar School Short Back & Sides unlike previous tidy ups Jonathan got at some shopping center salon were quite different and indeed short.

Before Jonathan could say anything Master Barber now standing behind Jonathan tilted Jonathan’s head straight down to his chest and all that could be heard was the sound of the Electric Andis Clippers pop on Nrrrrrrr the sound of them filled the room.  With one hand he picked up sections of the boys hair which dragged down inches below his neck and with the other he placed the clippers on the boy’s nape and moved up the back of his head quickly in swift motions from his nape to his crown, pass after pass.

At this point all that Jonathan could see was piles of his long thick tresses of hair land on his lap and the floor before his very eyes, which  he did not seem to enjoy considering he had a miserable look on his face as if he was being brutally whipped or caused physical pain.  He uttered “ please… please do not cut it so short man…………..stop cutting so much………..in an assertive and arrogant manner”.

Master barber just ignored him and did his job with a smile on his face.

All that his mum could see was her son’s long thick hair finally falling onto the white cape and floor before her very own eyes. All could see the sign of relief on her face as her long haired son was being transformed into a Grammar School Boy finally.

Tresses are locks of long hair, commonly seen as a woman's hair or a hippy / sissy boy sporting long hair.

Master Barber now tilted Jonathan’s head to the left and we could all see the electric clippers work their way up behind his right ear. Then over his right ear pass after pass taking his tresses of hair down to short fuzz.   Sir then moved over to his left side and worked them over the left side as well.

Bella looked at his mum and Stephanie the Female Police Officer (Madam) and said “your son Jonathan is starting to look like a real trendy young man already ma’am”.

Stephanie the Female Police Officer (Madam) with a smile face said “Bella I totally agree with you young lady… he is much better looking without all that long hair”. 

Jonathan’s mother smiled and nodded he head at Bella & Stephanie in agreement.

Again the electric clippers went silent for a few seconds.

Master Barber now changed the blade on his clippers again to 000 - 1/125 then came back behind Jonathan once again and tilted his head straight down to his chest again; all that could be heard was the sound of the Electric Andis Clippers pop on. Nrrrrrrr and the barber took to tapering the back of his head before changing the clipper blade once again to 0000 - 1/100 and creating a tighter taper / faded Grammar School Short Back & Sides look along Jonathan’s hairline all the way around the back before moving to right side followed by the left side and repeating the process and completing the tapered / faded Grammar School Short Back & Sides finish.  The sound of the clippers and Jonathan’s moaning had filled the barber shop.

The regular Grammar School Short Back & Sides haircut, side-parted with tapered back and sides, has been since the 1950’s and still is considered a clean cut fashion and preferred by parents and school authorities at quality schools and all Grammar Schools in the United Kingdom,  United States, Australia, New Zealand , Singapore and many other countries.

Master Barber finished with the clippers and took a spray bottle and sprayed the top of Jonathan’s hair making it damp but not soaking wet.

He then took a hairbrush and started brushing it straight back making it stick up on the top before asking Jonathan’s mum “ Ma’am you like his hair side parted to the right or left?”

At this point of time Jonathan’s hair was all kind of spiked up on the top of his head.

Mum replied “you decide… whatever grammar school requires” with a smile on her face.

“No problem ma’am a part down the left side it will be” replied Master Barber.

Master Barber then picked up his Andis comb and created a part down the left side of Jonathan’s head before walking back towards his workbench, taking a bottle of clipper oil, he oiled the electric clippers.

Soon Sir picked up his electric clippers with no guard, Andis Black Clipper Comb commonly used for clipper cuts or flattops and the clipper-over-comb cutting technique.  He turns to Jonathan and walked over to his right side to start the clipper-over-comb cutting technique. 

Master Barber used the comb to elevate segments of Jonathan’s hair that was spiked up on the top of his head starting at the right side and then cut by one stroke of the electric clippers which he held in his barbers’ cutting hand leaving Jonathan’s hair a little shorter than two (2) inches long total on the top of his head.

All Jonathan could see taking into account the length of the tresses of hair that still covered the top of his head was lots of his thick hair falling onto cape before his very own eyes. 

Sooner than later his head felt a lot lighter and the hair on top of his head was now shorn down to a little shorter than two (2) inches long total on the top being the required length for a regulation Grammar School Haircut.

