Things to Do to Pass the Time

Quarantine Day 52.

Julia decided she needed a haircut. Taking her father’s electric trimmer from the cupboard, she pressed the vibrating blades against her head.

The first clump of hair fell like autumn leaves, a delicate dance to the white basin beneath. Julia was horrified, but her father had taught her never to leave a job unfinished, so she committed to her task, repeating the gesture again and again, leaving only two small tufts at the top of her head, for comfort.

Resembling a round cactus, Julia decided as with all things in the past, she could not see behind her, so finding no need to contort herself in an attempt to trim the hair at the back of her head, she stopped.