Hair Razor

“Work boots? What the hell? He’s usually dressed to the nines.” Nita says to herself as Michael approaches the building, and opens the door for him, as he hands her a cup of coffee.

“Hey, Michael. What’s with the boots? Ya look like one of the Village People.” Eyeing him up and down.

“Oh, why thanks, buttercup!” Sipping his coffee.

They’re meeting with Alyssa the current owner of the hair salon they are looking to purchase. She inherited it from her Aunt Babs. Not being able to keep it profitable, she was forced to close it, and has been empty for some time now. It needs a little work, but it’s a great location. Alyssa went to the back to turn on the lights.

Michael leans over to Nita lowering his voice. “The boots, my little Frappuccino, are protection against rats. You know those damn things like to hide in the shadows and then dart out and scurry across your feet. “Ewwww” He shudders with exaggeration. “I can’t even.”

The lights turn on and Alyssa enters the room. “Oh good, you’re here.”

Michael walks over to greet her with a dramatic flourish. “Alyssa, darling, so good to see you.” Using both hands to shake hers, then kisses her on the cheek.

Alyssa starts the tour with her arms outstretched. “As you can see it’s a nice open space, individual stations, shampoo area is sectioned off with a half wall. In the back is a break room with a supply area, the bathrooms, and an office. Let’s take a look, shall we?”

After touring the back area, Alyssa leaves Nita and Michael in the break room as she takes a call. Michael turns to Nita. “I like it. With a thorough cleaning, a little interior design, and new fixtures, it will be absolutely gorgeous, don’t you agree?”

Nita nods her approval as she continues to look around. “I think you’re right. Oh, Michael, it’s perfect. This is so exciting!” She lets out a quiet squeal.

Alyssa returns. “Sorry about that. So, do the two of you need more time to make a decision?”

They look at each other and smile. “No.”

“Great, let’s set up an appointment and make it official.” As she turns to leave the room, she stops. “Do you smell that?”

Nita inhales deeply. “Smell what?”

Embarrassed she waves her hand to dismiss the notion. “Oh, it’s probably nothing. I thought I smelled something that reminded me of the perfume Babs used to wear.” Smiling at the fond memory. “Giorgio was her signature scent. My mind must be playing tricks on me.”

Pausing for a moment, she rubs her chin. “Though…she always joked that she would haunt the place if she didn’t like the new owners. It was no secret that she didn’t like male hairstylists.”

Shaking her head, she laughs at the idea and walks out of the room. “That’s why she never hired any, she didn’t want them taking over her space. That was Babs.”

Michael glances at Nita, murmuring. “Well wasn’t she just a bundle of fabulous wrapped up in sunshine.”

“Michael!”

Just then a noise comes from the corner of the room, and a rat darts out and runs right past Michael, a hair’s breadth away from his feet. It disappears behind a cabinet. Michael stops, one hand on Nita’s forearm in a death grip, the other on his chest, gulping in deep breaths to calm himself. He glares at Nita. “See!”

“I am so sorry about that. We didn’t have rats when we were in business, that’s only because it’s been empty for some time.” Alyssa rests her hand on Nita’s arm.

Alyssa leads them towards the main area, and suggests a time to finalize the paperwork. Making idle chit-chat as they walk towards the front door to leave. Alyssa glances over her shoulder. “Oh, I forgot to turn off the lights.”

Turning towards the back, suddenly, the lights turn off. She stops abruptly balancing herself as if standing at the edge of a cliff. “Seriously? I was joking about the place being haunted.”

She turns back around, pushing them towards the door. “I’m out of here! The place is all yours on Thursday.” They all but clear the threshold, when she has the door shut and locked. Without a word, she rushes across the street to get in her car. Nita and Michael are left standing on the side walk.

“Uh, what just happened?”

“Oh Michael, I’m sure there is a natural explanation.”

“Uh…yeah, or un-natural.”

