Natalia was excited at the end of her narration, when she saw that her friend suddenly seemed to be immersed in the deep reflexivity that someone acquires in those moments of getting lost in their own thoughts.
"What is it, Frida? It looks like you've seen the devil in person. You must tell me! Is something bothering you?" - Said Natalia sweetly.
"It's about the story of what you dreamed; it has left me a little uneasy! It happens that for years I have had a recurring dream, which I have always felt vividly to the extent of believing it real. It turns out that that barber shop, in fact, does exist and it's located near the Grand Central Park and since the day it opened its doors to the public.
An enormous intrigue and fascination have been aroused in me in such a way, that I have come to form in my mind a romantic idealization of that establishment! -Relating it to my most secret fantasies; about a mythical place exclusive for gentlemen. -Located in one of the most elegant areas of the city.
I have visualized it as a chic and very special place, because it has a peculiar combination with a male social club atmosphere of the old British school; it has an elegant room luxuriously carpeted, ornamented with fine woods and decorated with some exquisite works of art in the classical style; oil paintings, watercolors and marble sculptures with Renaissance nudes. It is elegantly furnished, with soft leather armchairs. It highlights the detail that all the regular gentlemen to that place; always do it impeccably dressed in a very elegant way.
The vast majority comes with some regularity; they meet there to do men's stuffs, they talk about politics, business, they are reading the newspaper, or they are very entertained in the pages of a playboy magazine, while they are drinking a beer, have a glass of Cognac or whiskey, smoke a cigar or their pipe while they live together.
Its peculiar hubbub, at times reminds me so much of the lively London holiday of the 60s, combined with the charm of the Great Gatsby! At the other end there is a beautiful pool table, where you can see how some of them have already taken off their jackets and after picking up their shirt sleeves, they are ready to play comfortably; all of them are having a nice time playing 8-ball.
The floor is made of chess tiles at the other end, there are about 5 barber shop chairs located there, where some of them are getting a haircut; others are having their beards trimmed, or being shaved, as the case may be.
It is an elegant place and wrapped in a distinctly masculine aura where elegance, the casual and a certain mysticism prevail, which has always been extremely attractive to me, for the fact of being a place where, although access is not prohibited for us. No lady has entered there since the Great War ended! My grandfather and then my father were regular parishioners of that place; they did it with a certain ceremony a couple of times a week with a peculiar joy reflected in their excited faces, when they returned home.
For as long as I can remember, I have felt a great desire to go in there, to have a drink, play billiards and chat with those elegant gentlemen. Despite the continuous refusals argued; by my father and my grandfather, to deter my fanciful intentions.
At the beginning of the dream, you can perceive all the charm and glamour of the Jackie Kennedy era, descending from the Lincoln continental that my father had in the 60s. I don't forget how shocking it was to see the trunk lid lift while the steel awning retracted, so that once housed in the back, there was an amazing and divine car open to enjoy the sunny days.
I am wearing a black two-piece Chanel suit and a hat with gloves of the same color, a pearl necklace on my neck, very in the style imposed by Mrs. Kennedy at that time, full of glamour and feminine elegance! Just like my mom and grandma used to wear back then.
I look lovely on the sidewalk in front of that building after has given directions to my driver; to pick me up in a couple of hours. As I walk through the sophisticated revolving door, I am greeted with reverence by a courteous doorman in a beautiful gray three-piece uniform ornamented with golden buttons on both sides of the coat. He is a tall, middle-aged, not bad-looking man who observes me in a very peculiar way while the sound of my footsteps makes my presence evident in that lavish lobby; I can see a certain expression of uncomfortable surprise on his face, as soon as I expressed my intention to enter.
Because women do not usually appear there, even in emergency cases, is that he is surprised by the unexpected of my arrival, and without losing his friendly and helpful attitude, he invites me with deference to take a seat on the lobby sofa; he is considerate by offering to bring me a coffee while I am browsing the pages of a Life magazine.
"Ma'am, can I help you with something during your stay? If you are looking for someone special, you can trust that it will be a pleasure for me to give the gentleman that message on behalf of such a gentle lady."
I find myself sitting in that fluffy and luxurious armchair, very own, with a discreet and elegant attitude, with my leg crossed. The doorman observes me in silence. I feel the way; his imagination is inflamed while beholding my calves wrapped in the Nylon stockings. He caresses in his mind with some reserve; the whimsical idea... of how they look together with the hips? Those long curvy legs full of femininity that the elegant and demure lady sitting in front of him; has crossed under the mysterious sobriety of her skirt.
"I thank you very much for your kind attention. To tell the truth; I have come for a service that is offered in this prestigious establishment. You see, I'm interested in a shave. Would you be so kind as to do me the favor of announcing my arrival to the master barber." - I say politely.
The man looks at me incredulously; notices the expression on my face that shows him; how seriously I am talking!
"I don't understand you, madam; you have a smooth complexion! I ask you to excuse my insolence. Ladies don't shave, and the people who come to this place do it precisely to shave, and all of them, they are gentlemen! I must respectfully tell you; that you no need any of that." - He said sheepishly.
-While he covertly refocused his gaze on the flash of my calves under the shine of the tight stockings. As if he was guessing more insistently about the shape of my legs under my skirt, I could feel the measured path of his eyes all over my anatomy.
I felt caressed by the luminous delight of his discreet gaze, then with a certain casual and elegant way. I got up with the subtle intention; that he could continue to indulge in his gallant and secret game of deciphering my feminine forms, dressed up under the entirety of my ostentatious outfit.
A singular tingling made me notice how gradually the fabric of that black suit was thinning, first becoming slightly translucent! I immediately perceived with disdain the way it gradually vaporized on my skin; until it simply disappeared with the frivolous flattery of the air! -Flowing with cynicism; between the exuberance of my legs. And without wishing to leave there, I found myself dressed only with the delicacy of my intimate apparel, feeling with unusual lightness, and an imperious desire to enter that place!
