A 3 part Romantic comedy story..
This story has a couple of parts too it. The background to this part of the story is this. I by chance met an american woman in london. NO, she was not a werewolf! I checked, anyway that said and done. We got on pretty well and had made arrangements to meet up in new york, as you do. Its all good fun.
I had been travelling for a fair while and the hair when it gets long, curls like a bugger.. I mean it really curls. Which the girls love.. I DON'T! Anyway, I landed in new york and gave her call. I was nervous, jetlagged and suffering from a some sorta super flu I'd picked up in the scotish highlands a month or more ago. I sensed she was a bit nervous too. Naturally so, for 2 complete strangers meeting up who'd briefly met in london.
I arranged to meet her after work the next day around 5pm, at 5th and maddison. So that all sorted, I spent that day touring around parts of new york I had not seen before. It was then I struck the brilliant idea to get a hair cut. Now, for an aussie travelling with australian dollars, when you take a figure and add 30-40% more too see it in your currency, that hurts. Walking around manhattan, I saw prices range from 18-35 usa dollars a hair cut. Wee but pricey but bugger it I am going to have to go with that.
I found the place at grand central station, I walked in, was asked do I have a an appointment? I told them no, do I need one? I was told no, sit down and this porta rician woman started to cut my hair. I saw a pic of her son, I presume on the mirror and tried to make small talk and also discuss what I wanted done with my hair.. this conversation didn't go well.
I didn't understand 80% of what she said and I bet she had the same problem with my accent. I told her to take off about 4-5 cms or an inch or so and neatin up my haircut. She nodded like she understood, she was cuting away nicely, I'd given up talking, as she seem not to respond in any manner I could understand. Suddenly, she starts up the clippers, I looked questionly at it, thinking maybe shes going to trim the fuzz on the back of my neck?
As I sit there, time slows down and she just pushes the clippers into the side of my head giving me a landing strip right down the right side. I yell out what the hell?? Half jumping and looking back at her. She said something and seemed a little dazed by my reaction. I told her using my fingers, I only want this much off (1 inch) not get a crew cut. She tells me she'll sort it out. I look around and various people are looking at me. I'm thinking only to me this could happen.
So she starts cutting and trimming, hair is falling off everwhere. ( I do have a pic of this aftermath and I may post it later. lol) The clippers start up again, I sit there stunned. I realize I look like i'm joining the marines! I turn to her and go what have you done? Fix it? You've given me a buzz cut!! She looks me straight in the eyes and tells me I needed it! I shake my head laughing, what the!! Wheres the manager.. I start talking to this guy saying I want this for free or nothing.. he tells me half price and we haggle for a bit, I tell him no don't worry about it. I'll pay full. As I walk to the till, she asks me for 19 bucks. I hand her 19 bucks and 2 1 dollar notes as a tip and tell her so. She throws them back saying no thats enough! I pick up the cash and say, no these are for you. Because if you keep cutting peoples haircuts like this you'll be out of a job. So, heres my tip merry christmas.
I walked out of the barbers shop and down the hallway, seeing myself in all the glass mirrors. With a buzz cut and feeling the cold air on my now bald scalp. I think to myself, well there goes all my confidence in meeting this woman! I'll just have to tell her what happen and make a few jokes and turn this into another of my travel tales. But why dear god did this have to happen to me of all days? When I turned up at new york girls work place, I walked in very nervous and bit concerned about the buzz cut, as I walked in she rose from behind her desk saying, Dean! And came over and gave me a hug! She said, what have you done to all your curls? Looks like you are joining the marines?! I laughed and said, wait till you here the story. She laugh and we both headed out with me finishing telling her the mishap at the barbers shop. I know theres a god and he likes to make life interesting!
The funny thing as I travel through the usa, wether I be at an airport sitting waiting for my plane or at a transit centre. About 5 times people approached me and asked did I just finish my tour of duty or am I rotating off? We had small talk before that and I thought I didnt sound american what so ever. I told them, no I'm australian on an around the world trip.. etc.. Now thats a bloody good hair cut!
