Pink Hair and Panic

Felix ducked behind the rusty bins outside Miss Lolly's hair salon. Her pink hair sparkled in the Sydney sunshine as she swept the front steps. The sound of clippers buzzed through the open door.

"There's the devil machine," whispered Vic, adjusting his blue-framed glasses. His braces caught the light as he grimaced.

Nat pulled his black hood lower, hiding his vitiligo patches. "We should go."

Adam shrugged, strawberry-blonde hair falling into his eyes. "It's just hair stuff."

Inside, four girls giggled loudly. Yasmin flipped her perfectly styled waves while Jasmine admired her new highlights in the mirror.

Miss Lolly smiled warmly at her customers, unaware of the four boys watching from behind the bins.

The Seagull's Gift

A seagull swooped down and snatched Adam's strawberry-blonde hair tie right off his head. His loose hair whipped around his face in the salty Sydney breeze.

"Great," Adam muttered, pushing hair from his eyes. "Now I look like a mess."

Felix spotted a music shop across the street with guitars gleaming in the window. "Let's check it out while we wait for that bird to drop your hair tie."

Inside the shop, a baker wearing flour-dusted clothes was trying out drums. He tapped a rhythm that sounded exactly like hair clippers buzzing.

Vic covered his ears. "Even the drums sound like those devil machines!"

The baker grinned. "You boys musicians too? There's a big battle of the bands contest next week. Winner gets a recording contract!"

Felix's blue eyes went wide. The Buzz Kills needed this chance.