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Author?s note: Not always will I write a sequel to a story, unless I really feel it deserves a sequel. But occasionally someone will send me an e-mail and tell me that they sense a second story. So with that in mind, this is a sequel to a story I wrote around the end of last year. You may want to read the first story before you get caught up and moved forward after basic training.

A Friend in Need (Part 2) author: hairman001 Delores? Return

Jenn continued working hard at her barbershop. She had hired a new stylist but she still thought about Delores. Jenn never did hire another shampoo-girl. She decided that each one of the barbers could do their own shampoos at the big black bowl at the back of the shop. There was no need extra expenses.

Delores continued working hard through her basic training program and she was very pleased when she graduated in the top five and was offered a chance to decide what she wanted to do. She did not really want to go overseas or serve in any peace corp efforts. Instead she wanted to focus her attentions on her own country. ?Is there any chance I could serve in relief work for my own country? Maybe going into the Reserves? They do a lot of humanitarian work and they are called upon for natural disasters and providing emergency relief. That is what I would really like to do,? she told her commander.

?Well since you graduated in the top 5, you get to choose. So if that is what you want, that is where you will be going. I will send your file to an office in your home state and they will be in contact with you,? her commander told her.

With that taken care of, Delores got ready for graduation day and as soon as the party was over, she was packed and ready to return home. Her parents knew she was coming home. But they also realized that in a matter of moments, she could be on the move to any assignment.

After graduation day and party, she was in the barracks the next morning, cleaning out her boot locker. All her uniforms were packed in an army duffel bag and she was ready to go. She had her plane ticket in her hands and her flight was scheduled to leave at 1:30pm that afternoon. She said all her good-byes and off she went; to return to her home state. Her parents were going to meet her at the airport.

The flight home was quiet but she was somewhat nervous. She had grown a lot in the 6 months she had been away. Would her family accept her new life? How would her friends deal with it? It was not going to be an easy transition, just as it had not been easy to go to basic training. It was a major fight. Now she was returning to semi-normal life. But still on the alert.

Her parents gave her hugs and kisses when she arrived at the airport. Some of her friends were there too and they brought her flowers and teddy bears. She smiled as they got reacquainted. The ride back to the house was quiet. She actually fell asleep on the way home but once the car was parked in the garage, she woke up, carried her duffel bag to the basement, put her clothes away and came upstairs. She was still dressed in her fatigues. ?I am going to go for a walk,? she said to her parents.

She walked down the main street, stopping to say hello to friends. But she actually wanted to do something else. Something she was thinking about all the way home on the plane. Thinking about how Jenn had shaved her head down to stubble and how she shocked the commander when she got out of the bus on the first day of training. The commander was not too keen on the fact that she had shaved her head in advance. But he did not punish her or anything. Instead he made her sweep the floor while all the other candidates got clippered.

She was actually glad that Jenn did it for her, prior to her leaving because she watched as the camp barber shaved all the recruits with absolutely no mercy. Atleast Jenn dignified her with the haircut. Now she wanted to see Jenn again and she especially wanted to see the long ponytail that she had entrusted Jenn with. She wanted to remember the cut and the emotions before she left. That would help her get back into her new routine.

She walked down the street further. She saw the revolving pole; the red and blue strip. Jenn?s shop. She walked with more purpose. She walked past the shop first, not looking in. She saw Jenn at the first chair, cutting the hair of a student. She saw the other two barbers, sitting in their chairs. If she walked in at that moment, she would not get to talk to Jenn. She looked at her watch. It was 4:00, Saturday evening. She remembered that Jenn usually closed early on Saturday. She walked across the street and sat in an open caf?, watching the shop. She was not to be disappointed because the other two barbers came out of the shop at 4:30. She paid her bill, got up and crossed the street.

She looked in the window and saw Jenn counting the till and doing the deposit. Jenn usually did it in the back room. But Delores saw her standing in the doorway. Delores entered the shop. ?I am sorry, I am closing in twenty minutes. I am not taking any more customers right now,? Jenn said from the back door.

