This choice: Let's go get that haircut today! • Go Back...Chapter #15Let's go get that haircut today! by: Kirafair   With a growing sense of dread, Chris plopped down onto the couch while Emma cleaned up. He knew she was scheduled to attend a birthday party today. Surely he would be discovered as a boy dressed in her clothes. The t-shirt and leggings she had picked out for him to wear partially concealed this fact. But his larger frame did make the most of the material’s elasticity.
To take his mind off his predicament, Chris scrolled through some social media apps on her phone. He read some text messages and sent a few perfunctory replies. Chris had never been a huge fan of TikTok before but he had to admit the people she followed were kind of entertaining. He became so absorbed watching that he totally lost track of time.
He was startled when Emma walked by with brightly colored gift bag emblazoned with the phrase ‘Happy Birthday’ on the side and announced “Time to get going Emma”
He looked around struggling to get his bearings. “Huh, what time is it?”
Emma barked out a laugh “Oh you kids these days, always losing yourself in your phones”
Chris finally located a clock and frowned in confusion “Isn’t it too early to leave? The party isn’t for a few hours”
Emma barely looked away from her preparations as she stuffed his wallet, phone and a set of house keys in the pockets of her shorts. Actually they were his shorts but the loose fitting design did much to help Emma resemble a teenage boy.
“True. But your Mom asked me to run an errand first. As the babysitter, I take my duties very seriously” she said in a deadpan tone
Chris stared daggers at her. It wouldn’t be the last time today.
*****
Emma got a huge thrill from the simple task of ordering an Uber. It made her feel so much older and independent. As she sat in the back of the car with Chris, Emma reflected on the fact her Mom would never dream of allowing her to do this. Swapping identities with Chris had so many unexpected benefits. She decided this was a good time to reinforce their new roles.
“Here is some background information you will need today. The party is for a girl named Kristen. She is a year younger and goes to a different school. In fact, I suspect most of the other kids at the party will be from her school. You should have no problem blending in”
“How do you know her?” he whispered
She waved a finger disappointingly “I don’t know her Emma, I’m just the sitter. She is the daughter of one of your Mom’s friends. I think you’ve had a few play dates with her. Typical teenage girl really. Alway prattling on about silly stuff”
They soon arrived at a nearby strip mall. Emma couldn’t stop smiling as she gave the driver a 5-star rating and a generous tip. Acting like an independent adult was so much fun. She was bursting with pride at how easily she was handling her new responsibilities.
Chris looked around in confusion “What errand are we here for?”
Emma smiled mischievously as she walked toward a storefront with the name ‘Salon Susanna’
He froze in his tracks. The look of fear on his face was evident. Emma wasn’t unsurprised by his reaction. The Salon could perform quite a few services.
“I’m sure you're wondering what I have planned. Well relax, it’s not nearly as bad it could be” she said, waving his phone menacingly. The threat of the incriminating photos was unsaid
“Wha, wha, what do you mean?” he stammered .
“Oh, I could ask them for a full makeover. You would surely be the prettiest girl at the party. But no worries. All your Mom wants is a trim.
Her assurances did little to improve his mood. She needed to remind him who was in charge “You’re getting it done whether you like it or not. Give me a hard time and I’ll start adding things like a manicure with a pretty Pink polish”
His shoulders slumped in defeat. Emma politely held the door open for him and waved her hand in invitation
“Ladies first” she quipped
With an ever growing sense of confidence, she approached the front desk “Hello, Emma Brooks here has an 11 o’clock appointment.” Emma felt a tingle of excitement course through her body when the girl behind the desk looked past her to glance at Chris cowering in the background “Could you two take a seat? Mandy will be right with you Emma.”
Emma found it interesting that even though she had been to this salon before, the staff saw her not as Emma but as Chris Jackson. Funny how a change of clothes could change people’s perspective so much. This brought to mind that a girl from his school had mistaken Emma for him. She thought this was all very implausible but in any event, she was going to milk this week for every bit of fun she could get.
To that point, she flipped through a magazine of various women’s hairstyles. To needle Chris, she would occasionally point to a trendy style worn by a popular Hollywood starlet. “You would look so cute in this style Emma”
Finally an attractive young woman approached the two “Hi, I’m Mandy. Emma is it?”
