
The Barbershop
Stanley hesitated at the front door of the barbershop, rehearsing in his mind word for word what he planned to say to Edna. He took a deep breathe, pushed open the door, and marched into the barbershop. She was with one customer-a slow day, thank goodness. He sat down and shuffled through the magazines, trying to take his mind off the confrontation that was about to happen. He could sense the tension in the air. He tried to avoid looking at her. When he could stand it no longer; he stood up and walked over to Edna
“What? You can’t wait until wait until I am finished with this customer?” she said.
“No. This can’t wait. I can see that you are mad, and you have every right to be,” he replied.
“You’re darn tooting I’m mad. Did you think that I would not find out? Who is she, Stanley? She is no good for you. She doesn’t care for you like I do. Can’t you see that?”
“Edna, I am sorry. I was out of town. I needed someone. It was a onetime thing. It meant nothing to me. It will never happen again, I promise.”
Edna put down her scissors. “Your right it won’t happen again because if it does, you and I are through. I won’t put up with it again.”
Stanley smiled. “So do you forgive me?”
“Maybe. I’ll think about it.” Edna picked up her scissors and starting cutting hair again.
“Can I see you today?”
“Not today, Stanley. I am too upset. Maybe tomorrow.”
“I understand. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Fine! You do that!”
Stanley turned and marched out. He paused in the doorway and looked back, but Edna was ignoring him, so he left.
The customer broke the awkward silence. “Was that your husband?”
Edna laughed. “Heavens no. He is just a customer.”
“But I saw a ring; he is married.”
“Yeah, he’s married. We’re both married but not to each other.”
“Is he a boyfriend?”
“Heavens, no! I would never cheat on my husband!”
“So what was that all about?”
“Well, apparently, while he was out of town on a business trip, he let some other barber cut his hair.”
THE END