The Sign on the Door

Anna’s moon pendant tapped her purple dress as she skipped down the Moon Shining Orphanage hall. Her long blonde pigtails dragged near her waist and brushed the wall.

Sabrina held up a phone. “Haircut videos!”

Mandy giggled. Juliana bounced. Michelle smoothed her skirt.

By the barber chair, Miss Lottie shook a spray bottle. “Girls first.”

A paper sign was taped to the boys’ dorm door: NO ENTRY.

From inside, Jack yelped, “No capes!”

Michael groaned, “No scissors!”

Blaze’s voice was muffled, like his hair was in his mouth.

Hana sniffed. “Tornado hair.”

Ollie hid behind a laundry cart, peeking.

The Mirror That Talks Back

Miss Lottie grunted and rolled the barber chair into the laundry room. The wheels bumped over the doorway.

Anna hurried after her, her long pigtails swishing. “A secret haircut spot!”

A man with a gray beard tapped the wall clock with a tiny tool. “Mr. Tock,” he said, without looking up.

On the wall, an oval mirror had a painted mouth.

“Hello, haircut heads!” the mirror said.

Hana clapped. “Say tornado hair!”

The mirror shouted, “Blaze’s hair covers his face! Michael looks like a broom! Jack is a puffball!”

From the hall, the boys’ dorm door slammed.

Ollie squeaked and ducked behind a basket.