The three of them stood outside their barbershop on Campbellton Road, as drunk as pirates, mourning their friend who just died. The property manager would be coming by shortly to pick up the keys. Tomorrow they would each need to find work.<\/p>\n
\u201cDied like a man,\u201d Gator said, as he told them. \u201cOn his feet. Came in here Monday. Like I normally do. And saw him drop dead.\u201d He poured a bit of his drink on the ground, watering the sidewalk they stood on, and passed the red cup to Parker who gulped it.<\/p>\n
They assembled into a funeral procession led by Gator, first in line, who belted out \u201cDied like a man,\u201d then slapped the top of the door, spilling a bit of his drink on his otherwise pristine black apron, and they entered the shop for the last time.<\/p>\n
All their booths were packed up, except for the one in the front by the entrance. None of them dared touch it. A framed picture of Wayne, whose name had been on the lease, sat on the counter. The mirror was cluttered with messages written to him in black and blue marker.<\/p>\n
\u201cSay Gator?\u00a0If he was standing up, how you know he was dead?\u201d Akeem had heard the story, but even momentary silence got to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust knew.\u201d Gator poured the last of the tiny bottle into the plastic cup. He tried to toss the bottle into the garbage, but it hit the edge instead. \u201cAnd because nigga, I spoke to him and he ain\u2019t speak back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, even in the morning, Wayne was chipper than a motherfucker,\u201d said Parker. \u201cIf he ain\u2019t speak back, you know something got to be wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
They all nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was digging in the drawer looking for my blades, and saw him swaying. \u00a0Then he just went down. Like watching a skyscraper collapse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wayne had been their friend, mentor, and teacher. Been cutting hair longer than they had been alive. This was the only shop any of them had ever worked in.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe always said he wanted to die cutting hair,\u201d said Akeem, who looked down at the floor by Wayne\u2019s booth.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike he was outrunning death to his last.\u201d said Gator. \u201cAnd I tell you what else. His nine o\u2019clock came in right after.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one with all the blonde hair and shit?\u201d asked Parker.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s him. That’s the one. \u00a0Say Park, what time that whiteboy coming by? From downtown?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShould be here,\u201d he looked at his gold watch, \u201c any minute now. I\u2019m going to hand him the keys then.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think he liked him?\u201d said Gator.\u00a0 He pulled a box out of the closet. \u201cYou know liked him liked him.\u201d He took the box over to Wayne\u2019s booth, but stopped abruptly, as if he\u2019d reached the edge of a cliff.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiked who?\u201d asked Parker.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe nigga with the blonde hair. His client. You think Wayne liked him?\u201d<\/p>\n
He reached for Wayne\u2019s clippers, then stopped. His hands trembled. Then he reached for Wayne\u2019s combs, but his hand failed him again. So he just sat the box on the ground, and picked lint off his apron.<\/p>\n
\u201cMan not even cold in the ground yet,\u201d said Parker. \u201cAnd you speculating on his sexuality like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gator looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI ain\u2019t got no problems with it. Just wish he could\u2019ve talked to me. Where did you say those keys were? To give the man,\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got the keys. What you worrying about it for? \u00a0Just like you worrying about Wayne\u2019s sexuality. On God, you the most worrying somebody I ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can worry about whatever the hell I want to worry about,\u201d said Gator.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou trying to be Wayne now? You trying to be in charge? Questioning me about some keys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Parker walked over to Gator, as if he were about to swing on him, but picked the box up off the ground instead.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen that motherfucker come about the keys, I don\u2019t want him thinking we not professional. Wayne always ran this shop professionally,\u201d Gator said. \u00a0\u201dYou know that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat difference it make what he thinks? Come tomorrow, we won\u2019t work here anymore anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho you talking to?\u201d Gator moved closer. Both their bodies pushed up against the box between them.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe kissed me once,\u201d Akeem broke the silence. Gator and Parker jumped.<\/p>\n
\u201cRun that by me again little man?\u201d Parker said, not taking his eyes off Gator.<\/p>\n
\u201cKissed me on the lips,\u201d said Akeem. He walked toward Wayne\u2019s booth and sat in the chair. \u00a0\u201cHere in the shop. It was Christmas Eve and we were both here late drinking. Me and my girl ain\u2019t been getting along. And I don\u2019t know, me drinking and the weight of it all, I just started bawling. And he was listening to me. Then he just reached over and kissed me on the lips.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what you do?\u201d asked Gator.<\/p>\n
\u201cI stopped crying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you gay now too?\u201d Parker asked and put the box down.<\/p>\n
Akeem just looked over at him like he didn\u2019t understand his question, then swiveled around in the chair. He picked the box up off the floor and placed it in his lap. And with one hand holding the box steady, he picked up Wayne\u2019s clippers and placed them in the box. Parker got Windex and paper towels from the closet, and wiped the mirror until they could each see their reflections staring back at them. Gator held the box while the three of them finished packing.\u00a0 When the property manager finally came, he didn\u2019t say \u201chello,\u201d as much as he just held his hand out for the keys. Akeem grabbed them from Park\u2019s desk and gave them to him. Then they left the shop, Akeem in front, for the final time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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