It was 100 days since we had our last haircut, and it was time for our hair to see the hairdresser again. This time, we decided that we should let it grow, because while the short hair was convenient for a head bath every day, we really wanted to go back to the long hair. We thought Baba would try and convince us to keep it short, but to our surprise, he didn’t even blink when we said we wanted to grow it. Hmm. Something was brewing.
Recently, we started to go back to the racecourse to run, and because we no longer walk to the track (where each 100m is clearly marked out, and which is exactly 1km from where we stay, making it easy to count out 8km: 1km each way plus 3 rounds, each of 2km, making it a total of 8km), because it is too far and we have to use the car, Baba and I agreed on 4 rounds (because each round is around 2km, the boards on the track say), but somehow it kept taking too long, even though we were running at our top speed. We started having to cut short our exercises and stretching, the part we have a lot of fun with us both competing on pushups. What could it be? Had we become slow? Had we stopped enjoying running?
We asked Baba bear. He said that perhaps we could do only 3 rounds and spend more time at the gym. We asked if we could really do that. He said he could offer us a deal, and it was thus: Since we have to have a head bath every day (due to the sweating), which means that we have a runny nose till afternoon if Saniya didi does not use the hair-dryer (something that damages your hair in the long term), it would make sense to cut the hair short once again. However, since we would be giving up so much, Baba bear could do two things for us: firstly, he would get a similar haircut so we can twin, and secondly, we could reduce our rounds to 3, running the 4th or 5th on an off day, so that we have more time in the gym, and to have a bath, breakfast, and to get ready for chess at 0800h every weekday. We could grow our hair once again when we are 10. And, and this is the best part, we get to put nail polish over this weekend. For the first time ever. Is that not the most exciting thing, like, ever?
We thought about it, consulted our mum, and then said yes. It looks like a good deal, right? Quicker runs, more fun workouts, and a chance to grow our hair once again at 10. We are a lucky baby bear, aren’t we?
So, off we went to the hairdresser, waited our turn patiently, and got the short haircut. Later, we got nail polish. When we were asked which colour we’d prefer, we chose both. Why restrict it to one. We have 10 fingers and 10 toes, after all!
Mamma bear and Aji both say we’ve been had. It seems Baba bear had meticulously calculated the distance, and one round is actually slightly over 2.33km, which means at 3 rounds, we’d be doing 7km, and not 6km as we thought. Plus, they say that Baba bear wants us to do more fun exercises at the gym. Also, he doesn’t care about cutting his own hair. As for the nail polish, it’s just for one weekend. So, he’s got the better deal.
We think they don’t understand how Baby bears think at all. We are happy to run. And to do the fun exercises and stretching at the gym. But we are even happier to get 30m extra with Baba bear in the morning. We think we came out ahead. What do you think? And if Baba bear thinks he came out better off, that’s good too. What’s better than a deal that both parties think they’ve walked away as winners? We’re smarter than you think!
