Why is Perry Hiding?

Sunny rays played tag on Perry’s sleepy face.

The boy rubbed sandman dust from his eyes. Sat up, stretched and yawned. “YIKES!” The floor is cold.

He remembered what mom said after last night’s supper.

“You must get a haircut. Tomorrow,” mom said yesterday. “Your mop needs a trim.” Now tomorrow was today. What to do?

“I’ll tell mommy I have an upset tummy,” Perry said to his teddy bear, and jumped back into bed. Ben, his brown teddy bear looked at him with sad button eyes.

Perry had to find a way to keep his own thick, black hair.

Mommy peeked through the doorway. “Up, up, young man,” she said. “We have to go…you know where.”

“But Mommy,” said Perry. “I don’t feel well.”

“Then sick little boys must stay in bed all day,” she said.

“But, it’s Saturday. If I get better real soon, can we go for a picnic instead?” Perry asked.

“Your haircut appointment is for ten o’clock,” mommy answered. “You don’t want to be called Wolf Boy, do you? “

Perry placed his right index finger across his lips. “Hmmm, Wolf Boy sounds kind of neat.”

“NEAT-SHMEET” answered mommy. “Breakfast is ready. HURRY, DRESS,” she commanded like a three star general. Then she headed downstairs.

Perry crawled under the bed. And lay still as a spider.

Grunting noises covered each step and soon bounced into Perry’s room. Three-year old Roman’s voice was like an echo from a deep valley. “Commme fooo’ breakfasss’.”

“I see Perry under bed,” Roman said, wagging his finger. Tugging his brother’s leg didn’t help. Perry was too heavy. Roman quickly scampered away to get some help.

Now, sister Raven stood at the door. “Perry? Move it. Mom and dad can’t wait forever.” She checked under the bed. But Perry wasn’t there. He was hiding in his clothes closet.

“Peek-a-boo, I see you,” Raven said swinging open the door. She pushed aside his shirts and tickled him under the chin. But Perry wouldn’t come out.

“I don’t want a haircut,” he said.

Raven decided it was time to get more help.

Perry was on top of his dresser when mommy came. But she couldn’t lift him down. It was now time to get BIG help.

In a few moments dad stood in the doorway. He looked like a gunslinger with both hands on hips. “Perry?” he called.

The boy was no longer on top of his dresser. Nor could he be found under the bed or in the closet either.

Perry was hanging from the outside windowsill! Good thing he had long fingernails to dig into the woodwork. Would the barber cut them off too? He wondered.

“Help me!” Perry finally cried. His outstretched arms were getting weak.

Daddy rushed to the window and pulled his son to safety. “It’s only a haircut, Perry,” he said. “Now get dressed and join us for breakfast.”

Before long, everyone sat in the barbershop. Even teddy bear Ben came along to see Perry get a haircut.

‘Snip, Snip’ went the scissors. Stacks of hair fell to the floor, finally all done. Perry opened one eye very slowly, then the other.

“YIKES!!” he said looking in the mirror. He blinked, as a strange-looking boy blinked back. No longer was there a mop of thick, black hair.

“Perry…gone,“ He said dropping his chin. The boy was sure none of his friends would recognize him.

He felt so light he was sure the wind might blow him away. Or an eagle might scoop him up, thinking Perry’s head was her missing egg.

So he kept both hands on his head all the way home.

Perry went up to his room, each step moving very slowly. Mommy, daddy, Raven, and Roman followed too. Their steps also moved, very slowly. Perry kept rubbing his head.

“No more hair. No more Perry,” he moaned.

He wanted to crawl under the bed. But mom pulled him back. He tripped over Roman as he tried to run and hide in the closet. Perry could crawl out the window! But dad was like a huge bear standing in front of it.

Perry looked sad as he held tightly onto Ben.

Later in the evening grandma and grandpa came to visit. They took turns telling Perry a story to help calm him down. Finally, he fell asleep. And it was only seven o’clock!

One by one his family kissed him on the head because they loved him. Roman pushed Ben under the covers.

“Have a good sleep, our little boy,” said mommy and daddy. And the night hurried along like a runaway train.

“Will my friends still play with me?” Perry asked during breakfast. Soon the backyard was filled with noise from visiting friends.

Troy shouted, “Your head is shaved like mine!”

Paul said, “Cool, mine too.”

“Hey. I want a haircut like that,” said Wally.

Perry raced everyone around his house. He was really quick to climb the rope ladder to his tree house.

Now he could use both hands to fly his kite. He didn’t have to keep pushing hair from his eyes.

Hey! Getting a haircut wasn’t so bad.

Mom, Dad, Raven, Roman and Ben watched from the window. And they were very happy for little Perry.

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© Richard & Esther Provencher