Chapter 9 Uncle Jack In The Barber's Shop

Julia, Queen Maria's friend, was in her palace, sitting on her golden bed. She was deeply drowned in some kind of thoughts. Her eyes were set on any imaginary point. Her delicate lips that looked like red petals, opened for a while. It seemed she wanted to say something, but there was no one to hear her. Her big eye lashes doubled her beauty. Her legs were half stretched on the bed, her hands clasped around her knees.

"Srrr..." the curtain made a slight sound that attracted Julia's attention. Jasmine was standing there, merrily looking at Julia. Julia greeted her with a warm smile and quickly ran to her. Both of them passionately hugged each other and remained arms in arms for few seconds.

"Jasmine...! So nice to meet you, darling." Julia said. "How do you do?"

"Quite well." she replied. "I was willing to see you. Tell about yourself."

"Hmm... I'm too." Julia said a bit hesitatingly.

"Still anxious about the baby, am I right?" Jasmine asked looking into her eyes.

"Well, sometimes, I feel too much load on my shoulders. It becomes so tough for me to handle the situation." said Julia and took her to the bed. Both of them sat down on the golden bed that was so luxurious and very artistically designed.

Julia was looking tired. She yawned and loosened her body on one of the beautiful fine pillows that were arranged on the bed. Jasmine moved further and kissed on Julia's forehead. Her fingers ran through Julia's hair.

"You look so tired." Jasmine said. "Feeling sleepy, are you?"

"Not now." she replied. "Okay... say what have you decided, Jasmine? Do you find any place for Walter in your heart?"

"Who's that WALTER? Is it a name of a tree or a pet?" she asked in surprise.

"Don't pretend, Jasmine!" Julia said. "You know better what I mean to say. He loves you so much. I've noticed him so many times keeping an eye on you."

"It doesn't matter." Jasmine said. Her mood changed.. "You mean if anybody keeps an eye on me then he loves me? He can't live without me?" Her temper increased.

"Relax, dear!" Julia tried to pacify her. "Frazer, my fiancé, knows him well. Both are friends."

"Then? What do you want to say?" Jasmine questioned her, getting a bit irritated.

"Be serious, Jasmine! Frazer found him taking your name repeatedly when he had fallen unconscious during a war. He has a soft corner for you in his heart. He loves you, Jasmine. Believe me, he loves you so much." Julia explained, trying to remove all confusions if there had been.

Jasmine hung her head for a moment. She did not know what to say. Although, there was no one whom she loved, she was not ready, anyhow, to give a lift to Walter.

Julia put her hand on Jasmine's shoulder and said, "Do you love anyone else?"

"No." she answered without delay.

"He is so smart. Moreover, he is a warrior and a member of the royal family. What makes you hate him, Jasmine?" Julia said.

"I don't hate him. Who says that I hate him?" Jasmine quickly opposed her.

"Oh! You mean you love him?" Julia inquired. Her eyes were set on Jasmine's face.

Jasmine blushed. She slowly smiled and said, "I'll think on this matter, okay?"

"That's like a good girl!" Julia remarked and again embraced her, patting on her back.

It was a busy day. There was much rush in the market in comparison to other days. Almost all the shops were full with customers – some busy in looking at things, some busy in bargaining. Ladies were usually buying fashion articles and garments.

A funny old dwarf, sitting on a donkey, appeared from anywhere and stopped near a barber's shop. He dismounted from the donkey stroking his white beard and went straight to the shop.

"Hello, Uncle Jack!" the barber said smiling.

"Hello! How are you, my son?" the dwarf said, pulling a chair to sit.

"Pretty well, thanks. And you?"

"Fine, dear. Thanks." said Uncle Jack.

"Need hair cut, do you?"the barber enquired.

"Of course, but not too short... okay?" he said.

"Okay, Uncle Jack." the barber said and immediately stretched out his hand to take a clean towel. Uncle Jack was looking himself in the mirror, making strange faces – sometimes pulling his nose or stretching his tongue out. The barber smiled again and put the towel across his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Uncle Jack's donkey started braying. The sound was so strange and funny that it attracted the attention of the people of the surrounding. They were unable to smother their laughter.

"FASHION FANTASY"was the name of the shop, just after one shop close to the barber's shop, from where two comely brunettes and a blonde, perhaps friends, happened to come out with carry-bags in their hands. One of them had a pony tail and others had thick braids. They were engrossed in talking, nearly unaware of the environment the donkey had made with his stupid sounds. They were about to pass by the barber's shop when the donkey foolishly blocked their way. It stood in such a position that neither of the girls could continue going. They had to stop in the way. The girl with a pony tail, tried to move a step to the right and make her way, but the donkey moved his head and made so much noises that she had to step back. They were harassed, feeling a little humiliated in public. Their mouths were open in surprise.

"Nancy, Come that way!"said one of them addressing to other. The donkey got angry and suddenly chased the girl who called Nancy and then again ran to the other girls not letting any of them come that way. The sight was so amusing that many of the people came out of the shops, leaving their works. There was gathering all around the girls. The girls felt shy but there was no option left except the one that they should have returned back.

"Dodger!" Uncle Jack called his donkey from inside the barber's shop. "Come back, I forbid you." The donkey pretended to return back. As the girls found way and went ahead, the donkey again made a loud sound and chased them three or four steps further. The girls ran laughing – hiding their feeling of embarrassment.

After Uncle Jack had had his hair cut, he paid up the barber and stepped out of the shop, mounted on his donkey and rode to the confectioner's shop.