Authors notes: it always gives me goosebumps whenever I write about hairdressing, so that's why I love writing about it. Hope you enjoy.

It was a week after Jeff had come from space. Virgil and Scott were both sat in the front seats of TB2.

"Come on, dad hurry up," Scott said as Jeff sat down behind him.

"I'm coming, I'm coming, I could've just gone myself it would have just been quicker," Jeff said strapping on his seat belt.

"Don't moan dad, we wanted to make sure your haircut was appropriate for you, we don't know what you've seen in space,"

"Yeah that was a bad idea, glad I wasn't you," Scott smiled at Virgil with a slight blink.

"Not like the time when you dyed your hair purple and got a Mohawk, mum was not happy," Virgil laughed.

"Hey that was not funny, you've both had bad haircuts what about the time Virgil had a bowl haircut by grandma,"

"Grandma used a scalpel rather than scissors to cut it, she's a doctor not a hairstylist." Virgil quietly watched his dads face giggle before landing TB2.

All 3 of them got out of TB2 and walked towards the barbershop.

Jeff stood there for a moment to take in the ambience he was just about to walk in to. He straightened his head slightly to read the sign.

The sign said welcome to the clipper over comb shop. Then he stared at the open window where lots of people were stood having a gathering.

They all went to the front desk and checked in. They could smell the products that had been used. The shop had a trendy and modern look to it. Jeff was told to sit in the middle and wait for someone to come over, but he joined his 2 sons instead.

"You can sit down sir," the barber nodded towards the seat.

Jeff did what he was told and sat down. The barber attempted to put a cape over to protect Jeff's expensive jumper. However, he held up his hands and prevented it going his neck. He looked at himself in the mirror, then at the man is about to put a razor near his head.

Virgil came strolling over to check on everything and put a hand on his shoulder, "Relax dad," Virgil smiled at his fathers deflated, "The capes just to stop the hair from itching your clothes okay?" Virgil nodded at the barber as he put the cape round Jeff's neck.

"You've has a haircut before right?" The barber said making a joke in a attempt to put Jeff at ease.

"Yes but a very long time ago,"

He raised an eyebrow, "Know wonder why your hair is grey and gritty, no offence sir,"

"None taken,"

The man took one look at one look in the mirror and grinned, "I'm Mike,"

"Jeff,"

"Jeff," Mike repeated "I know that name you went to space and tried to take down the hood,"

"You know the hood?" Jeff questioned.

"He's all over the news, your Jeff Tracy then,"

"Yes I am," Jeff didn't elaborate, not wanting to give too much detail away.

"Okay then Jeff, how would you like your hair cut?"

Jeff seemed confused, "With scissors and a comb?"

Mike was torn to laughing or grinning. For a moment he was thinking he was being made fun of.

"Dad, we talked about this in TB2,"

"Um what Scott means is we call our car TB2," Virgil interjected with anger towards Scott.

"I mean, what style do you want? And how much off?"

Scott and Virgil both looked at their dad wanting to answer for him, but he was still getting used to earth life.

Jeff panicked on what to say, but he leant back and played with the locks of his hair to get a good idea. "Can you get all the grit out of it and just make it shorter but still make it look trendy?"

"I can do that," Mike promised him. He picked up the scissors and comb. "Bend your head forward a little please Jeff." Jeff bent his head forward slowly so Mike had to guide his head to his chin quicker.

Scott saw his dad grip the armrests tightly, as if he was bracing himself for something painful.

"Trust me it won't hurt dad," Scott told him looking at his dads nervous face.

Virgil and Scott both watched Mike comb through theirs dad hair with bits of dandruff falling out of the comb and onto the floor.

"This is like re watching our first haircuts with mum," Scott whispered to Virgil.

"I don't think I've ever seen dad this quiet."

Mikes first impressions were that Jeff's hair hadn't been taken care off, but the comb ran through remarkably smoothly after it got wet down to straighten it. The strands were a mixture of dark and grey with streaks of brown.

He started cutting, taking just a little off the top as Jeff had asked. The first grey cuttings fell onto the black cape and rolled down onto his knees before falling onto the ground. It reminded Jeff of his haircuts done by his mother when he had long brunette hair.

Jeff titled his head slightly to follow the strand of hair "Jeff please," Mike had to quickly retract the scissors to prevent making a mistake.

"Sorry I am not used to this," Jeff apologised.

"What about if you talk to sons?" Mike replied, trying to make him feel comfortable and calm.

Jeff looked up at Mike and gave a sigh of relief.

Virgil and Scott both stood in front of the seat but to the side slightly.

Scott was the first one to start a conversation.

"Have you heard anything from grandma lately?"

"All I know is she's lives in San Diego in an apartment and she wants to visit us soon," Jeff said staying unnaturally still.

Mike continues cutting in silence. Jeff sat in silence. "You can breathe, you know,"

Jeff took a big gulp of air, and Virgil carried on the conversation.

"I miss making fun of grandmas cooking though and all the takeaways we ordered."

Jeff was a difficult customer, not just because he hasn't had his hair cut in years. But because Mike didn't really get a good idea of his job or what he was doing in town. All he knew is that he had 5 sons.

Mike finished cutting and attempted to grab the clippers intending to tidy up Jeff's back neck. Jeff apparently hadn't heard the noise of the clippers for a long time. He sprung up and ran to the front door.

"Dad what's wrong?" Scott asked in an attempt to calm him down.

Jeff sighed, "I have bad memories with a guy with clippers when I was younger, your grandma left me alone with a barber and the guard came off and I ended up with uneven hair and bright red lines all over my head,"

"Why did she leave you?" Scott asked.

"She has forgotten her purse she was gone for hours," Jeff felt a tear run down his face and

Virgil rubbed the tear away "That won't happen today dad, we will make sure of it."

Jeff's 2 oldest sons led him back to the chair and stayed with him until he finished.

"I'm sorry I should have explained it to you beforehand, I was just going to clean up your neck that's all." As an afterthought he added, "It doesn't hurt."

Jeff studied the clippers, and memories came rushing through his head. Before he could say yes, Scott answered for him.

"You can carry on now," Scott said with a smile taking the words out of his dads mouth.

After seeing his dads face, maybe answering for him wasn't a good idea. As Jeff bent his head down for the last time and he sat still once more.

Mike quickly finished, "All done now," he said as he brushed away the hairs from the neck and took his cape off.

Jeff looked up at the Mike, "That was an unpleasant sensation feeling on my neck,"

Mike laughed and agreed with him. He stood up and joined Virgil and Scott where they paid.

Jeff thanked Mike and disappeared out of the door.

"Thanks Mike, I'm apologise behalf of my dad,"

"No problem Scott, I'll see you next week for yours."

——————————————————

The next week Scott went for his appointment with Mike, and Jeff went with him as support.

Jeff seemed comfortable talking a lot more about himself with the help from Scott to Mike and even made a few more friends.

Mike looked at Scott through the mirror, "You know you remind me of your dad, your tall, handsome and doesn't sit still,"

"Thanks, I get that a lot" Scott smiled at his dad as he stood next to him in the seat.

The end, thank you for reading. I really enjoyed writing this one.