I had been living with my mum and just seeing my dad at the weekends and occasionally one evening in the week. My relationship with my mum was not very good. We were constantly arguing about little things and she eventually told me that she wanted me out. My dad had always said that I could live with him if I wanted so I moved in. I did not change school so I did not lose any of my mates.
One Monday morning I finished styling my faux hawk hairstyle and went to meet Barry who I always walked to school.
After waiting about five minutes I saw Barry walking along with his hood up over his head.
Didn't think it was that cold to put a hood up. I thought to myself.
Morning!. Barry said as he arrived next to me.
Okay Barry, why the hood up? I asked, as we started to walk to school. You know I said I was getting a haircut on Saturday. Barry said.
Yeah, and I joked about you getting a buzzcut. I replied.
Well I didn t get a buzzcut, but went real short. Barry replied as he pulled his hood back to reveal his shaved head.
Oh man that s awesome! I exclaimed as I rubbed his head.
Yeah, its cool. Barry replied.
What made you lose it? I asked.
My brother was doing one of his mates and they said they would bung me twenty quid if I became a baldie. Barry told me. Before I knew it I was sitting there losing my faux hawk.
Wish I had been there to see it. I told Barry.
It happened so quick I didn't have time to call you. Barry told me.
We arrived at school and went to our classes and arranged to meet up at lunch.
The whole of that morning I could not concentrate on the lessons. I was just thinking of Barry with his bald head. Before Barry had got his head shaved I was planning to ask my dad if I could go bald for the summer the same as my dad was. My dad has been shaving his head for over 2 years now. Now that Barry had got his head shaved I was thinking of asking when I got in that afternoon.
Lunchtime finally arrived and I met Barry in our usual spot and sat down for lunch. We were joined by our mates Paul and Chris who both had the same faux hawk cut as me.
Are you going for the bald look? Chris asked.
Thinking about it. I Replied.
I m going to wait until my cousins wedding. Paul told us.
Why wait until then? Chris inquired.
Because I hate his religious mum and sister, and he has a boring cut, so I shall go bald on the day and see how they like it. Paul replied.
I might go bald at the end of term. Chris told us.
You will be bald before that. Barry told him.
After school finished for the day I met up with Barry again to walk home.
Are you planning on keeping the bald head? I asked.
Yeah, at least until the end of September. Barry replied.
I m going to ask my dad to shave my head at the weekend. I told Barry.
My brother will do it for you if he doesn't. Barry said.
If my dad won t do it then I will let him do it. I told Barry.
When we got to the top of my road I told Barry that I would let him know what my dad decided.
It seemed ages before my dad arrived home. He was moaning about the traffic and how it seemed to get worse. I got the tea out of the oven and we sat down to eat it. Dad, I want my head shaved on Saturday. I told him.
You want your head shaved? My dad asked, rather surprised.
Yes, and if you don t do it Barry s brother will. I replied.
What s made you want you head shaved? My dad asked.
My mate Barry had his done, and I want mine done. I told my dad.
I ll have to think about it. My dad told me.
Well don t think to hard because I definitely getting it shaved on Saturday. I said. What if you decide you don t like it? My dad continued.
It will grow out, more than yours does. I retorted.
Give it a few years you will go naturally bald. My dad told me.
I realised my dad was right. He started to lose his hair at 25 and his brother even earlier. So I will be bald at 14 then. I said.
Without me knowing that night my dad posted on the buzzboard and Wyatts clip board to see what reaction he could get about me having my head shaved.
The next morning all I could get out of my dad when I asked if he had made his mind up was You will have to wait and see.
Well I ve chucked my hair gel. I told my dad.
I can see that you haven t spiked it today. He replied.
Yeah, so that shows I m serious about having it shaved on Saturday. I said as I picked up my rucksack.
Wait and see what I decide. My dad told me.
I met Barry at the usual place and noticed that he had fine stubble on his head.
Thought you were shaving your head? I asked Barry.
My brother is away on a course and my dad won t do it. Barry told me.
Why not do it yourself? I inquired.
I m not that confident at the moment. Barry told me.
I told my dad last night that I wanted the shaved head. I said to Barry.
What did he say? Barry asked.
That he would think about it. I replied.
