Les was practically in the chair before Jack was out of it, and talked non-stop as Siobhan went to work. It was his greatest disappointment that no matter how he squirmed, he couldn't watch his own hair being cut. He smiled toothily as Siobhan's fingers shook out the trimmings from his curls, now tight to his head.

"What do you say?" David prompted as his brother leapt out of the chair, hands already playing with his new cut.

"Thank you, Siobhan!" Les grabbed her apron and gave her a light hug, earning a little smile.

"If your mother don't like it, just remember that David did it, not me."

"I don't like the sound of that," said David warily.

Crutchie cocked his head. "Hey, there's still a bit of light left. You should give David a trim, too, Siobhan."

The boy in question was quick to decline. "Thanks, Crutch, but I think not."

"Aw, c'mon, Davey," Jack piped up in his antagonistic voice, a tone all too familiar to David's ears. "Don't go and spoil the fun. 'Sides, who's gonna wanna buy a pape from a shaggy looking fella like you when they could get one from these handsome specimens?" He waved to himself and the other boys.

Siobhan's bare feet brushed uncertainly across the metal grating. "Come on, boys. If he doesn't want it cut, I won't touch it."

But David was already moving to seat himself as she finished speaking, pulling off his newscap and setting it in his lap. "No, no, Jack'll never leave me alone aboudit if I don't." He rolled his neck in preparation, a small smile on his lips in spite of himself. "Well, do your worst."

"Say no more." Siobhan gave the scissors a couple snips for effect.

David felt his fists tighten around the slender arms of the chair as Siobhan ran her hand through his curls, fingers gliding across the full surface of his scalp. She paused to reached down and around to the front of his neck, and he tensed just slightly as she unbuttoned his collar. He felt silly; he should've followed Jack's example and remembered to do it himself.

The only person who'd ever cut his hair was his father. Since David had been small, he and his father would pick a day every few months to go sit outside together. Mr. Jacobs would use his wife's thread scissors to pare down his son's unruly curls, working the dull blades patiently through each lock until David's hair sat flat and neat again. Since his father's injury, David realized, the regular haircut had fallen by the wayside.

He was jolted from his thoughts as both of Siobhan's hands dipped into his hair, tousling it rapidly. He did his best to stifle a flinch of surprise, and reminded himself that she'd done it for the other boys to shake the little bits of cut hair from their heads. Her hands slowed a bit, fingertips gently rubbing all over his scalp, creating drawn-out ruffles in his hair. It felt heavenly, and David's shoulders melted back against the chair as if without his permission.

Siobhan was shooting back and forth with Jack and Crutchie about their favorite foods, of all things, the three laughing and teasing each other. Her hands ran distractedly through David's hair, oblivious to his closed eyes, slackened neck, and serene expression. Jack dropped off in the middle of his sentence, giving her a cheeky look as her hands continued to move.

Realizing the loose hairs were long gone, Siobhan stopped, her hands dropping from David's hairline to his shoulders. She brushed clumps of trimmed hair from the top of his shirt. David, eyes still closed, tilted his head as Siobhan drew her hand away, his cheek just barely brushing against her wrist. His eyes shot open at the sound of Jack choking on a snicker, and he remembered himself with a start.

His legs felt completely numb, and he stumbled clumsily out of the chair. Siobhan had dropped the scissors back into her apron and was brushing off her clothes, unfazed. Good. Great. Nobody but Jack had noticed him dozing off. He turned to look back at his friends, and unfortunately stood corrected; Crutchie was holding in laughter with a hand to his mouth.

"Les, can you help me with this chair?" He heard Siobhan ask.

The youngest boy leapt up from where he was cross-legged on the fire escape, one hand still playing with his hair. Siobhan folded up the old newspapers and tucked them under her arm, and the two began climbing down a level, Les talking a mile a minute. David was placing his newscap back over his head when he felt a playful jab at his ribs. He spun to find his best friends wearing cheshire grins.

