I live in a small town with all the small town stereotypes. We have 3 stoplights, a volunteer fire department, small schools and churches. In the spring and summer, people sit on their porches and swings spending quiet evenings just relaxing.
Well today I found out that we are not the quaint Mayberry type town I thought. I found out that my barber is a CRACK HEAD. This is quite the shock. He is a fast barber and does talk a lot. I have also noticed that no matter what you tell him you want, you get the same hair cut every time. Not that this is a problem; it is just a little strange. If I say give me a trim or take a lot off, he cuts it the same. I am satisfied with his haircuts because the last two barbers had problems. One was going blind and the other has issues with symmetry, some type of depth perception problem. These issues were not too big of a concern because I figured it was only noticeable when people looked at you straight on. The new Crack Head Barber gives a good haircut and you don’t need to be conscience of the angle of sight when people look at your head.
I am in a dilemma. I like his haircuts but oppose drug use. What to do, what to do? I am leaning towards nothing because I have not seen any ill effects of his crack use. All though my time spend with him is only 8 minutes per month, I would notice if he was shaky or hallucinating. I am a little worried that he may go psycho and over clip or stick a scissors in my neck. But at $7.50 a haircut I hate to leave him. .
I need advice. The question is:
If your barber is a CRACK HEAD, would you still go to him?
Note: The blind barber retired but the other one still works part time. I could go back to him but my head position thing would be a consideration (because of the depth perception issue). Just an option I thought you should know. Also a lot of men up here wear hats, another choice?
0804 - Called shop but no answer. (posted hours 8:00am - 5:00pm
0814 - Called shop but no answer.
0843 - Called shop and a man answered. Here is the conversation.
Him - “Yeah”
Me - “Is this the barber shop?”
Him - “ Yep.”
Me - “ Do you have an appointment open at 10:00am?”
Him - “ Yeah, see you then.” END CALL
The call was surreal. He spoke in a very low tone and then hung up before I could give him my name. This struck me as an odd way to do business.
I had to go into town to get some envelopes so I left early and decided to stop at Walgreen's. Passing the barbershop I noticed the lights were still off and the little barber poll was not turning. I did call, so I was pretty sure he was in there. When I got to Walgreen's it took me 32 seconds to find and grab my envelopes. Then I go to the check out and was thrust into “Little Old Lady Hell“. It seems it must have been coupon day at the old Walgreen's. I was behind three old ladies and they all had hundreds of coupons and they were all searching for the 12 cents off special coupon on Dove Soap. Of course
they all had checkbooks. A clerk at the cosmetic section said she would help someone at her counter and one of the old ladies started to shuffle over there. I ran past her and won. I had two boxes of $1.99 envelopes that come with the tape to seal them, she had a basket with 86 small items that I am sure she had coupons for. As I left she looked at me with a scowl. Anyway I departed the Walgreen's and headed for the barbershop.
When I got to the door of the shop I thought no one was there. I then spotted the barber sitting in the chair with his head on his chest, I think he was sleeping. When I went into the shop he stood up and looked at me. He was dressed shabbily in dark clothes. I now realize that he never did wear the normal barber white jacket. He said “Hi” and then looked at the clock. I was 10 minutes early and he excused him self and went in the back. After 5 minutes or so he returned and had a smile on his face. I am not saying he went out and smoked some crack but he sure was perky. He had a glow about him but I still saw a grayish tinged hue underneath.
The hair cut itself was over in the matter of minutes. He was still kind of rough and used my ears to position my head where he wanted it. The clipper action was very fast and my right ear was nicked. A difference I noticed was that he talked more today than ever. He covered sports, weather, war, the economy as well as the election. I will note that he is a Republican. When he was done, he said ten dollars. This is another price increase from the last one. I figure he is now making $60 dollars an hour. If he could get more clients he would clean up. Still an OK price in my book. I did ask him where he was in August and all he said was he was around. He looked at the floor when he said it.
Another thing I noticed was that a woman was also in the shop with him. She was older, 50+ and wearing a tank top and blue jeans. She was weathered and talked about a getting a truck but I don't know if she was talking to me or the barber. I believe that they must know each other. She also smoked Pall Mall’s. I think they were unfiltered. What her role is in the barber scheme of things is anyones guess.