Allen's POV
"Allen! Would you come here please?" My mother called after me. I didn't hesitate to stop studying and get to her. I'm an obedient child, it's one of my best qualities. Not that I have any bad qualities, naturally. I walked up the stairs, when my sister came barrelling down them. Her hair looked worse than ever. I was disgusted.
"Catherine, dear sister, learn how to take care of your hair for goodness sake. It looks like a mop!" I scolded, running my fingers vigorously through her hair. Catherine looked a bit ashamed, and immediately I regretted yelling at her. It wasn't her fault she didn't know how to take care of her, if anything it was mine. If I wanted her to look nice, then I would have to teach her how. I am a superb stylist, after all. Oh, I almost forgot about mom, I don't want to keep her waiting. I got to her room, and saw the problem immediately. Her hair looked 10 times worse than Catherine's. I gasped.
"Oh, mom! Mother! What could you have possible have done to get your hair like this? Did you get run over by a bus? Did a squirrel land in your hair? Oh, mother of- Mom, what happened?"
Mother looked horrified by my reaction.
"Is it really that bad? Oh dear….The only thing I did was wake up."
I didn't even talk. I only picked up her hand and led her to my make-shift salon. I pulled her down to the make-shift salon chair I had in front of the bathroom sink.
"Mom, not just any stylist can fix your hair. Only I, the best stylist in all of Brighthaven, the one and only Allen, can fix it!" I said dramatically as I ran a comb through her hair. Mom just laughed it off, as if I was joking. I wasn't. A lot of people say I'm arrogant or cocky, but in reality I'm just speaking the truth. I truly am the best stylist in all of Brighthaven. I lathered her hair with shampoo, the best shampoo if I might add. Made from 100% organic materials. It cost me a fortune, but it was worth it. Anyway, after rinsing her hair, I put in the 100% natural conditioner. I broke a few laws to get that one. Next, I blow dried her hair, and put a few chemicals in it. Finally, I styled in a way that only I could. It was magnificent.
"Oh honey...you did a great job!" Mom exclaimed
"I know." I replied in satisfaction. I had a bit of arrogance inside of me, but I could back it up. Then I wasn't really arrogant, was I? A phone call interrupted me from admiring my work. I looked at the caller ID, noticing it was a bit familiar. It read Dunhill, Echo Village. Dunhil was the mayor of the town I used to live in called Echo Village. I ran a salon there. But after a while, the town became deserted and I couldn't make ends meet. I eventually moved back to Bright Haven with my mom and my sister, styling hair as a hobby. I'm currently back in college, majoring in chemistry instead of cosmicology. I hate it, but at least it'll bring me money. Styling hair won't. Anyway, I picked up the phone.
"Allen, is that you?" A scratchy voice said behind the receiver. Wow, is that Dunhill? He sounds...older than the last time I saw him. He was 60 when I saw him in Echo village, so he's 62 now. I guess he's aging badly.
"Yeah, Dunhill it's me." I replied patiently. I learned a while ago to always be patient with elderly citizens.
"How did you know it was me?!"
"It's a little something called caller ID."
"Oh. Geez, all the new flashies and gizmos they add on phones these days."
I sighed.
"Dunhill, what did you call me for?"
"I wanted to ask you something. You see, a farmer just moved to Echo Village." Well, that was surprising. Echo Village was about as exciting as a rainy day at a theme park. No one had moved there in years. "She is amazing, she convinced 9 people to come join the town. 10 if you include Rod coming back. Anyway, I know you moved away because of money problems, but considering the sudden population growth…"
"You want me open my salon back in town again" I finished for him
"Yes! Don't worry about rent, the farmer has built a house for you. So, what do you say?"
"To that, I say no. Sorry Dunhill, but just because the town has made a small, small increase in population doesn't mean that it is suddenly a hub for making money. I can't survive on a hair stylist salary. I do want to come back, I mean I miss the town. I still talk to Rod everyday. But, I can't. The world is just cruel like that." I said, sullenly. Suddenly, something very unexpected happened. Dunhill gave an annoyed sigh over the phone.