Chris merely nodded his head and followed Mandy to a hair washing station. She leaned him back and began massaging various creams into his hair. She looked back and forth between Chris and Emma “What style are you looking to get today?”
Emma jumped in to reply “That depends on what you think you can do. Her Mom mostly wanted to clean up the split ends”
Mandy had Chris sit up and appraised his hair critically “I’m thinking a choppy or textured bob. What do you think sweetie?” she asked Chris
Chris looked at Emma clearly not comprehending anything Mandy had said. Emma smiled in appreciation
“Oh that sounds perfect”
*****
Emma watched from afar as Mandy began to meticulously snip at Chris hair. She could already see a very cute style developing when her entertainment was interrupted by another salon staffer “Excuse me, Chris?”
She gave the woman a friendly smile “Yes?”
“As you requested, I can fit you in for a quick haircut right now. Still interested?”
Emma looked back at Chris. She hadn’t fully planned this out. Her primary goal was to have Chris look cute for today’s party and the other activities this week. But she could see his style was already shaping up to make for a convincing young girl. Emma’s thought again about Marissa, she had a growing interest in looking more like a young man.
Yet she had to tread carefully. When her mom returned at the end of the week, she might take her displeasure out on her as well as Chris if the changes were too severe. After a moment’s consideration, Emma went with a bold choice
“Sure. Just an inch or so, okay? I’m trying to impress a girl”
Ironically, Emma finished before Chris. She ran her fingers appreciatively through her hair. It was definitely a bit shorter than his now. She stood behind Mandy admiring her handiwork. Despite his sour expression, he looked totally adorable.
Mandy seized the opportunity to pad the bill “I noticed her brows are a little messy. I’d be glad to clean them up via threading”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threading_...(epilation)
Chris was so distraught over his transformation he was oblivious to what the two were talking about. Emma was feeling emboldened by their changes. “Okay, but not too much this time. I don't want Emma to get overwhelmed.”
*****
Chris had been horrified by the changes. Before the salon, he imagined he looked like a tomboy in Emma’s clothes. Now he resembled more of a girly girl.
https://www.hoodmwr.com/wp-content/uploa...
“Look on the bright side. You will fit in great at the party. I’m sure all the other girls will be so jealous of your new style” she said with assurance.
He rolled his eyes in disgust. Emma sort of had a point. It seemed more likely he could slip under the radar as it were. Chris couldn’t wait for this week to end so he could be rid of this annoying brat.
The car service dropped the two off outside a large shopping mall. Chris knew the party was taking place at the local version of a chain specializing in parties with pizza and an arcade. If there was one silver lining, he might be able to lose himself playing some video games for a short while.
The birthday girl, Kristen ran up and hugged him happily when they arrived. “I’m so glad you could come Emma”
He muttered a few platitudes in a high-pitched voice. It was true Kirsten was only 11 years old but Chris couldn’t understand why all the kids and Kristen’s mother failed to realize he was a young man.
The party involved around a dozen kids, mostly girls but there were a few boys. It began with a short time in the arcade portion of the store. Chris wandered around trying to decide what to do when he spied a game involving shooting a basketball.
Sensing an opportunity to reestablish his waning masculinity, he started up the game. A clock started ticking down as a half dozen basketballs rolled down a ramp. The goal was to make as many shots as possible before the clock ran out. Depending on how many were made, a string of tickets would print out at the end. They could be redeemed for some cheap prizes or candy. Chris had already amassed a large handful of tickets when over his shoulder he heard:
“You’re pretty good there. Emma right? Hi, I’m Andy.” Chris looked back to see a boy from the party. He was a bit taller with short Black hair.
“Umm thanks” Chris muttered, his face flushing with embarrassment that a boy believed he was Emma
“How about a head-to-head game? I’ll give you all my tickets if you win”
Chris was finally beginning to feel more confident. He looked disdainfully at Andy’s paltry number of tickets “I suppose you want all mine if you win?” he said snidely.
He was taken aback by Andy’s response “Not at all, a kiss from someone super cute like you is all I require”
What does Chris say?   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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