The clippers’ stationary blade (the lower blade) is positioned so as to be parallel to the comb. 

This technique is ideal for cutting off long tresses of hair without wasting too much time using scissors.

Again this cutting technique is usually used by barbers for sides/sideburns and the bottom area of the haircut by the neck. However club cutting, free hand clippers over comb and or scissor over comb are only usually used to do away with the bulk of one’s hair by experienced or military barbers like Sir.

Again the electric clippers went silent.

Sir returned the clippers to his workbench and picked up his razor. He now tilted the Jonathan’s head straightforward as he did with Fat Boy’s and others alike and slid the razor into his nape scrapping it across the back of his neck.

He ran the razor up over his right ear and down his right cheek. He went around to her left side and ran it over her left ear and down his other cheek. He wiped Jonathan’s hairline off with a paper towel and threw the towel into a bin.

He now put some lotion on his hand and applied it to Jonathan’s skin where he had just shaved. 

The smell was like a tough guy’s aftershave lotion and very cooling on his skin.

“Short enough ma’am” he said to Jonathan’s mum.  Mum then walked towards the barber’s chair and carefully inspected her son’s  regulation Grammar School Haircut before saying “Good Job Sir, I’ll be bringing my Jonathan back regularly I think”.

Sir looked at Mum and said “Ma’am do not worry if your boy here does not take a pride in his appearance and keep his hair well-groomed to a regulation Grammar School Haircut, and above the ears and off the collar, to permit the correct wearing of the school cap at all times by making a visit to my barber shop every month, he will learn the hard way”.

“The hard way what do you mean?” asked Mum.

“Well in front of the whole class he will be humiliated and out of the classroom marched by a prefect without any prior notice in single file down the stair case at the back of the foyer at St Edwards Grammar and find himself standing at a door with the sign "Barber" on it.

One by one the boys who do not follow school rules are filed in and pointed to the school’s old style leather barber's chair.

The barber there is an old guy and former marine core barber that shows no mercy, his head will be gripped, pushed forward and a cape thrown around, and placed over paper towel 'round his neck before he hears the old barber switch on a pair of clippers and feel the buzzing sensation on the back of his neck as he watches as his hair fall into his lap -- higher and higher the clippers will work their way, shearing away all the hair he has to a regulation military crew cut. The crew cut is supposed to serve as a punishment and deterrent so that he makes sure he visits a barber shop regularly and never needs to trouble the school barber again by disobeying school rules” replied Sir.

“Did you hear that Jonathan?” asked his mum as he sat in the Barber’s chair with a frown on his face still.

“Yes... I did and I don’t want a crew cut this is bad enough mummy”

“ OK … boy your all done…I will be seeing you again in about three weeks I guess” said sir to Jonathan as he removed the cape.

   (To Be Continued - Parts 9 through 15 will follow soon) 

A Busy Day at Master Barber's Busy Barber Shop (Part 7)

Soon Alcee’s bum was in the chair and Bella stood there ensuring she did not get up again before Imee secured her right hand and left leg by handcuffing  them to the chair just like Asian Boy was handcuffed before her.

“Now keep your mouth shut and wait your turn girl” yelled Imee at Alcee who was destined for Juvenile Lockup before turning to Bella and saying with a smile on her face “thanks for your help baby, I can’t wait to run my clippers through your mop of hair one day”

Bella smiled and quietly walked back to the waiting area and sat next to the female police officer again, she looked her in the face with a smile and said “Madam she’s all secured to chair Madam”.

The female police officer was chatting with Master Barber (Sir), when they both looked at Bella and said “good work boofy head mop” before Sir walked back towards the Asian girl with long and thick black hair touching her waist at the back and a fringe covering her face and touching her nose and handcuffed to the red barbers chair that Shirin had just been shorn in.

Imee then went to the barber’s chair where Asian Girl was handcuffed waiting her turn to be shorn and started to pull her long black tresses of hair out from under the cape before saying “she’s ready to shorn sir” na siya ay para sa kanyang buhok na ginupitan guinoo, to master barber.

Master barber looked at the female police officer and said with a loud voice” I will just take it all off …. Regulation Juvenile Lockup Haircut for this one too madam”.

