by J. Dillard
“Did you have a good time?” Tabitha asked as we got to the hotel lobby.
“The BEST time, Ms. Tabitha,” I said.
“Was it everything you expected, J.D.?”
“Yes, MORE than I expected. I can’t wait to tell my friends and family back home about what I did,” I said.
“That’s good to hear.” Tabitha explained that she’d let us know when the official photographs from the hair show became available. Then she shook our hands and waved goodbye.
On my way to the taxi and car line, I saw Isabel Is Incredible. She came up to me while her dad put their luggage into a rideshare.
“It was nice to meet you, J.D. the Kid Barber,” she said. I was surprised that she was talking to me. She didn’t seem too interested during the demo.
“Thanks,” I said. “I thought I needed an appointment with your assistant to talk to you!”
Isabel looked down at her sneakers. She was wearing regular jeans and a hoodie this time.
“Yeah, sorry about that. My team likes to keep me focused on demo days. They know I get anxious when I’m about to perform, and they’re just looking out for me. Don’t take it personally.”
Isabel seemed confident at the demo. I guess it’s true that confident people can get nervous, too. I had misunderstood Isabel and the whole situation.
Her dad called her to the car, and Isabel turned to leave. But before she did, she said, “I’ll look for you on Instagram! See you at the next show!”
I had made some new friends after all!
When Gus pulled up in his limo, my dad helped us get our bags into the trunk.
I reached up and hugged him. I wasn’t sure when we’d see each other in person again, and that made my stomach feel queasy.
“I love you, Dad!” I said.
“I love you, too, son! Call me to let me know you made it home safe. You know, the more your business grows, the more you’re going to need a phone. Maybe I’ll get you a cell phone for your birthday,” he said.
I looked up at Mom. She rolled her eyes and shook her head in a way that was more joking than serious. “Bye, Big James. You made his weekend.”
Mom said hi to Gus and slid into the limo. I was right behind her.
* * *
• • •
Flying back to Jackson was a little easier this time, but my ears still bothered me.
Granddad had planned to pick us up at the airport. I was excited to see everyone again. There was so much I had to tell them. I was basically a different person. Luckily, Granddad had brought everyone in the station wagon straight from church.
“Well, Veronica, how was it?” my grandmother asked, sitting in the front seat, wearing a polka-dot church hat.
“You wouldn’t believe it, Mom, so I wonder if I should even tell you,” my mom joked.
“Yeah, Grandma, it was like a movie! I met Li’l Eazy Breezy, cut his hair, and now I’m a celebrity barber. His uncle, Hot Sauce, arranged everything.”
“Wait, what?” she asked. “What is a Li’l Eazy Breezy and a Hot Sauce? These are people?”
Everyone in the car laughed. I had only been away from Meridian for a few days, but it almost felt like years and years!
* * *
• • •
Monday started the last week of summer break.
After Vanessa and I finished our algebra lesson, which was part of the unofficial summer school my grandparents organized for us, I went to the computer. We weren’t allowed to log on unless we had permission, and I managed to get thirty minutes from my granddad because he was busy watching the news. I had been checking Li’l Eazy Breezy’s social media to see if he posted anything about his haircut or the hair show.
“Vanessa, guess what?! Li’l Eazy Breezy posted a new video!” I yelled.
I clicked on the video as Vanessa walked over. It was a vlog.
Hey, Breezers! I hope everybody had a great weekend. I know school is about to start for a lot of you, so to pump you up, I have a new anthem called “360 Waves” to get you through the school year. I’m dropping the video, featuring a haircut I got the day before by my man, J.D. the Kid Barber! Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button so you’ll be the first to see the new content I’m dropping this month. Peace out!
I couldn’t wait to talk about this with Jordan and Jessyka.
“So are you and Li’l Eazy Breezy friends now?” Vanessa asked.
“I think so,” I replied.
“Good. Let’s see if we got any new hits on our YouTube channel since he mentioned your name.”
I could always count on Vanessa to set our next goal.
That got me thinking that I wanted to make a new goal for myself. I had already won a barber battle, done a local TV interview, done a hair demo at a national hair show, and I’d even cut a celebrity’s hair!
I knew a lot more about hair than I had a year ago, and that made me think about Londen Brown. Everyone in his class was excited to learn new tips and tricks from him, and Londen seemed to enjoy helping people learn more skills. He got to help students improve and make his clients feel great.
Meridian’s hair supply stores and Hart and Son didn’t have all the cool products and tools that I saw at the hair show. I bet people in Meridian would like Smooth Cuts clippers and organic hair pencils, too.
There had to be a way to make use of everything I’d learned and all the new people I’d met in Atlanta right here in Meridian.
I went to my room to start sketching out ideas. Maybe I’d become a teacher like Londen Brown.
J.D. the Kid Barber Professor had a nice sound to it.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my personal assistant, Brandon, who helps me daily with his hard work and winning attitude. And to James, who went from being one of my first clients in college to becoming a mentor and father figure in my life.
About the Author
J. Dillard (known as the "Barberpreneur") is a former managing partner for ConAllegiance, a consulting firm based out of Atlanta, Georgia. He is a master barber, a certified consultant, and an industry leader who started cutting his own hair at the age of ten. After many trials and tribulations, he began cutting hair professionally in 1999 and became a shop owner while attending college at Tuskegee University in Alabama. He travels the country with his clients as a personal barber and calls Atlanta home. This is his first book series for children.
Akeem S. Roberts is an illustrator based in Brooklyn. He works as an in-house animator for Holler Studios and contributes cartoons regularly to The New Yorker. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. When Akeem is not working, he likes to eat food (who doesn't?), drink coffee, and make comics about his day-to-day life on Instagram.
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