BARBER
My barber blames his old job as a mafia hitman for why he names all his instruments. “This one here, I call her Karma,” he says as he caresses his gleaming scissors.
“Summer cut,” I say, mostly ignoring him, “so take a little off the top and everything off my neck.” He leans my head down, sets straight to work with a snip, click, cut, whirr.
He reminds me of the money I never paid him from last year’s basketball championship when I had five thousand reasons to love Wisconsin over Duke, and then plunges the scissors into my neck. Karma sucks.
Hemingway brought us the six-word story. (For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.) He’s much better than me, so I’m bringing the six-sentence story. Come back Monday for “C” since the challenge gives us Sundays off.
Holy crap. I never saw that one coming. That was excellent. I can see why you do so well with Miss Janet’s contests.
Julie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Her contests are bringing out too much talent. I have to concentrate on my WIP instead of flash fiction.
I know, I know, so why am I doing this A to Z challenge, right? I have no answer for that one.
LikeLike
You’re doing the challenge to get the short fiction out of your bloodstream so you can focus on your WIP.
LikeLike
Another good story. Of course, whenever someone goes murderous barber, I go to Sweenie Todd and then I am stuck with Sondheim singing in my head for the rest f the evening. Fantastic that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So funny, Ellie. In my original the barber’s name was Sweeney but I couldn’t make the payoff line work. I tried so many ways to end it right, but I couldn’t get it down to six sentences and maintain and decent plausibility. I can’t believe I made such a stupid rule for myself.
This is turning out to be a lot more fun than I realized, I’m glad you Reiders got me inspired to participate in this challenge…. he said on Day 2 — we’ll see if I’m singing the same time by the end of next week when I’m searching for a new story for “E.”
LikeLike
Love it! There is so much potential for evil in a barber shop. Love the idea of a 6 sentence story as a challenge. My favorite writing challenge is the 100 word story with no repeated words…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am guilty of repeating myself — even the Queen told me, so it must be so. Hence, I would not do well in a 100-word challenge with no repeated words. I have a hard enough time with 100 words, I’d die if I had to go back and search for any repeats!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you decided to join us this year. Definitely a ghoulish story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad I decided to join, too, Dena. Didn’t realize how much fun it could be. Also, I think I’m gonna learn rather quickly how challenging it will be. But hey, they call it a Challenge, so I guess I should’ve expected that.
LikeLike
Love this story. You got me with that final sentence. I wasn’t expecting it. But it fit so perfectly. Awesome writing.
Best Wishes
Jo-Ann
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re incredibly kind, Jo-Ann. And so of course you’re welcome back anytime!
LikeLike
Wow – great last line. Dare I say, killer?
Six SENTENCE stories?! Don’t let Miss Janet hear about that. It’s hard enough with 100 words!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear ya! I think I’m gonna regret being so restrictive by Day 6. Or, F, as we like to say in the A to Z Blogging Challenge parlance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, love the evil barber. I like the blame his old job… name instruments.
LikeLike
Barbers are inherently evil, aren’t they? They just hide behind all those instruments of minor destruction.
LikeLike
You’re a lot braver than I am. I have a rule that I never die.
Director: I have a script for you to read.
Me: Do I die?
Director : No.
Me: Okay, I’ll read it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s funny. I heard a story on how Michael Caine decides if he’ll do a part.
They give him a script. He reads the first page. Flips to the end and reads the last page. If the character they want him to play in on the first page and the last page, he’ll agree to do it.
Love that story! Even if it’s only apocryphal, still a good story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s probably true. None of us likes to be written out.
LikeLike
Loved that had to re-read a couple of times to grasp the concept, or was I captivated?
LikeLiked by 1 person
If it’s multiple choice, let’s go with captivated. Or All of the Above works too since that would include captivated. ; -)
LikeLike
Excellent, John! Mmm… 100 words with no repeats? I’ll consider that for next year. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d never survive 100 words with no repeats. Repeating, I’d never survive —
Oh, sorry. There I go again. This is hard enough already, Colin, I’m not sure we need to come up with ways to make it harder!
LikeLike
Love this!
LikeLike
You’re not gonna be happy when we get to “S” and the Social Worker goes to the hairdresser. Duh duh duh…
LikeLike