“Sir … Yes Can ….Sir….please, same for all four of them" responded the female police officer with a smile on her face. "

“Suddenly, he looked at Alcee and said “keep your mouth shut and wait your turn girl” as he approached his workbench where he picked up his Joewell M2 Series professional Shears with Offset Handle (Professional Barbers scissors) and walked back behind Asian Girl.  With one hand he tilted her head firmly back towards him before taking a section of the long black tresses that covered her back and shoulders with his hand and using the Joewell M2 Series Professional Shears to cut just above her shoulders sending a mass of Asian Girls’ black hair raining down onto her lap before her very eyes covering the clean white cape.  

Bella was watching and appeared to enjoy seeing Asian Girl’s tresses rain down onto her lap and floor before her eyes. She smiled and could be heard saying “he is a good barber  ... Sir he is… is Imee as good? “to the female police officer and Imee who stood near by at the counter.

Meanwhile, four hand full’s at the back of Asian Girl’s head had covered her lap before moving to her left side and with one hand Sir tilted her head firmly towards him before taking the first of two sections thus two hand full’s of her long thick black tresses that covered her left ear and shoulders with his hand and using the Joewell M2 Series Professional Shears to cut just above her shoulders.

The female police officer smiled back at Bella and said “why do you ask if Imee is as good girl” before Bella replied with her bashful, shy look quietly not wanting Imee to hear her”well Imee said to me over there when I helped with Alcee, thanks for your help baby, I can’t wait to run my clippers through your mop of hair one day”.

The female police officer looked at Bella and with both hands hugged her before whispering into her left ear “let Imee cut that hair of yours and I will be there to oversee that  she does a good job … what do you think girl?..... Sir is busy and maybe I need a haircut too later today… what do you think Bella?”

Bella whispers back “oh yes madam if you say so but I want a really good short cut madam please”.”Bella no need to call me madam anymore, call me Stephanie that’s my name and were friends and sisters I hope for a long time” said the female officer.

Stephanie then turned to Imee and said in Filipino “Imee kung paano mo gustong upang bigyan ang Bella kanyang gupit upang Sir cut minahan? hindi ito sinasabi Ingles at sanhi ng pagkapahamak sorpresa para sa Bella, sagutin ako sa tagalong”.  Imee, how would you like to give Bella her haircut so Sir can cut mine? Do not say it in English and ruin surprise for Bella, answer me in tagalong.

Imee replied “Ginang oo ginang ko iyan upang patakbuhin ang gunting na panghalamanan sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mahabang tresses ng buhok.Nangangako ako kong gawin ang isang magandang trabaho ginang.  Ay i gumawa ng aking master barber maipagmamalaki ko” Madam yes Madam I would love to run the clippers through her long tresses of hair. I promise I will do a good job Madam and make my master barber proud of me.

“Ok, ngunit hindi sabihin kahit ano sa Bella sa ngayon” Ok, but do not say anything to Bella for now replied the female police office (Stephanie).

Master Barber (Sir) now moved to Asian Girl’s right side and repeated the same process  leaving  her with an uneven bowl  like cut just above her shoulders and sending a mass of Asian Girls’ thick black hair raining down onto her lap before her very eyes covering the clean white cape barber shop floor even more.

Bella looked at Stephanie and said “you can speak Filipino Tagalong too” “oh yes a bit here and there” Stephanie replied. 

“So what did you say to Imee?” asked Bella with a curious by shy look on her face.  Stephanie replies “I tell you later I promise”.

Soon young Asian Girl’s eyes as well as mine popped as we watched Sir walk back to his workbench once again put down his Joewell M2 Series Professional Shears and pick up his electric clippers with no guard as well as Andis Black Clipper Comb commonly used for clipper cuts or flattops or what is known in the industry as the clipper-over-comb cutting technique.  

Again this cutting technique is usually used by barbers for sides/sideburns and the bottom area of the haircut by the neck. However club cutting, free hand clippers over comb and or scissor over comb are only usually used to do away with the bulk of one’s hair by experienced or military barbers.

Master Barber then used the comb to elevate segments of Asian Girl’s hair starting at the right side and then cut by one stroke of the electric clippers which he held in his barbers’ cutting hand.

To Asian girl’s horror all she could see with the humming of the clippers as they munched through her long hair at the face of the Andis Comb inches away from her scalp was more than 25” of hair raining down onto the cape in front of her time after time.