Nita pushes his shoulder. “Stop being so dramatic, there’s no such thing as ghosts.”

“Easy for you to say, ginger snap. The ghost of Babs likes you.”

“Bye Michael.” Nita heads to her car.

***

The sale and transfer of ownership went without a hitch. The renovation of the place, not so much.

Tuesday, Michael checks in on the progress. It’s the middle of the afternoon, yet there is not one worker in sight. What the hell? He walks in to find Steve, the general contractor, on the phone. When he finishes his call, Michael nods his head towards him. “So, what’s going on?”

“The guys I had working here just couldn’t cut it. They were misplacing tools, or they would call me looking for the materials I delivered. Yet when I get here, they materials were right where I left them.” Shaking his head. “I would find tools in the strangest places. They were slowing down progress.”

“Steve, you guys come highly recommended, we’re on a deadline here.” Michael folds his arms across his chest.

“We’ll be back on track, I’ve got it under control.” Steve runs his fingers through his hair. “The new guys will be here within the hour. Let me show you what we did get done.

Steve walks over to the area where the shampoo bowls will be, pointing out the copper piping that is sticking out from the wall.

“Looks good, things are coming together.” Knowing nothing about plumbing, Michael doesn’t know what else to say, figures that sounds good.

***

Around 3 a.m. that night Michael is jarred from his sleep as his ringtone pierces the silence. He bolts straight up in his bed as he fumbles to find his phone. “H-h-hello?”

“Hello, Mr. Alexander?”

“Yes.” He rubs his eyes trying to wake up.

“This is Sergeant Thomas. Uh…there’s been a situation down at the hair salon. Uh…we need you to come down here as soon as you can.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Michael stumbles to the bathroom, flicks on the light. The brightness causes him to shield his eyes. He wills his eyes to focus, splashing some water on his face. He grabs his jeans and a sweatshirt. Sitting down on the edge of his bed, he struggles to get his jeans on. Walking into the living room he pulls on his sweatshirt, slips his phone in his pocket, and pats his jeans. “Keys. Keys would be nice.”

Looking around the room. “Ah!” He grabs the keys off the end table and heads out the door.

As he pulls unto the street of the salon, he can see the building is still standing. “That’s a good sign.” Letting out a sigh of relief.

Yet the scene of squad cars, with their flashing lights, bouncing off the adjacent buildings making obscure shapes, is a little unnerving.

Nita pulls up parking right next to him. Without saying anything, they walk inside through the front door. Sergeant Thomas greets them. “Oh good, you’re both here. I’m Sergeant Thomas.” He shakes Nita’s hand, then Michael’s.

“There was a B&E, uh, breaking and entering. But we have the suspects apprehended right over there.” He points to two young guys sitting against the wall, their hands zip-tied together in front of them. Two guys that would normally look like a couple of callous thugs, now have an expression of trepidation clouding their faces after a night of something going terribly wrong. It’s not because they got caught, it’s something else.

“What happened?”

Sergeant Thomas states the facts. “The perps entered the establishment through the back door, by breaking the lock with a brick.” He motions them to follow him. As he reaches the back door, he opens it to show them the demolished lock. “You’ll need to replace that.”

Michael nods. Sergeant Thomas walks back into the open area, checking his notes, he reenacts the crime. “Then while one guy is bagging up tools over here, the other guy begins working on removing the copper plumbing over there. Then, that’s when it happens.”

“What happens?” Nita and Michael say together.

Sergeant Thomas motions to them again and walks them over to the area where the shampoo bowls will be. He points to the three nails haphazardly sticking out of the wall. “That. As the one guy started taking apart the pipes, the nail gun shoots three nails into the wall from across the room. It missed him completely. But it sure was effective to thwart the crime in progress. Once that happened, they high-tailed it out of here.”

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh” Nita places her hand over her mouth trying to make sense of it all.

“So, where did you catch them?”

He nods his head once, points his finger down to the floor, “Right here.”

