The Interview
by Titan
Well it looked as if things were finally looking up for Eddie Baxter. He’d been without a job for some time and he wasn’t use to it, but the next week he was going for an interview, and it seemed to be in the bag. He hated being unemployed; he’d always been employed. But some recent bad luck had forced him out of his old job – namely an ex- boyfriend that he’d cheated on. Gary was the ex’s name and after 3 years together, Eddie found him to be a little long in the tooth. Gary was 40, overweight and balding however when the two had first met, their relationship was good. Mainly because Gary was the owner of a large transport company and naturally found a great paying job in accounts for his new beau. Of course the young and vain Eddie tired of his partner very quickly. He had been cheating on Gary for years and it was only recently that Gary had found out, and Eddie was given his marching orders. Eddie didn’t know a lot about the new job except he would be in charge of a department that had 20 people under him. From two phone calls with the boss he was more than convinced he had the job, except for one minor detail. Eddie had lied about his age and experience. But it was just the thing for Eddie. Finally he would be pulling in some serious money – something he was now in short supply of. He just hoped he could convince them at the interview that he had the maturity and experience for the new position. (Eddie was born with a strongly developed ego).
Eddie was 26, only 5’6” but with an athletic build, he was easy on the eye. The only thing was that Eddie looked more like a college kid – letting his dark hair grow down onto his collar. His face had a week’s worth of stubble adding to his scruffiness, he usually went for days without shaving even when working as the transport company he worked for previously, had a very blue collar work-force so the dress code was very relaxed.
That night, Eddie decided it was time to celebrate – though prematurely. He decided to visit his old club, ‘The Blue Angel’. He hadn’t had sex for awhile and he felt lucky.
Eddie ran into one of his friends at the club, Kevin. He told Kevin of the imminent interview he was feeling good about, despite lying about his age.
Kevin, who always looked immaculate, told him he should tidy himself up for the interview. Eddie explained he hadn’t been to a hairdresser in months – besides, he couldn’t afford it at the moment.
“You don’t need a stylist dude! Look! You like my haircut don’t you?”
Eddie nodded, “Sure. It really suits you.” Eddie always had been turned on by the short blonde flattop that Kevin wore, though he’d never thought about going short himself.
“Here!” Kevin reached into his wallet and pulled out a business card. Eddie took the card and read the name, ‘Louie’s Traditional Barbershop’. “This guy is good. He’ll add years to you if you tell him what you want – and his prices are reasonable.”
“Thanks Kev! I might just try him. Do you think I could carry something off like you?” Eddie said.
“Maybe something more conservative I think!” Kevin added with a grin. “How about I shout you a drink?”
Eddie was feeling more confident now. As he continued talking with Kevin, he was completely unaware of a stranger sitting on the next stool; eaves-dropping.
Brad Melrose couldn’t believe the conversation he was hearing at the bar. Eddie had been totally unaware of Brad even though he had met him once at a get together last year. He was a good friend of Eddie’s ex; Gary. He’d been there many times when Gary needed a shoulder to cry on after he and Eddie split. Brad quietly slipped off his stool – he couldn’t wait to tell Gary what he’d just heard.
The next day, Eddie decided to try the Barbershop recommended by Kevin. As he walked into Louie’s he started to feel a little nervous; It had been a long time since he’d been in a real Barber’s – the smells and scents were all coming back to him from when he was a boy. The shop was empty. Suddenly, a man – obviously the Barber, came out from behind a back partition.
“Hello! You’ve picked the right time – you’ll have no waiting sir!” said the jovial Barber.
He motioned to the single pedestal chair. “The name’s Louie, haven’t seen you in here before.”
As he fastened a cape around the nervous Eddie he added, “Looks like it’s been a while since your last haircut, son.”
“The names Eddie and – well; I’ve been out of work for some time so I suppose I’ve let myself go a little.”
“Eddie! Brad told me you’d be coming in today! Pleased to meet you.” Louie added.
Brad must have called Louie, well that was good of him, Eddie thought to himself.
