Uncle Benny is one of the most trusted barbers in our barangay. He worked for over a decade until he retired a few years ago. From what I remember, he retired because his hands were no longer steady. Hands are the treasure of every barber once they lose that, they can't continue anymore.
"Benny?" my father asked, then looked around. Uncle Benny is one of my father's friends. Back when Uncle Benny still cuts hair he never once let other people touch his hair.
"Have you seen Benny around?" he asked the other drivers.
"He just left after you came. He got a passenger a few minutes later," one of them answered.
"You heard it, right? Let's wait for him. Why are you looking for him anyway?" my father asked curiously.
"I was planning to start a barbershop. I've been training at school for a while," I explained.
This was the best explanation I could give. Recently, schools started teaching students practical skills. I liked cooking, drawing, nail design, bed making, and hair cutting. However, hair cutting usually starts in high school and I just finished elementary school at this time. I hope they don't question it.
"Oh, that? My grandson is doing carpentry, and my youngest is into cooking. Schools really changed, huh? Back in my day, tree planting, carpentry, and cooking were the only choices. Now you can even become a barber," said Sir John, the oldest driver in the TODA. He was an old veteran that experienced a lot of hardship in life. Everyone trusted him so he was elected as the president of the TODA for a long while.
"Oh, there's something like that now!? I remember joining carpentry before, but I've never heard of barber classes," another driver added.
My prayers were answered and they believed me. I am so glad that it works because I don't have any Plan B with me right now.
"Now! Now! You might not be asking. However Back then, I won competition after competition in carpentry. I was really cool," my father bragged. His chest was pumped up clearly showing his might toward the other people
"Nah, you only won because I stopped. If I continued, you'd always be second place," another interrupted.
I just watched them joke around.
Our municipality is known for its carpenters and sculptors. That's why schools back then focused on these skills to preserve the culture for future generations.
My father and his friends belong to the second generation of carpenters. That's why they're so proud when it comes to their skills. Most of the time up until today competitions like that are still happening.
Even today, my father still does carpentry when he has time. However, with the rise of imported goods, the industry declined, forcing many like my father to change careers. I know in the future these things will be forgotten. Few families will carry this type of tradition.
Even in my family no one has carried the path that my grandfather built. My father trained a little bit back when he was a kid. But he is not as good as my grandfather. There was this time that my grandfather asked my father to carry on the business but my father rejected it and worked in the steel industry for he can earn more by working there than doing carpentry.
Well you don't have to include me in the equations. I didn't even know how to use a hammer.
________
Minutes passed as passengers came one by one. The line of drivers slowly moved forward.
"Hey, that's Benny's tricycle!" someone shouted, squinting toward the road.
I immediately stood up to look and it really was him. I followed the tricycle with my eyes until Uncle Benny parked at the end of the line.
Everyone started welcoming him, including my father.
"Damn, that passenger was really thick-skinned. She went all the way to the public market and only paid 20 pesos. What a waste of gasoline," Uncle Benny complained.
Others just laughed with him.
"Man, that sucks. You should've charged 30 or 40 with that distance," my father added. The public market is about 5 kilometers away, so paying only 20 pesos really is unfair.
"Oh, Brier was looking for you," Uncle John said.
"Brier? Marcus' son?" he looked confused, then my father pointed at me.
"BRIER!!! Hahaha! How are you, kid? You've grown a lot since the last time I saw you. You were just this tall!" he exclaimed, ruffling my hair.
This is why I don't bother fixing my hair they always mess it up anyway.
"Marcus said you were looking for me. What is it?" he asked.
I was about to answer when Uncle John interrupted.
"Teach him how to get a woman. You promised him you'd find someone for his first time on his birthday!"
Everyone burst out laughing. I laughed along with them. I remember actually expecting that back then… Well, don't judge me, I was young.
"Oh, I was about to take you with me, but Marcus stopped me," Uncle Benny joked.
"Don't include my child in your bad ideas," my father said, half-serious.
"I was his age when I lost mine. If you don't teach them early, they'll die virgins!" he added.
He meant well… I guess. But man, don't attack me like that. Back then, I didn't do anything because I was busy. And no I wasn't about to hire someone. I'm a respectable teacher.
"Uncle, can I borrow your tools?" I asked.
He looked confused.
"What tools? Your father's tools are more complete than mine."
"No, I mean the ones you used in your barbershop. Scissors and a razor will do," I clarified.
"Oh, those? Just get them from my house when you're free. They've been sitting there for a while. But why do you need them?" he asked.
"I've been practicing hair cutting at school. I want to start a small business to earn some allowance."
"Oh! What a great kid you have!" he said, looking at my father, then gave me a heavy pat on the back. I almost lost a lung from that.
"Let's see… I haven't maintained them well. I'll clean them first so they're ready to use. Just make me your customer when you open," he added.
"I won't charge you a single peso that's a promise!" I said confidently.
Everyone laughed and started asking for free haircuts, but I refused all of them.
"Hey, have some shame. How can you scam a kid like that?" Uncle John teased.
Everyone laughed again and started sharing ridiculous stories. It was lively… warm.
I've never experienced this in my previous life.
How did I miss this?
There was a time when my father invited me to come here with him. I rejected it because I wanted to stay at the computer shop. And not even to play I just watched others.
"How stupid I was."
I cursed myself for missing moments like this.
They're fun to be with. You learn a lot from their experiences. Some stories are nonsense but even those teach you what not to do.
As I listened, I lost track of time.
"Marcus! Passenger over there!!" someone shouted.
"Brier, let's go!"
I quickly got on the tricycle as we drove toward the passenger.
"Where are you going, ma'am?"
"Main Church."