First Sergeant of Marines Joe Diese Sr. was returning home after a year deployment. He had left the year before, right after his son Joe Jr.'s 16th birthday which was right after the school year ended. There had been layover in North Carolina, time for them to get cleaned up, haircuts and changed into their dress green uniforms. His wife of 20 years was there to meet him when his company got off the plane at his home base in California. They filed off the plane, the 1st Sergeant called the company to attention, the Captain came to the front and dismissed them for a months leave. The second company filed out and likewise were dismissed. 1st Sgt Diese's fellow 1st Sgt and good friend William Franks Sr. joined him as they walked across the pad to meet their wives. He looked around, he hadn't really expected his oldest son Edward to be there with his wife, but he certainly expected Joe Jr. to be there. But it was only his very pretty wife who jumped into his arms and kissed him soundly. When she let him go for a minute he asked, "where's Joey?" At the same time the same question was being asked about where Billy was. "The boys are staying with a friend this weekend. We expect to have you all to ourselves until Monday. Don't fret, they are ok." He hugged her again tightly. "Wonderful, I've missed you so much," he said. They went off to collect their baggage. Joe told William he would see him later. Monday, perhaps when the wives went back to work, they would do something together.
It was a fantastic weekend, they made passionate love, trying to make up for a lost year. All day Saturday was spent together in bed, until after dinner when he took his wife out to dinner and dance. Sunday they went to church at the base chapel like they always had. Then they made the most of Sunday, relaxing and playing games like they were just married. When the day was done and they were laying in bed, almost ready to turn out the lights, he said. "OK, I love you more than all the world. Tell me about Joey? What's wrong?"
She sighed. I wanted us to have the best weekend. And we have. It has been a fantastic two days. I wanted you alone, all to myself. Joey is ok, just like I said. He missed you terribly this time. He has always been a good boy, even if as you say, I spoil him because he is the baby. It got out of control after football season this year. He and Billy got with a different group of kids. He started talking back and ignoring most anything I asked or told him to do. You'll see him in the morning, after I've gone to work. You'll understand, perhaps, why I wanted you to myself. You will be angry. I didn't want an angry weekend when you first got home. I'm sure you and William will straighten the boys out. I would guess that Betty is telling William the same thing about Billy right about now. I only hope you both can control your temper and won't be too rough on them Joe. Remember we are going on that week long vacation that we have saved up for to Hawaii next week, and he is really looking forward to it."
As a 1st Sergeant, Joe had been dealing with just slightly older kids for a few years now. He had learned to keep his temper pretty well and gotten a lot of patience. He also expected kids to do as they were told. He hadn't run his home like a military camp, he wanted it to be a normal family home.
Joe Jr. And Billy turned up at 9:00 on Monday morning. Joe took one look and went back to the kitchen after telling them to wait right there and not move. He used his Marine voice and for once Joe did what he was told. He called William's house. Yes, his wife had warned him and he would be right over, it wouldn't take 5 minutes. When he came in he was carrying a pair of new blue jeans and a white tee shirt, and a belt.
William handed the clothes to his son. Joe told the boys to get upstairs and get changed into decent clothes. But, dad.... Joe Jr. started to say.
Ok, Joey, Joe said rather loudly. Turn around, he commanded. Joey was standing near the lounge chair. He turned around. Joe came up behind him and yanked his sagged pants and green plaid boxer shorts down to his ankles. He took the belt out of Billy's hands. He told Joey to "bend over" onto the chair arm. Joey was scared now, he bent over putting his hands on the seat cushion. Joe made every lick of the belt count. There was a loud thwack with each stroke as the belt laid a red welt across Joey's ass. Joey quickly came to tears. He hadn't had even a light spanking in years. "Oh God", he cried out as the pain of the last three strokes broke him into sobbing. Now, get up stairs to your room and get changed into decent clothes. You have 15 minutes, and I expect you to be back down here.
Joey pulled his pants up over his red burning ass and went up the stairs. His dad had never been this harsh with him. Billy went quietly up the stairs behind him. they didn't talk while they changed into their jeans. When the boys came back down stairs in a little more than 15 minutes, They were very subdued when they looked at two fathers who were out of patience. Both boys were wearing clean blue jeans with a belt that fit at their waist and clean white tee shirts tucked in. Joe frowned at the Nike Air's on their feet. Well, that would change too.
