Chapter Three Just as Brenton was about to announce his decision, the door to the saloon burst open. It was The TWINS. The fifteen year old boys, Ashley and Ambrose, were the sons of TimTrim's friend and partner, Leo. Ever since they were toddlers The TWINS had haunted the salon, learning to use the scissors and clippers as soon as their little hands could hold them, and even now, were as good at barbering as the owners.   "Hi! Uncle Tim," from Ashley. "G'day Brent," from Ambrose. They both flopped in vacant barber's chairs. Brenton waved at his younger friends from under the cloak. "Sorry about this Tim. I thought you'd be gone by now and save you from this rowdy pair," apologised their father and good mate, following after his sons. Leo never took his work home. Always The TWINS' hair was looked after at The BARBERY. "Not to worry. Hi TWINS. That's OK Leo. Always glad to see the boys. Where've you both been for the last couple of weeks?" wanted to know TimTrim. "They've been holding out for a haircut until their mother and I agreed to let 'em get it cut their way. Cut!?" explained The TWINS' father pocketing his keys, having opened the locked door of The BARBERY to let in himself and his sons. "We came in late to try and solve the argument." "I'm glad you caught me. Can't wait to see what you end up with. The usual I bet. With hair like that, boys, why not? Anyway, Brenton here's holding up the works. Can't make up his mind what he wants. Thinks he might have it all shaved off," explained and teased TimTrim. The TWINS swung around to their father. "There you are Dad. Why can't we?" pleaded Ambrose. "Come on Dad," begged Ashley. "Are you really getting shaved Brent?" "G'day TWINS," was the only answer Brenton could muster. "Well I don't know yet." "That's the worst bloody thing you ever did partner. Ever since you took your hair off The TWINS have been at their mother and me to look like Uncle TimTrim. With terrific hair like they've got, can you believe it?" "Aw Dad," from both boys.   The TWINS had superb hair, shining blond curls, cut to perfection, not too long nor too short, standing up about four centimetres all over like a golden fleece. Neither had a part, except that Ashley's curls tended to lean to the left and Ambrose's leaned to the right. Even though they were such proficient Barbers themselves, and cut their friends' hair in the back room, to save complaints outfront of them being under age hairdressers, it was still an unquestioned tradition that their father should tend their locks.   "Look TWINS. You know the score. Your Mother loves your hair the way it is. She'll have a fit if you go home without it. What's wrong with the way it is anyway? I don't mind you having new styles, you know that. But fellers - " Leo stood between his sons in frustration, one hand on each chair that The TWINS had settled in. Brenton couldn't believe that the pressure was suddenly off him. It was ironic. He wanted to shave his hair off, but was not yet permitted - by himself. The TWINS wanted to do the same, yet they'd permit themselves but their father wouldn't.   "But you said if Uncle TimTrim agreed you'd let us do it," complained Ambrose. "You be the referee Uncle Tim," suggested Ashley. "Referee to what? I've got enough troubles here getting Brenton sorted out," teased TimTrim as he waved the cut-throat at Brenton's hair. He started once again to comb Brenton's hair into some shape. Leo moved over pretending to examine his partners handiwork. "That right Brenton? You going to have your head shaved like Uncle Tim?" Leo asked under his breath to the still confused customer, so as not to let his sons hear the question. Brenton raised his eyebrows in a quizzical look of uncertainty. "Heads you go first Ambrose, tails me." Ashley got out of his chair and took two coins from his pocket, handing one to his TWIN. They tossed.   "Lucky sod! You first then Ambo", Ashley advised as he draped a cloak over his brother's shoulders. "Your turn'll come mate. Tell Dad Brent. You're going to get your head shaved. Look, Brenton's got good hair too Dad, but he's game to go all the way. Tell him Brent," insisted Ambrose while Ashley grabbed the clippers and switched them on waiting for a cue from his father.                   "What's this? I thought I always cut your hair. You taking over from your Old Man? Not good enough any more am I?" asked Leo in feigned high dudgeon. "Aw Dad," from both boys. "They seem to have made up their mind Leo," mumbled Brenton. "I can't even do that. Let 'em go ahead." "Yeah! Come on Dad. Let's get shaved. Ready Ambo?" ventured Ashley as he moved closer to his brother's head with the whizzing clippers. "These curls are for shielas Dad," complained Ambrose. "Now you just hold your horses Ashley. You too Ambrose. You're egging him on. You'll get me killed at home," ordered Leo. "What do you think Tim? Should I let 'em go at it and cut their wonderful hair off?" "Aw Dad. Come on Uncle TimTrim," from both the matched boys, almost in unison. "You know me Leo. I could never refuse The TWINS anything. They're old enough to know the consequences. Right Boys? I'm bald. Brenton's about to become bald. Why shouldn't Ashley and Ambrose be completely bald if