The Scalper

I took my boys to the barbers 
two days ago, while we were in 
the car the two of them insisted 
they wanted hairstyles. 
It was all they talked about as 
we drove on and on
They didn’t even ask me if I was 
on board with the idea.
I didn’t say anything
I was just enjoying their back 
And forth
We got to the barber’s shop
I said “We’re here”
The older son said “No Dad, we 
don’t want to cut our hair with 
this dude”
I said “What? Why?”
“He is a hard man, Dad, his hand is 
tough and he always makes me 
cry when he cuts my hair” 
explained the younger one
Oh wow! 
This was a barber I invested in 
six months ago when he wanted 
to set up
I had a lot invested in his success 
and I always barb my hair with him.
The children had a point though, 
he barbs as if he was an Apache 
warrior out to get your scalp
The barber had seen us and he 
walked 
Towards us to say hello
I greeted him and told him I will 
come around to have a chat with 
him later
I drove to another barber’s shop
 and we all had our haircut.
I drove back to see the barber 
later in the evening
I told him what his customers said
He got on the defensive 
Immediately
He said “They are children sir, what 
do they know? You should have told 
them to get down from the car sir”
I told him they have a right to a 
decent service just like I do
I admonished him to adopt a better 
barbing technique.
He didn’t get the point, he felt I 
betrayed him by taking his business 
elsewhere
That was all he said over and over
I apologized and left