Charlie reached out and grabbed the amulet as it was thrown. He didn't
believe anything would happen, but it was thrown in his direction.
He had other things to think about. His wonderful wife was under a lot
of pressure from her father to divorce Charlie. At 22, Charlie was a
mechanic and his father-in-law was a powerful, wealthy, successful
corporate executive. He despised Charlie and didn't like having to
give them money all the time.
Charlie enjoyed the extra money and the gifts, but he didn't like his
father-in-law's arrogant attitude and his contempt for him.
They were meeting the next morning for breakfast at Starbucks. Charlie
knew he was going to try to force Charlie to leave his daughter.
As he was leaving, he thought "If this amulet really works, I have an
idea"
The next morning, Charlie arrived in his jeans and tee shirt.
Edmund Parker, his father-in-law, arrived in his navy blue three
piece, pinstriped business suit, silk tie, starched white shirt and
highly polished shoes, carrying a briefcase.
Charlie held the amulet and said: "I want to control my father-in-law
- I want him to obey whatever I say"
"Hello Charlie" said Mr. Parker in a sharp tone. "I'm glad to see you
are on time!"
"It didn't work" thought Charlie. "I should have known"
"I will get right to the point" continued Mr. Parker in his commanding
tone. "You seem like a decent young man but you know I have never
approved of your marriage to my daughter. Do you understand why? I see
no financial future for you as a mechanic. You have no ambition, no
drive."
Suddenly Charlie looked hard at his father-in-law.
"I want you to listen to me!" he said and stared at him.
Mr. Parker looked shocked and then angry - and then his clear blue
eyes lost their focus.
He struggled with himself and then said in a quiet voice.
"I am listening"
Charlie felt a thrill of excitement and control.
"From now you will obey me - whatever I tell you and whatever I want,
you will obey. You may not like it. You may resist. But you will obey!
And you call me SIR from now on - and I call you Eddie whenever we are
alone. Got it?" said Charlie boldly, staring into his father-in-law's
frightened eyes.
"Yes, yes I...understand...." said Mr. Parker slowly, feeling the
impossibility of resisting.
"YES WHAT?" snapped Charlie
"Yes...sir" said Mr. Parker grudgingly. He didn't know why he suddenly
had to obey, but he did...
"I think we need to test your obedience" said Charlie. He looked over
his Father-in-law. At 54, Edmund Parker was a tall, lean, imposing
man. Charlie was always intimidated by him. He was so perfect.
It was time to make some changes.
“I…I have a conference at 11 today. I should be getting back…” said
Edmund Parker nervously. He didn’t understand what had happened and
wanted to get away.
“Not yet Eddie!” said Charlie. He looked at his father-in-law’s
perfect head of thick silver hair. “Time for you to get a haircut!.
You got TWO HOURS!”
“But, sir – I – I don’t need. I don’t WANT a haircut. I have a stylist
that…” Edmund Parker stuttered and pleaded. But his son-in-law was now
in control.
Charlie knew his father-in-law was proud and vain about his hair. He
had a full head of hair, carefully groomed and neatly parted, when
many men were losing theirs and since his divorce many women
complimented him and called him a Silver Fox. He spent plenty to keep
it perfect. It was part of his perfect image.
So Charlie decided it had to be changed. NOW
“No choice, Eddie! I said it’s time for a HAIRUCT!” said Charlie. “And
no fancy stylist for you now!”
“Yes, sir” whispered Edmund Parker.
Together they left the coffee shop and walked through the city, and
Charlie led his well-dressed executive father-in-law to a low income
neighborhood.
People stared at the tall man in the three piece suit and briefcase.
“What is going on?” said Edmund Parker to his son-in-law. “Where are
you taking me?” Here he was, a powerful, wealthy 54 year old executive
being led by his slacker son in law through dirty streets and there
was nothing he could do to stop it.
Charlie smiled and opened the door to a tiny, dusty, dark shop.
Edmund Parker looked in and Charlie pulled him inside.
There were three barber chairs with three very old barbers, with two
customers – both men in overalls. Cigar smoke filled the shop.
They all stared at the man in the business suit and the polished
shoes.
Charlie said “My father-in-law here wants a whole new haircut.
Something really different”
The oldest barber grinned, grabbed Mr. Parker by his pinstriped arm
and propelled him into the one empty chair. He pulled a huge, dirty
barber cape over him – covering his suit.
Charlie leaned over and whispered to his father-in-law:
“Eddie, tell him to shave your head completely. BALD. Every hair. I
want you to be a cueball. Tell him you want a new image”
“BALD!! NO PLEASE” Edmund Parker was horrified. But he had no choice.
He had to obey Charlie.
“What’ll it be sir?!” said the barber. “What kind I do for you? A
trim? That’s a FINE head of hair you got there! I wouldn’t mind having
it myself! Bet you’re REAL proud of it!”
Edmund Parker took a deep breath. “Yes – I…I am….but I want you to
shave it all off”
The barber was stunned. “SHAVE YOU BALD?!”
“Yes” said Edmund Parker. “Shave it off. Every hair. Completely bald.
I…I want a new image”
All three barbers and the customers laughed.
“Shave off all that hair!? OK – You’re in charge…” said the barber.
Edmund Parker closed his eyes. He couldn’t bear to watch.
“No – I’m in charge” whispered Charlie to his father-in-law as the
barber put the clippers to his forehead and began to push them through
the curtain of silver hair. Four inches of hair fell slowly in sheets
and tufts to the floor. The executive watched as all the hair on his
head was cut off. Then the barber changed blades and shaved off every
bit of stubble.
Charlie’s father-in-law’s beautiful head of hair was gone.
Edmund Parker opened his eyes and stared in horror. He was BALD. “I
have no hair” he gasped.
“That’s right pal – no hair at all!” said the barber, shaking his
head. “I can’t say you look better because you don’t! I’ll shine it up
for you!”
The barber rubbed lotion into his naked scalp and lifted the cape.
A stunned Edmund Parker stood up, paid the barber and walked out with
Charlie.
“I am bald. I am bald” repeated Edmund Parker, over and over. “My hair
is gone. But at least it will grow back” he whispered. “I will wait
for it every day”
Charlie grabbed his tall father-in-law and looked up in his face. “NO
YOU WON’T! You will STAY bald! I don’t want to see ONE hair on your
head! Keep it shaved! No more silver fox!”
Mr. Parker begged and pleaded but finally nodded sadly. “I must stay
bald. No more silver fox. I am now a bald man”
Charlie’s father-in-law was learning obedience.