The barber soon moved to the back of her head, tilting it forward slightly, continuing the clipper-over-comb cutting technique and within only a few minutes and no more then five strokes of the humming clippers Nrrrrrrr…….. Nrrrrrr across the face of his Andis comb.  Asian girl soon had her head down looking into the large pile of hair that had gathered in her lap and could feel the weight of her head getting lighter and lighter after each and every stroke of the clippers that he took back there.

The clippers’ stationary blade (the lower blade) is positioned so as to be parallel to the comb. This technique is ideal for cutting very short hairstyles without wasting too mush time using scissors.

Again the electric clippers went silent for a few minutes as Sir walked towards his workbench and picked up the Electric Andis Clippers, and a bottle of clipper oil, he oiled the machine before applying the 00000 - 1/125 blade on his clippers to and came back tilting her head forward again tapering the back of her head before changing the clipper blade once again to 0000 - 1/100 and creating a tight taper / faded effect along her hairline all the way around the back before moving to right side followed by the left side and repeating the process and completing the tapered / faded finish.  The sound of the clippers and Asian Girl’s angry moan filled the room.

Sir finished with the clippers and took a spray bottle and sprayed the top of Asian Girl’s hair making it soaking wet as he looked at Bella and Stephanie and said “short back and sides for you miss’s too I think” with a smile on his face.

Both Bella and Stephanie looked at one another and smiled back at Sir.

The barber (Sir) now picked up his Andis Black Clipper Comb and his Joewell M2 Series professional Shears with Offset Handle (Professional Barbers scissors) moved back behind Asian Girl and tilted her head back towards him before taking the Black Clipper Comb and starting at the front of her head  and working all the way back raising the wet hair so it was sticking up spiked  and cutting it all the way down to the same length as a military academy boys’ extra short induction flattop.  The spiked hair at the top of her head was now not more 1.00 inch in length and to 1.50 inches at her fringe.

“Short enough Madam or just a bit more” said Sir to Madam.  “Oh Sir... yes Sir I agree with you Sir her hair is really thick” replied the female police officer to Sir.

Sir returned to his work bench once more, put down the Andis Black Clipper Comb and his Joewell M2 Series professional Shears before he picked up the Electric Andis Clippers, and a bottle of clipper oil, he oiled the machine before taking the clippers with no guard and his Andis Black Clipper Comb and returning to Asian Girl. 

He tilted her head back towards him before taking the Black Clipper Comb and starting at the front of her head and working all the way back raising the wet hair on the top of her head and with each stroke of the electric clippers which he held in his barbers’ cutting hand reducing the length of the spiked hair at the top of her head. The clippers’ stationary blade (the lower blade) is positioned so as to be parallel to the comb. This technique is ideal for cutting very short hairstyles without wasting too mush time using scissors.

He repeated the same action of  working all the way back raising the wet hair on the top of her head and with each time a stroke of the electric clippers reducing the length of the spiked hair at the top of her head to 0.80 and the at the fringe 1.00.

The sound of the clippers that filled the room went silent again as master barber walked back to work bench before saying “Short It is madam” to the female police officer. The female police officer then walked towards the barber’s chair and carefully inspected the Asian girl’s haircut before saying “Good Job Sir as always” and then looked at Alcee and said “your turn is coming Alcee my girl”.

With a smile on his face Master barber came back and tilted fat girl’s head straightforward before he slid the razor into her nape scrapping it across the back of her neck.  He ran his razor up over her right ear and down her right cheek. He went around to her left side and ran the razor over her left ear as well and down her other cheek.  All that could be heard was Asian Girl’s moan. He wiped her hairline off with the paper towel and threw the towel into a bin.

He put some lotion on his hand and applied it to Asian girl’s skin where he had just shaved

her. The smell was that of masculine guys’ aftershave lotion and very cooling on the skin.

Suddenly and with a loud voice Master Barber looked at the remaining one girl headed for Juvenile (Juvie) Lock Up pointing his hand at her and said “You girl move your bum and take Asian girl’s place in this chair here now” pointing at the red barbers chair that Asian girl was still sitting in and was still handcuffed to as he took a dusting brush and poured some baby powder onto it before brushing off Asian girls neck and over her ears and forehead while he loosened the cape. 

