Ellie flinched when she heard the bell above the door ring. It was her first time looking after the barbershop by herself, and her first customer. The eighteen year old had learnt quickly, but that didn't stop the nerves from setting in.
Thom was a regular at the shop and had seen Ellie a few times as she was learning, at forty-seven he was a newly divorced gay father to two cats, and he felt a kinship to Ellie as if she were the daughter he never had but always wanted. He wasn't going to let her slip up today.
Ellie guided Thom to a chair in the far corner of the empty barbershop, it was still early with the morning sun only just waking itself up, the overhead lights buzzed and flickered as Ellie arranged her equipment.
"Nervous?" Thom asked as he sat himself down on the seat.
"Yeah," Ellie smiled, "just a tad."
"There's no need honestly, I'm just here for a trim you'll be fine."
Thom arranged himself so he was more comfortable and Ellie grabbed the cape to put over him.
"Do you like my new shirt?" Thom asked, making light conversation.
"Oh God, it's new?" Ellie exclaimed.
Thom looked at himself in the mirror struggling to see what was wrong with it. "Do you not like it?" He laughed awkwardly.
"No, no it's not that, it's just what if I slip up? What if I don't put the cape on properly and get hair all over it?"
"Ellie," Thom said kindly, "you're overthinking it, but I'll tell you what, if it'll make you feel more comfortable I'll take it off. That way if you slip up, which you won't! It'll fall on my skin instead. How does that sound?"
Ellie thought about this for a moment, it was unconventional, but if he was comfortable she didn't see a reason why it wouldn't work. So she nodded and Thom carefully unbuttoned his shirt before slipping it off, folding it and placing it on the counter in front of him. Ellie looked at Thom's body for an older man. He looked fit, his skin was a little weathered from years in the sun, but she couldn't deny he looked good. She had to resist the temptation to place her hand on his chest covered in fine wispy white hairs.
She draped the cape over him and got to work trimming away as they shared casual conversation, the more she worked the more comfortable she became and the better the job she did. Once she finished Thom admired himself in the mirror with a wide smile.