Buzz in the Air

Wind shoved wrappers along Harristown’s sidewalk as Jackie—Jack—pressed her back to the brick wall beside Snip Sisters.

Her long black hair slapped her shoulders, red streaks flashing. Her shark-tooth necklace clicked. She tugged her skull earrings and peeked around the corner.

Ollie’s hair hung in ropes around his face like a worried monkey.

“Don’t say the H-word,” he hissed.

“Haircut?” Mike said on purpose.

All five boys yelped and clapped hands over their heads.

Remi groaned. “Stop feeding him.”

Jackie lifted her phone. “Smile, cowards. Group chat needs proof.”

“No!” Ollie squeaked. “If those devils get near my head, I’m gonna die from the baldness!”

Jackie snorted, like it was hilarious. Her missing left tooth showed.

The shop door chimed.

Two girls stepped out in aprons. One twirled a striped cape. The other held a blue spray bottle.

“Hide-and-squeal again?” the older one called, sweet as soda and twice as sharp.

Inside the shop, clippers buzzed—just once—and Jackie’s knees went tight

Tick-Tock Rules

Suki snapped the striped cape like a flag.

“Corner time’s over,” she said, smiling like she meant it and also like she did not.

Tessa tipped her chin toward the small cafe next door. “Inside. No running in there. Muffins are innocent.”

The group shuffled in, hair swinging in messy ropes. Jackie kept her bangs low so nobody could see her eyes. The clippers inside the shop buzzed again, and her stomach jumped.

Ollie pressed his palms to his head. “No no we like our hair!!”

“Wonderful,” Suki said. “Then you can keep it… shorter.”

She slid her phone onto the table. On the screen was a flyer: CLIP-OFF CHALLENGE—SEASIDE PARK—TOMORROW.

Mike squinted. “That’s public.”

“Yep,” Tessa said. “Sit for the clippers, or Snip Sisters signs you up anyway.”

Ollie scooted back. His chair screeched.

At the counter, a bearded man with tiny tools in his vest pocket looked up. “Nervous kids,” he said. He twisted a metal kitchen timer and set it on their table.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Suki leaned in. “Ten seconds of practice buzz. Who’s first?”