The Mystery of the Missing Pint (A Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys FanFiction)

Chapter Two: Mind Made Up

"Jane, how are you?" Hannah stepped into the air-conditioned hair salon. Jane's River Cuts was the local place to get a trim. The shop was owned and run by Jane Gotto. She was about twenty eight with brown hair and hazelnut colored eyes. Her hair was mid-back length and straight. She usually kept it down, but while she was working, she always put it up.

Hannah had known Jane since she was born. Hannah used to babysit her when she was younger. The girl's mother had passed away a few years ago, but her father was still a good friend of Hannah's.

"Hannah! What a delight to see you again," the young woman beamed. She bent down to face the three children in her salon, "And are you all ready for your hair cuts?" Bess still seemed somewhat nervous and unrelenting. Jane saw. She smiled, "Who wants to go first?" She turned to Nancy, "I'll bet you do." Nancy giggled. She loved coming to see Ms. Jane. Ms. Jane always knew what to say and what to do. She was such a fun person, and sometimes, she even gave them lollipops!

"Yes, I do. Can I have the cover with the keys on it again?"

"Of course," Jane patted the chair, "Hop up here. I'm going to make you tall." She pumped the chair up until Nancy's feet were unable to touch the floor. Jane went to her box of plastic covers. She pulled out one that was navy blue with scattered silver keys all over it. It was Nancy's favorite. Jane buttoned the cover around the red-head's neck.

"Now, what am I doing with your beautiful hair today?" Jane asked.

"Can you cut it so that it's only an inch or so past my shoulders?" Nancy asked after a minute of thinking.

"Yes, Ma'am!" Jane smiled and went straight to work. She chatted pleasantly with Hannah and the girls. She asked about when they were starting school. She asked about their summer, and what they had been doing on their vacation. Soon, Nancy was finished and George sat in the chair. George wanted her hair cut short.

"How short?" asked Jane as she buckled a new slip around the girl's neck.

"A buzzcut!" George said excitedly. Jane's face looked to Hannah in surprise.

"No, dearest," Hannah chuckled, "You're mother said that it can only be as short as your ears." George's face fell. She puckered out her lower lip, crossed her arms, and glared sternly at the floor.

Just then, a man walked into the salon. He had white hair and walked with a cane. Jane looked up, smiling brilliantly when she saw who it was. "Daddy!" she rushed over to kiss his cheek.

The man smiled, "How's my baby girl?"

"I'm doing fine. How are you this morning?" she walked back over to George.

"I'm excellent. Oh, now," he looked to George with a concerned expression, "Why so sad?"

George looked up at the man. A tear slipped down her cheek, but she remained silent. She tried to wipe her nose on her sleeve, but only managed to wipe it on the blue cover with white triangles spread across it.

"Oh, George," Bess came to her cousin's side, "don't feel bad. You can still cut it short...just not as short as you'd like to."

Hannah said to Mr. Gotto, "George wants to cut her hair as short as she can get it. Unfortunately, her mother doesn't want it too short."

"Oh, dear," the man said. He crouched down next to George, "Why, you should like your hair while you still have it. Look at mine." He showed her the balding spot on the top of his head, "I don't have any hair to cut!" George chuckled at that. "Deary, you have beautiful, dark hair. I think it looks very nice. It would be a waste to cut all that off."

A smile cracked on the small child's face. A rosy blush warmed her little cheeks. "You really think so?" she asked in a hushed voice.

"Of course I do!" he exclaimed, "I like your hair very much."

Nancy laughed, startling those in the room. She walked up to George and Bess, "This is so funny. You two should switch places!" She turned to Mr. Gotto to explain, "Bess really doesn't want to cut her hair, but her mom is making her; and George does want to cut her hair short, but her mom won't let her!" Nancy never had been one to shy away from strangers. She had always been a brave one.

"That is ironic," the man smiled at the girl standing before him, "What about you? Are you getting yours cut?"

"I already did, silly!" Nancy smiled, spinning around so that her hair would fly out around her.

"Come on, George, what do you say?" Jane smiled reassuringly at the girl.

George turned to Bess, "I guess I know how you feel now." Bess squeezed her cousin's hand. The two were as close as sisters, if not closer. George looked in turn to all of those in the room. Nancy nodded her encouragement as George looked her way.

"Alright," George said after a moment of thought. She looked up at Jane, "Will you cut it to where I can still put it into a ponytail, but not a long one?"

Jane winked at George, "Coming right up." She spun the girl around and pumped the chair up to make her taller. As Jane went to work on George, the others all sat: Nancy next to Bess, and Hannah aside Mr. Gotto.

"Thank you for your help," Hannah said to Mr. Gotto.

"No problem," he smiled in return, "I love dealing with younger children. They fascinate me." The two chatted as Nancy and Bess played in a corner of the salon.

Bess's hands started shaking a little while she pushed the Barbie car around in circles. Nancy looked at her friend, "It'll be okay." She smiled. Nancy went back to playing, trying her best to distract her friend. She pushed the Ken doll around and let Bess pick out the new dress for Barbie to buy. She even made funny barking noises, pretending to be the Barbie dogs in the park. Finally, George was done.

Jane walked over to Bess. She sat in the floor next to the girls. "Bess," she said, "have you decided what you want to do with your hair?" Bess looked down. "Bess, I can do whatever you want me to, as long as your mother will allow it. She said that I have to cut it at least two inches shorter, though."

Bess quietly got into the chair without complaint. George smiled at her. It was her turn to be the comforter now. George thought of something to say, "I love my cut, Bess. It isn't as short as I thought I wanted, but you know, I think I like this even better. You'll love yours, I just know it!"

Bess whispered into Jane's ear. "Are you sure that's what you want?" Jane asked.

"I've got my mind made up," Bess said. Jane nodded her head, and set to work.