It's been a year to this day already since my life changed forever and my world was turned upside down.

My father had been killed in a horrible car wreck while on his way home and after hearing the news, I completely shut down and distanced myself from everyone.

I stayed in my room for the next almost week until it was the day of his funeral.

Standing there looking down at a hole in the ground as they lowered the glossy looking nice shiny grey long box aka: coffin, that held my father's lifeless body, it was unreal to me.

I had just spoken to him moments before he began driving home telling me he loved me and couldn't wait to return and get a haircut from me.

See, I had just finished 1600 hours of Cosmetology schooling along with barbering several months before and was already working in a shop and had a great clientele thanks to my father and my family for coming in.

Then once I got the news, as I said before, I immediately shut down. There was no point in needing to do anything. I even quit my good paying job and hid from the world sort-a-speak. Then finally, a couple of months after his death, I decided I needed to leave and head somewhere to start a new life.

I ended up travelling a couple states away from the family but made sure I kept in touch. At first they insisted I take 'security' with me but I told them I was fine and didn't need their help. Then I left and finally, I feel like I found a place where I am meant to be at which is right here in Rhode Island.

I just moved here a couple of weeks ago and finally have my first interview at a very popular Barbershop that has a great reputation and reviews on Yelp.

I was a little bit nervous to be honest because although I loved to do it, I haven't been able to get a job at a salon or barbershop neither since I have been travelling due to nobody was hiring and had to take other jobs. But I know my love, determination and skills are still there.

I was taking in a few deep breaths and felt brave as I started to think about how calm my father would attempt in making me right now and how he'd try to tell me not to worry.

So I finally got out of my car after pulling up in the front and the moment I walked inside, I noticed right away that if I were hired, I would be the only woman.

I then swallowed a big lump in my throat, put my head up high then walked a little more inside and after everyone was finished giving me dirty looks, one of the barber's was nice enough to greet me.

"Can I help you?" The guy asks.

The guy had a tight clean skin fade that went up real high with short buzzed hair on the top along with a couple designs made by clippers on the side of his head and looked to be in his mid-forties.

"Uh yeah. My name's Frankie Duvall. I'm here for my interview." I tell the guy then next notice out the corner of my eyes everybody stopping what they're doing and even the clients are all looking at me.

"Ah yeah! That's right. We spoke on the phone. I'm the owner, Hayes." He holds out his hand and smiles.

"It's nice to meet you." I smiled back at him while shaking his hand and did not picture the owner to look the way he does. And I may be twenty-two but this guy is real cute.

"You as well." He returns the smile. "Well, since I don't have anybody for a couple hours, why don't we get this interview over with?!? I don't know about you but I hate these things." He chuckles.

"Yeah they aren't the most fun." I laughed back.

"Damn, you two should...." One guy started to say but Hayes snapped his head over at the guy and glared at him for a moment, shutting the guy up.

Next he looked back at me and rolled his eyes while shaking his head in disappointment.

"Don't mind him. He's a dumb ass." He mentions. "Now, let's get this show started." He says while rubbing his hands together.

"Alright." I replied.

I was assuming we were heading back to the office to have the interview but he apparently meant doing it differently than anybody else because he asks the guy, who I assumed was waiting to be helped by somebody as I noticed on my way in, he was patiently sitting down on the sofa already, to come over and sit down at one of the opened stations.

The guy reminded me of a biker with his long beard and his hair that went to the top of his shoulders as he also walked with an assertive attitude paired with a demeanor that read to me: Leader for.some.sort of Biker Club.

"Okay. Now, show me what you can do." Hayes tells me. "You can use anything you need on my station." He says as he stands back off to the side watching me while standing with his legs shoulder width apart and his arms crossed over his chest waiting for me to start.

So I gather a bunch of courage and pulled myself together right away then set down my purse and began placing a thin papered material neck strip around him then the cape.

"My name is Frankie and I'll be doing your hair today. So what you got in mind?" I began my consultation.

"I'd like to have a new look. I'd like my beard to actually be shaven off entirely and maybe use a number two on the sides and a five on the top then blend it and square it off in the back please." He says.

"Alright, no problem! But as far as the top goes, if I trim the top without using the clippers, it will give you more of an even length on the top." I suggest while showing him through the mirror what I was talking about and to show him how short we would go so we were on the same page.

"Oh? And why would the clippers with a number five not work?" He asks.

"Because really anything over a four or five can be done using shears because the guards for example that we put over the blade, actually doesn't catch all the hairs. So then it would be more work than needed to make things even." I explain.

"Ah, interesting. Well, I trust ya." He winks and smiles at me.

"Great! Let's get started and having you looking like a brand new man." I tell him.

We get started and afterwards, when I spin him around to look in the mirror at himself, everybody gasps including him as nobody can believe within that short amount of time it took for everything, the transformation I created.

"Wow." He says as he stands up and looks closer in the mirror.

"You like it?" I ask.

"Yes. Man, I haven't seen this face in a long time." He mentions while rubbing his now smooth shaven face.

"Well I'm glad I could reunite you guys." I laugh a little bit.

He then turns around and pulls out a $10 and I am surprised because on average, men tip the least amount and are lucky to even get $5 from them. Which I believe I'm even lucky to get a tip whenever I do get one in general.

"Aww thank you so much!" I smile at him.

Next he walks past me and shakes Hayes' hand and tells him something I will never forget.

"She is the best barber you've had here, YET. I will return for her." He says.

"You got it." Hayes smiles real big as the guy pays Hayes the price for the service itself then leaves and everybody goes back to finishing up their clients.

"Well, that was really impressive I must say. Not many out there who can please that guy.  So, welcome aboard!" He states and holds out his hand again.

I shake his hand and then sign a few things before I leave and he tells me to return tomorrow for my first day.

Next chapter will be posted soon! :)