He shrugs with one shoulder, “I should have said they tried to get out of here. When they went to go out the way they came in, they said the door wouldn’t budge. They couldn’t turn the doorknob, or pull the door open. They were literally locked in.”

Nita and Michael stare at each other wide-eyed, shaking their heads in disbelief.

“Yeah, pretty crazy.” Sergeant Thomas scratches his head. “We had gotten a call from one of the neighbors describing a loud ruckus. We came to check it out, and found these two trying to get out the front door.”

“We’ll take these two down to the station. I’ve called a lock smith to secure the premises.”

“Thank you, Sergeant Thomas. Thanks for everything.” Michael gives him a firm handshake.

Michael turns to Nita. “I’ll walk you to your car. You okay, pumpkin?”

“I just can’t believe this happened.” She reaches in her pockets to find her keys but leaves her hands there as she fights off a chill.

“Well, the good thing is, there was minimal damage, and they caught the guys.”

“That’s true. Okay Michael, it’s been a long night, I’m going home and back to bed.” Nita opens her car and gets in.

Michael waits until she drives off, then gets in his car to head home.

***

Without any more problems, the renovation is done on time. Nita and Michael are in the salon getting things set up, and preparing for the grand opening. Michael walks around with his box of equipment, stopping at each station deciding which one he will claim as his own. He sets his box in the chair, steps closer to the mirror. Studying his reflection in the mirror, he smooths down his eyebrows. Then steps back, running his fingers through his hair. “Lawd, I look ratchet. Cupcake, I need a cut before the grand opening”

“Let me finish setting up my station, I can do it then if you want.”

“Thank you! I haven’t found a station I like yet.” He picks up his box and moves to the last one on the end. He looks in the mirror, checking every angle as he moves around the chair. “Yep, this is the one. I can see everything from this spot.”

“Ha! You always have to take command of the room, don’t you?”

“Absolutely, sweet pea. Got to protect my investment too.” He walks towards Nita with a little extra swagger.

Suddenly there’s a loud crash, followed by shattering glass. Michael screams like a girl and runs towards Nita. Grabbing her by the shoulders, using her as a human shield, he turns her around as they both look over to survey the damage.

The frame of the mirror leans precariously against the chair and is surrounded by a hundred shards of glass.

Breathing heavily like they just ran a marathon, Nita catches her breath. “Michael, that was close!” Realizing that he just escaped a catastrophe.

“Oh my God! I know, right? But I really don’t need seven years of bad luck.” He rests his forehead on her shoulder.

Shaking him loose, she steps away. “Really, Michael? I’ll go get the dustpan and broom to clean up.” She walks towards the break room.

Michael follows right behind her. She looks over her shoulder. “I got it, Michael. You don’t need to help.” Then it dawns on her. “Oh, I see, you’re afraid to be alone in there, aren’t you?”

“Pfft…yeah right, puddin’ pop. I left my phone in the break room, I need to call Steve so he can send someone to install a new mirror.” He elbows her out of the way and walks right past her.

***

With a successful grand opening behind them, Nita and Michael jump in and focus on the day-to-day operations of running their salon.

Michael is usually the first one to arrive at the salon most mornings. He has the same routine every day. Turn on the lights, make the coffee, go up front to turn on the radio.

But every morning it’s been the same, since day one. When he turns the radio on, he jumps as some god-awful country music blares from the speakers. He fumbles to change the channel. Cringing from the sound not unlike someone running their fingernails down a chalkboard. Some days he anticipates it and deals with it. But on days he’s distracted, it scares the bejesus out of him. He mentions it to Nita, but she just shrugs it off

The salon stays busy. Clientele grows by word of mouth. Nita and Michael are grateful for their rapid success.

Wednesday evenings are usually slow. For once the salon is empty. Nita has just finished her last client and is cleaning up around the shampoo bowls. Michael flops down in one of the shampoo chairs. “I don’t know about you peaches, but I am whipped.” He stretches his arms and moves his neck back and forth.