Joe and William were standing together. Come here. Joe commanded. Both of you, as Billy hesitated. We were gone a year. It's one of those things that happens in our work so that we can take care of our families. Joey, the last thing I told you was to take care of your mom and make me proud at school. You did great at football, I enjoyed every score you made. Your grades were great until after Christmas and then nothing else was said. I've seen your grades. Tell me what changed? What is it you're doing with your pants sagging down to your butt and your short's hanging out? What's going on? Tell me.
Weh...Well, Joey started, stumbling over the words. I...I don't know, he stuttered. We just wanted to be like other guys at school.
They dress like that?
Yessir.
Lord! And your hair. I've never made you get it all cut off, but you look like girls, with your mop of curly hair. And Billy, what's with the hair down to your shoulders?
Billy looked at his dad. It's the style today, dad. Goes with the clothes.
Joe turned to William. Your's or mine? (Meaning vehicles).
William said they would take Joes as it was an SUV.
OK boys, outside in the car. The boys went meekly to the car and got in the back passenger seat.
It was silent as they drove to the base barbershop. It was quieter as they went inside with their fathers right behind them. Eddy had been the head barber for many years. He knew both men and the boys too. 1st Sergeant it's great to see you both back, he said, you don't look like you need no haircut. And, where have you boy's been?
Joe laughed. Next time Eddy. Today it's these young men here. You got time to cut some hair. You bet, said Eddy.
Get up there Joey, his dad said.
This your boy Joe?
Sure enough, he replied.
William told Billy to get up in the next chair. The barbers put the paper tape around each boys neck and then clipped the blue and white striped drape snugly over that.
What's it gonna be today? Eddy asked. Billy's barber was standing there waiting to get the answer he was pretty sure he was going to hear. He had known these two 1st Sergeants for too many years not to know that answer. He saw the look in their eye.
Joe Jr. spoke up, back to the usual I guess. Hoping that would be the best answer.
It wasn't. Something shorter Eddy, said 1st Sergeant Diese.
Joey, how about a haircut like mine.
Joe Jr.'s quickly looked at his dad. Daaad, please, Joey begged.
Ok, Eddy. He said please. Cut it just like mine. 1st Sergeant Joe Diese had always had a shaved high and tight horseshoe flat top. His wife loved that look and even said it was one of the reasons she had married him. Joe had never made either of his kids get crew cuts or flat tops. Oh, there hair wasn't long by any means. But there was always enough to be brushed and combed.
William said, "yes, something shorter for Billy here too."
One just like mine Billy?
Billy knew w
hat was coming so he said, sure dad. He tried to sound as if it was natural and ok. Inside he began to worry about how their friends were going to laugh at them.
You heard him Mike, William said to the barber. Just like mine. William had a shaved high and tight, but the top of his was a buzz cut at ½".
Joey sat there stiff as a ramrod, more like it was an execution than a haircut. Eddy started on Joe Jr.'s hair with the black clippers that buzzed into life. He put a ½" guard on and started right on the top center and back right across the crown. Joey's curls began to fall behind the chair onto the floor. Swipe after swipe and the top of his head was uniformly ½" all over. A pile of long blond curls lay in a heap around the chair. The clippers were shut off and the guard was removed. They snapped back on, Joey could feel the vibration as the blades cleaned the right side of his head to an 1/8th inch. Then the left side was shorn. Joey's head was pushed forward onto his chest and the back of his neck and head was soon quite bare. Joe Jr. could feel the coolness on his head. Eddy turned those clippers off and picked up a sleeker, quieter pair. The teeth were finer and they gave off a whisper of sound as they were clicked on instead of the loud buzz. Eddy first went over the sideburns, or where they had been. Then up around his ears, each pass coming higher and higher up the sides until they were almost on the crown. Then the other side. Joey could feel his bare skin with seemingly no hair left behind each pass. Eddy again pushed Joey's head forward and went up either side of his neck and up the back to the top of his head. The final pass up the neck stopped near the top. Eddy took his head in both hands, straightening it up, facing directly front. Hold it right there, he told Joey. Don't move. Starting just below where he had left off on that last pass up the back of his head, Eddy took it up and over the top almost all the way to the front leaving a bare strip of skin behind. He turned those clippers off and using a brush swished all the loose hair from the top, sides and back of Joey's head. From the shelf behind him he took down a little jar. He unscrewed the lid and took a large finger full of pink crew wax. He rubbed it between his palms and then thoroughly massaged it into the little bit of hair that was left on top of Joey's head. Then with a stiff brush he brushed the hair backwards so that it stood up straight. The black clippers were snapped back on. Using his long thin black comb, Eddy started at the front and with a sure hand clipped the hair to a short flat top. Going backward, each swipe was closer and closer to the skin of Joey's head. The final pass was on the skin. He brushed it up one more time and used the scissors to make it perfectly even and flat. Eddy used a warm damp towel to remove all the little hairs that were left behind loose. He undid the cape and the paper tape from around his neck. Then a hot steamy towel was wrapped around Joey's head. Eddy swept up the hair and cleaned his tools and counter while the steamy towel did it's work of softening the barely felt stubble on the sides of his head. After a couple of minutes, he took the towel off and spread warm lather around the sides and down the center of Joey's head. With a new blade in the straight razor, he tilted Joey's head to the left and with smooth deft strokes of a master, he removed all the hair until there was only soft white skin left. Then the back and around to the other side. Last he went over the top center of Joey's head until all that was left was the horseshoe "C" on top. Eddy wiped his head off with the steamy towel that was now a bit cooler. Eddy removed the drape and was about to let Joey up. Young Joe, you are the spittin image of your dad there.
