Barbershop Tales

Barbershop

We go to a barbershop to have our hair cut and to give us new and fresh look.

A typical barbershop is just few square meters
that accommodates males at a time
depending on the number of barbers
who are also males
and rarely cater to females.
A cut normally  lasts 15 to 20 minutes
with a little head and shoulder massage
as relaxing finale for the service.

Here in the Philippines,
males of all ages converge in the barbershops
every time they want new haircut
or have their beard or mustache shaved or trimmed.
Young and old share the scene
where stories, anecdotes and even gossips
are told, discussed or argued about
especially while waiting for their turn.
Current events are not spared,
and opinions about all those things
are flooding every minute.
Every time something is talked about,
one can observe how everyone else
expresses themselves in the discussions
and one easily knows who among them
is wise and not.
Those who are wise don't talk too much
but their few words
can make a thousand winning arguments
while those who are dumb talk so much
that it's hard to interrupt
and their words just contain little meat.

Few minutes in the shop
will make one wiser or dumber
depending on the customers
who are involved in the discourse.
There's no dull scene in the shop
for most of the time
because when customers are done and left,
new ones come in to take their place
and the same thing happens all over again.
There could be loud mouths heard
with some harsh, insulting words
when they're too involved
in the course of the discussion or debate.
But in the end,
this scene in the barbershop
promotes a friendly atmosphere
where every discussion, argument or debate
ends with jokes and laughter
besides being provided with good service.
And the barbers themselves
become not only better in the service
but also better in discourse and debate.