A Blessing Disguised

Tristan was 7 years old. He had been growing his hair all his life. He never wanted to get it cut until now. Something was happening in his life and he wanted to show his support. He was nervous yet excited. He woke up that morning with a little anxiety. He did his usual routine of brushing his teeth, washing his face and combed his long, thick black hair for the last time. He loved his hair. He thought it was magic. It just grew and grew and  it was so long it made him look like a warrior. He remembered watching movies where the strongest warriors had the longest hair. He was proud. He looked at his hair in the mirror and found himself getting a little sad. Later today all his long black hair was going to be gone. He then thought about the reason he wanted to cut his hair and he smiled. Tristan got dressed for school and then sat at his kitchen and talked with his dad. He looked at the space where his mom would have sat and felt a wave of sadness quickly followed by delight. His dad talked about his big haircut. He would pick him up from school at 3:30 and take him to a new barbershop that just opened in their neighborhood.  Tristan finished breakfast, grabbed his lunch box and hopped in the car and his dad drove him to school. 

Tristan loved school. His favorite subject was Math and reading. He loves diving deep into mysterious worlds and going on an adventure. Tristan took a seat in the classroom by his  friend Suzanna. He couldn’t wait to tell her about getting a haircut for the first time. Suzanna is familiar with haircuts. She often goes to the salon to get her hair cut short. She doesn’t like her hair to be long so whenever she goes to the salon she feels like herself again.  "Hey Suzy, I'm getting my haircut today after school!" He said

"Wow, Tristan are you sure you want to? I like your hair the way it is" she said

"Yes, I'm sure. It's a surprise for my mom." He said confidently. 

" Oh ok. I understand. You're gonna look like a penguin when it's all done" she said. Tristan and Suzanna burst into a fit of laughter. 

The teacher hushed them both and the lessons began. Although Tristan loved school he was ready to get out of there. He kept watching the clock waiting impatiently for it to be 3:30. After more classes, lunch and recess it was time for his dad to pick him up. He jumped into the back seat of the car all nervous and excited to get to the barbershop. He usually talks to his dad and tells him about his day but not now. All he can think about is seeing his mom after his haircut. 

This was all for Tristan’s mom.  Laila was diagnosed with  Stage 4 Cancer and was given only a few months to live. Her beautiful ebony long hair slowly started to fall out. She decided that she wanted to be in control of something so she cut off her remaining hair into  a very low cut. That was a sad day for her but for the first time since being diagnosed with Cancer, she felt powerful. She had to be strong for Tristan and her husband of 12 years. The day she was diagnosed the three of them just held each other and sobbed uncontrollably. They were all doing their best to cope and  be strong for one another. Tristan loved his mom dearly. They were best friends. Not a day went by when he did not hug and kiss his mom. He did not understand why all this was happening to him but he never blames anyone. He was raised in the church his mother grew up in and had faith that everything would be alright. His mom was now in hospice care and he visited her everyday after school. Today his visit to his mom was going to be delayed. 

His dad, Khalil,  pulled up to the Barbershop and parked the car. Khalil and Tristan exited the vehicle and he wrapped his arm around his son’s shoulder. He was so proud of his son for cutting his hair. He had been growing his hair since the day he was born and he liked his son’s hair long. He loved to watch his wife Laila braid Tristan’s hair in different styles. It was their bonding time when Tristan would crawl in between her legs and she would grease and massage his scalp. Combing and parting his hair all while Tristan reads a book or engages in conversation. Her diagnosis hit them hard but they were strong and would weather this storm. Khalil, like his son, relied on his faith to get him through. They walked inside the barbershop and found two seats. Khalil had heard good things about this barbershop so he was confident everything would go smoothly. Soon it was Tristan’s turn and Khalil walked him up to the barber with the open seat. “ Hey my name is Khalil and this is my son Tristan,” he said

The barber shook his hand, “Hey I’m Fred, nice to meet ya’ll. Come and sit down lil man,” He replied. Tristan sat down anxiously and his dad looked at him reassuringly and said, “I’m stepping out really quick to make a phone call to your mom but I will be right back.” Tristan nodded and closed his eyes and thought of his mom. Fred asked, “What cut are you getting today lil man?” Tristan opened his eyes and told Fred that he wanted his hair cut low. Fred began to cut Tristan’s hair.

Fred had just graduated from cosmetology school a few weeks before. He really didn’t know how that happened since he did not pay attention much in class. Tristan wanted his hair cut low but Fred didn’t know what that meant. . He had no idea what he was doing and didn’t think the kid would know either so he just decided to cut off  all of his hair. Tristan sat there quietly and watched his beautiful long hair fall to the ground. Tristan didn’t feel anxious anymore. He felt excited that he would have the same haircut as his mother. Fred was  cutting away and soon he was saying he was done. He took off the cape from Tristan and turned him around towards the mirror. Tristan looked at himself and then looked even harder, staring in disbelief. All of his hair was gone. This wasn’t what he meant when he said he wanted it cut low. He wanted some hair like his mom. He started to cry. Fred went to go get Khalil. He looked at Tristan crying and hugged him. He told him everything would be alright. He was furious at Fred. This was the worst haircut he had ever seen. All Fred did was shave Tristan’s head. No technique was used and as a matter of fact anyone off the street could give a haircut like that. Khalil was not paying for that type of service and Fred understood and accepted that. He felt horrible about what he did especially when the boy started crying. Khalil scooped up his son and walked out of the barbershop. 

Tristan was still crying when they arrived at hospice. Tristan wanted to have the same haircut as his mom, but that wasn’t going to happen. He felt like he was disappointing her but Khalil knew that was far from the truth. The two of them quickly and quietly walked to Laila’s room. Tristan entered first as he had stopped crying as they had gotten closer to her room. He saw his mom in a wheelchair by the window. He walked over to her and hugged her so tightly she nearly couldn’t breath. Laila stopped hugging Tristan so she could look at him closely. She saw that all of his beautiful hair was gone and before she could say anything Tristan burst into tears. “Oh mom! he cried, he chopped off all of my hair and I wanted the same haircut as you. You were so brave to cut your hair short  and I wanted to be brave just like you!” She replied, “Oh, my sweet boy! You are the bravest 7 year old I know. I am so proud of you Tristan.”  Tristan stopped crying and looked at her and said, “I love you mom, promise you will be with me always.” Laila gazed into his brown eyes with tears in her own eyes and whispered, “Always.” They held each other and cried with Khalil joining their hug and shedding tears with them. On the day Laila passed away everyone at the funeral had their haircut low. Tristan’s  hair grew back into a low afro to finally match with his mother.