Bloomfield Sorority Summer Championship 2022 - Part 1

It was a hot summer morning. The girls were chilling in their dorms. Kate was on her bunk bed reading a comic book, Alli was playing her guitar and Grayson was brushing her hair when suddenly the door banged open!

"Girls did you see this?!" Elle exclaimed! 

She was holding a poster which she obviously tore off the bulletin. The poster read -

Bloomfield Sorority Summer Championship 2022

An exciting 3-day event to test your courage, determination and friendship!

Apply in groups of four

The winner takes home $5000!

"This is literally made for us", Elle continued. "And if we win we could totally go for our vacation in Cancun!"

"Forget the vacation this competition sounds interesting in itself!" Alli said pausing her guitar.

"Are you sure? I heard last year they made the girls eat raw shrimp. That doesn't sound fun to me" Kate added nervously. 

"I am totally up for this. But only for the money" Grayson chimed in. 

And so it was decided that the girl would participate in the summer competition - some enthusiastically, some reluctantly. Bloomfield University was known for its sorority. And it was known for the sorority summer championships where the girls competed in groups of 4. All they had to do was perform the tasks given by the hosts. Failing to do so meant you are eliminated. The competition went on for 3 days until two teams were left where they had to compete against each other.

It was day 3. Elle, Kate, Grayson and Alli's team had survived all three days through extreme courage, grit and determination completing some really gruesome tasks. The last competition was a treasure hunt in which only their team qualified. They thought they had won. But day 3 was not over yet.

The 4 girls were standing in front of the stage with the audience. On the stage was Jake - the host. He held a mic and announced, "Let us all congratulate Elle, Kate, Grayson and Alli's team to become the only team to make it through this year's final. In the 3 days we tested your courage, we tested your determination and we tested your teamwork. Now the only thing that's left is to test your friendship. For the final task, only one of you can participate. If that person complete's the dare, your team wins $5000. But if they chicken out, you lose everything!"

"What is the task?" Elle shouted from the crowd.

"Not so soon honey. You girls get 1 minute to nominate one person from your team. If they complete the dare - you win!"

The team quickly huddled up. They did not know what the task was so they couldn't nominate according to their strengths. After some discussion, Alli volunteered to take one for the team.

Alli marched up the stage. Jake took her hand and invited her to sit on a chair that was set in the centre of the stage. 

"And for your final task..." Jake announced with some theatrics, "My dear friend Alli..."

Everyone's breath stopped in anticipation.

"...is going to shave her head!" Jake finally announced. Everyone's hearts stopped. "Alli you have 30 seconds to choose your decision. Will you go big or will you go home?"

Everyone's heart sank. Alli looked at Kate, Elle and Grayson. They stared back at her. They wasted 25 seconds of their time just staring at each other. 

"Last five seconds. If you don't say anything I'll assume you chickened out Alli!", teased Jake.

"DON'T DO IT!", screamed Grayson!

"Time's almost up", Jake added.

"I'll do it!" confirmed Alli.

The whole crowd fell silent. The team's heart thumped in unison.

"The decision is made! Alli is going to shave her head and take home $5000!" announced Jake.

A volunteer handed Jake a pair of electric clippers. The clippers had no guard. Without batting an eye, Jake flipped the clippers on. Alli's face was expressionless. So were her friends. Jake placed the clippers on Alli's forehead and it straight through the middle. Her soft silky brown hair fell on her lap. The crowd cheered! Jake brought the clippers back and drove them through her hair again. They mowed through the hair leaving a soft brown fuzz behind. Another pass and Alli was completely bald and only had hair on her sides and back. In the same motion, Jake ran the clippers above Alli's left ear. Alli's long brown locks came cascading onto her bare shoulders. Moving around her head with each stroke Jake's clippers were showing no respect for Alli's hair as they ruthlessly shaved through her thick brown hair.

The crowd cheered, clapped and whistled as Jake shaved Alli's hair. Alli was just a few strokes away from being completely bald. After shaving Alli's nape Jake moved to her right. He folder her ear and swept the clippers above them. The clipper ploughed down every strand of hair that it touched.

Lifting up a few leftover strands Jake finished shaving Alli's head leaving behind a soft fuzz of hair barely visible to the naked eye. When Jake was done, Alli stood up shaking all her hair off her body. The hair which was once on her head, like a crown.