they want to?" questioned Uncle TimTrim trying to shock the lads out of their resolve. "Bald is Beautifuller." "Hold on Ash. I hadn't thought about being bald. I just thought it'd be a hoot to be shaved," demured Ambrose. "Yeah! Bald! I guess we would be." Ashley switched off the clippers. "What the hell. It's just a word. Shaved! Bald! What's the difference?" questioned Ambrose. "Dead right Ambrose. We'll be the Bald Brothers," affirmed Ashley re-starting up the shearing machine. "I think we might have started an epidemic," suggested Brenton. "That is, if I get shaved too." "Dad please. Ashley and I have talked this over. We know what we're doing. You taught us to be crash-hot Barbers yourself don't forget, you and Uncle Tim." Ambrose spoke seriously to his father. "We know it's radical and it'll only last for awhile with the QANTAS thing coming up. We know we'll have to shave every day. It'll be fun. Come on Dad. You can talk Mum around. She won't mind too much after a day or two." Ashley also spoke seriously to his father.   "Do you fellers really know what you want? It'll be too late to put your hair back on once you've taken it off. And if one does it, the other's got to do it. You know the rules till you're eighteen. No chickening out," warned Leo, hoping his sons would see sense even at this late juncture.   "Let 'em do it here Leo. When I was fifteen I'd probably have done it anyway if I'd wanted to, down the back shed probably, no matter what my parents wanted. Matter of fact, my Old Man'll have a fit as it is." Brenton pointed out sensibly. "Ar ... that's not us Brent. If Dad says no, we abide by the rules," contradicted Ashley as he switched off the clippers once again. "That's right isn't it Dad?" agreed Ambrose. "It's why I don't want to stop you shaving your hair off guys. Normally I'd say have a go, because I know you'll stick by my decision. But I'm really not happy about this," Leo pointed out to his sons. The boys looked at each other, saying nothing, but realising they would not defy their father. Brenton could see the look of disappointment in their mirror reflections. "Look, I wasn't going to tell you this unless I had to," Leo continued by way of explanation. "but your mother and I are throwing a big surprise party for your sixteenth birthday tomorrow, friends relatives, bands, the lot. Now it's not a surprise anymore. Satisfied?" "Aw Dad. Thanks a heap. That's what we've always wanted, a sixteenth birthday party, isn't it Ambrose?" reacted Ashley with glee. "Too right Ashley. We knew you wouldn't forget. Thanks Dad. And Mum too. You coming Brent?" asked Ambrose. "It's been hell not saying anything since you came in here TWINS. Wild horses couldn't keep us away, Cindy and me. Bald or not," answered Brenton with enthusiasm.   "That's why your Grandad did those portraits, to give as return presents to the family and friends." Leo's father, Herbert, was one of the country's best photographers, starting as a photo-journalist in the Pacific Campaigns, and changing to a more peaceful life of photographing smiling people on his return home. Ashley and Ambrose had inherited his talent for photography and were each to receive Pentax SF7 for their sixteenth birthday from their collective over-generous grandparents, to be used on a holiday neither boy yet knew about. The TWINS had been lovingly posed by their grandfather at sunset on the side court of the Opera House. They had worn loose white silk shirts wide open at the neck to see their chunky solid gold Dragon amulets, and hand loomed coarse slub-woven white silk jeans, presents from Japan, and of course white Reeboks. The effect with the setting sun on their blond curls, tanned faces and white silk against the Opera House sails was a vision in gold, so stunning that the prints would head an upcoming exhibition by some of the World's leading portrait photographers.   "See here Brent. These are the proofs." TimTrim handed a sheath of glossies to Brenton. "They're really something. You guys look knock-out," affirmed Brenton, who with his talent for design knew he was looking at something out of the box. Not only one, but two amazingly good looking lads in a setting to rival any in the world. The TWINS had the good grace to blush a little. "Your grand parents and the oldies won't be amused at seeing you two hairless. How will it look with both TWINS looking spick and span in the photos and like refugees from a Buddhist monastery at the party?" protested the father..   "Not Grandad Herby? Remember he didn't wear any hair all during the war. You've got pictures of him in the Solomons shaved bald. You know the ones, on the back where he said that 'with a towel around his middle and with glasses on, he looked like Ghandi'" protested Ambrose.   "Yeah! and your photo of your apprentice hairdressing class. The whole lot of you have shaved your hair off. Now you won't let Ambrose and me. Please Dad!" persuaded Ashley. "That was just a silly graduation rag. This is different. You're only fifteen, alright, sixteen, and we all want you to look your best tomorrow night, and so should you. Grooming has always been so important to all our family, including you two, now hasn't it? Think it over. It's your decision. Shave away if you want to." Leo laid it on the line. "That's heavy Dad. How 'bout you Ash?" queried Ambrose as he removed the cloak from his shoulders. "We'll keep our hair on if you say so Dad. You know that. I was really looking forward to being shaved but," Ashley forgot his grammar in his disappointment. "Let's go. No shave - no haircut - yet. 