As Louie raised the chair, Eddie took a closer look at the man ready to cut his hair. The guy was probably in his 40’s, tanned skin with a gold earring in each ear. This contrasted with his completely bald head. Eddie had noticed the gleaming, dome straight away thinking it unusual for a man that styles and cuts hair for a living. He looked like he might be gay with those oversized hoops in each ear – and the shaved head look was big in the local gay scene. Plus he knew Brad – who had to be the biggest queen in town.
Louie kept grinning at Eddie in the mirror – like the cat that swallowed the canary.
“So! You need a new look for a new job? Well you’ve come to the right place Eddie.”
“Ah! Yeah – I’m going for a manger’s role in an Insurance Agency and I kind of lied and said I was older as they were looking for a more mature and experienced applicant.” Eddie started to explain, feeling a little more relaxed. “So I need something to make me more conservative.”
“And older, son!” Louie added as he went to take something off the counter. “You are a great-looking guy, but with that cute baby face of yours you barely look old enough to shave. At least the designer stubble proves you do.”
Eddie blushed a little at the compliment, although with his short frame and young look he knew he couldn’t pull off the mature executive.
“What can I do, Louie?” Eddie asked realizing he had to trust this Barber with his new look.
“I have an idea, maybe a change of hair color, and a shorter style, tapered at the back and sides. Hmm!” Louie started to walk around the chair then lifted Eddie’s chin. You could stop shaving your top lip – grow a trim moustache!”
“I…. I don’t want to look like an old guy yet, Louie.” Eddie suddenly said nervously.
“No! Of course not, but you could gradually go back to a younger version of Eddie – you know, shave off the moustache, stop dyeing the hair.”
“I never thought of that.” Eddie said, feeling like he could now trust this guy to help him.
“Okay! Whatever it takes!” Eddie added.
“That’s the spirit.” Louie said, as he started in on the collar length hair, taking huge chunks off with his scissors. Eddie watched in the mirror, fascinated at how quickly Louie worked with the scissors. Soon all the length had been cut off. Eddie’s nerves returned as he heard the loud clack of some clippers starting up. Louie made sweep after sweep at the back of the head, starting at the nape and finishing halfway up. Eddie could feel coolness at the back from the overhead air-conditioning duct, proving this was going to be one serious haircut.
Louie changed attachments on the clippers and went over the edges he‘d just done as well as around the ears and sides.
Finally the clippers shut off and Eddie was surprised to hear the high-pitched sound of another clipper – this time an edging trimmer. Eddie stared in wonderment as the teeth took even more hair away. The feeling was amazing – he was so transfixed he’d lost all his nervousness.
Then the trimmer was silenced and Eddie was aware he already looked older as he moved his head to the sides.
“Now for the tricks of the trade.” Louie said as he turned back to the counter busy mixing something.
He started to paint something on each side, on the side-burns, up to the temple. “Just a little bleach to strip the color from the areas I’m going to turn prematurely gray. That should add a few years for sure!”
Eddie was still too fascinated with the change in his hair-length he didn’t really grasp what Louie had said.
“Now! While we wait for the bleach to take affect, let’s get rid of that stubble.”
Louie adjusted a lever and brought the chair into recline. He placed a hot towel around his face to soften the stubble. He’d already had fired up the lather machine and after removing the towel, spread the warm lather thickly over Eddie’s beard.
Taking a straight razor, he carefully began to remove the lather and in turn the stubble. Smooth skin showed wherever the razor had traveled, revealing the youthful face once again. Eddie had never been shaved by someone else before let alone with a straight razor. The feeling was amazing – he could definitely get used to it. He noticed his cock was enjoying it too! After cleaning off the remaining lather and stubble with a warm cloth, Louie turned the chair around so that Eddie’s head was now over a sink on the counter. Taking the head rest away, he could now wash the bleach out of the hair.
When he finished, he raised the chair from recline but didn’t turn Eddie to face the mirror. He left that till the final reveal. Now he began go over the bleached white hair with a paintbrush. The painted hair hardly seemed to change color – it would need to stay on for a while. When he finished, Louie wheeled a dryer over to Eddie after placing some cling wrap around the hair to speed up the process. He went away to the back room saying he’d be back in awhile. Eddie became a little impatient; sitting there alone, wondering what he would finally look like. Was this all a mistake? He may not even get the job.