“Yes, I am too. But wow, the amount of business we have is pretty amazing. I’ll finish up here but then I’m going home.”

“I’ve got two more coming in tonight. Let me check what time my next one is.” He gets up to walk over to the front desk, but stops. “Do you hear that?” He looks over his shoulder at Nita.

She pauses to listen, then stares at him. “I do.” It’s a low, muffled, pounding sound coming from the break room.

She dries her hands off and heads towards the back. Michael grabs her arm. “Where are you going?”

“Michael, we have to see what it is.”

Nita leads the way, Michael reluctantly walks behind her. The noise gets louder and louder, yet keeps its steady rhythm. Nita realizes what it is, and walks quicker towards the back.

Michael stops. “Nita, don’t go back there!”

The bell on the front door rings, signaling Michael’s next client has arrived. “I’ll be fine. Your client is here.” Nita points towards the front door.

He turns on his smile. “Why, hello Susan, have a seat right here.” He motions to the first shampoo bowl. He fastens the cape around her neck. “Excuse me for a moment, doll, I have to get some clean towels.” And make sure Nita is all right.

The noise has stopped. He actually doesn’t hear anything. Just before he turns the corner, he stops, squares his shoulders, resolving himself to deal with whatever he sees as he enters the break room.

Nita is standing by the dryer folding towels. “It was the washer; the load was off balance.”

“I don’t know how much more I can take buttercup, my nerves are shot.”

“You just need some rest. Do you want me to stay and close tonight?”

“No, I’ll be fine. You go on home, pumpkin.”

When his last client leaves, Michael turns the radio off and locks the front door. He goes to the break room to fold the towels left in the dryer. He’s halfway through the load when he hears footsteps in the main area. “Now I know I locked that front door.” He rubs his hand down his face realizing how tired he is.

He walks to the front. “I’m sorry, but we’re….” he stops dead in his tracks. All the hair styling chairs are spinning. Except his.

His heart nearly pounding out of his chest. He takes a few steps backward, once he is able to move. “Alrighty then.” He turns around and returns to the break room. With a shaky hand, he grabs his keys and his coat, turns off the lights, and walks right out the back door, murmuring to himself. “Sleep. I just need some sleep.”

***

The next morning, he’s the first one in again. His mind still on the events from the previous night, yet trying so hard not to think about it. He goes through his routine, lights…coffee. He walks to the front desk and looks over his appointments for the day, noticing he has a new client scheduled, and a very full day. He reaches over to turn on the radio, the familiar noise grates on his last nerve, he switches the channel with a quickness. “Awwww…hell no!” That’s it, he’s done. No more of these games.

Realizing it has to be her, he walks over to his station, arms outstretched he raises his voice. “Babs? We can do this all day, every day. You won’t get rid of me!” He begins to set up his workstation, feeling empowered. “You know what?”

With one hand on his hip and a brush in the other, he waves it around to emphasize each point. “Why don’t you make yourself useful and make some damn coffee instead of messing with the radio every morning! And STOP messing with me too!” Satisfied, he starts his day.

Just before noon, Michael’s new client, Josephine comes in. She has already been shampooed and is sitting in Michael’s chair. He walks up to her flashing his mega-watt smile. “Ms. Josephine, how are you? I’m Michael, I’ll be your stylist today.”

Michael discusses with Josephine the type of cut and style she wants. He sections off her hair and begins cutting.

Josephine relaxes in the chair. “The salon is absolutely beautiful, I love what you have done with the place.”

“It does look fabulous, doesn’t it? It was a lot of hard work, but oh, so worth it.

“You know, Babs and I were really good friends. I made an appointment with you because she came to me in a dream.” She eyes Michael in the mirror not sure she should have blurted that out.