Joe Sr. said, wait a minute Eddy. Might as well give him the works. Take that fuzz off his face too.
Joey held back his tears as Eddy pulled him back into the seat and tilted the chair back. Using the fine clippers he went over the wanna be moustache, jaw line and chin. Then with another steamy towel he wrapped it around Joey's face. It was not so hot as to burn him, more a really warm dampness. Removing that, he lathered Joey up and with the straight razor finished the job. Eddy cleaned him off and sat him up. He finished removing the drape and turned Joey around so he could see himself. "Ok young man. Now you look as good as your dad."
Joey got up and went to sit down next to his dad. I'm sorry, he said.
"It's Ok, son, It's some of my fault for not being here when I was needed. But, you are old enough to be responsible and to think about what you are doing."
Billy had sat still as a rock as Mike put the smallest guard on the clippers and starting at the nape of his neck, ran the clippers up over his head, pushing a growing mound of 7 inch long hair in front of the blades until the hair rolled down the front of Billy's face and into his lap. He then went to the front and took all the hair off the top of Billy's head. Next, Mike took the guard off and took off the sides and back all the way up to the crown. Mike was going to change to 000000 clippers to bring the sides down to skin. William said, "Mike, go ahead and take it all down to 1/8th and then shave the sides. Might as well give Billy the works too and give him a shave as well. Billy had jet black hair, like his dad. His moustache and beard were beginning to show up nicely. Tears welled into his eyes, but he didn't dare say a word as Mike went over the top of his head again with the bare blades vibrating his skull. Mike then changed to the 000000 clippers and finished off the sides and back. Warm lather liberally covered the sides of his head and down the sides of his face, moustache and beard. Mike was expert at quickly removing lather and what little stubble remained to smooth skin. Billy found he liked the feel of the warm lather spread over his head and then the straight razor gliding silently over the skin taking off the little bit of stubble and making it perfectly smooth. Joey had his ass beaten, at least Billy was saved that humiliation.
Billy reached up and felt his smooth head when Mike turned him around to see the results. Wow, he thought. This is cool. He really looked like his dad, and vowed to himself that he would keep his hair buzzed off or maybe even shave it smooth, even on top.
Joe and William paid for the haircuts and shave. Eddy wasn't going to charge for the shave, but Joe insisted. We'll all be back on Friday for a clean up before we go on vacation, he said as they headed out the door, although I think they can learn to shave their own faces.
the next stop took them into the Exchange where they picked up new razors, blades, shaving cream and sunscreen. didn't want their boys heads to get sunburned and peel. In the clothing part of the store they picked up new blue jeans, white tee shirts, a pair of black military dress shoes and a pair of black military boots for each of the boys. "might as well learn to wear them" said Joe Sr as he tossed the nike air's into the trash. the boys felt clumsy as they walked out with the heavy boots on their feet. the boys thought they were going home, but Joe Sr turned out the gate into town. It was nearing noon, so he stopped at a popular pizza place for lunch. There was no point trying to stay in the car. The boys went in. You guessed it. there were a lot of their highschool friends. Go on over, William said. You can take your pizza and eat with your friends. Might as well get it over with they thought. The guys were laughing a little as they joined them. the girls were interested. They wanted to feel their haircuts. The boys blushed as their heads were stroked. One of the girls turned to the guys and said, "This is a cool look. You want to go out Saturday, go get a hair cut." Joey and Billy let on as it was their idea, when their dads, over there, came home from over seas. The other boys were pushed to the back as the girls swamped Joey and Billy, each seeming to want to be close.
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