"Allen, I tried doing the nice elderly citizen act. I thought it would work on you, given how soft you are. But now, I have to resort to my plan B. I really don't want to resort to this, but…" Dunhill said in a surprisingly young, deep voice. "I have your...lists. I know what-"
"Okay, okay! I'll move back! Just don't show anyone." I interrupted in a hushed whisper. No one could see my lists. No one.
"That's what I want to hear. Now, I'll expect you by Tuesday. If you aren't there by then, I am showing the town your...lists." Dunhill hung up the phone. I was furious. Dunhill had seemed so...nice. Like a sweet mayor. Little that I knew he was a sociopathic blackmailer. Then again, who would have guessed?
…
Tuesday came around sooner rather than later, and I said goodbye to Catherine and my mom. Catherine acted like she didn't care, but I could see the tears in her eyes. She missed me the most when I left for Echo Village 7 years ago. My mom wasn't quite as sad as I thought she was. In fact, she seemed happy. I guess she wanted me to be a hair stylist too. I am pretty good at it if I don't say so myself. When I arrived at the town, Dunhill greeted me.
"Well, I'm glad you're on time. Here, I'll let you tour the new salon. It's quite different than the old one." He said, slyly. I gritted my teeth in reply. It's not like I got a choice. The salon was pretty nice. Two chairs in front of sinks, a whole shelf of top-of-the-line products, and it was decorated to my taste.
I have pretty good taste.
"This salon is pretty nice, naturally. I mean, you were expecting the best stylist Echo Village has ever seen." I said. Dunhill narrowed his eyes. It seemed as if he liked me about as much as I liked him.
"Let's go introduce you to the farmer I told you about on the phone."
We walked the long walk to the farm. When we arrived, I gasped. I mean, I'm no farmer, but I know for a fact that this isn't what a farm was supposed to look like. Weeds were all over the ground. The crops were planted in a gravel field, and there were only about 4 of them. No cows or sheep were grazing, and the barn looked abandoned. Overall, it sucked. A lot. When we walked into the house, I was a bit dumbstruck. A girl, probably about my age, was sleeping. That's right, sleeping. The last farmer we had here got up at 6 every day! It's 10 now! What was Dunhill talking about, I don't think this farmer is amazing at all. Well, maybe amazingly lazy! Dunhill's face morphed into the old, sweet mayor's face that I remember.
"Kathryn? I have someone you need to meet!" He said kindly. Kathryn was her name, same as my sister's.
It is a pretty sweet name.
After all, I picked it.
Anyway, the girl's cobalt eyes finally opened up, and she was looking right at me.
"Who the hell is he, Dunhill?" She asked rudely. What did I do to make her curse at me right when we first met? I answered for Dunhill.
"I'm Allen, a top stylist. Who the hell are you?" The girl narrowed her eyes. Good. Now she would realise what happens when you make an enemy out of me.
"The name's Kathryn. Now get the hell out of my fucking house."
"Yeah, your right. I think'll go. By the way, you like you're having a bad hair day. Come by my shop sometime, will ya? It's the fourth house on main street."
"Can you get anymore egotistical?"
"Hell, yeah! This isn't even my worst."
"Get the fuck out of my house."
I slammed the door on it's hinges, feeling like I made a victory. Who knew making someone mad would feel good? Back on my way to the salon, I ran into a familiar face.
"Hey, Neil! Did you hear, I'm back in town!" I said, throwing my arm around his shoulder. I don't know whether to call Neil my friend or not. He's fun to annoy, but I'm pretty sure he hates me.
"Yes, yes I did unfortunately." He grumbled.
"Have you met the new farmer yet?"
"Actually, I have. On monday's through friday's from 11-12, I'm helping her learn how to be a farmer. As you saw, she isn't the best farmer." Neil said.
"Thats gotta be a heavy workload, considering her farming skills. Do you want me to help? I'll do Tuesdays and Thursdays." I said. I don't know exactly why I said that. I already know I can't stand Kathryn, but that hopeless farm bothers me even more.
"Well, sure."
Then, we shook on it. It took me 3 full seconds to remember that today was today. And 5 full seconds to kick myself.