?Not even for a military person?? Delores called out.

Jenn recognized the voice and came out. ?Why didn?t you tell me you were in town?? she asked as she gave Delores a hug. ?Are you on lay-over? When did you get in??

?Whoa! Slow down. There will be lots of time to talk. I am home for a spell. Graduation day was two days ago and since I graduated in the top 5, I was given my choice of where I wanted to go. I asked about the Army Reserves. I have been transferred to state. I got back today. Mom and Dad picked me up,? Delores said.

They talked for a bit longer. ?So what brought you here?? Jenn asked as she looked at Delores.

?I wanted to see you and I needed some inspiration. Can I please see it?? Delores asked.

?Sure. It is in the back room. Let me go and get it,? Jenn said. She walked back into the back room and returned carrying a red box with a clear top on it. Delores looked at it. ?It has been on the most amazing cuts I have ever done.?

?May I?? Delores asked. She opened the box and took the ponytail out of the box. She stroked it a couple of times, held it to her face and rubbed her check. ?Still so soft and beautiful.?

?Even though I was angry with you because I really did want to go home, I am glad you asked me to do it for you. So let me see what it looks like now? Take off your hat.? Delores took off her military cap and stood at attention. Jenn looked at her hair. ?Wow, Dee. You need a major trim. Too many split ends. No conditioner in a long time. When was the last time you shampooed your hair and what were you using?? Jenn asked.

?No conditioner and whatever soap they chose to give us,? Delores answered. ?Sometimes it was actually a bar of soap.?

?That is the worst thing you can do for your hair,? Jenn said. She walked to the counter and withdrew a plastic container. She gave it to Delores. ?Use this tonight, tomorrow night and then we are going to take care of this on Monday morning before the shop opens.?

Delores took the bottle and put it in her pocket. Jenn looked at her. ?I am glad you came in. I was wondering how you were doing,? Jenn said. Delores was still holding the red box. ?Um, did you want to take that with you?? Jenn pointed to the box. ?It is yours. I kept it for you like you asked.?

Delores looked at the ponytail again and she put it back in the box. She placed the clear lid back over the box and handed it back to Jenn. ?No. You have taken such good care of it. I want you to keep it. I could be asked to leave at any time for any place in the country,? Delores said.

Jenn took the box back and took it to the back room. She came back out, holding the deposit bag in her hand. ?I have to get to the bank and I am meeting my parents for dinner. So I will see you on Monday?? Jenn said.

Delores turned and headed back home. She was somewhat disappointed. She was actually hoping that Jenn would have said that she still had a job if she was interested. Of course, Jenn had promised that before she left for training. Would she go back to the shop on Monday?

Monday morning Delores had decided that she was not going to go to Jenn?s shop. She would just go and get a trim at the beauty salon. But at 8:10am, her phone rang. She rolled over in her bed and picked up the receiver. ?Hello,? she said in a sleepish voice.

?Good morning. I am at the shop waiting for you. I have fifty minutes before we need to open. Are you coming in?? Jenn asked her.

?I was going to go to the beauty salon with my mom,? Delores said.

?What time?? Jenn said.

?Jenn, why are you asking?? Delores said. This time her voice was a little stronger.

?Did I do something wrong, Delores?? Jenn said.

?Yes! As a matter of fact you did,? Delores said. ?When I left for training, you told me that you wished I was going to the Reserves so that I could continue working for you???????.?.

?What did I say to you, Saturday?? Jenn said. ?I said I would clean you up before we opened the store today. What did I just say two minutes ago? Before we need to open? If you were so worried, why didn?t you ask on Saturday? You could have even called me on Sunday. I did not hire another shampoo girl when you left. I made the barbers wash their own clients if they wanted shampoos. But it is summer. We are going to be super busy. Of course you have a job. All you had to do was ask. I told you that I wished you were going to the Reserves because I really meant it. You were an excellent employee. And I would love to have you back if you are staying for awhile. Now get your ass out of bed and get down here so I can clean up that mess of a mop you have.?

