Summary: Every moment is a teaching moment for Sherlock!
A/N: I saw this "b" word for the first time yesterday and had to look it up; which, of course, led to this 221B.
Shave and Haircut
"I'll never understand it," said John as he reclined in the barber's chair.
"Understand what?" asked Chris as placed a warmed towel over John's face.
John hummed contentedly and listened as Chris picked up a straight razor and strop. This always happened when John came in for a shave; once the warm towel was in place, it was as if his brain shut down for a moment.
The snick, snick that sounded as the razor was drawn across the leather elicited a visceral response in John; his shoulders rose towards his ears and he broke out in goose flesh. It's not that he was afraid, but it was human nature to be wary of sharp instruments that would soon be held near one's jugular.
Removing the now-cool towel, Chris asked again, "You don't understand what?"
"How someone could indulge themselves in the luxury of a shave with a straight razor, yet not allow the barber to finish the job," said John. "That guy who just left, for example. He's beautifully shaven except for that ridiculous-looking soul patch."
From behind his own warm towel, Sherlock's voice emerged, "Soul patch, John? Kindly use the proper term."
"And that would be …?" asked Chris in curiosity.
"Ha, and you call yourself a barber," responded Sherlock with an audible smirk. "The proper term is barbula."