Notes from the Code Face

Keats roundly abused Chapman one evening for appearing in a state of
deshabillment. "It ill behoves gentlemen of our stature in the community
to be seen in such disarray." In particular Keats pointed out the poor
state of Chapman, being hirsute, and wanting badly for tonsorial
attention. The next day, being a Sunday, Chapman invited Keats along to
his Barber's, to oversee a tidy up of his mop. "You know it's odd",
opined Keats, as Chapman was being lathered up for a shave in the chair
after mass. "I didn't realise that Barber's were open on Sundays". "Oh,
it's a well kept secret, but some of them open to particular customers",
was Chapman's knowledgeable reply. "In fact, the sole reason for it, is
so's the barbers themselves can get their barnets shorn, as they work
terrible hard during the rest of the week, and of course the Sathurdez
are desperate manic. I only manage to get in owing to a particular
arrangement that I have with my man here in O'Driscolls", he said,
thumbing in the direction of the eponymous Bernard from beneath the
cassock of his candy striped smock.

Keats was silent for some time in awe and amazement. "You know, since
the quondam of my nonage, I've wondered who clips barbers bonnets, and
so now I know 'Qui cutodiet cutodien'".

Chapman gazed sourly at the cut-throat.

# posted by Rob Byrne @ 1:15 PM