No

“I’m sorry, Naomi,” Clara said with a smile. “But you don’t get to tell me what to do. If you wanted to keep your hair, you should have worn your master’s collar.”

Naomi’s eyes teared up, and a drop trickled from her eyelash as her mouth screwed up. “Please Mistress, please don’t do this.” Her breaths were heavy, and she sobbed, Clara becoming a teary blur in her vision.

“It’s too late for that.” The clippers turned on again, buzzing near her forehead. “Now stay still, I wouldn’t want to cut that pretty head of yours.”

Naomi wanted to scream, wanted to resist, but she knew that all she’d manage was a cut on the head. She remained still, sobbing as Clara grabbed the front of her hair, pushing the clippers up from the forehead and the long, permed hairs fell to the floor in front of her.

She remained there, bent over in the pillory as Clara grabbed more of her hair, shaving the sides and behind the ears. Naomi sobbed uncontrollably as more and more of her hair landed on the floor. Her scalp felt so cold, and she felt so hideous as half of her hair was gone now. Clara smiled the whole time, going to work on the other side. The buzzing noise was horrid as it crept around the back of her ear and Naomi stayed still, not wanting to get cut.

She’d always had long hair, now it was going to take so long to grow back. It was going to be so embarrassing when she got home. She’d not be able to be seen anywhere with her hair shaved.

“Nearly done,” Clara said, as though she was enjoying every second while Naomi continued to cry her eyes out.

A few more shaves and Clara seemed to be finished, she just evened out the bits she’d already gone over. She seemed satisfied, then she walked off, leaving Naomi to look down at the pile of hair on the floor in front of her.

A moment later, Clara returned, holding a little mirror in one hand. She crouched in front of Naomi, showing her the reflection. Naomi cried, not recognising herself without the long blonde hair. She wasn’t used to seeing the shape of her head without all that hair. All that was left was some brown stubble. She felt so hideous. Some girls liked that look, but not her.

“Don’t be upset,” Clara said. “You still look pretty.”

Naomi continued to cry, she didn’t feel pretty.