Rupert Gets a Haircut

 

by Mihran Kulhanjian

 

Rupert became comfortable in South East Asia.  It suited his financial situation perfectly.  He could live on $15 a day rather comfortably and dine on local delicacies nightly. If he wanted companionship, it could be arranged through the hotel owner.  If he wanted anything special, again, the owner of the hotel had the answers. Service was good.  The owner, Mr. Tran, was eager to please. He also enjoyed drinks throughout the day, making him an amiable, but sad, drunkard. If you want whisky, a bottle could be in your room at a moment’s notice; and if you wanted a pretty smile, even faster. The service was first rate.

 

Rupert, however, brought up with the full Gospel and did not abide in drinks or women. He remembered the Proverbs and strong drink and women with painted faces do not please God one bit. So Rupert went out into the city to find ladies of the night and drunks, to witness to them, to pour over the love of Jesus and the wrath of God on the disobedient. He did not have to go far, for many congregated on the street outside the Hotel Continental Saigon.

 

Rupert was in need of a haircut.  His black hair, unkempt and outrageously curly had plenty of time to grow in five months.  It was now late in the season and with summer approaching, a haircut would be most necessary. Rupert had no particular barber in mind, since he had moved to Saigon in April and planned to stay through August. He had not the opportunity nor the inclination to seek a barber until now.

 

Mr. Tran suggested that Rupert visit #1 Salon on Victor Hugo Blvd. Rupert walked the four blocks to the Salon, met the barber, Mr. Phong, and for the price of $3 received a haircut, shave and shoulder and head massage. For $2 more a forty-five minute foot massage was suggested, and Rupert, always obliging, accepted the suggestion.

 

Rupert had enough for a fine dinner of Pho soup with beef tender loin, rice noodles and vegetables. When he returned to his room a girl was waiting for him with a bottle of cognac—compliments of Mr. Tran.  Naturally, Rupert was grateful, but had to decline the cognac. He did not drink alcohol and he did not mingle with girls who served it.  He remembered the words of his beloved grandmother, a Puritan minded mother of old, "flee from the devil who offers hard drink and wicked woman; resist the devil and he shall flee."  Rupert resisted."Please sit over there," said Rupert. He directed the wallflower to sit in a rattan chair away from the bed. He opened his Bible to the fifty-first Psalm and said to the girl as he stood in the middle of the room, "You're going to learn a bit of God tonight." Whether she understood young Rupert or not mattered little. He had a job to do--witness boldly to the wicked.  Rupert then followed with Psalm 100, "Make a loud noise for the Lord," then into the Gospel of Jesus Christ and repentance.