'Bye Uncle Tim. Brent. See you tomorrow night." Both boys reluctantly climbed out of their barber's chairs and started to walk out the of The BARBERY, elated at the prospect of a big sixteenth birthday party, but down in the dumps being denied the adventure of shaving their heads. "Hold on!" interrupted TimTrim. Everyone stopped, The TWINS looking expectantly at their adopted uncle. "Were you really serious about me being referee?" "Certainly I was," assured Leo. "Bloody hell, you're one of the family. That goes for The TWINS and their mother too. Rhonda suggested it. Whatever you advise we're more than happy to abide by, even if they shave themselves stupid." The boys nodded agreement. "Better you than me TimTrim," joked Brenton. The boys walked back and stood in front of TimTrim. Brenton's haircut had been completely forgotten. "This is how I see it," TimTrim began to explain. "Ashley, Ambrose, you are two of the best hair stylists I have ever seen." The boys looked a little embarrassed. "Now I don't agree with your father that you should keep your hair just for the sake of it. At your age you should be able to experiment with all kinds of things. Right? Also, I think your sixteenth birthday party is just the right place to sport a new look. Don't worry about the oldies. They'll still love you". "Aw Uncle TimTrim". "You want to shave your heads completely bald, you should if you really want. Go ahead. Just don't expect me to do it." The boys exchanged grins and turned toward the barber's chairs once again, relieved that the referee had taken their side. Now their shaving would not be in defiance of their parents. "But!" TimTrim's word stopped them in their tracks. "I just said you are great stylists. Your father is proud to agree I know. So why not create something for yourselves? Experiment!" Uncle TimTrim had spoken. Spoken a heap of sense. The boys nodded agreement. Leo nodded agreement. The TWINS had climbed back into the chairs. Leo shrugged his shoulders and sat on the davenport. Brenton watched the mini-drama in fascination. Never had his family cared about what he did, like The TWINS' family. "I can't argue with that," confided Leo. "Go ahead guys. Your mother and I really did expect you to come home shaved bald after all. It'll be kind of cute according to Mum." Ambrose got up from his chair and walked over closer to the mirror to look closely at his hair. "How 'bout we go half way Ambo? Ashley suggested. "Alright Dad?" "You heard the referee. Anything you guys decide is alright by me. What am I saying?" was the uncertain answer from the boys' doting father. Ashley joined his brother at the mirror. Only that each TWIN's hair fell in a different direction, they were strikingly alike, and handsome to boot, and they knew it, which was another reason they were also so careful about their clothes, not always matched but trendy and neat right down to their ever white Reeboks. "What if we leave some on top and take off the sides and back?" Ambrose indicated on his brother's hair what he meant. "Sort of designer short-back-and-sides. I can't remember ever having a real short-back-and-sides. Have we ever Dad?" "Ar ... Not since you were four. When I took you home your mother yelled so much at us ... I hate to tell you this," confided a truthful, but embarrassed father, "... I brought you straight back and shaved your hair right off. That's why there's such a hullabaloo now. Remember Tim?"   "Do I ever! Rhonda even yelled at me. Her babies were bald. I think I've got a picture somewhere here." So saying he rummaged in a drawer and extracted a black and white photograph, showing The TWINS as infants both sitting together in one of the antique barbers' chairs, grinning at the camera, patting themselves on their freshly shaved heads. "So this wouldn't be the first time fellers," continued Uncle TimTrim. Everyone laughed as The TWINS went back to the serious business at hand. TimTrim returned to the back room for chilled glasses of Rosemont Chardonnay. "Into the chair TWIN brother. You first, remember?" instructed Ashley. "Dad is it alright if we do this ourselves?"   "Please Dad. It's not that we don't dig you cutting our hair, but this time it's our own thing. OK? And Uncle TimTrim suggested...." pointed out Ambrose as he climbed back into the chair. Ashley was about to replaced the cloak. "Sure. Count it as part of your birthday present. Why don't you use the Samurai Sets?" permitted Leo in good grace. The TWINS looked astonished. "You really mean we can use the Samurais?" queried a disbelieving Ambrose.   "Just this once. Get them out Ash," Leo reassured, and threw his key ring to his son. "Thanks Dad. I mean it," appreciated Ashley. He took one of the keys to open a small door in the mahogany bench and extracted two boxes, each twice the size of a brief case. They were magnificent maroon bamboo lacquer, bound with bronze and guilt inlaid Dragon design corner pieces and lock. On top of the cases were monograms of three "A"s embossed in gold. Since their surname was Armstrong, their both initials accumulated to make the three "A"s. One monogram had a tiny gold "S" in the centre of the centre "A" and the other a tiny "M," indicating the second letters of each of The TWINS' Christian names. The Dragons came from the mystic East. Incredibly, both the parents and The TWINS had the same Oriental birth sign, the Dragon. Ashley handed Ambrose his box while he took a tiny gold key on the father's key ring and opened his own box. His TWIN brother did the same, holding it on his lap with a certain amount of awe. Inside each box, resting in compartments of maroon silk was a set of haircutting tools and accoutrement, which was just like saying that The BARBERY was just an ordinary BarberShop. There were the exact number of pieces in the Sets to correspond with the Asiatic lucky number for The TWINS. "Careful Ash," instructed Ambrose as Ashley took a cloak from the chest and draped it around his TWIN. There were three hand woven cotton towels and a pair of matching maroon silk cloaks; the towels and capes had clips made from steel in the shape of Dragons, with garnet eyes. The capes themselves were loomed with the three "A"s monograms forming a superb interwoven brocade, and the towels were embroidered with the same initials. Leo's father, had souvenired a Japanese Samurai sword in New Guinea during the war, and had made a present of it to his young son Leo when he returned. At the time The TWINS were born Leo had seen an advertisement in the newspaper that announced his sons' birth, an advertisement begging for the return of a particular Samurai sword to celebrate the birth of twin boys to a Japanese family. With his father's permission, Leo had returned the sword to the family in Japan as a thanksgiving for the birth of his own TWIN sons, as well as the Japanese boys. Other than a letter of acknowledgement they heard no further from Japan for some time. "Ever seen these Brent?" asked Ambrose in the chair holding up a pair of the hand hair clippers from his own box and dropping a tiny bead of oil on them. Brenton was fascinated.   "They come from Nippon," confided Ashley to his older friend. The crate had arrived addressed to the babies Ashley and Ambrose. The accompanying letter written in Japanese on rice parchment, with a translation in English, explained that the chests were a 'thankyou' for returning the sacred family Samurai sword. The Family Ito, it turned out, were very ancient, and very rich. Upon the return of their ancestral sword, as sacrifice to their Shinto spirits, they had taken two minor family swords and had them converted into the sets of hairdressing tools in honour of the Barber who had returned their treasure, two sets for the Armstrong TWINS, and two sets for their own newborn boys. All the pieces were made from or with this gleaming Samurai steel, and each piece had the gilded inlaid monogram. Wrapping being an art in Japan the chests were packed with extraordinary care. Leo and Rhonda were amazed when they reluctantly opened the wrapping to see these two magnificent lacquer boxes. They were even more amazed to see the contents, Leo thrilled that they were tools of his trade. But what tools! It was obvious that were fashioned by master craftsmen. "Dad's never let anyone touch this Samurai gear since they arrived. Not even us," explained Ashley to Brenton, "Except he always uses them to cut our hair." "Yeah! Then they touch us. They're for our trousseau mum reckons. We get them to keep on our twentyfirst birthday. Right Dad?" asked Ambrose for confirmation.   "That's right. Except today, and maybe your eighteenth birthday. Oh! and one other time I'll tell you about later." The TWINS exchanged curious glances. "They're worth a fortune Brent. The Itos who sent them to the boys were more than grateful to get back the lost sword of their clan."   "Are you guys going to be Barbers like your dad?" asked Brenton, knowing The TWINS skill in hairdressing. "Those Samurai gadgets will come in handy then." "No we're not going to be professional Barbers Brent. It'd be fun though. We've been accepted into the QANTAS cadet scheme to be pilots, part time till we graduate from uni. We get to travel a lot, do practical flying and they'll give us a scholarship for our education. You know what Brenton? Ambrose and I will be the first twins as pilots in QANTAS," Ashley informed his friend with pride. "These Samurai Sets will never be used on any one else except Ashley and Ambrose," assured Ambrose with a great deal of pride. They both caressed the boxes as though through mental telepathy. There were two sets of hand clippers in the chests, one wide, one narrow, each having six separate sets of adjustable cutting heads from coarse, so as to leave hair about a centimetre long, through to extremely fine removing hair almost as close as a razor, which showed Leo how great was the craftsmanship. A small can of spicy clove oil accompanied the clippers to keep them lubricated in the best condition. Ashley took the larger of the clippers from his box and fitted the cutting head, also working in a tiny drop of oil. "I haven't seen hand clippers for years," admitted Brenton. "Can you guys really use them?" "Can they ever!" TimTrim replied with some pride in his surrogate nephews. Then there was a set of three pairs of hair scissors, large to small; two thinning scissors, coarse and fine, two cut-throat razors, standard and small, and another cut-throat razor with a curved blade.   "You know dad, we should import something like this sumo comb for those new up-market womens' shaggy styles. Just the thing. Not as good as these though." His father and TimTrim nodded agreement. Ambrose took the sumo comb from its compartment and ran it through his curly blond mane, probably for the last time for awhile. Like the sumo comb being used by Ambrose all the other combs in the Samurai Sets were hand carved from very old seasoned sandalwood, with turtle shell tips, but set in the Samurai steel. This most magnificent set of ten comb graduated from paper thin tapered barber's combs, to a large heavy-duty sumo comb. "Banzai," yelled Ashley as he waved the clippers at his brother's hair. "Banzai," returned Ambrose. It was a small ceremony that had always been carried out before having a haircut with the Samurai Sets. "Sorry about this Brenton. Relax for a while," advised TimTrim handing a glass of wine to his customer and his partner. "The boys allowed Leo?" "That's all I need, drunken bald Twins to take home to their mother. Oh! well. Why not?" permitted the boys' father as TimTrim handed them a tall glass each of the fruity wine and stood next to chair to observe the operation. The fifteen year old Ashley, soon to be sixteen, was nearly as tall as Uncle TimTrim. The boys took a small sip each but were too intent on their barbering to be distracted. "Thanks Uncle Tim. OK Ambrose, here we go," warned Ashley as he settled the Samurai Sets clippers in his hand.   "Steady as ya' go matey," replied his TWIN brother with both wine glasses in his hands. Adjusted to their broadest setting, Ashley gently dug the clippers into Ambrose's hair, the clippers upside down. The cutters bit into the curls just below the temple, so that the line went straight in, a very difficult action with hand clippers for even the most proficient of the older Barbers' fraternity. "Grab!" warned Ashley as he caught a falling curl, a perfect circle about the size of ten cents. "Save some of these". Ashley tossed to Ambrose his own freshly shorn curl. "A little gifty for Mum," Ambrose assured the assembly, though most of rescued tresses would be doled out to their string of girl friends. He held the shorn curl back to the cropped patch on his temple. Ashley continued his clipping. Rapid hand action was needed in this manoeuvre so not to drag the hair by jamming it in the cutters. He moved the machine down, shearing away a large patch of the side-burn. Ambrose combed away the excess with a sandalwood comb. The boys nodded agreement. Using that line as reference he worked all the way around Ambrose's head following the line of hair about a centimetre and a half from the edge, slicing straight into the curls and shearing them away down to the edge, leaving a fair coarse stubble behind, creating what looked like one of those legendary basin cuts, now called a wedge-tail step-cut, straight in with no taper at all. The progress was a good deal slower with the hand clippers, than with electric, but it was certainly more personal for The TWINS. "Not bad so far," commented Ambrose as Ashley finished the first stage and they both took another sip of wine after Ashley had brushed the loose hair from his brother's neck.   The brushes in the Samurai Sets were exquisite, five in number; the first was for cleaning the equipment, with fine pig's bristles; the second was sable, to brush away loose clippings of the haircut; then there was a shaving brush of Arctic fox; and the last two were hairbrushes with bristles of Tibetan yak hair, all set in turtle shell, bound with shiny steel and gold inlay. "But not right yet. OK, you in the chair." He reversed his own personal cloak to fall down his back and took Ashley's to place it also around his brother's neck and lap. Ashley sat in his place. Brenton, still with his cloak on, and a glass of wine in his hand joined the group to watch the procedure.   "Agreed. Needs to be more radical. My turn. Curls away!" prompted Ashley. Ambrose used a slightly more conventional technique running the clippers up the back and sides, tapering as he went, this time with his clippers set at a finer cutting adjustment so the hair was cropped even closer to the scalp. As he worked the brothers surveyed the result after each section, and agreed to proceed. The result was a lot shorter than the cut on Ambrose, but a lot more conventional in execution. Their father Barber Leo hoped they would leave well enough alone. But no. "Change," directed Ashley. He took up his clippers again and twisted his cape back into position. "I think it should go right up mate. What do you think?" "Have a go," ordered Ambrose. Ashley duplicated his own progressive haircut on his brother working the hand clippers skilfully from the bottom up the sides, though a little shorter, which was now fairly high.   "What do you think now? Want to change?" asked the young Barber. "No keep going," advised the TWIN Barber to his brother. "Look Ash, we're stuffing around here. Run those clippers right. Put on the closest cutters. Get down to the leather. I'll tell you when to stop." "Right on!" Ashley slowly and deliberately started the clippers up his brother's partially cropped head once again, getting higher and higher. "More?" he asked. "More!" replied Ambrose until his head had been shorn to just onto the edge of the top of his scalp. "That's it!" "That's it!" agreed his brother. "Now the back. How far? Up to the crown you reckon?" "Yeah! That high? Sure why not. No, look I think about a couple fingers below," he advised putting his finger on the spot. Ashley held a mirror for him. "Agreed," affirmed Ashley. It was amazing how The TWINS seemed to concur so readily. They never fought about anything, though both had extremely strong wills. "I'll keep that edge sharp Ambo. Not taper it." Ashley cut in a little more to create the result of his suggestion.     "Right. Your turn." As Ashley finished, Ambrose was left with only about a third of his head with hair. Ambrose exactly duplicated the cut Ashley had given him, so they sported curly blond mops just on the pate of their heads.   "The top's still not right Ash. It needs to be a bit shorter and shaped into the cut, I think; not too tapered, but a lot smoother. Let me try on you." They swapped again. "Yeah! That was worrying me too," agreed Ashley, holding up a handful of curls which his brother sliced away. Ambrose snipped more than half the curls from the top of his TWIN's mane. Taking the smallest scissors from the chest and the finest sandalwood turtle shell comb, he deftly blended the very edge of the cut so that the effect was tapered and straight together, probably the most difficult of all variations in barbering, requiring great skill, to make a square edge look tapered and the tapered edge look sharp.   In the 1930's it would have been called a Jazz-Cut.   The overall appearance was now amazingly smooth, and for a radical haircut looked somehow quite conventional. Still, they were not satisfied. Both agreed that the back and sides needed to be shaved after all. "It's up to you Dad," affirmed Ashley still in the chair. "Can we shave the sides and back? We won't if you don't want to."   "What do you reckon anyway Dad? Do you think we should take it completely off if we leave the top?" asked Ambrose as a genuine enquiry to his Barber father. TimTrim and Brenton watched the exchange with some interest, sipping their wine the while. "You've got me again guys. Yes I do think you should have the razor on the back and sides if that's what you want," instructed The TWINS' father, as again the boys changed status, one the Barber and one the barberee. Ashley took from the Samurai Sets Chest the tub of cream. Emulsified from lotus blossom the shaving cream was contained in a Dragon-carved ivory jar with a cap crafted from the Samurai steel inlaid with the monogram. The bottle containing cologne distilled from cherrywood was etched rock crystal, again with the monogram and steel cap. Each year, the Ito Family sent a fresh supply of the cologne, the soap and the clove oil. The TWINS might not be bald, but they were more than halfway there. The shaving would complete the picture as far as it was to go. Ashley swirled the lotus cream around his brother's head with the Arctic fox brush and left it for a moment. From both the chests he took an embroidered towel and placed them in TimTrim's steamer, then from his own chest he carefully took out the largest razor. Like everything else in the Samurai Sets, they were anything but conventional. All the blades were thinner and narrower than the usual, so keen they almost never had to be sharpened on the buffalo horn hone. Handles were of mother-of-pearl set in turtle shell, monogrammed in gold.   Leaning Ambrose's head over he carefully slid the deadly blade down the sides in single continuing strokes, leaving not a suggestion of a whisker where once there had been curls, the cream and residue hair from the razor's edge being wiped on a square of embossed rice paper. The edge of the razor exactly matched into the skilfully crafted hairline, highlighting even further the edging between hair and scalp, yet not making it look like an unskilled shaved home-made job. Laying aside the otherwise conventional cut-throat, he then took up the strange arched blade the likes of which were once used to shave the foreheads and scalps of Japanese noblemen in their formal Shogun style. This he used on the nape of his brother and up nearly to the crown. The effect absolutely suited The TWINS, though not many would be game enough to have a hairdo in this semi-shaved style. Both boys were looking happier by the moment, their disappointment of not being completely bald fading with the outstanding success of their ultra-short short-back-and-sides. Again they changed position, Ashley now to be shaved by Ambrose. It was like a mirror image in action, the method was the same and the resultant look was the same. The shaven sides were dusted with jasmine scented rice powder. As