"Did you see his face after she took her hands away?" Jack poked at Crutchie for emphasis. "He looked like a washed up fish gasping for air." The boy made an obnoxious fishface, earning him a kick in the shoe.

"Stop bein' dramatic, I was just," David stumbled. "lost in thought."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Dave. Ya practically kissed the inside of her wrist." He clasped his hands together behind his head, smiling at his friend's scowl.

Crutchie shrugged his shoulders with a lopsided grin. "Aw, don't look so bent outta shape, Mr. Jacobs. Ain't no shame in likin' somebody."

David's face hardened. "I don't," he stated firmly. "Not everyone has time for all the skirt-chasin' you two do, y'know, and not to mention the other boys. Besides, what's it to you whether I like somebody?"

"Aw, Davey." Jack staggered, a hand to his chest. "I just don't wantcha to die alone." He face went more sincere as he noticed David's lack of amusement.

"Look, Dave, Siobhan's a sweet girl. All I'm saying is, it's fine if you wanna, I dunno, hold her hand, or somethin'."

"And, while I appreciate the affirmation, to that I say 'no, thank you'," David replied with a tone of finality as Les and Siobhan resurfaced onto the fire escape.

"'Bout time you boys headed home, doncha think?" Siobhan cocked her head playfully.

Jack stepped toward her, rolling his eyes. "Don't need a mother tellin' us when to go to bed, Ireland." They smiled in unison, and he let her pull him into a hug.

"Thanks for today, Siobhan." He rested his chin on her shoulder. "We needed it."

She tapped her knuckles on his back affectionately, then released him. "Well, I'm goin' to bed whether you all follow suit or not, so keep it down out here."

The last goodbyes were called all while she walked down to the Mackeys' tenement and until she climbed through the window one last time. Crutchie mentioned something about sleeping at the boarding house. David took his brother by the elbow to ensure his following and bid their friends farewell, beginning the long decline to the sidewalk. Les was still running a hand through his hair in a seemingly endless loop, marveling at how foreign it seemed. David touched a couple fingers to his own head thoughtfully. He hadn't yet paused to recognize how different and refreshing the new cut felt.

"Hi, Katherine."

He glanced up upon hearing Les' greeting, smiling compulsively at the red-haired girl waiting to pass them on the metal stairs.

"Evening, ma'am." He lifted his newscap.

Katherine smiled sweetly. "Hello, boys. Nice haircuts," she added.

Both of the brothers beamed at the mentioning.

"Thought I might find you up here."

Jack turned over his left shoulder at the familiar voice, a grin spreading across his face as Katherine moved to stand beside him. Their stomachs leaned against the railing, the two stood in silence for a moment. Jack side-eyed his companion, admiring the way the last few beams of sunlight mingled with thick auburn hair. Katherine inhaled deeply, letting her elbows fall forward onto the metal rail.

"Careful." Jack nudged her arm playfully. "Cigarettes and smog and piss ain't very good for ya lungs."

The girl rolled her eyes. "Very funny."

"I'm serious!" Jack pushed away from the edge, arms spread in theatrical earnest. "Where d'you think we are, the Wild West? Appalachia? This ain't exactly mountain air, you know."

"Stop," she groaned in faked annoyance, shoving at his shoulder with a giggle. He gave a conceding shrug and slid his arms around her middle, returning his eyes to the sunset; or rather, what could be seen of it behind the tenements and corporate buildings. Jack let his chin fall into the little dip between Katherine's neck and shoulder, and she reached over her shoulder to prod his cheekbone.

"You shaved."

Jack scoffed at her tone. "Well, don't sound so surprised." He added, after a moment's pause, "Haircut, too."

Katherine's hand moved from his face to his head, sliding briefly through his hair.

"Very nice." Jack struggled not to blush at the simple compliment. "One of the boys fix it up for you?"

"Siobhan."

Katherine sighed, and Jack's first reaction was concern, but this was alleviated as he noticed the upturned corner of her mouth. "She's sweet."

"She is."

He closed his eyes, feeling the low sun on his eyelids and Katherine's neck on his cheek.

He loved summer.