I've been going to the same barber shop for years -- a little one-woman storefront in my neighborhood run by an old lady who works cheap, chain-smokes, and cusses like a sailor. All her customers call her Granny.
I went in late on Tuesday this week. Granny was getting ready to close up shop. But I was pretty shaggy and needed a trim badly. As Granny was explaining to me that she "just can't fucking stay late" because her ex-husband had "some kind of fucking thing" (I don't know what she meant) a young lady walked out of the back room and stole one hundred percent of my attention.
She was gorgeous -- petite and bouncy, wearing a light sun dress that swung playfully across her tanned, skinny thighs. She had hopeful blue eyes, a thin nose, and long, looping blond locks that fell over her shoulders and the spaghetti straps of her dress. She walked toward us.
Granny followed my gaze and said, "This is my granddaughter, Eloise."
She nodded and offered me her delicate hand.
"Hi Eloise," I said, but held onto her hand longer than she expected. She looked at me with a little surprise and then her eyelashes fluttered and she looked away, smiling.
Granny said Eloise was in training, and that she might take over the shop some day. The young beauty seemed to force a smile in response to that.
I asked, "Well, Granny, if you have to go now, could Eloise cut my hair?"
"Oh, no. She's still pretty shitty. Best to come back tomo--"
"I can do it," Eloise interrupted. Granny looked surprised.
"I've been watching you all day. I think I've got the hang of it," the beauty said.
Granny frowned.
"And he definitely needs it. Look at the back of his neck," Eloise said. She reached up and touched my neck, delivering a shock of excitement through me.
Granny looked at her watch. "What the hell," she shrugged. "Lock up when you leave." And then on the way out the door she turned to me and said, "No fucking refunds!" Then she left.
"Sorry about Granny's language," Eloise smiled. She stepped to the door, locked it, and turned the "OPEN" sign to "CLOSED." Then she switched off the lights in the waiting area and gestured further back where the shop's only barber chair was.
"Oh, I'm not offended. That's just Granny," I smiled, following her and sneaking glances at her tight little ass. "So you're taking over the family business?"
"Well, yeah, maybe. Or at least for a while? I'm not sure." She swept off the chair and put a hand on my shoulder as I sat down.
"You didn't seem too eager when Granny mentioned it."
"You noticed?" She looked at me in the mirror, reached around my neck and unbuttoned the top button of my shirt and folded it back. She paused briefly and I saw her bite her lower lip. Then she undid two more buttons and pulled at my shirt until my pecs were mostly exposed. "Just getting this out of the way so I can get the hair off your neck," she said, rolling the shirt back and replacing it with one of those white collars.
Her movements were soft but purposeful. This close, I could smell her perfume, which was lovely. I decided I was really going to enjoy this hair cut.
"Yeah, I noticed. You don't want to be a barber?"
"I mean, who does?" She exhaled, as if saying it out loud was a load off. "Maybe for a while? Maybe until we can sell it or hire someone else. I want a career in business, not cosmetology. I've been talking to Granny about updating, adding more staff and new services."
"I don't know. People love Granny because she offers a good hair cut for a good price. And a shave, too, if you need it."
Eloise felt my chin and cheek as if deciding whether I needed it. Regrettably, I had shaved that morning.
"What else do guys need from a barber? Nails and waxing?"
She punched my shoulder playfully. "Hey! Some guys like those things! And all the big chains do shampoos, beard trims, eyebrows, shoulder massage..."
"True. That's true. Got to be competitive, I guess. Smart of you to study the market."
She grinned and unfurled the black cape that settled down over my lap.
"Now," she said, running her hands through my hair and looking at me in the mirror, "Are you sure you want a hair cut?"
It was an odd question but I answered it. "That's what I'm here for. I like it tight. A number one on the sides and maybe an inch off the top?"
Her hand in my hair was pleasant but I could see her frowning. She kept playing with my hair, not really making progress.
"That's how Granny cuts it," I prodded.
"Yeah," she said, a little more nervous than she seemed before. She kept running her fingers over my scalp.
"You ok?"
"Yeah, sure. I can do this," she said the last part almost to herself. "But I should tell you, you're my first."
"Your first?"
"I've never actually cut hair before."
I let out a nervous laugh. "You seemed so confident when you told Granny--"
"Sometimes I can be overconfident," she admitted.
"Oh, it's fine. Go ahead. If it's not perfect, I won't even notice. I'm not that vain."
"You sure?"