The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-13
The Bobbing of
Bobby
Dy JANE OSBORN
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'.Tom. DEAR" said Toms sister as
Tom appeared home FROM the Office
early one Saturday Afternoon; 'TOn,.
LIN so glad you came home. I've beea
delayed 50. and BobDy's hair IL dis
gracefully long. Grandpa Alden Is COM
ing tOulorrow-it would ne5er do. Be
q dear and take Bobby down to Stir
iing's and have his hair bobbed. And
don't let them shave 1t up the back.
One has to be very firm or they will
I'd send Maggie with him only last
time she went and"
"Oh, all right" said Tom. I'D
planned to play golf. but ali right"
There was nothing very amlable In
Toms voice, nor did he LOOK more
amiable wher his married sister called
him "a sweet angel Of brother"
The barber shop ut Strings chill.
dren's store was crowded as usual on
Saturday afternoon, and Tom found
that he would have to take number
at the desk and remain In the waiting
room adjoining the barber shop, where
sleek. slender young men dressed In
white piled the l0ng.bladed scissors
and the clippers. Bobby took his place
In ono Of the small chairs In the CEN
ter. Of the room, and Tom felt increas-
ingly embarrassed to find that he was
waiting room.
There were occasional walls and
even shrieks from the room beyond as
some child newly initiated to the mys-
teries of being b0bbed registered his
disapprOval of the whole process. Here
big girl or grown woman who followed
the fad for bobbed hair. Tom watched
them take their seats beside the chill
dren with some dismay.
Presently portly, gray-haired wom-
an hustled into the room, slender
youns girl of eighteen or so In her
wake. The older woman regarded the
others waiting rather disapprovingly,
with frequent raislngs of her lorg-
nette to her near-sighted eyes. She ex-
planned to the clerk al the desk that
she really couldn't wait, that she'd
have to be allowed to go ahead OF her
turn. But the clerk calmly said that
would be impossible.
II simply can't wait" she repeated,
looking appealingly around the room
for sympathy. MY theater tickets
I've ordered them for tonight and
they'll only hold them at the box office
until four. can't Wait-and yet
here she looked with sigh ut her
young charge-"Annabelle needs bob
frightfully."
Annabelle apparently was protesting
that she could remain alone perfectly
well. "I'm not child, auntie." Tom
overheard.
Yes. you are, my dear" sputtered
the aunt. "And your mother especial
ly warned ME not to let you have 1t
clipped close to the back. Those bar
bers will do 1t If you don't watch"
The aunt's eyes had been wandering
about the waiting room. She caught
sight Of Tom Alden, eyed him briefly
through her i0ngette and then sailed
over to him. Tom rose promptly when
he saw that she was going to speak.
Ppm going to ask favor Of you,"
she began. II simply can't wait with
my niece. and you look as II you could
be trusted. I'll just leave ,Annabelle
here In your charge. After you have
your little boy bObbed, will YOU walt
and see that they do Annabelle proper
iy2 Don't let them use those awful
clippers at the back Of the neck. They
will II you don't watch-and then I'll
come back. won't be long. I'm sure,
but please don't leave the child until
come back. Thank you SO much. I'd
SO much rather trust middle-aged
man with child of his own than one
!, Of those foolish young mothers"
"But--but he isn't middle-aged," pro-
tested the very much embarrassed
Niece; but the aunt did not heed her,
aud feeling perfect confidence In her
new acquaintance, she sailed out the
waiting room toward the elevator. An
nabelle took seat rather shyly be-
side her newly appointed guardian.
Aunt Clarlce Is very nearsighted,'
she said. .She seemed to think you
were as old as she Is" Then there
was pause. isn't your little boy
cunning? How old Is her"
Three" replied Tom, suddenly feel
ting wave of deep embarrassment as
the very pretty eyes OF the young WON.
an beside him met his. They waited
fifteen minutes for Bobby's turn. and
Annabe!le followed him into the bar.
Der sh - end EeJ hcside Tom while
Tom gave the barber ..iNsctions con.
corning BObby's haircut.
Then they returned to the waiting
room and waited fifteen minutes more
for Acnabe..e's turn. and then Bobby
and Tom went Into the shop with her
to wait until she was properly bodied
and siHged and waved according to In.
structions.
TITS very becoming" Tom told his
charge. when the process was over. ~
never liked bObbed hair on girls very
much. but It looks great ON you"
doesn't your wife wear bobbed hair
Mp-n