With the remaining girl ignoring master barber and starring at the ceiling pretending as if she did not hear him, Bella suddenly gets off her seat and walks towards the remaining girl and grabbing her right hand with a firm grip and saying “off your bum now or I will drag you by the hair” with a loud but firm voice.

The remaining girl was Cindy, an Australian girl with thick blond hair which touched her waist and covered her fringe and eyes.

At this point Sir looked at Imee and said “unlock the handcuffs and get young Cindy over there into this chair and cuffed up”.

Master Barber then returned to his workbench and put down his dusting brush and looked at Stephanie  the female police officer and said with a loud voice” I will just take it all off …. Same for Alcee here too madam”.

“Sir … Yes Can ….Sir….please, same “responded the female police officer with a smile on her face.”

Imee unlocked the handcuffs and said to Asian girl “your done so stop the moaning and go back to the waiting area near Madam over there”.

As Asian Girl walked back to the waiting area and took her seat next to the female police officer, Bella reached up to feel her head and shivered at the feel of having short hair like her for the first time. Bella smiled and said “I LOVE your haircut” out loud.

Asian Girl said nothing and continued her moaning.

By now Bella had a firm grip on Cindy’s right hand and said “on you feet now before I drag you along the floor like a stray dog right now”.  Cindy ignored her and starred at the floor silently, before Bella said “Imee help me please”.

Imee replied “with pleasure miss” as she walked over and took hold of Cindy’s left hand before looking at Bella and smiling as they pulled Cindy to her feet ad dragged her forcefully to the barber’s chair.

“Now stop behaving like a stubborn brat and put that bum of yours in the chair or do you want us to carry you” said Bella to Cindy with a aloud and forceful voice as the female police officer walked towards Cindy. 

As the female police officer took a step closer and was virtually starring Cindy in the face she finally relented and sat in the Barbers’ Chair and started kicking her feet up and down and yelling “I do not want my haircut screw….. do not cut all my hair screw” looking at the female police officer whom just ignored Cindy’s plea and placed her right foot firmly above Cindy’s left leg pushing it firmly against the barber chair’s footrest whilst Imee secured the left leg to the chair with handcuffs whilst Bella secured her right had to the barbers chair also with the second pair of handcuffs before looking Cindy in the face and saying” now shut the hell up before I stuff a towel in your mouth and use masking tape to keep it shut….. do you understand me you spoiled brat?”

Cindy went quiet but started kicking up her right leg and pointing it at Imee and Bella’s faces before hitting the Barber Chairs arm with her left hand.  This childish outcry for attention was quickly put to an end when Imee went to the work bench drawer taking out an additional two pairs of handcuffs.

Imee looked at Bella and said use this and cuff her other hand to the chair whilst I cuff this right leg. 

Bella smiled and said “madam yes madam”.

Screw  - is underworld slang for a police officer and or prison guard dating back to the mid-19th century, 'screw' was suggested by someone harsh and brutal, one who used thumbscrews on prisoners." The screw as a term for a police officer / prison guard is based on the fact that “screw” was originally slang for "key." One of the most important functions of a police officer / prison guard, or turnkey, as he or she are often called, is to see that detainees and or prisoners are locked up at the appropriate time and or place and that involves turning the "screw." Interestingly enough, Henry Mencken reports in The American Language that in the 1920's desk-men and bellboys in hotels also used “screw” as a slang term for room key.

Master barber now made his way from the counter back to work bench nearest the chair Alcee’s bum was secured to with her right hand and left leg having been handcuffed to the chair just like Asian Boy was handcuffed before her.

Imee now came to the barber’s chair where Alcee was handcuffed waiting her turn to be shorn and started to pull her long and thick brown tresses hair touching her waist at the back and fringe covering her face and touching her nose out from under the cape before saying “she’s ready to be shorn sir” siya ay handa na para sa ginupitan ginoo, to master barber.

Master barber looked at the female police officer and said yet again with a loud voice” I will just take it all off …. Regulation Juvenile Lockup Haircut for this one too madam”.

 “Sir … Yes Can ….Sir….please, same “responded the female police officer with a smile on her face.”

