Nauga Cut

Hi folks,

Boy oh boy it sure is easy to lose track of time when you're out and about doing stuff. Seems like St Patrick's Day was only yesterday and bam... it's already almost a week later. Guess I just have to keep better track of time so I get myself back to this here computer to keep in touch with you.

Let see now... it was just a little earlier this week that I took a trip into Biggsbee to pick up a few things at the hardware store. Had to get some more of that thick metal mesh to reinforce part of the Nauga pen out in back. Them Nauga been pushing and poking at it trying to get out. Finally managed to pull a little section off a post. Would've gotten out to ifn they'd kept at it. Lucky for me the first one to try got stuck halfway through. Just couldn't get any further and sure as heck couldn't get back neither. Yep... he (had a blue stripe so I knows it was a he) just twisted and moved, kickin and making all sorts of noise trying to work itself free. Didn't help none that the other Naugas kept bunching up behind it interfering with its ability to get any real traction. After a while, they all just lost interest and went back to wandering around the pen, scavenging anything that looked like it might be good to eat. That Nauga would still be stuck there ifn I hadn't been goin to the barn to get some stuff I needed for the garden. Sheeesh. Anybody ever tell you how hard it is to push a Nauga back into a pen... from the front end? Let me tell you it ain't easy. You's got to be real careful to avoid the teeth. Have to push in just the right spot so as not to get that Nauga all riled up. Took a long time and of course then I had to get that mesh fence pushed back into place and fastened 'til I could get some new stuff from the hardware store.

Anyways... that's why I was in Biggsbee. Ben runs the hardware store. Good fella. Real friendly. Hasn't had a cross word to say about nobody for as long as I can remember. 'Course I guess that's why folks shop at his place instead of that big box place down the road. They'd rather go to someone that's gonna give them just what they want, with that personal touch, instead of being stuck with whatever's on the shelves. It helps that Ben knows just about everything about anything you might need.

Now where was I goin with this... oh yeah. Well I was in Biggsbee anyway so I thought I'd stop by Phil's Barbershop for a trim. Not much mind you, just a little off by the ears and in the back to keep it lookin neat. Phil does a good job. Asks you what you want before he starts to cut. Only does what you want him to. Folks generally are real satisfied when they climb back out his chair. He's a good listener too. Why I've seen him kinda fake cuttin here and there about a fella just 'cause he figured that guy needed to get something off his chest. Didn't charge him any more for the extra time neither. Yep. Phil's just good folk, yes sireee.

Well right after I got there Frank Wannat was next in his chair. Started right in telling Phil about how he'd barely slept for two days what with his pregnant Naugas deciding to give birth pretty much all at the same time. Why the way he told it, all those baby Nauga hit the ground and, after just a second to get their bearings, theyse all started running for the woods as fast as their tiny legs would take 'em. Seems Frank had made the mistake of puttin them pregnant Naugas in a new pen that hadn't been baby proofed. Wire was too wide, plenty of space for a Nauga baby to just squeeze through. And that's exactly what happened. About eighty of them little critters just exploded across the pen finding any way theyse could to get out. At least fifty made it, and at least two thirds of them managed to get to the woods before Frank and his kids could grab them up and plop them somewhere more secure. Seems he'd spent the last two days and nights pretty much searchin through the woods to try and find the rest. Finally managed to get all but about five before he just gave up and went on home. Came straight in to Phil's after that. Real conscious of his looks. Didn't want to miss his weekly trim.

Well Frank just kept noddin, his head jerking up and down, as he talked. Couldn't seem to keep his eyes open neither. Kept closin on him. Not sure he ever really heard Phil asking him want kind of haircut he wanted. Just kept repeating Naugas.. them Naugas... 'til he finally just sorta fell asleep in the chair. Wasn't much Phil could do. He shook him a couple of times to try and rouse him, but when that didn't work Phil just kinda shrugged and started to work. Heard him mutter "Not rightly sure what a Nauga cut is but ifn that's what he wants, then I'll do my best to accommodate him."

Well you can probably guess what happened. Phil took out his best pair of clippers and started cuttin real close to the skin. Began on one side and just went straight on over to other side. Closest thing I've ever seen to one of them GI haircuts they show in the movies. You know, the ones where they basically just cut off all a fella's hair in a couple of minutes. That's what Phil did to Frank. Figured a Nauga skin is smooth as a Black Breasted Tarn so maybe that's what Frank had meant. Did his best to accommodate him. Got his head as clean and smooth as... well you know. Had just finished up giving it a real good polish when Frank woke up. Boy oh boy, the look on his face was a sight to see. Recovered real fast though. Never did like anyone to see him out as a fool. Asked Phil what he called it. Phil thought about it for a while he put away his clippers and razor and other stuff. Then he told him it was a Nauga Cut. Latest thing. Wouldn't be surprised if everyone started asking for one.

Well Frank just acted like this was just what he had in mind. Looked at himself in the mirror every which way to get the full effect. Praised Phil for the job he'd done, then tipped him real good... for Frank that is... that fella's never let loose of a dollar ifn fifty cents would do. Still... it did look good on him. Wouldn't be surprised if he asks for the Nauga Cut every time he comes in from now on...

Guess that's it for now. 'Til next time. Jon