Hairdresser

[moonbird]

Good morning, Bess. Lovely weather, isn't it?
Oh, no, just a trim for today.
Are they really? Well, maybe a quick touch-up as well, then.
Fine, fine, and you?
That's nice. Still with that Jake guy?
He didn't!
What did you do?
Well, you had a right to be mad.
What's wrong with men these days?
I know!
So are you going to dump him?
Oh Bessie, you're too forgiving.
Honey, it's not all about looks.
Well yeah, but who know's what he'll look like in ten years?
What's wrong?
What?
But I'm only thirty-five!
Are you sure it's really gray? Maybe I got paint on it last weekend.
You're sure? Are you positive?
Oh my God.
No, don't dye it, pull it out!
I don't care how many will grow back, pluck it!
Jesus. I can't be going gray already, can I?
Maybe it's just that one hair, not my whole head.
You say something?
Who?
Oh, Rickie. Of course.
You think I'll ever get him to cut that mop?
Oh I know, honey. Did I tell you what happened last Saturday?
Well, we were, you know, tongueing, and...
Oh Bessie, don't tease...
Anyway, his tongue piercing... Well, it kind of got stuck to my lip...
Don't laugh! It was humiliating!
Yeah, the ER was totally packed, too.
Damn it Bess, would you quit...
Okay, maybe it is a little funny.
Oh I know.
He's not so different from Jake, really.
Are all men such scum?
I know, honey!
You think I should part it on the side this time?
Yeah, that looks nice. Always good to change it up a little, you know?
Maybe I'll attract someone halfway-decent.
Come on, there has to be someone.
Yeah, you're probably right.
Alright, thanks, Bessie.
Yup, same time next week.
See you then.

[everyadventure]

Hee hee! You captured the entire atmosphere. My favorite line: He didn't!

[Delta40]

I like the banal chatter of the hairdresser. They deserve more credit then we give them at times I think. I really enjoyed the poem. My hairdresser usually starts with

'Are you doing anything special this weekend?' and we babble from there...

[moonbird]

Thanks for the comments. Actually I've never been to a hairdresser... Something about a stranger holding pointy objects near my neck freaks me out.

[moonbird]

Just thought I'd experiment with the same poem but told from the perspective of the hairdresser rather than the customer. Tell me what you think...



Good morning, Jessie. Awful weather, isn't it?
Just a trim for today?
No, no trouble, touch-ups take me just a few minutes.
Fine, fine, and you?
That's nice. Still with that Jake guy?
He didn't!
What did you do?
Well, you had a right to be mad.
What's wrong with men these days?
I know!
So are you going to dump him?
Oh Jess, you're too forgiving.
Honey, it's not all about looks.
Well yeah, but who knows what he'll look like in ten years?
Oh, um... Jessie...
Well, honey, I...
I found a gray hair...
Now, now, calm down, hon, it's not a big deal.
Of course not, Jess, I wouldn't say you look a day over thirty.
I know, honey, I know.
Tell you what, I'll just dye it with the rest and no one will ever know.
No, no, you can't pull out a gray hair.
They say five more will grow in its place.
I know, but wise tales are right sometimes.
There now, just a little dye and...
See? You can't even tell.
Don't mention it, hon.
Alright. You should bring in Jake next time.
Well, he has to cut that mop eventually!
Oh, I know the type, hon.
I know! Do you think all men are such scum?
I know, honey!
Here, I'll part it on the side this time.
Yeah, that looks nice. Always good to change it up a little, you know?
Maybe Jake will realize what a jewel he's got here.
Alright, thanks for dropping by, Jess.
Same time next week?
See you then.

[deryk]

I always have a way of dismissing small talk when it truly feels as though it's a self-sustained monologue. You've really caught that spark of annoyance with both versions of these quite well. It reminds me of a piece of short fiction I once read, except that narrator tries to shake off the babble the entire episode. Very nice dialogue on both accounts!