He stops what he’s doing and takes a step back from the chair. “Oh really? She’s been a busy gal then.” Looking at her in the mirror, he runs his fingers through Josephine’s hair as he checks the cut.

“What do you mean?” Josephine sits up straighter in the chair.

He rests his hands on her shoulders, and looks from side to side then leans down to whisper close to her ear, “I think she is still here.”

“She is. She told me. That’s why she sent me.”

“Well what does she want?” His arms raised asking the question.

“Nothing. She wants me to reassure her you’re a decent guy. Michael, you have to understand this salon was her baby, it was her whole life.”

Josephine brushes off the hair that rests on the cape draped over her. “We come from a whole different era. Her first job was working in a high-end salon. She worked there for many years, putting her heart and soul into the place.” She fiddles with a clump of hair that has fallen. “But then, a younger male stylist came in and took over most of her clientele. So, she left there, opened her own place, on her terms and never looked back.”

He stops again, hand on his chest. “Oh no, that is so wrong! You don’t take another person’s client. I mean, it happens sometimes, but you make sure the other stylist is okay with it.” He applies styling gel to her hair. “I would never do such a thing. That’s just wrong on so many levels.”

He grabs a brush and begins to blow dry her hair. Josephine sits with her eyes closed, enjoying the pampering. Thinking about her dear friend Babs, knowing she will finally be able to move on.

Once he is done blow-drying her hair, he curls it with the curling iron. “How did you and Babs become friends?” Sensing she is missing her friend.

“We grew up together, living right across the street from one another. Believe it or not, we were friends, our sisters were friends, our moms were friends, and even our grandmothers were friends.” Using her fingers to count off each pair.

“Awww…that is just so special.”

“It is. Oh, we’ve all moved around. We’ve married, divorced, widowed, and just got lost in life. Sometimes not talking for months or years, even. But the minute we reconnect, it’s like no time has passed at all.” She smiles at the fond memory.

He spritzes on some hair spray as he finishes, “Aren’t friends like that the best?”

He removes the cape that was covering her. “So, was Babs as gorgeous as you are? Look at you!” Smoothing down a stray hair.

Blushing. “Oh Michael, you can make anyone look gorgeous. Thank you so much!”

“You are so very welcome. But it’s all you, doll face, all you.” He reaches out his hand to help her from the chair and walks with her to the front desk.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Josephine, when will I see you again?”

“The pleasure was all mine Michael. In fact, I’m going to make a standing appointment for every week. I deserve a little pampering.”

“Yes, you do.” He rests his hand on hers. “I look forward to it. See you next week.” He pats her hand then turns to walk away when she stops him.

“Oh, and Michael? From now on, everything will be just fine.” She gives him a wink.

Raising his hand with his fingers crossed. “Here’s hoping, sweetheart.” He waves as he walks to the break room.

***

Friday morning Michael walks into the salon, soft music and the smell of coffee gives him pause. The salon is still dark which causes him to stop in the middle of the open space. With an unsteady hand, he rubs the back of his neck to smooth the tiny hairs that are standing at attention. Just as he’s about to move, Nita walks in from the back. “Michael. Hey…you okay? It looks like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

Letting out a breath he was holding far too long. “It’s just you, apple slice.” Splaying his hand over his chest to calm his racing heart.

Nita laughs. “Who else would it be? You still think the spirit of Babs is haunting the place?” She teases, giving him a push as she walks past him.

“Oh, by the way, I didn’t have any problem with the radio this morning. I noticed that the buttons are really close together, maybe you’re just hitting the wrong one or something.” Nita shrugs then starts to set up her station.

Michael walks into the break room, places his phone on the table. After he hangs up his coat, he turns to find a steaming cup of coffee sitting right next to his phone. As he looks around, he gets a whiff of a sweet, flowery scent, just as the back door slowly swings open on a breeze. He walks over to pull the door closed, a warm sensation moves across his body as if exiting out the door.

He smiles to himself and whispers, “Godspeed Babs…Godspeed.”