Delores smiled. ?I?ll be there in ten minutes,? she said as she rolled out of bed. She ran to the shower, got cleaned up, dressed and ran down the stairs. She did not even say ?hello? to her parents. She just shouted: ?I?ve got to go to work. I won?t be home for lunch.?

As she drove to the store, she realized something else. She had gone so far as to ignore what Jenn had told her to do with her hair. That was not going to impress Jenn. She got to the store, parked her car and did a two minute sprint to the shop. She entered the shop. Jenn was setting up stations and looking through the appointment book. ?You made it. Good, we have fourty minutes before we open. The chair,? Jenn said. ?Before we start????.,? Delores said.

?Yes?? Jenn answered.

?I am sorry. I was being ignorant. I sat home and sulked all weekend. I did not do what you told me to do,? Delores said.

?I see. Well, let?s have a look,? Jenn said. She draped a cape around Delores and combed out her still wet hair. ?I am going to blow it dry and then I can decide what I need to do. I know we are not going to be able to give it a treatment. I could sense that on Saturday.? Jenn picked up her blow dryer, put it on high and dried Delores? wet hair. Looking it over, Jenn really could tell it was damaged beyond repair. ?I hate to say this, Dee, but it is bad. Not even a hot oil treatment could repair it. I can only do one thing and that is to take you back to the clippers.?

Delores? heart leaped with joy. Another clipper cut. Yes. And with Jenn doing the honors. ?We don?t have a lot of time. Do you want me to do it now or do you want to wait till closing?? Jenn asked. She had already taken the clippers off the hook on the wall. She held them in her hand. Delores looked at the mirror and caught Jenn smiling. Her heart was still leaping with joy.

?Do it! Do it, now and do it the same way you did it when I left for training,? Delores said as she bent her head down. She was looking into her lap when the first clump of hair hit the cape and floated down to her lap. Jenn raced the clippers over her neck and nape. Her hair dropped over her shoulders and floated down to meet the pile that was growing.

Jenn finished the nape and moved to the side. Placing the clippers at her ear, she ran the clippers up to the crown, flicked her wrist and hair toppled to the floor at the base of the chair. A few more strokes and more hair to the floor. Working around the ears and to the nape area. Around to the opposite side. Same actions, up the ear, around the lob, back to the neck. All that remained now was the crown. ?Sit up, please,? Jenn said. She placed her hand under Delores? chin and lifted her head up. She was standing in front of Delores. ?Won?t be too long now,? she said. ?Imagine, I am going to have a clippered shampoo girl.? Jenn?s smile got bigger. ?I am so glad you are back. This is going to be an awesome summer.?

Jenn placed the teeth of the clippers at Delores? forehead and pushed the clippers right down the middle of her head. The hair fell down the back of the chair and landed on the floor. Five more strokes and Delores? head was almost done. Jenn picked up a smaller pair of clippers and she ran them over her crown to even the length at 1/8th of an inch. She then took a duster, powdered Dee?s neck and nape, unclipped the cape, pulled out the tissue paper, dropped that to the floor, dusted off her blouse, and pronounced Dee finished. ?On the house,? Jenn said. ?Now, let?s see how many shampoos we have for you today.? Delores got out of the chair and they walked to the appointment desk together. Jenn pointed to the desk. ?Your station, Dee. You might as well answer phones and take booking too, that is if you don?t mind.?

Delores smiled and walked over to give Jenn a hug. Delores whispered: ?Thanks so much. Would you mind if I ask you to give me a trim at the end of the month? Maybe even shave it clean??

?It would be my pleasure, if you want to keep it like that? Jenn said. Delores nodded. ?Welcome back, Dee. Welcome home.?

Author: hairman001 Copyright protected ? 2005 Registered to JCWP DESIGN SERVICES ? 2000 Not to be reproduced or downloaded for personal use without the expressed written permission of the author. Any misuse will be dealt with under Canadian/International copyright laws.

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