Finally, Louie returned with what looked like reading glasses in his hand. “Time to finish the job, son!” Louie smiled taking the dryer away.
Lowering the chair into recline again ha once again washed the hair coloring out.
When finished towel drying the hair he set to work styling the new style, applying some hair cream as he combed the hair straight back from the front. When Eddie was finally able to see himself he couldn’t believe the change Louie had created. There in the mirror was a new version of Eddie. His dark locks transformed into a short business cut with white-walled sides and back. The biggest change was his considerable graying. The sideburns were totally gray, along with most of the hair on the sides, all the way to his temple. Louie had left the upper lip stubble, which started to look like a real moustache against his freshly shaved face.
“I think if you keep growing the moustache that will add to the illusion. Another few days it will look a lot thicker. Try these on.” Louie slipped the spectacles on Eddie that he had found out back. They were a wired framed pair.
“But I don’t need glasses.” Eddie said
“Not to worry. They are only costume, the lenses are clear glass.” Louie smiled as he grabbed a hand mirror to show Eddie the back.
Eddie had to admit, he looked years older.
“You look really mature now Eddie. I think the job’s in the bag.”
Eddie had to admit – the change was amazing. He could pass for someone in their early 40’s.
It took Eddie some time to adjust to his new look. When he got home he couldn’t stop looking in the mirror at himself. He had to admit, the prospects looked good. He felt the new position was now his.
Eddie was interrupted by a knock at the door to his apartment. As he opened the door, he was pushed back into the apartment, the door closing behind him. It was all so quick, but soon Eddie was muffled by a damp cloth. He struggled, but a pair of thick arms wrapped around him. He was aware of two gigantic figures – both faces masked by dark ski masks. “.Time to sleep son!” He heard one of the figures say in a gruff voice. He thought he recognized it!
He struggled as he felt a damp cloth pressed against his nose and mouth. He tried not to breathe as he realized they were trying to knock him out. Too late – he felt lightness in his head…then complete darkness.
“Oh! Looks like the little shit is waking up,” said a voice that Eddie recognized. He started to focus on the man that said it. His head felt heavy. What had happened? Where was he? He started to remember – the two guys that stormed into his apartment. The chloroform to knock him out. Eddie started to struggle but found he couldn’t move his arms or legs.
“No good Eddie. We’ve got you hog tied on that chair. You’re not going anywhere.”
Said the huge figure in front of him. Eddie focused on the face and realized it was Con, the big thug that worked at his old company. So the other man mountain behind him tightening his restraints must be Mitch. They always hung around together like a bad smell. Steroids were their obvious choice of exercise, both showing the oversized roid gut mixed with plenty of beer. Their heads were both shaved clean and with the addition of no necks made their faces the more sinister. Con was the darker of the two, carrying a thick five o’clock shadow even after shaving. Mitch wore a 80’s style village people moustache – thick that draped down the sides a little.
“What are you bastards doing? Let me go or I swear I’ll tell Gary about all this!” Eddie spat at them, knowing full well he was in deep shit. They were eternally loyal to Gary, who had rescued them from some massive gambling debts,
“Go ahead little man! I don’t think he would be too concerned for a deadbeat like you.” Returned Con as he stroked the growth on the top of Eddie’s lip. “See you are trying to go for a tache son! Maybe we can help!”
Mitch added, “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep quiet! We just heard from a little birdie that you’re going for a new job interview, and you need to look older for the boss. Looks like you’re already on the way…..I wouldn’t have recognized you on the street Yeah! Whoever you went to has done some great work.”
Eddie’s eyes widened in fear. How had they’d known about his new job? His friend Kevin would never tell these goons. But they knew everything!
“Look guys. Just let me go and I’ll say nothing about all this.” Eddie started to babble.
“Listen shit head. You are not going to say anything to anyone if you know what’s good for you.” Mitch said getting right into his face. We owe Gary big-time and when we heard about your little predicament – well it was too good to pass up on.”
Suddenly the sound of heavy-duty clippers starting up filled the room they were in.
“Time for a real haircut boy,” Con laughed as he took the clippers through the hairline on top of Eddie’s head. Eddie started to scream but saw Mitch raise his hand, and thought better of it. So they give him a baldy like them – it would always grow out!