I got a haircut

Yesterday I got a haircut. Samuel had said that it was getting rather shaggy. So I figured I might as well get a haircut. Walmart seemed the ideal place. Lots of people but with limited human interaction.

I went to Walmart.

"My name's Sarah, and I'll be your stylist today."

I looked around at all the shelves and posters.

"You can have a seat right there in the middle chair."

"Oh, okay."

She came back with some gross looking stuff on her hands.

"W-what's that?"

"It's just conditioner."

"oh."

"Tilt your head back."

The water was nearly freezing.

"Is it too much to ask to turn the water up to a more suitable temperature?" I asked.

"Sure, we can do that." She fumbled around. "I didn't realize it was cold."

"I have a higher body temperature then most."

"Really?"

"My average body temperature is 101.3 degrees."

"That's weird."

"Indeed it is."

The freezing wash had finally ceased.

The chair went up again.

"So how would you like your hair cut? Long? Short? Somewhere in between?"

"I-I don't know." I gripped the armrests.

Damn it. She noticed.

"That's perfectly fine I'm sure we can find something you'll like."

She was skimming through a magazine.

She stopped every once in awhile, examining me like I was some sort of lab rat.

"Have you seen the latest Star Trek movie?"

"Yes."

"Did you like it?"

"If you are referring to my level of enjoyment I would have to yes."

"So you're a Trekkie?"

"One might say that."

"Then I've got just the thing."

She didn't ask if I wanted it cut like that she just assumed.

She got to work, snipping away.

"So what line of work are you in?" She made small talk.

"Art."

"Really?" She sounded amazed at my answer.

"Indeed."

"I didn't peg you as the artistic type."

"And I didn't peg you as the labeling type. So I guess we're both bad guessers."

"I guess so."

I stared at the people passing by.

"Why do people do that?"

"Do what?"

"Shake hands."

"I honestly don't know."

"I have always found human gestures trifling."

"A lot of what we do goes unexplained."

"And unquestioned." I added.

"That too." She agreed.

"Why though? Why do we not ask the reasons behind our everyday actions?"

"I'm not sure."

At least she was truthful and didn't go into all that psychobabble stuff.

"I'm not sure either."

She got out that weird buzzing machine thing and went around the edges.

It tickled my neck.

"Don't wiggle."

"Under such conditions it is rather hard to remain still."

"You're funny." She smiled.

"How so?"

"You sound like a professor."

"Who's to say I'm not?"

"Good point." She stopped cutting. "Are you?"

"I am most certainly not."

She laughed.

"What on earth is so humorous?"

"Nothing, it's just you sound scholarly regardless of what you're talking about."

"It is a rare talent that I do indeed posses."

"Very rare indeed." She mocked my choice of words.

"If only certain others would learn to appreciate it."

"Ah, your girlfriend giving you grief?"

"I do not have a girlfriend."

"Boyfriend?" She nudged my arm.

"Sort of...it's complicated."

"Sorry. I shouldn't be asking you that anyways."

"It is perfectly alright." I said.

"I'm full of good advise."

"I do not wish to burden you with my problems."

"If you don't want to tell me that's fine."

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"Respecting my privacy."

"Doesn't everybody?"

"No not really. My father hardly allowed me room to breath."

"My dad was the same way. He wouldn't let me out of his sight, but I loved him all the same."

"You do not understand. I meant that in the literal aspect."

"Huh?"

"I um...well...I wasn't permitted to shower alone."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry if I have troubled you." I looked away.

"It's okay."

"No it is not." I thought of how to change the subject.

"Ryker says I have to stop."

"Is Ryker your boyfriend?"

"He is most definitely not. He is a...friend."

"Is he the one sitting over there?" She pointed at some creep who had been staring at me for some time.

"No. You cannot see him." I said. "Y-you see I have this condi-"

"You don't have to explain." She held up her hand. "What does he want you to stop doing?"

"Watching the videos."

"What videos?"

"The videos of me."

"Why doesn't he want you to watch the videos?"

"It is because of the videos contents."

"And what might these super special videos contain."

"As I have already stated they are videos of myself."

"Okay." She looked down at me and twirled the seat around.

"What do you think?"

It was a Vulcan style haircut.

"Fascinating."

"Thank you thank you very much." She said sarcastically.

"I shall return within a month." I stood up.

"Did you grow all that hair in a month?"

"No. It has been two months since radiation."

"Okay. Feel free to come back anytime."

"I suppose I shall."

I went to the general store area and bought some circus peanuts and pudding.

"Did you find everything okay?"

"I did not require assistance of any kind."

I handed him the money.

"Nice day outside."

"It is an equally nice day inside."

He handed me my change.

"Have a nice day."

"I am afraid I have other plans."


April 12th, 2013.


Gabriel