by J. Dillard
I guess she was right. She even had an employee. But I’d never say that out loud!
“I’ve got a lot of ideas, J.D. Watch out!”
Jordan was also excited about the future.
“I never thought I could win a contest,” he said. “I’m not like you, J.D.! But I won anyway, so what else can I do?”
After talking it over with Naija, Jordan decided to start his own Twitch.
“What’s Twitch?” Naija had asked.
“Don’t worry about it,” Jordan had said, smiling. “But I will need to borrow your camera again. . . .”
* * *
»»««
Our segment was the talk of the town for days. Every time I went out, people had nice stuff to say. The same was happening online in the comments section. One day, when I was having my computer time, I looked through the comments on the video we submitted to WTOK to see what was new.
Most of them were regular compliments.
Those kids have mad skills!
Phew, look at the kid’s cold fade!
But one was different—longer—and caught my eye.
Hi! I’m Holly Williams, the Director of Marketing and Sponsorship for the Beauty Brothers Hair Expo in Atlanta, Georgia. I’m interested in inviting J.D. the Kid Barber to our upcoming convention the first weekend in August! Last minute, yes, but please have a manager email me at [email protected]. We would like to fully sponsor you.
Sponsor, what did that mean? I’d have to ask my mom.
Whatever it meant, a trip to Atlanta would be exciting! I wondered if Granddad would take me on a trip that far. I liked traveling to Jackson for the interview. Would my WTOK prize be enough to pay for a trip?
I’d never been to a hair expo. I’d heard Henry Jr. talk about one once. He’d told me that it was where people came together and taught each other new techniques, traded tips, and learned about new products and styles. I wanted to learn more, and maybe Holly Williams thought I could teach something, too.
The thing Atlanta made me think about most, though, was my dad. He lived in Atlanta. If I went to Atlanta for the hair expo, maybe I could visit him. If we drove, Atlanta was only four or five hours away. I knew that because we always passed by on our way to North Carolina to visit my uncle and cousins in Chapel Hill. Or maybe I’d take my very first plane ride!
I looked over to the sofa, where my mom was reading a book.
“Mom, can you come look at this, please?” I said.
“What is it, J.D.?” she asked.
“Do you think this is real?” I pointed to Holly’s comment on the screen so Mom knew which one to read. “Can you email them to find out more?”
“I’ve certainly heard of Beauty Brothers,” she said. “I can email them from work tomorrow.”
Before I logged off the computer, I went on the Beauty Brothers website.
What I saw amazed me. There were videos of people getting the wildest hairstyles I’d ever seen! Different colors and designs I could have never dreamed of! There was a whole page describing the hair show. It was international, which meant the best barbers in the world would be there! And they wanted me to join!
Then came the most exciting part. There would be a featured act at the hair show, kid rapper Li’l Eazy Breezy!
“Mom! Li’l Eazy Breezy is performing at the hair show!” I yelled out.
Vanessa dropped the hair magazine she was reading in the kitchen and ran over to the computer. “Where?!”
I showed her Holly’s comment and the Beauty Brothers website. Vanessa started jumping up and down, and then I did, too.
“Who is Li’l Eazy Breezy?” Mom asked.
“He’s the best kid rapper out,” I said.
“Yeah, Mom, everybody knows his song, ‘The TikTok Slide’!”
I pulled up the video for ‘The TikTok Slide.’ It had over 200 million views.
“Mom, can you PLEASE email back?” I asked.
“Tomorrow when I’m at work, J.D.,” she said. “Have some patience.”
* * *
»»««
By the time Mom got home from work, it felt like I’d waited eight years. She read me the email she got from Beauty Brothers.
Greetings, Ms. Jones,
I am Holly Williams, Director of Marketing and Sponsorship for the Beauty Brothers Hair Expo. We are the largest beauty hair trade show in the Southeast region. Every year, thousands of haircare professionals across the globe flock to Atlanta, Georgia, to network, purchase exclusive beauty products, and gain continuous education within the haircare profession. This year, our theme is “The Digital GLAM Experience.”
After watching your son’s YouTube video, we are pleased to extend an offer to J.D. for sponsorship to this year’s show in Atlanta. Sponsorship includes hotel and travel accommodations for your son and one adult chaperone. Both will receive complimentary meals, VIP access for the whole weekend, and an exclusive meet-and-greet with this year’s featured act, internet sensation Li’l Eazy Breezy.
J.D. will be included in this year’s Social Media Sensation category for the beauty industry. He will be invited to give a live demo onstage.
It’s a great opportunity. We hope to see him there! Looking forward to hearing from you within a week if you’d like to attend.
All the best,
Holly Williams
Director of Marketing and Sponsorship, Beauty Brothers
P.S. Next year, our theme is “Natural Is Where It’s At: The Best in Locs and Natural Haircare.” We’ll keep Vanessa in mind.
* * *
»»««
“Mom, you have to let J.D. go,” Vanessa said. My sister had come through! All that time we spent together this summer had made a difference.
“Then me next year,” she added, smirking after.
Mom read the email again in her head. “You know we make decisions as a family,” she said.
It’s true. All three grown-ups had to agree to something or it wasn’t gonna happen.
“I’ll discuss this with your grandparents.”
I thought about how old I’d have to be to make my own decisions one day. Sometimes being eight was not so great.
* * *
»»««
Later that evening, I joined Grandma out on the porch. I didn’t know if Mom had talked to her yet. It was warm out, and Grandma was watching Justin play with his toys before he had to take a bath.
“Grandma, have you ever been to Atlanta?” I asked.
“Yes, baby, once for a ceramics convention,” she said.
“What did you think of it?”
“Well, it’s definitely busy,” she said. “A lot busier than Meridian. Almost TOO busy.”
She laughed to herself and patted my back. “Why do you ask?”
“I think it’s a place I would like to live when I get older,” I said.
Grandma’s eyebrows went up and she leaned back, like she hadn’t expected my answer.
“Why’s that?” she asked.
There were a lot of thoughts circling in my mind, but I told her that Atlanta sounded like the biggest place for hair. If I was going to be a professional barber one day, I probably needed to live in a bigger city. And if I want to get better, I had to be around different barbers, not just Henry Jr.
“I understand,” Grandma said. “I spent some time teaching ceramics out of state. I learned a lot that way.”
“How did you get so good at it, Grandma?”
“Practice, and trial and error,” she said. “You have to learn how to take something you think is good and improve upon it.”
That’s what I’d been trying to do this whole time.
“J.D., I think you’re already on that journey.” Grandma rubbed my cheek. I loved when she did that. “Over t
he past several months, I have seen you take your haircutting business very seriously. You work well with others, too, and that’s important. It’s not easy working with family!”
Grandma and I looked at each other and laughed.
“Now, your mother told your grandfather and me about your latest opportunity. We talked through the details thoroughly. I’m not supposed to tell you yet, but do you think you can act surprised when you get the official word?”
Did that mean I was going?! I nodded so fast at Grandma that everything got blurry for a second.
I gave Grandma a big hug. We sat on the porch for a few more moments while Justin used his Spider-Man action figure to dig up dirt.
I don’t know what Grandma was thinking about, but I thought about all the things that could happen on my next adventure.
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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