Read Online Fire in the Blood by George McCartney - Free Book Online

quiff, who was sweeping the floor in the cutting area, shouted out a greeting, ‘Hi Annie, I didn’t know you had an appointment booked. Or are you just taking your granddad for a nice day out somewhere?’
Jack growled and began clenching his fists. ‘Relax will you,’ said Annie. ‘That’s Simon, he’s a terrible tease. Just ignore him.’
Annie established that there was a free slot available with Justin and then waited, reading a magazine and chatting to the receptionist. When Jack re-emerged forty minutes later, rubbing his newly shorn scalp, she smiled and asked, ‘Hey look at you. How did you get on?’
‘I didn’t realise it was so complicated trying to get a haircut,’ said Jack. ‘First of all, when I sat down, he combed all of my hair forward right over my eyes, then started pulling it around in all directions. Then he sucked his thumb and screwed his face up, before saying that there wasn’t a great deal he could do, if I was hoping for a David Beckham. So I told him that I just wanted it nice and short all over, and then he recommended that I should have a number two. I didn’t know what he was on about, so I laughed and said, “Yeah I will, but cut my hair first”. He gave me a really funny look.’
‘No wonder,’ said Annie, rolling her eyes. ‘But now that it’s all done, the shave and the hair … admit it, I bet you feel different. Am I right?’
‘Yes, since you ask, I do feel different. Mainly because my wallet’s thirty-five quid lighter than when I went in. I could get four haircuts at my usual place for that. And he was looking for a tip.’
‘Oh come on, you cheapskate, don’t tell me you didn’t give him one?’
‘Of course, I gave him a tip. I told him that his outfit … the red Hawaiian shirt, with the blue pedal pusher slacks and matching ballet pumps, was just so last season.’
‘Look, stop whining will you? It’s done now and you actually look years younger.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah, you only look about sixty-five now,’ said Annie with a smirk.
‘Cheers Annie, remind me to look out your P45 when we get back to the office. But I must admit, the hot shave was really good. I actually fell asleep after ten minutes buried under the hot towels and then, when that little prick Simon suddenly whipped out an open razor, I thought just for a minute that I was a rookie cop again, back on the beat in the Calton. I was almost reaching for my old police baton.’
‘Anyway now that the haircut’s taken care of, are you up for phase two of the makeover? You badly need some new clothes. Especially after what happened to your trousers in the park.’
‘Okay then, let’s just get it all over and done with in one go. What kind of look do you think I should I be going for? Do I need a new suit?’
‘Honestly, nobody bothers too much about that anymore. The places where I’ve worked recently, all the guys in charge just wore smart casual clothes. But I always think it’s worth paying a little bit more for better quality and cut. Other people notice these things a lot more than you might think.’
‘So I take it we’ll be giving Primark a body swerve.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with Primark, I absolutely love it. But not to-day.’
‘Okay, where then?’
‘Just follow me.’
They then walked half a mile to yet another of Annie’s former places of employment, a large department store with a well-stocked men’s department. Jack hesitated at the door, reluctant to enter the upscale emporium, saying, ‘I don’t know about this. I really don’t like buying clothes.’
‘I’d never have guessed,’ replied Annie, rolling her eyes in mock surprise. ‘Come on, I’m pretty sure that we can get everything you need in here, and I might even be able to blag a decent discount as well.’
Half an hour later, they were back on the pavement outside the store. Annie was triumphantly holding a black plastic bin bag, containing all the outer clothing Jack had worn on the way in.
Her