Author's Note:
A little over ten years ago, I took a chance and wrote a story for this site just for fun. Having read stories here for a year or so, I had the audacity to attempt one. My career was winding down, or so I thought at that time. Having written several training manuals for a major international chemical company, I, for some crazy reason, thought I had the skills to write erotic stories. Not that there's much difference, right?
The story below is a new version of my first one to be published here. Like many writers, I learned from feedback that I could improve it many ways. I wrote using very stilted dialogue that is not used in real conversation. Our American English language is one using common contractions like "I've" instead of "I have" for example. As a reader, I think it's much more enjoyable to read dialogue written the way people really speak the language. I also depended too much on a volunteer editor to catch grammar and punctuation errors that evaded both of us.
With that as background, I've done something rarely done on this or any other site. I'm re-writing this story and telling it again with new elaborations and scenes. To keep from confusing you, I've given it a new title. I'm not removing the original story from my contributions, just adding this one as a new series. That way, the hundreds of feedback comments readers took time to write will be preserved as they all applied to the original version.
Since many of you weren't around ten years ago, this story may be new to you. For those few who may remember it, I hope you enjoy it the way I should have written it originally.
Chapter 1
My name's Mark. Now that I'm 77, my decision to retire is easier than it would've been over the past few years. My eyesight and steadiness of hand have slipped away. I now feel comfortable relating the story of my interesting career and how it evolved.
My last customers have moved on to other people I trained. Hopefully, all my former clients will appreciate, and forgive, my relating this account of a very long, interesting life and the parts they played in it. All names used in this story are from my imagination. Only if you remember the event as I describe it, would you know your part in this narrative. Please forgive me if you recognize yourself and remember the event with less enthusiasm than me. As I promised, your privacy is critically important to me, and I'll never compromise it.
I'm a barber, or maybe I should say I was a barber. Like many GIs who returned from war, I had to learn new skills. There was little opportunity for a sniper in Los Angeles in the 1950's.
My older brother, David, owned a one-man barbershop not far from Hollywood. He was an excellent barber and built a solid business. No matter if you were a normal guy off the street or a major studio star, he gave everyone a great haircut. Today it would be called a "styling" I suppose, except the styles were much shorter then.
For many men in those days, a close shave was as important as a cut. The combination of oils, heat, shaving foam, facial massage and the sharpness of a straight razor in skilled hands gave a shave that lasted far longer than anything men could do at home.
David was proud of my military service and enjoyed relating war stories I lived to his many customers. These stories grew both in scope and drama over the years, of course.
1958
"Hey David, how's it going?" I said when entering his shop.
"Hey little brother. Going good, I suppose." He only glanced my way for a second before returning to his job.
There were three men sitting along the wall to the left, absorbed in conversation, waiting their turn in the chair.
"Mark! We've been hearing about you and all the great shots you made in Korea," one of them shouted.
"Believe me, with David's help, those shots are improving daily," I responded. Laughter filled the shop. "He has a way of making every story better."
"We know, we know, but the old boy gives a great cut and shave. We must talk about something while we wait. Have you found a job yet?"
"Not yet. It's tough with so many looking."
David said, "Mark, I've been thinking about hiring a trainee to help around here. You ever think about being a barber?"
I heard a snicker from somewhere along the left wall but wasn't sure who was being honest for a change.
"You want me to become a barber in your shop? Come on, man. You've never shown any interest in having an employee."
"Yeah, I know. But this business is at capacity. I have three to five guys waiting all the time. I just don't like to hold customers up like that."
From the left wall again: "David, you expect Mark to go from killing guys to using sharp instruments? Uh, I don't know about that."
"Exactly, Steve. Do you realize the nerves, steady hand and patience this guy has? That's exactly what great barbers need. Besides, you guys know as well as I do that I need to get off my feet and sit occasionally. With several of you here watching me, I can't stop at all during the day. I've been thinking a long time about training someone. Believe me, it'd be the best for us all."
I replied, "Okay David. When do we begin? At least I can help you and make a little money. I'd like to find a nice lady and will need a steady job to support her." There was another snicker or two from the left.
I didn't realize the impact of this decision until years later.
1961
David died on his way to work. A driver racing another had completely ignored the four-way stop sign and broadsided David's car. Killed instantly, according to the doctor, so at least he didn't suffer. But we did.
Many of his customers and their wives came to the funeral. They stopped to visit with David's wife, Wendy, and their two children. Many also came to our house to visit, often telling funny stories from his shop and how much they loved David. They asked what we needed or how they could help. Their big hugs and quiet words of encouragement meant the world to us. Tragic deaths like this were all too common before seat belts. We were well-practiced in consoling grieving families.
I re-opened the shop for business the following week and several guys came by each day. Although I wasn't as good at cutting hair as David, most of them came anyway. My ability to give a very close shave was what really saved me, and eventually my career as a barber.
The Gillette introduction of adjustable razors in the late 1950's was the beginning of the end to barbershop shaves - at least the kind men needed. It was only a matter of time before my skills at cutting hair (not so good) combined with the lower demand for close shaves. The business that David founded slowly died as more and more men found better barbers and no longer needed shaves from me.