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The haircut
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___Well, it was a hairy weekend at the Wingfield house.
___ Sorry, I just couldn’t resist.
___ Actually, it was a weekend of great hair loss. (No, not me; I'm already nearly b
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MARK WINGFIELD
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ald.) Luke and Garrett both had been getting quite shaggy, and even they were begging for haircuts. When a kid is begging to get his hair cut, you know it’s definitely time.
___ But for Luke, this haircut would be like no other. His longtime wish would finally come true. Yes, we finally connived his mother into letting him get a buzz cut—-the object of his affection for at least two years.
___ Maybe it was the heat, or perhaps Alison was just completely worn down with the stress of September. Maybe I convinced her with my argument that I could give a buzz cut at home and save the money we otherwise would pay the barber. For whatever reason, she finally relented this time when Luke made his regular appeal to get a buzz. Every time before, she has faithfully resisted, and we all have abided by her wishes.
___ So I sat Luke down on a chair and began chopping. Hair piled up everywhere. In fact, when I collected it all afterward, I thought to myself that we probably had enough hair to create a small animal.
___ But never has a child been happier to get a haircut. To him, this was the equivalent of getting to eat a hot fudge sundae on the living room sofa while watching Star Wars on a big-screen TV. It was a really big deal.
___ When all the hair was cut, I tried not to be jealous. I’ve been wearing my hair about as short, but not for the same reasons as motivated Luke.
___ The difference between Luke’s haircut and mine is that even though both of us now have really short hair, his hair still covers his whole head.
___ Oh, to be young again!
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___There is only so much pestering a mom can take. He finally wore me down. And Luke no longer looks like Luke to me.
___ Admittedly, my main argument against Luke getting a buzz wasn’t very solid. I am just not fond of
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ALISON WINGFIELD
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buzz cuts, particularly on young kids. So my standard comeback when Luke would ask is "maybe when you’re older."
___ I guess he’s older.
___ It didn’t help that Mark has been in cahoots with the boys. There was no solid front to stand on. I think he just wanted Luke to join him in the close-shaven head club, so he wouldn’t feel so, so, well, bald. The only difference is that Luke’s hair will grow out all over his head and much faster than what’s left of Mark’s hair.
___ When Mark began buzzing Luke’s head, Garrett was a fascinated watcher. He encouraged Luke all the way and told him how good he looked. And then, when it was all over and he was given the choice between a buzz by dad or a trim at the barber, he looked at Luke’s head and said, "I want to go to the barber."
___ That’s my boy.
___ Garrett is obsessed with his hair in a different way. I am constantly catching him watching himself in the mirror and trying to get his hair to look like the guys on N'SYNC or the Backstreet Boys. Deliver me.
___ Actually, one good thing has come out of this. People can tell Luke and Garrett apart, if they can remember which has the buzz. And the boys better appreciate their individuality as well as their twinship.
___ Short, long, or not much, God knows each strand of hair on our heads and understands and loves us all as individuals.
Mark Wingfield is managing editor of the Standard. Alison Wingfield is a freelance writer. The Wingfields moved to Texas from Louisville, Ky., where Mark had been editor of the Western Recorder, in which this column appeared weekly. |
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