Ambrose was about to take the a cloth from the steamer to hot towel his brother's shorn head, they suddenly looked at each other. "A part!" they both gasped out in unison. It required no further explanation. Because they had curly hair they normally did not wear a part, but sometimes did when they felt like something different for a party or special event, Ambrose parted on the left to match the natural fall of his curls and Ashley on the right. Ambrose took one of the sandalwood combs and introduced a conventional part into his TWIN's hair, just leaning the remaining curls a little more in their natural direction to the left, which seemed likely to be the end of the exercise to TimTrim, Brenton and Leo. But no! "Get real! Ambrose," instructed the TWIN, who instantly knew what his brother meant.   He then sprinkled a little of the cherrywood astringent cologne into the part and massaged it in with his fingertip. From his Samurai Chest he took the smallest of the razors. Carefully he manoeuvred the little blade into Ashley's part, and with tiny movements of the wrist shaved away hair along the line of the part right into the centre of Ashley's circling crown. Now there was path half the width of his little fingernail, opening onto the brow. It was the master-stroke of these completely original TWIN created hairstyles.   Ashley admired the shaved part in the mirror running his finger up and down the hairless channel, the only section on top of The TWINS' heads which would actually feel the razor. Compromise was more than adequate compensation. The effect was immediately duplicated by him on his TWIN after Ambrose climbed back into the chair. Then he sliced a part into Ambrose's curls, but this time on the left side, running the tip of his little finger into the denuded channel to check that it was shaved completely smooth.   The razored parts of their haircuts were so skilfully produced that the brothers realised they would have to go through the exercise each day, ministering to each other. Even with their skill it would be impossible to shave their own parts and edges to such perfection. Relaxed, splashing cherrywood astringent cologne onto their freshly pared heads, now they perused their own images in the mirror, delighted with their handiwork, and shook hands by way of congratulations. They presented themselves to their father, with haircuts of their own invention that suited the young TWINS amazingly well, shaven and shorn, but not completely. "OK Dad. What do you think?" enquired Ambrose with some trepidation. "What do you blokes think? Is it as good as being shaved all over?" asked their father. "Hot man, really hot! Don't you reckon Ambrose?" was Ashley's reply. "Really Excellent!" agreed his brother in the vernacular. "I think it looks incredibly smart. Not that I don't prefer my little boys with their curly crowning glory in place. But no, I think you look great. You guys are some Barbers." "You've confused me even more guys. I don't know whether to get completely shaved now, or not," bemoaned Brenton. "I'm proud of you both" confided TimTrim to his protegees. "Look, while we're here, there's something else I've got to tell you," advised Leo. "The Itos are coming for your birthday party." "You're kidding. After all this time" exclaimed Ashley. "Too much! We'll get to meet Najji and Nikko at last," realised Ambrose referring to the Ito Twins born only a month before the Armstrongs. "There's a couple of other things. The Ito Twins want you to give them new haircuts. Somehow they've got the idea you're gun Barbers. Wait'll they see what my sons've done to themselves, Najji and Nikko will soon change their minds." "Aw Dad!"   "No! Just kidding. That's how come you'll be able to use your Samurai Sets not only on yourselves. Only the Ito Twins. I wouldn't mind betting they'll go for that new style you've just invented," continue The TWINS' father. "Then... after the party, if you want to, you're going back to Japan, first class, to spend a month with them." "Alright!" cheered Ambrose. "But what about Mum?" "We've never been away from home before. Will she let us? Will you Dad? Japan, Ambrose. Lucky we learnt to speak Japanese." "Of course you can go. And by the way, QANTAS will let you spend some of the flight in the cockpit. Your mother agrees. The Itos are very responsible people. And you won't have to eat boiled rice and raw fish all the time either." advised Leo. "You can never guess what we're going to get from the Ito Family for a birthday present ... but a trip to Japan???" Ashley in wonderment. "Well their visit and your return are birthday gifts for the Ito boys. They have sent your present, each an Eye of the Dragon," told Leo to the boys, who looked at him wondering, Ambrose rubbing his hands over his partially shaven head and Ashley fingering his shaven part. "It's a bit of a problem. Mum and I have taken a long time to arrive at a decision about these Dragon's Eyes. There is one each and they are very valuable small rubies. The only trouble is that they are made up as stud earings. The Ito Twins wanted them for a birthday present, which is most unusual in Japan to have an earing, but it's permitted and something of a tradition apparently in old Samurai families. And they thought you might like a pair too," rattled on Leo, not really knowing how his sons would take to the idea of wearing an earing. "Well what do you think? Do you want to get your ears pierced and wear a ruby stud?"   