protest
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ÂTRANSCRIPT
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WHEN I WAS 12, MY HIPPIE PARENTSDRAGGED ME TO AN ANTI-MILITARYPROTEST AT THE LOCAL UNITED STATESMARINE CORPS BASE. THERE WEREDRUM CIRCLES, OPEN-MIC POETRYAND THEY TRIED TO LEVITATE THEARMORY WITH THEIR MINDS.ARMORY WITH THEIR MINDS.
I SNUCK OFF WHEN THEY WEREN’TLOOKING AND WENT STRAIGHT TOTHE BASE BARBERSHOP. I STOODOUTSIDE WATCHING THE PARADEOF SHORT HAIRCUTS AND WONDEREDIF IT WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
I WENT IN ANYWAY.I WENT IN ANYWAY.
FORT MCRANDBARBERSHOP
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IT WAS COOL AND DRY AS I STEPPED THROUGH THEDOOR. IT HAD THE SMELLOF SHORT HAIR AND OFBUTCH WAX. I KNEW THISWAS THE RIGHT PLACE.
THERE WAS A STERN LADYTHERE WAS A STERN LADYIN A CRISP MARINE CORPSUNIFORM TALKING ON THEPHONE. I HOPED SHE WASNOT GOING TO BE UPSETWITH ME BEING THERE.
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AS SHE SAID “NO MA’AM, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHINGRESEMBLING A ‘LOVE-CHILD’ WITH ‘GOLDEN TRESSES LIKE SUN-KISSED FLAX’ ANYWHERE AROUND THISAREA OF THE BASE.”
AS SHE SAID THIS, SHEROLLED HER EYES; SHE ROLLED HER EYES; SHE KNEW WHY I WAS HERE, AND PATTED THE LARGE RED LEATHER BARBER CHAIR.I HURRIED OVER ANDCLIMBED UP INTO IT ASFAST AS I COULD.
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SHE INSTRUCTED THEM TO SEE THE QUARTERMASTERAT THE VISITORS’ CENTER(CONVENIENTLY LOCATEDAT THE OTHER END OF THEBASE, NATURALLY) AND THEN HUNG UP THE PHONE.THEN HUNG UP THE PHONE.I KNEW I WAS SAFE.
“NOW THEN”, SHE SAID, TURNING TO ME, “LET’SGET YOU CLEANED UP.”
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THERE WAS NONE OF THE FUSSY SALON BANTER, JUST HER FIRM GRIP ON MY HEAD SO THAT I COULDN’T MOVE, AND A PAIR OFTHE BIGGEST, BLACKEST, MOSTINTENSE LOOKING CLIPPERS I HAD EVER SEEN.HAD EVER SEEN.
IT WAS FANTASTIC!
SHE DIDN’T EVEN ASK ME WHATSORT OF HAIRCUT I WANTED.SHE SWITCHED THOSE HUNGRYCLIPPERS ON AND IMMEDIATELYSTARTED MOWING MOUNDS OF HAIR OFF OF ME. WOW!HAIR OFF OF ME. WOW!
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AS SHE WAS MOWINGTHE STRIPE DOWN THE MIDDLE OF MY FLATTOP,SHE REMARKED, “YOU
DON’T SQUIM AND WHINELIKE ALL THOSE OTHER RECRUITS. IT SURE HAS RECRUITS. IT SURE HAS BEEN A TREAT FOR ME.”
I MADE SURE I SAT UP STRAIGHTER THAN I HAD BEEN BEFORE.
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AS I SAT THERE, COVERED INHAIR AND ENJOYING MYREFLECTION, SHE WENT OVERTO THE CLOSET AND CAMEBACK WITH A CHANGE OFCLOTHES. “ A MILITARYHAIRCUT DESERVES A HAIRCUT DESERVES A FRESH PRESSED UNIFORMTO MATCH, DON’T YOU AGREE, SOLDIER?”
“YES MA’AM”, I PURRED.
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I WALKED RIGHT OUT OFTHAT PLACE IN FULL VIEWOR MY PARENTS, WHO WERE STILL LOOKING FRANTICALLY FOR THEIR “GOLDEN BOY”.
WHAT A LAUGH!WHAT A LAUGH!