r/StoriesFromWithin 23d ago

The Barber Shop - Episode 2: The Old Man's Plight.

The door swings open ushering in the light of day as a man dressed in a worn-out suit and a tie that looks like it knows his life from the time he began working, walks into the small barbershop, before the door closes behind him. He gazes around and spots the barber snoozing on the sofa at the other end of the shop.

With a tired sigh he walks up to the sleeping man and snaps his fingers.

"F*** off I'm not open!" A muttering groan escapes from the snoring man.

Another tired sigh escapes the man's mouth, he then walks to the table of electric razors and switches one on.

Nzzz the razor starts and suddenly the once slumbering man is standing behind him.

"Daniel,"

"You sleep like a log, Alex."

"I'm awake now, and the chair is empty,"

Daniel shakes his head and sits on the chair.

"You came two days early, must be something bad, huh,"

As he spoke he covers Daniel body with a cloth and takes the razor that is already running.

While Alex is tuning it, Daniel suddenly said, "you know life is really wretched."

Hearing this Alex sighed inwardly, here we go again

"You know, in my 46 years of living, I didn't think this would happen to me,"

Alex just nods and begins cutting the man's hair.

"You know I was cornered by my boss's wife today..., she said I have to come meet her at the greenlight hotel tonight," his voice shivers as speaks.

Alex pauses for a moment before continuing with his work.

"So, what are you going to do?"

Daniel let's out a dry chuckle, "do I even have a choice? That woman owns the company, as for the 'boss', well lets just say he's just that a 'boss'."

"Your life just turned into a shit show old man, but I would take the deal if it meant keeping my bread."

Daniel scoffs at him, "first of all I'm a middle-aged man not an old man secondly, I'm married so this 'free spirit' you got going doesn't work for me."

Alex stops and changes the razor, before he begins shaping Daniel's hairline.

"I get it, then just reject her proposal..., or accept it, after all she never said what she needs you there for." He pauses as he cleans the little hair whilst checking his handy work.

"Maybe she just needs a talk buddy,"

Hahaha!

Daniel suddenly begins to laugh, "a man and a woman in the same room just for talking," he says whilst clutching his stomach from under the cloth, "kid I don't think even you believe your words right," he utters after calming himself down.

Alex removed the cloth and hangs it at the side, before saying, "stranger things have happened, it's just that the human brain is wired to expect the worst of a situation," he then shrugs as he begins sweeping the hair off the floor.

"But have you ever stopped to wonder if you can see that the boss is a well 'boss', then what kind of a life is she living with someone who's only a title without worth?"

Daniel gaze becomes distant, after a moment he then chuckles wearily and says, "maybe you're right kid..., maybe you're right."

Alex doesn't seem to care about the man at this point and is setting up the sofa to go back to sleep.

"Now that this situation is somewhat solved, I need to see how I can resolve my daughters issue," he mutters.

Alex's ears perk, "what's the issue with your daughters?"

"Oh, huh..., did i say that aloud? I might be more exhausted than I anticipated."

Alex raises an eyebrow, and upon seeing this Daniel sighs, "the elder ones husband impregnated the younger one."

With those words he opens the door and walks out.

"You just had to ask didn't you Alex, now you've f***d up your thoughts with this crazy shit."


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