The things heroes are made of

Char and I sat in the warmth and dryness of the car while we waited for school to let out; it was rainy and heavily windy, and as the kids practically fought their way across the parking lot, hair whipping around wildly, Char mused that it was time to take the boys for haircuts.

I reminded her that Kevin wanted a mohawk.

Her sigh was tinged with resignation, but she nodded and said it was fine; everyone else was right, the hair would grow back if he hated it. Her only caveat was to not get the sides shaved; he could have the mohawk, but only sort of. Leave a quarter inch of hair, two to three on top, so that if he really hated it, we could cut it and he'd still have hair.

Worked for me.

I dropped her and Rachel off at home and took the boys to the barber. This guy has been cutting their hair as long as I can remember; I don't think he gave Alex his first non-parental haircut, but it's been almost that long. He's as old as Moses, but he keeps up with trends, and neither of them have ever had a problem decribing what they want.

Alex keeps his hair on the longish side; it's never been down to his shoulders, but it's thick and just long enough that it drives Brad nuts and inspires the occasional "Alexandria" comment. It doesn't matter to me; he can grow it as long as the school dress code allows as long as he keeps it clean and combed. I don't even watch as he gets it cut; he's long past the age where he needs supervision or permission for what he wants.

Kevin, on the other hand, at least needs to check with me before the scissors come out. He sat next to me while Alex went first, and once Alex was in the chair I told him that his mother had agreed; he could get the mohawk as long as the sides weren't shaved.

He sighed much the same way Char had, and said No. Elizabeth thinks it would look weird and everyone would make fun of me, so I don't want one now.

Telling him that what everyone else thought didn't matter was pointless; he's eleven, he cares what his friends think. But, he didn't want the same "little boy" haircut; he had no idea what he wanted. While he waited for his turn, he looked though a few books, and didn't find anything he liked.

And then Alex was done.

He came into the waiting area, his hair now nearly military short; trimmed over the ears, seriously tapered in back, just a little bit longer on top. He looks a little older even, and far more serious.

Kevin went wide-eyed and asked quietly, Can I copy your haircut?

Alex grunted Sure as he flopped down into the chair and Kevin damn near floated back to get his hair cut. That Alex didn't mind being copied meant a lot to Kevin; he still has a bit of hero-worship going on for his older brother, and there aren't many things he can copy from Alex.

But the haircut, that was one, and I don't think I've ever seen him so happy to have it done.

Where Alex looks a little older (he didn't need that) and a little more serious, Kevin looks like a preteen trying hard, but it suits him.

On the way home, Kevin reminded me that we'd said that if he could save enough money to get his ear pierced, he could do it. And he asked Rachel, who told him it only cost her fifteen dollars to get hers done, and That was BOTH ears!

I agree; we had said that.

I have twenty dollars, he informed me. Can I still do it?

Char might get upset, but we'd agreed to it, so I told him yes, he could still do it--but not today. Give Mom a little fair warning.

And ask Elizabeth if it's all right, Alex teased.

Kevin just smiled. Elizabeth, it seems, loves the idea. She thinks he should get a tiny diamond stud at first, and then get a hoop later.

You'll look good Alex assured him. If it really looks good, can I copy you?

I'm surprised Kevin didn't explode with joy right there in the back seat.

So tomorrow after school I'm taking them both to the mall, God help me, and letting Kevin get his ear pierced, and in all liklihood, Alex as well.

I bet Alex checks with Stephanie first, though.

I would.