Random reminder

Press, 3 December 1987, Page 44

Random reminder

NONE BUT THE BRAVE

In some rural areas there are still the old-fashioned barbers, where males dominate the clientele and yesterday’s the style. Here the wielder of the scissors needs a knowledge of a vast range of topics to keep up his customers, lesser emphasis on punk music and micro-computers perhaps than would be expected in the glossier chrome-and-glass hair studios of the big cities. In North Canterbury a patient barber was cutting the blond curls off a very small boy whose previous trip to the barber, his first ever, had been most unhappy for all concerned. This, his second such visit, was highly successful due not only to the sympathetic manner of the barber but also to the cunning of the mother. Throughout the operations, whenever the little one’s expression indicated tears were imminent, she would wave a pink lolly-pop in front of his moist eyes. No doubt the terms of the A

been instilled into the youngster both at home and on the way to the barber’s. "If you’re a good boy and let the nice man trim your hair without crying you can have a lovely big lolly-pop.’’ They made a beautiful picture, truly Norman Rockwellian, proud dad watching mother calming the fears of timid tho c »v i,e l he . barber tende rly trimmed the silken locks. However, there was a touch of sadness when the little mite was lifted from hair_fleck ed floor and presented with reward. Mother had to refuse first bite of, the prof feted sweet as she had a dental appointment only minutes away. AU of which led an, elderly watcher awaiting his turn to be shorn to wonder if dad was to stand by the dentist’s chair to calm poor mother. And as incentive for her to be a brave girl and let the dentist get on with his job, just what womd dad wave before her frightened His cheque