The TWINS looked at their father in wonderment. They had never even thought of an earing because of the supposed opposition from their parents. The idea was so new they had no immediate answer. "A real ruby Dad?" Ashley fingered the lobe of his left ear.   "You reckon it's Samurai? ... and Najji and Nikko Ito have got them ... but I don't know ... do we Ash?" pondered Ambrose. It was all like deja vu to Brenton. Whether to shave his head as The TWINS had wanted, and now this earing thing.   "If you do have the earing, you should do it for the party so the Ito Family will see them?" advised Leo again. "Mind you, we're not trying to convince you one way or the other. Your mother and I are none too keen on the idea of you both wearing an earing. But it is your decision, since they are gifts from the Ito Family. We can explain to the Itos that it's not a widely accepted fashion for boys over here." "Well I dunno' Ash. These new haircuts are pretty radical. And if they're real valuable rubies?..." Ambrose pondered, again running his hands over the shaved part of his head. "We've gotta' do it man," advised Ashley. Right Dad!. Bring on the jewels". The boys again plompted themselves into the vacated barber's chairs. TimTrim handed Leo the ear piercing tool. As he walked over to the chairs Leo took from his pocket two tiny lacquer boxes, matching the Samurai Sets Chests, and handed one each to the boys who opened them immediately with some apprehension. Inside each was a small cabochon ruby affixed to a gold earing pin. Ambrose took up the gem in his fingertips. "What makes these so valuable Dad? They're not that big," asked Ambrose. "Beats me," replied his father, wiping a sterile pad on his son's earlobe. "Hey!" interjected Ashley. "Take a closer look at the inside of the ruby. Have you got a magnifying glass Uncle TimTrim?" The bald Barber fished one from a drawer. They all closely examined the gems. It was unbelievable. Into the rubies, carved in a reverse intaglio, was their birthsign of the Dragon, work was so fine that it was almost invisible to the naked eye. They were exquisite artifacts, now obvious why they were so valuable. "Far out!" exclaimed Ashley. His father moved over to him also and wiped his lobe with a fresh pad. Ashley squinched up his eyes as his father placed the punch on his ear. "There you go Ashley. One pierced ear as ordered," spoke Leo to his surprised son. "Alright!" exclaimed the boy. Leo took the ruby Dragon's Eye, gently fitted the pin through the hole and screwed it into place, so that it would not come adrift under any circumstances. "Show us Ash," asked his brother. "Fantastic!" Now it was his turn. Punch! Screw! The Dragon's Eye was in place. The lads fiddled with the rubies in the freshly pierced lobes, surprised they it really did not hurt.   Their new look was complete. Everyone in The BARBERY approved with enthusiasm. Now all they had to do was face their mother, and all the oldies at the party. Ambrose and Ashley stood there admiring their handiwork, their heads shaven right up the sides and very high on the nape, an almost straight edge to the hair on the top of their heads, short curls parted and loosely brushed to the sides, and those parts, broadly shaven right down to the scalps from brow to crown; altogether a totally unique look. Then there were the Dragon Eyes. The TWINS stood in front of the mirrors examining their own reflections and their brother's. Each leaned over and patted the high baldened necks. They were to be sixteen tomorrow and a party was theirs, with their brand new razor-sharp self-designed amazing haircuts, ready or not. "Hold it a minute you two," TimTrim commanded again. They wondered what surprise he had in store for them this time. "It's a little bit early but here are your presents from me." He handed each TWIN a slim parcel "Go on. Open them. You'll need them tomorrow." Both boys broke the seals to see old leather boxes containing antique Victoriana cut-throat razors. "Thought you'd eventually need them for that bum-fluff on your chins guys. No toys for you. It's cut-throats for the grow-ups. I didn't realise you'd need them for your hair," explained Uncle TimTrim. "Just what I wanted Uncle Tim. I'm not just saying that. We can take 'em to Japan," bubbled Ashley as he stroked the blade down his already shaved temple.   "Thanks Uncle Tim," agreed Ambrose, experimentally running the antique razor over his upper lip. "You always know just the right present to get." "Gather all the Samurai Sets fellers. We'll clean up at home and display them at the party as a tribute to the Itos," instructed their father.   "Hooroo Uncle Tim. Brenton. Domo," thanked Ashley in Japanese. "Remember Brent, Bald is Beautifuller. Think about it." "Yeah! Araghito," agreed Ambrose. "See you tomorrow for the bash. Shave on McBrenton".   With their father's arms around their shoulders, Samurai Sets Chests in their hands, semi-shaved, The TWINS left The BARBERY. Continue .....