Imee, now walked over walked over behind the barber’s chair that Cindy had just been handcuffed to and grabbed a neck strip and wrapped it snug around Cindy’s neck.  She then flung over a white cape around her shoulders pinned the cape snug around her neck.  Cindy looked at her reflection with her long thick blond hair which touched her waist and covered her fringe and eyes covered over by the cape around her shoulders in absolute silence and off course a scowl grimace frown on her face.

Soon young Alcee’s eyes popped as we watched turn to his work bench once and pick up his electric clippers with no guard, Andis Black Clipper Comb commonly used for clipper cuts or flattops and the clipper-over-comb cutting technique.  He turns to Alcee and walks over to her right side to start the clipper-over-comb cutting technique. 

Again this cutting technique is usually used by barbers for sides/sideburns and the bottom area of the haircut by the neck. However club cutting, free hand clippers over comb and or scissor over comb are only usually used to do away with the bulk of one’s hair by experienced or military barbers.

Master Barber used the comb to elevate segments of Alcee’s hair starting at the right side and then cut by one stroke of the electric clippers which he held in his barbers’ cutting hand. The clippers’ stationary blade (the lower blade) is positioned so as to be parallel to the comb. This technique is ideal for cutting off long tresses of hair without wasting too much time using scissors.

To Alcee’s horror all she could see with the humming of the clippers as they munched through her long hair at the face of the Andis Comb inches away from her scalp was more than 72” of hair raining down onto the cape in front of her time after time.

Master barber soon moved to the back of her head, tilting it forward slightly and continuing the clipper-over-comb cutting technique and within only a few minutes and no more then seven strokes of the humming clippers Nrrrrrrr…….. Nrrrrrr across the face of his Andis comb, Alcee soon had her head down looking into the pile of hair that had gathered in her lap and could feel the weight of her head getting lighter and lighter after each and every stroke of the clippers that he took back there.

The humming clippers Nrrrrrrr suddenly went silent before Master Barber burst out at the top of his voice “Oh my gosh their is lice walking in your hair girl” to Alcee. “Ha ….no way …..” Alcee replied in horror.  “Well there is girl” replied Master Barber (Sir) before looking at the Female Police Officer (Madam) and saying “Madam she has lice walking in her head…………..only one option …. Got to go to zero Madam” with a very serious look on his face.

Lice are a form of parasites (Head lice). Head lice are small insects that live on the scalp and lay eggs (nits) on the hair. Lice and nits cause an itchy scalp. Head lice are common in children through teenage years and their families. Medicated treatments to kill lice and nits are available. A female louse will lay between three to eight eggs (nits) per day in the hair, within 1.50 inches of the scalp. 

These eggs resemble dandruff, but cannot be brushed off. Head lice do not have wings or jumping legs so they cannot fly or jump from head to head. They can only crawl. People get head lice from direct head-to-head contact with another person who has head lice. 

This can happen when people play, cuddle or work closely together. Head lice are most common among teenage children. If a teenage child has head lice, tell anyone who has had head-to-head contact with them, so that they can check and treat immediately. 

The most effective and mandatory remedy for head lice discovered in teenage children is to have their hair shorn very short to a buzz cut so that any insects encroached in or moving around in the tresses of hair are removed completely seeing they cannot just be brushed off.  

Other treatments such as “The conditioner and comb method” and “using insecticide / lotion products” are not as effective unless the lengths and tresses are shorn off very short at first to remove the risk of further infestation totally. The haircut commonly administered for head lice in known as “Zero” by most if not all barbers and hairdressers.

 “Sir … Yes Can ….Sir….please, you must “responded the female police officer with a smile on her face.”

Soon Sir moved around to her right side and did the same, Alcee’s pile of hair that had gathered in her lap was getting bigger and she could feel the weight of her head getting lighter and lighter after each and every stroke of the clippers that he took before the humming clippers Nrrrrrrr suddenly went silent yet again.

In many countries, prisoners and armed forces recruits are given buzz cuts on arrival into the detention center or in the first day induction process for the armed forces when they enter training to prevent the spread of lice, and for ease of maintenance, cooling, and uniformity. However in Alcee’s case the Head Lice is already there and this will literally mean cutting her hair all off commonly referred to by Barber Trade as the Zero.

Sir now walked over to his work bench again and put down the Andis comb before taking a bottle of clipper oil, he oiled the electric clippers before applying the 3.5 - 3/8” blade to start with taking into account the length of the tresses of hair that still covered the top of Alcee’s head.

