Ben was running late... very late!
"Of all the fucking days to hit traffic like this," he thought.
He usually tried to work locally on Fridays but a key client had asked for a site meeting and Ben, being one of the more junior engineers, had copped for the two hundred mile round trip.
Ben wouldn't have normally minded but, tonight of all nights, he had a date. Hopefully a hot one!
He needed a shower; badly.
The site had been dusty and with the warm weather and the lack of air-con in the company van, he smelt like a P-I-G; or so he thought anyway.
Worst of all, his local barbers would be closed by the time he got there and he had to get this mop tidied up somehow. He'd noticed his date, Simon, a few times out and about and thought how well-groomed he looked. Ben didn't want to let himself down.
~~~ & ~~~
It was almost five-thirty, as Ben slowly drove through the outskirts of a neighbouring town with still ten, gruellingly slow miles ahead of him.
The residential street soon became more commercial and, while stopped at some traffic lights, Ben spotted the tell-tale, red and white pole of the barber's shop. Managing to avoid taking out any other road users, Ben made a sharp left turn and, after parking the van in a side street, walked back to the main road hoping against hope that he was in time for a trim at least.
The door to the barbers was still open as Ben approached. He paused at the threshold and glanced inside. It was empty save for a guy sweeping the hair from the floor who Ben took to be the proprietor.
"Am I too late?" Ben asked hopefully.
"Well... Erm... I..." replied the barber after checking his watch.
Ben looked down forlornly.
"If it's just a trim," said the barber, gesturing for Ben to come in.
"Too kind!" said Ben. "You've saved my life!" he added before sitting in the chair which had all the hair cutting paraphernalia in front of it.
The barber closed the door, locked it, flipped the door sign to 'closed' then pulled down the vertical blind to deter any more latecomers.
"So, how would Sir like it?" asked the barber, flicking Ben's hair into shape with his comb then noticing the site dust which dropped onto the black, nylon cloak around his shoulders.
Before Ben had a chance to reply, the barber continued, "I think a wash is in order first Sir. Is that OK?"
Ben nodded his assent and moved to the chair with the porcelain basin in front.
To Ben's slight embarrassment, the water initially flowed a somewhat grubby brown as the dust was washed away. Once shampooed and towelled dry, Ben felt much better... almost human.
Back in the cutting chair, the barber set to work; mainly with the scissors at first.
Ben could tell from the off that the barber was accomplished. He had a confident, light touch, the scissors just caressing Ben's hair and yet taking just the right amount off with each pass. As Ben relaxed so his thoughts turned to the evening, to Simon and to what might transpire. It had been a while since he'd last dated and he was pleased that his unintended sabbatical was drawing to a close.
The barber worked on, trimming and combing, occasionally running his fingers through Ben's hair to shape it and add body. It felt nice, Ben thought... almost sensual. Occasionally the barber would pause to assess his work, resting his hands on Ben's shoulders before continuing. As he worked on the sides, the barber leant in close; so close that Ben could feel his breath and then, against his hip, could feel something else.
"Oh hello!" thought Ben. "Is that what I think it is?" he couldn't be sure. Nothing was said.
The barber moved round to the other side and, again, there it was... harder still.
"Is Sir out tonight?" asked the Barber in what Ben took to be a slightly camp tone.
"Erm... yes... I'm meeting a friend... a date," replied Ben.
"Oh a date, is it Sir? That sounds fun. I do hope it goes well for you both. Who's the lucky girl?"
"Erm... it's actually a guy," Ben replied, seeing no reason to hide his sexuality.
"Oh how sweet Sir. Is
she
handsome?" the barber leant in again, closer this time.
"
She
is as it happens," replied Ben. "It's our first date so fingers crossed."
"Lovely! I'll be rooting for you both."
Did he mean 'rooting you both!' wondered Ben, again aware of the pressing, now into his lower ribs.
As the barber set to with the razor around Ben's neck and sideburns, Ben sneaked a closer look at the barber's crotch and could clearly make out the unmistakable form of an erect penis or, at least, a semi-erect one. Thankfully, or not, it lay at around forty-five degrees and, as such, was safely enclosed by the barber's trousers. Had it worked itself round to twelve-o-clock, things would have been even more interesting thought Ben.
After blow-drying Ben's hair and making a couple of final tweaks, the barber stepped back and held the mirror for Ben to view his handiwork.
"Is that OK Sir?"
"That's great, it really is," replied Ben. "Thanks for sorting me out."
"Is there anything else Sir would like tidying... eyebrows... body hair...?
Ben gulped, somewhat taken aback. Eyebrows maybe, he thought but 'body hair'... at the barbers?
"Erm... I've never been asked that before," Ben replied, somewhat shyly.
"I understand Sir; it's all just hair to me. I just thought you might want to look your best for this evening... just in case," the barber smiled suggestively.
Ben glanced at his watch which showed just before six. With his head hair, at least, now sorted and the traffic likely to die down shortly, the time pressure was reduced. He'd only need a quick shower and change of clothing before heading out to meet Simon at the pub, just a ten minute walk from home.
"Well... if you think it might improve my chances," replied Ben, "where shall we start? I think my brows are OK-ish and I've very little chest hair however..." he paused, blushing again.
"That's fine Sir. Let me give those brows a quick tidy up, then we'll go through and sort the rest out."
'Go through...' to where Ben wondered.