“YOUR usual haircut?” the Indian barber said to me, as he held his scissors and comb over my head.

“Yes,” I said. “Just a trim,” I added, in case he thought that his three words meant something else.

I am happy when the Indian barber talks behind my back, for his words afford a wellspring of ideas for my writing.

Interesting tidbit: A traditional Indian barber shop in George Town, Penang. The barber’s pole, with its coloured stripes, functions as a business sign.

“May I ask you a question?” I said, remembering something that had been at the back of my mind a few days earlier.

“By all means,” he said, and I saw the reflection of his radiant smile.

“What is the purpose of the pole patterned with alternating stripes of red and white that is hung outside a barber’s shop?”

“Oh, that is the barber’s pole, which functions as a business sign,” he replied, garnishing his explanation with a deep chuckle. “The pole is either stationary or revolving, and there’s an interesting story behind it.”

As I hung on his words, he continued: “During medieval times, barbers performed surgery on customers, specifically bloodletting – the old medical practice of removing some of a sick person’s blood for therapeutic purposes.

“The pole represents the staff gripped by a patient during surgery, and it was painted red because it was usually stained with blood. The white spiral represents the bandage round the patient’s arm before the commencement of the surgical procedure.”

“You are a bona fide storyteller,” I said, greatly impressed. “Where’d you hear this one?”

“My grandfather told it to me lah,” he said, sharpening his razor on a strop.

“Thank you for entertaining me with the origin of the barber’s pole.”

“Don’t mention it,” he said. “Oops! I was all excited about the barber’s pole,” he added, smacking his forehead with the heel of his palm, “and I might have over-snipped your hair!”

I stared at my hair in the mirror and said, “I need this new haircut like I need a hole in the head.”

“Don’t worry, my friend,” the Indian Barber said, giving me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “It will grow on you!”

In case: If (something happens).

At the back of someone’s mind: In someone’s thoughts.

By all means: Certainly.

Hang on someone’s words (Also, Hang on to every word): To listen attentively to someone.

Don’t mention it: No thanks are necessary – I was happy to do it; you’re welcome.

Need something like one needs a hole in the head: Not to need something at all.

Grow on: To become gradually appealing or attractive.

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