Sir now came back behind Alcee and tilted her head back slightly but firmly with one hand and with the other hand placed the humming clippers at her  fringe and started to pass them from Alcee’s fringe across the top of her head quickly in swift motions all the way to her crown, pass after pass.

 

All in the barbershop waiting area watched and smiled as Master barber continued to with swift motion after motion until Alcee’s head was now shorn to a lengthy military buzz cut. 

He now returned to his workbench yet again and changed the blade on his electric clippers to 00000 - 1/125 then came back behind Alcee once again and tilted her head straight down to her chest this time then all that could be heard was the sound of the Electric Andis Clippers pop on Nrrrrrrr and the barber took to tapering the back of her head  before changing the clipper blade once again to 0000 - 1/100  and creating a tight taper / faded effect along Alcee’s hairline all the way around the back before moving to right side followed by the left side and repeating the process that completed the tapered / faded finish.

Alcee could see all the tresses of hair pile up on the floor before her very eyes and started to cry and make funny whaling sounds.

The clippers went silent yet again before Sir returned to work bench removed the 0000 - 1/100 blade and replaced it with the 00000 - 1/125 blade yet again. Sir walked back behind Alcee and tilted her head back slightly but firmly again with one hand and with the other hand placed the humming clippers with the 00000 - 1/125 blade at her fringe and started to pass them from Alcee’s fringe across the top of her head quickly in swift motions all the way to her crown, pass after pass leaving her with a very very short crew / buzz cut and all the head lice infested tresses of hair covering her lap and the floor.

 

The clippers were soon silent again and Sir returned the clippers to his workbench and picked up his razor. He now tilted the Alcee’s head straightforward as he did with Fat Boy’s and others alike and slid the razor into her nape scrapping it across the back of her neck.  He ran the razor up over her right ear and down her right cheek. He went around to her left side and ran them over her left ear and down her other cheek. He wiped her hairline off with a paper towel and threw the towel into a bin.

He now put some lotion on his hand and applied it to her skin where he had just shaved. The smell was like a tough guy’s aftershave lotion and very cooling on her skin.

“Short enough madam” he said to the female police officer. The female police officer then walked towards the barber’s chair and carefully inspected Alcee’s  “Zero” buzz cut before saying “Good Job always  Sir as always”.

Sir now looked at Imee and said “may walisin mga mapahamak tambak na buhok ngayon bago tresses ang lahat ng ito sa iba pang mga batang babae ng simulan lagas ...at mga kuto sa ulo ng Alcee mamugad sa sahig ” someone sweep up these damn piles of hair now before all this other girl’s tresses start falling off.. and Alcee's head lice infest the floor pointing to Cindy who was already handcuffed to the other barbers’ chair waiting her turn.

Imee, the Filipino lady haircutter quickly responded ”kaagad master barber ginoo kaagad’ right away master barber sir right away.

Bella could be heard saying to Imee “ It makes me sad to see you sweep all that hair away  me especially knowing that soon my long hair would follow suit and be gone to the trash can too Imee, but you know I cannot wait to get it all cut off right?” Ginagawang akin malungkot upang makita ka walisan ang lahat ng buhok ang layo sa akin lalo na alam na sa lalong madaling panahon ang aking mahabang buhok ay gumaya at nawala sa basura ay maaaring masyadong Imee, ngunit alam mong hindi ko maghintay upang makakuha ng mga ito ang lahat ng cut off karapatan?

Imee,  smiles and says “your turn soon Bella” as she walked towards the back of the shop and took the Ergo Dustpan With Broom, 12 Wide, Metal with a Vinyl Coated Handle, Black/Silver and proceeded to sweep up the hair piles.

Whilst Imee swept the floor, Madam looked at Bella “and said YEAP our turn soon Bella” with a serious look on her face. Bella replied “Ma’am YES Ma’am” with a smile on her face.  Ma’am same as Madam is a term used when addressing a woman of important position in a polite and respectful way.

With three visits back to the big dust bin at the back of the barbershop to empty out the dust pan all the piles of tresses that covered the floor were gone and the barbershop’s clean tiled floor around the two barbers’ chairs could be seen again now before our very own eyes and we felt overwhelmed at the sight of it. 

                            (To Be Continued - Parts 8 through 10 will follow soon)