To be continued...

Summer time ritual

The sun was beating down as Rhea entered her house with a bag full of groceries. The summer was unbearably hot this year. She tossed her bags and her car keys on the dining table. She poured herself a glass of cold water. Tossing her mop of shaggy curly hair she sat down at the dinner table. She took a gulp of water. Paused for a moment. She picked up her car keys again.

Rhea was driving around town thinking that a haircut at this very moment is the only thing that could save her from this summer heat. Unfortunately, it was the middle of the afternoon and most of the businesses are closed, she pulled up next to her usual salon to find a “Closed” sign on the door. She wasn't taking no for an answer. She went back into the car and revved her engine. She drove to the salon that was the talk of the town. But not good enough as it was closed as well. She kept driving around finding all ladies' salons closed. Every closed sign was adding to her temper. 

Rhea was now driving around aimlessly losing all hope and all irritated by the afternoon heat when se found a broken signboard that said "Al's Salon". She pulled up her car and walked right in. What she hadn't noticed was the broken part of the signboard said "men's".

She walked into the small old barbershop. It once had two barbers as the two sets of chairs, mirrors and counters suggested but only one barber was present. Noticing an unusual customer at an unusual time the old barber folded his newspaper and lowered his glasses. "I think you are lost, child", he said flicking his cigarette in the ashtray but Rhea had already settled in the chair. The old barber walked towards her as she said, "It's a salon and I need a haircut. I am at the right place." 

"I am really sorry this is a men's barbershop, child. I really should fix the signboard." said the old barber.

Rhea was not taking no for an answer today. "I do not know anything. I need to get rid of my hair." 

"Okay child. I have been a barber practically all my life. And I have had the privilege of only a few female clients. But the problem is they all wore men's haircuts. So that's all I can help you with." Pointing at a chart on the wall he said, "Those are the kind of men's haircuts I can give you but I really can't help if you are looking for something else." 

Without even looking at the chart Rhea demanded, "Just shave it off." 

The old barber smirked and left a sigh. He pumped the chair up and flung a striped Cape around Rhea. He grabbed Rhea's scraggly long locks and 

Scrunch! Scrunch!! Scrunch!!!

Within seconds her hair was on the floor. All that was left of her mane barely touched her shoulders now. The barber took a comb and parted her hair in the centre. He picked up a pair of clippers from the and dusted them. Taking the guard off he flipped them on. He placed the clippers on her forehead, right at the centre. He pushed the clippers right through the partition and the clippers' sound got muffled as it buzzed through her thick hair. He lifted the clippers leaving a bald patch right at the centre. He made a few more passes and the top of Rhea's head was reduced to a stubble. He continued passing the clippers on the side and now only the back was left. He pushed Rhea's head down and started buzzing off her back. And soon Rhea's head was completely buzzed with only a brown fuzz left behind. Rhea's lifted her hand out of the Cape and felt her freshly buzzed head. 

The old barber took some shaving foam and started spreading it on her head. Rhea felt a cool soothing menthol sensation on her head. Her trance broke as the barber said, "A head shave costs 20 bucks but I can shave your face as well for a combo of 25 bucks?" Rhea looked at her reflection in the mirror. Sitting cross-legged on a barber's chair in an old barbershop with her head covered with shaving foam. She nodded, "Do it." The barber continued spending the foam from her head to her face. He took a straight-edged razor and cleaned it off with alcohol. He inserted a fresh blade in. With smooth clean strokes, he started shaving off her head. After he was done shaving off her head he proceeded to shave off her face as well. Once that was done he picked up the foam bottle again and lathered her head and face again. This time he shaved her head and face against the grain making her head as smooth as a cue ball. 

When he was done the floor was full of Rhea's long curly locks and her lap was full of hair as well. The barber took some aftershave and applied it to Rhea's face and head. It stung a little. So he picked up a bottle of lotion and applied it to her head and face and her head started shining in the afternoon sun. Rhea felt so light and relieved as the breeze hit her head. She paid off the barber his 25 bucks and stepped out of the barbershop and looked up at the broken sign.

This summer head shave later became a yearly ritual in her life.