Chapter 353
“If anyone touches my hair, I’ll make them my mortal enemy!” Norton shrieked, clutching his head as he tried to bolt for the door. Theodore grabbed him by the collar, forced him into the barber’s chair, and gave the barber a pointed look.
She was still a bit confused but understood his meaning. She approached with her scissors, but before she could make the first cut, Norton let out a scream worthy of a slaughterhouse.
“No! Aaaah p>
The sound made her jump, and she instinctively took a step back. “Maybe you should discuss this with the boy first p>
Penelope also thought Theodore was being too harsh and was about to intervene, but he snatched the scissors from the barber’s hand and, with a decisive snip, cut a chunk of hair from the top of Norton’s head.
The mop now had a hole in it.
Norton’s screams died in his throat. He stared at his reflection, at the irreparable damage, and his lips trembled as a single tear rolled down his cheek.
Theodore handed the scissors back to the stunned barber. “Use the clippers. Shave it all off p>
The barber’s eye twitched. “What p>
“Not a single hair left p>
Realizing what was happening, Norton started wailing again. “I don’t want to be bald p>
“You have to be p>
“Bro, I was wrong p>
“A bald head or a buzz cut. Choose p>
“Buzz cut p>
Theodore immediately turned to the barber. “You heard him. He agreed. Give him a buzz cut p>
Norton, realizing too late he’d fallen into a trap, cried out, “I don’t want a buzz cut either p>
“Too late p>
It was indeed too late. With the hole Theodore had created, the only options were bald or a buzz cut. Anything else would look ridiculous.
The entire haircut was completed in a river of Norton’s silent tears. When it was over, the barber, feeling sorry for the boy, pressed two pieces of candy into his hand.
Theodore had stepped outside to take a call. Penelope gently wiped Norton’s tears. “Actually, it looks quite sharp,” she offered, trying to be encouraging.
Norton stared at his reflection, struggling to accept the transformation from a long, multi-colored mane to short, black stubble.
“Does it look good p>
“It makes you look much cleaner, more put-together p>
“I asked if it looks good p>
“Very masculine p>
“So, not good,” he concluded, his eyes welling up again.
“But I bet Natalie will love it,” Penelope added quickly.
At the mention of her name, Norton’s tears instantly vanished.
“Really p>
“How about I invite her to dinner sometime and you can come along? You can ask her yourself p>
“I can have dinner with Natalie p>
“Uh, it’s just one dinner. Don’t get carried away p>
“Penelope, you’re the best p>
He was surprisingly easy to appease. If only Timothy were hatf
as easy to handle, she wouldn’t have spent the last three years managing him.
“Call Dr. Anderson and tell him to meet you at the house. I’m on my way back now.” Penelope overheard Theodore as she stepped out of the barbershop. He hung up the phone.
“I have an emergency. You two can take a cab back.” He gave Penelope a nod and turned to leave.
“Is Mom sick?” Norton asked anxiously. “What’s wrong? Is it serious p>
Theodore took a deep breath. “It’s nothing. You should just go back to school p>
“I’m coming home with you p>
“You don’t need to p>
“She’s not just your mom! I’m worried too p>
A flicker of sympathy crossed
Theodore’s eyes. He reached out et
and patted the back of Norton’s freshly buzzed head. “Alright Let’s go home together content
Penelope had never been to the Stapleton family’s villa in Star Villa before. According to Theodore, they had moved here from the old manor. He had gone abroad shortly after, then moved into his city center apartment upon his return. Norton had been sent to a boarding school by their grandfather and then rented his own place for university. A year ago, their grandfather had left on a trip around the world, leaving Mrs. Stapleton alone in the large house.