AT THE BARBER'S

At the Barber's

Delusion.The mirror in the barber shop distorts appearance. The mirror in the mind distorts reality.

Makar Kuzmitch doesn't realize he's working in a down and out barber shop and he's filthy.

Ernst Ivanitch, the godfather of the stinky barber is no peach himself. He's been ill for over a month -- yet he walks a long distance for a free haircut. He takes and thinks nothing of it. He believes he's entitled to what he gets from the barber. After all, he's the godfather.

And then the truth shatters their comfy illusions. When Ernst Ivanitch tells Makarushka his daughter is engaged to be married -- the barber finally gets to see what his godfather thinks of him. He is no match for his dear daughter. And how could he even believe he was. "Come on boy cut my hair and smell the roses -- you're a loser. Deal with it. Look for someone who thinks greasy is sexy and lay off my lovely child."

The barber is a romantic. He is in love. He thinks he and the daughter had a pact to be married and he was well on his way to a future wedding. Now that may also be a delusion. For all we know the daughter thinks of the barber the same way the father does.

Makar's whole world is as distorted as the mirror he uses on his clients. The slap on the face by his godfather might finally wake him up. Most likely not. He will probably continue to live in a delusion in one fashion or another.

Rarely do any of us dare to see the world for what it is. It's too damn dangerous.

Well, one thing is certain and not an illusion -- Ernst Ivanitch is walking around with a bad hairstyle.

As one of my favorite ads once showed -- displaying a picture of Einstein -- the caption reads: A Bad Haircut Can Make Anybody Look Stupid.