I still remember that fateful day like it was just yesterday,I had been very excited for weeks to try out a new hairstyle I saw my classmate with in school and finally the day arrived.I went to the barbers shop,sat in the chair and watched while smiling as the stylist worked his magic,and when hr finished, huhm,I felt on top,exactly what I wanted.
But little did I know, my excitement would be cut short,as soon as I walked through the front door of my house,my brother's eyes opened in shock,you know a typical Yoruba elder brother .... "What is that on your head"hr said,his voice shows disapproval.I just shush my mouth, thinking he would stop bothering me,lo and behold...my brother was serious with it.
"You're too young for a hairstyle like that," he said,"and it's not even suitable for someone from our background."I was shocked by his words,is this an attacks,what's with this older siblings, always feeling like.... But just before I could respond, he turned to me and said, "Come on follow me,you are scraping that whole thing"
I was hesitant at first,but he said that mum and dad would also talk to him if they came back and saw it,hr does not want to get scolded for not being able to correct me.Well I followed him back to the barbershop.As we walked in all eyes were on me,both young and old,the barber looked at me with confusion,my brother explained the situation and the barber nodded in agreement.Before I knew it the clipper was already doing it's job,my beautiful new hair was being cut off,coupled with laughs and talks behind me,I was more of a laughing stock that day.
I was in shock as I watch as my locks fell to the floor.When the barber finished,I was left with a bald head.My brother smiled as I saw him via the mirrored opposite me,after I finished he patted me on the back and said"See my boy,isn't this better?"I wanted to burst and talk,with my kind of person, I might cry as people in the barbed shop were pointing and I just wanted to run off.
This humiliation continued when I went back to school,my classmates would not stop staring and laughing at my new bald look.I felt somehow,my confidence had been shattered,I never hold an ulterior motive,I just wanted to blend in and be like everyone else but my brother's actions had made that impossible.
That was about 9-10years ago,and looking back now,I realize that my brother intentions might have been good but sincerely his methods and approach was wrong.He didn't understand that I meant on harm,I love my hair so much and don't like it being short not to talk of cutting the whole of it,my hair was a part of me and he took it away,it took me some time to forgive him,that was when my hair grew back,it took me time to regain confidence even after my hair grew back because kids still kept on referring to it then.
That memorable bad hair day may have been a painful experience,but it ultimately made me a stronger and more confident person.And as for my brother,we cool now, any hairstyle I make now he would just look,not as if I make you know....But I eill never forget that day, and the valuable lessons it taught me about self-acceptance.
Picture without source is mine.
There are various entries organized by @leogrowth.
This post is in collaboration with the @hivenaija community and an entry to day 11 of #decemberinleo in #inleo,I am inviting you to also check it out,so as to partake in various interesting writing prompts.
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