Offer is still there with my brother. Barry told me.
If my dad says no then I will be there. I replied.
As we got to school Barry reminded me that he was on a school trip that afternoon and was not back until Friday.
The rest of the week was murder for me. My dad still would not let on if he was going to shave my head on the Saturday. I kept on and on at him to see if I could get any idea if the answer was going to be yes, but all he would say was wait until Saturday and find out.
When I got out of school Friday I made my way home and was determined to get an answer out of my dad about what was going to happen the next day. When I switched my mobile phone on it came up with a message from my dad saying that he was going for a couple of beers with his mates and would see me later. He s determined to keep me waiting until tomorrow. I thought to myself.
Just after I had finished tea I got a text message from Barry asking if I wanted to go and have a game on his play station.
I sent one back saying I was on my way. When I arrived Barry s dad answered the door and told me that he was upstairs. I got to the top of the stairs where I saw Barry sitting on a stool in the bathroom with his brother, who was putting shaving foam on Barry s head.
Hi... be about five minutes. Barry told me.
Yeah okay then. I replied.
I hear you want to become a baldie. Mick said as he started to shave Barry s head.
Yeah, tomorrow hopefully. I replied as I watched Mick continue shaving Barry.
Well I m your man if your dad doesn't do it. Mick told me.
Thanks I ll remember that. I told Mick.
When Mick had finished I went into Barry s room and we went on his play station for a while before I decided to go home in preparation for my own head shave the next morning.
My dad was already in by the time I got home and in bed so I didn't get to ask about getting my head shaved the next day. I must have woken every hour that night. I kept checking the time and then dozing off again. I eventually fell asleep properly about five in the morning.
The next morning I woke suddenly and saw the time was nine o clock. I jumped out of bed and quickly dressed. As I walked out of my bedroom Barry was standing there with a camera in his hand.
I believe you asked for a haircut. Barry said.
Yeah, I want my head shaved. I replied.
Well we a spare appointment if you would like to walk this way. Barry said pointing towards the bathroom.
My heart jumped as I realised that I was going to get my head shaved. I walked into the bathroom with my stomach knotting up but also getting excited at the prospect of being a baldie. In the bathroom my dad was standing with a pair of cordless clippers in his hand. I sat down and put a towel that was on the stool over my shoulders.
How would sir like his haircut? My dad asked with a big grin on his face.
Shaved bald! I replied excitedly.
With saying that Barry took photos all round of my hair.
Ready to say goodbye, or do you wish to reconsider? My dad asked.
Just get on with the buzzing. I told him.
With that my dad turned the clippers on and took the first swipe straight down the centre. I looked in amazement as my dad deposited my hair in my lap, it must have been at least three inches long. My dad quickly carried on taking my hair down to mere stubble. The whole time Barry was taking photos for a website we were going to work on. When my dad turned off the clippers I couldn't believe the difference. I looked totally different and I couldn't wait for the final look. My dad wet my head and put the shaving foam on and left it for a few minutes before starting to shave my head with the grain. Afterwards he put more shaving foam on and shaved with the grain for a really smooth finish.
Like it? My dad asked.
It s awesome! I exclaimed as I rubbed my head.
You look real cool. Barry said.
When did you decide that I could have my head shaved? I asked.
The day after you asked me I got in touch with Barry to arrange it. My dad told me. You knew all along? I asked Barry.
yeah, I had trouble keeping it a secret. Barry replied with a grin.
If you want to stay bald I will teach you how to shave your head. My dad told me. No way am I growing my hair for the time being. I replied.
Barry and I made our way into town to meet Chris and Paul. I must have looked in nearly every window at my new look and a lot of people were looking at us. Paul and Chris were already waiting for us and both had a smile when they saw me.
We knew you were getting shaved. Paul told me.
Barry told us on Tuesday but were sworn to secrecy. Chris continued.
I have now been shaving for two months the same as Barry except when we grew it out for a couple of weeks and tried a Mohawk.
Paul got me to shave his head on the day of his cousins wedding as he said he would. Apparently his aunt did not like it at all and would not let hum go in any of the photos.
Chris is set to go bald the middle of this month when school finishes. His brother who is 16 is having his done for charity in a couple of weeks time.