Back in ninth grade, I had really long hair. One day, out of nowhere, my mom took me to a barbershop. Without any warning, she told the barber, “Cut her hair short—like a boy’s.”
The barber hesitated. “Like a bob?” he asked.
“No,” she said firmly. “Cut it above her ears.”
As I sat there crying, Mom kept urging the barber to go even shorter. People around us began watching. After what felt like forever, the barber finally asked, “Is that all, ma’am?”
But Mom stood up from her chair and replied, “Not yet. Cut mine the same way you did hers.”
It turned out she had a plan the whole time—she was preparing us for a Halloween party where we’d go as matching characters. She wanted us both to have bowl cuts. The costumes were a hit, and we ended up winning “Best Costume” that night. People kept telling us how dedicated we were.
Looking back, it really was worth it. But more than anything, I just miss my mom now.