A beam of light shines into the dark alleyway as a door is creaked open.
“Hail my good fellow, I won’t be but a moment!” chirps the cheery craftsman from inside.
“Much obliged,” grumbles the creature, as he pokes his wild haired head through the door.
The Hagrid looking beast trudges his way inside. He is cold and weary, he has journeyed across ice and through fierce wind, climbed towers and ventured along dark passageways. Will he finally find what he is looking for in this place?
The creature is met with the craftsman’s warm smile and is guided to a leather throne to rest.
His feelings of unease are soothed with the warm glow of the fluros, and the smell of fresh laundry.
A black cape is flashed before his eyes and laid to rest on his shoulders… the magic begins.
The skilled artisan works in mysterious ways, not always how you’d expect, but always with great care… the transformation is taking place.
Never before seen contraptions lay on the table, odd smells linger in the air and strange sounds of buzzing and snipping can be heard. One careful manoeuvre at a time the craftsman shapes the artwork before him, much like a delicate ice sculpture.
As time goes on, tools now lay splayed out across the room, the floor is a mess with hair, the craftsman has been interrupted many times with visitors washing or drying their clothes in the back of his shop (or busybodies meddling trying to catch a peak of the artist at work).
The artisan finally lays his hand on the shoulder of the transformed man, “Alright my friend, my work here is done”.
This once grumpy haggard creature looks upon the image of himself in the mirror. His eyes are no longer hidden, his face freshly clean and shaven, his hair trimmed and gleaming. He is a new man.
Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, he is now a shining beacon of new life, bleached tips flowing not unlike the luscious mane of a Pegasus.
“Good Sir what is the payment for such exquisite work?” questions the now handsome nay dashing fellow.
The artisan replies, “One ale and our score is even!”
“I’ll return with two!” the revamped man carols on his way out the door.
The barber knows he will not see him again anytime soon, but the ale is not the reason he does it. His ability to lift spirits and inspire others to be feel their best is enough reward for him. He is the quiet hero of the station, the little-known unsung achiever putting capes on his guests when he is the one who deserves a cape of his own.
AI was not used to create this article.
Bridget Muldoon
Station Supply Officer
