Andy & His Half Clogged Brain

5

Present

I glance at my wrist watch and notice that the time was 13:00pm , this tells me that weve been on the road for straight two hours now and I know this wont change as earlier he passed me a plastic bottle when I joked about the fact that he has to stop the car for humanly breaks.

"Mr Nicaro ,I can drive from here, you're probably tired".

"I'm absolutely fine, in fact I can even drive back at the same speed, without any breaks". I think the comment indirectly pokes me of being incompetent but I dont voice it out. The need for filling out awkward silences makes me speaks out again

"This is actually commendable that you were able to pull this off in a couple of hours". The silence from his side isnt really helpful to understand whether he doesn't know how to take a complement or that hes received so many that now they just dont matter.

"So do you think that we'll be able to find something here?"

"The chance are quite low but no harm in trying". That concluded the conversation which would also be the only conversation in this five hour journey.

**********

"Quite a small town this is", I say

"This will actually work in our favor , people in small town tend to know each other".

"I guess thats why this had to be the first stop ". He nods and pushes me towards the chair as the person earlier occupying it stands up and walks away from it. I unwillingly sit in it while the the barber bills his previous customer . The sound of ringing of a bell when opening/closing the door just leaves me, Robert and the barber in this shop. He approaches me silently from the behind and puts his hands on my shoulder as if to inspect his prey.

"You wanna shorten the length"?, he asks me

"Yes please".

"My brother recently returned from the city and would be residing in this town now, but his looks make him stand out. I think he would appreciate a more country look", Robert pipes in from behind the stash of magazines laid out for the waiting customers. Understanding clouds the barbers eyes

"This makes sense, cause earlier when you both walked in I was having a hard time recognizing you and to not no anyone felt like a waste of 57 years of my life", he picks up the barbers gown from were the earlier customer had put it and fastens it around me.

"That would mean 15-16 years of experience". For a man who doesnt like to talk much Robert sure was good at small talk

"Make it 20. Thats what makes me good at this". Robert acknowledges his statement with great interest which could mean a good haircut for me.

"I think then I can confide my problems with you for youre help. My friend Jay Smith who's married to a woman named Melina, lives in this town was about to come and pick us up a week ago from the city but I havent heard anything from him. So we came down here but we exactly dont know where to look". I wish I could look at the barber to give him a sincere expression but he had bend my neck forward to cut the hair at the back of my head.

"Jay Smith, he says his name as if tasting it

"The name sound too hip cannot be from this town". A sigh of disappointment leaves from Robert after hearing this and tells me that he would be waiting for me outside as he leaves soon after.

"Its not as bad as I thought it would be". I say while moving a hand through my hair and Robert whos been leaning on the building, stands straighter when I approach.

"Its not, but youre face makes it worse'. We have to leave before it starts to get dark.

"You're right people are skeptical of entertaining people who knock at there door at night". To this statement I receive a confused gaze so I hold out a piece of paper for him to unfold.