617 V2 ch89 (1/2)

On Sunday, Mom took me and Noah to a barbershop to get a haircut. She looked slightly unsure as we walked into the small building.

”Why didn't we just go to your salon like before?” Noah asked, confused. He took a look around, making it obvious that he had never been here before.

”Jake isn't comfortable around middle-aged women so we should obviously go to a place that is mostly male.” She looked around and made eye contact with one of the men coming out of their restroom in the back. ”Hello.”

The man walked up to us. ”Welcome! How can I help you all out today?”

Mom rested a hand on my shoulder. ”My son just needs a trim to get the hair out of his eyes. Maybe a little off the sides too. Or maybe-” She glanced down at me. ”Do you want to just tell him yourself? Just pick whatever makes you comfortable. You can even get it shaved like Noah's.”

I glanced at Noah, stifling a laugh. He was wearing a baseball hat over his fresh cut. ”I just want it out of my eyes.” I said, repeating after Mom.

Noah's attention was focused on a binder at the receptionist desk. It had a few pictures of designs shaved onto people's heads. He tapped the binder. ”Hey, Mom? You think I can get one done?”

Mom made a face.

”It'll only be for the summer!” Noah pleaded. ”I'll get my hair shaved evenly before school starts if it looks bad.”

”What were you thinking?” Mom peered at the binder.

”A baseball on one side. And maybe the A's logo on the other?” He asked.

Mom looked to the man who was patiently waiting on us. ”Is that something you can do?”

”Sure thing!” He smiled. ”Who wants to go first?”

Noah looked to me. ”You or me?”

”You.” I told him.

Noah followed the man to a chair and sat down. The man got to work, covering Noah with a tarp thingy and then evened out what little hair he had left. He changed tools and started to communicate with Noah on how big he wanted each item to be.

Mom sighed. ”This kid...” She shook her head and caught me looking at her. She smiled. ”No matter where we go or what we do, Noah likes to be the center of attention. I think it's the symptom of having too many older brothers. Or...we spoil him too much.”

”I think it's a mix of both.” I told her, smiling a little bit. They spoiled all their children when they could. Even me. Just like Dad said, if it was in their power, they don't mind spending a little extra to make us happy.

The man worked on each side of Noah's head, doing a great job with the designs.

”I love it!” Noah exclaimed as he checked out the finished product. He jumped up and checked himself out in the mirror. Then he ran over to show me and Mom. ”Cool, right?”

”Very unique.” Mom told him.

I gave him a thumbs up.

My turn now.

I still looked like me. The hair just wasn't in my face anymore, nor was it sticking to my neck. ”I like it.” I told him honestly.

He gave me a friendly smile and helped me out of the chair. Mom paid him at the small desk and thanked him for his services. She looked down at the both of us as we headed back for the car. ”You two are looking good. I have the most handsome kids in the world.”