I had been travelling for a fair while and the hair when it gets long, curls like a bugger.. I mean it really curls. Which the girls love.. I DON'T! Anyway, I landed in new york and gave her call. I was nervous, jetlagged and suffering from a some sorta super flu I'd picked up in the scotish highlands a month or more ago. I sensed she was a bit nervous too. Naturally so, for 2 complete strangers meeting up who'd briefly met in london.
I arranged to meet her after work the next day around 5pm, at 5th and maddison. So that all sorted, I spent that day touring around parts of new york I had not seen before. It was then I struck the brilliant idea to get a hair cut. Now, for an aussie travelling with australian dollars, when you take a figure and add 30-40% more too see it in your currency, that hurts. Walking around manhattan, I saw prices range from 18-35 usa dollars a hair cut. Wee but pricey but bugger it I am going to have to go with that.
I found the place at grand central station, I walked in, was asked do I have a an appointment? I told them no, do I need one? I was told no, sit down and this porta rician woman started to cut my hair. I saw a pic of her son, I presume on the mirror and tried to make small talk and also discuss what I wanted done with my hair.. this conversation didn't go well.
I didn't understand 80% of what she said and I bet she had the same problem with my accent. I told her to take off about 4-5 cms or an inch or so and neatin up my haircut. She nodded like she understood, she was cuting away nicely, I'd given up talking, as she seem not to respond in any manner I could understand. Suddenly, she starts up the clippers, I looked questionly at it, thinking maybe shes going to trim the fuzz on the back of my neck?
As I sit there, time slows down and she just pushes the clippers into the side of my head giving me a landing strip right down the right side. I yell out what the hell?? Half jumping and looking back at her. She said something and seemed a little dazed by my reaction. I told her using my fingers, I only want this much off (1 inch) not get a crew cut. She tells me she'll sort it out. I look around and various people are looking at me. I'm thinking only to me this could happen.
So she starts cutting and trimming, hair is falling off everwhere. ( I do have a pic of this aftermath and I may post it later. lol) The clippers start up again, I sit there stunned. I realize I look like i'm joining the marines! I turn to her and go what have you done? Fix it? You've given me a buzz cut!! She looks me straight in the eyes and tells me I needed it! I shake my head laughing, what the!! Wheres the manager.. I start talking to this guy saying I want this for free or nothing.. he tells me half price and we haggle for a bit, I tell him no don't worry about it. I'll pay full. As I walk to the till, she asks me for 19 bucks. I hand her 19 bucks and 2 1 dollar notes as a tip and tell her so. She throws them back saying no thats enough! I pick up the cash and say, no these are for you. Because if you keep cutting peoples haircuts like this you'll be out of a job. So, heres my tip merry christmas.
I walked out of the barbers shop and down the hallway, seeing myself in all the glass mirrors. With a buzz cut and feeling the cold air on my now bald scalp. I think to myself, well there goes all my confidence in meeting this woman! I'll just have to tell her what happen and make a few jokes and turn this into another of my travel tales. But why dear god did this have to happen to me of all days? When I turned up at new york girls work place, I walked in very nervous and bit concerned about the buzz cut, as I walked in she rose from behind her desk saying, Dean! And came over and gave me a hug! She said, what have you done to all your curls? Looks like you are joining the marines?! I laughed and said, wait till you here the story. She laugh and we both headed out with me finishing telling her the mishap at the barbers shop. I know theres a god and he likes to make life interesting!
The funny thing as I travel through the usa, wether I be at an airport sitting waiting for my plane or at a transit centre. About 5 times people approached me and asked did I just finish my tour of duty or am I rotating off? We had small talk before that and I thought I didnt sound american what so ever. I told them, no I'm australian on an around the world trip.. etc.. Now thats a bloody good hair cut!
posted by KoalaFarmer @ 1:59 am
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