The Interview 4

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WEDNESDAY

When Eddie returned to his apartment, he was feeling in much better spirits. He felt he could still win that job, especially since Louie had covered his male-pattern baldness with a toupee. When he saw himself in the bathroom mirror he was shocked at the changes in his appearance. He looked years older than 26, but for some reason he was starting to like looking older. He started to run a finger over the moustache feeling the thickness. He’d never thought about growing just a moustache before but he was starting to like it. He suddenly went to touch the toupee running a hand over it until he found where it joined with his real hair. He tried to lift the edge but found it firmly stuck. He wondered what he would look like without the wig and just the thick tache to contrast against the bald head.

He liked the look on other men; at least he thought he did, but he wasn’t ready for that look at 26 or was he? Why was he having all these conflicting feelings all the time? He was totally confused unaware of the brain-washing he’d been subjected to.

Shaking it all off, he decided as soon as he secured the new job he’d get Louie to use his ‘magic’ to return him to his former look.

Finding his mobile he decided to ring Kevin and let him know how he got on.

 

LATER

“SHIT! What happened to you?” Kevin shrieked when Eddie opened the door.

“Come on – it’s not as bad as that is it?”

“I think I preferred the balding look over that fake rug.” Kevin added.

“Thanks! I’ll remember that when I finally loose my hair.” Eddie said sarcastically as he closed the door.

“At least the ‘mo’ looks real.” Kevin said as he started to pull on it.

“HEY! That hurts man!”

“Sorry! He must have glued that on good.” Kevin apologized.

“So! Come on; what do you think. Will I fool them at the interview?”

“Yeah. I think you will Eddie. I mean you definitely look ancient. I wouldn’t date you!”

“Thanks a lot for the compliment,” Eddie said knowing he wasn’t looking as hot or cute anymore. “This job better be worth all these changes.”

That night as Eddie slept he had the strangest dream. It felt so real, but how could it be?

He could recall someone being in his room, someone familiar telling him things. He dreamt of being in a leather bar, surrounded by bears and their boys. He seemed to fit in with his new look; even popular with some of the patrons suggesting new looks for him. But he thought he preferred to be called Eddie? Why as everyone calling him Edward. Edward did seem more mature and the more he heard the name the more relaxed he felt.

What Eddie didn’t realize was that Louie had let himself into the apartment with the key he still had courtesy of Daniel. Approaching the sleeping figure he touched him gently on the arm. As Eddie stirred Louie said the magic words, ‘sure thing Edward’. Once again, Eddie was completely relaxed at the mercy of his Barber.

“Edward! You can see yourself in a bar filled with men similar to yourself. You feel completely relaxed and at ease with all the attention you are receiving. These men are your friends. They want you to realize your real self, and you will. It will just take time. But you can make a start. You will go back to Louie’s. You trust him. You even find him sexy. How is it you never noticed him before? And look how much he has done for you. He is the only one helping you get that job on Friday. You will accept his advice; crave his advice. When you wake in the morning, you will feel incredibly hungry. You will go to the corner dinner and order the biggest breakfast you can find – a real mans breakfast!

And afterwards you will go to Louie’s. How you love to be in his Barbershop. You wish you could be there more often. You try to find any excuse to go there.”

Louie carried on with the suggestions for Eddie. As he slipped out of the bedroom, Eddie felt very relaxed and had the best sleep he had in years.

 

THURSDAY

Eddie wasn’t sure why he had decided to eat breakfast at this Diner. He’d woken with such a hunger he had to come here. He normally wouldn’t eat such a greasy meal. Pancakes, French toast, sausages, bacon, hash browns all accompanied by a six egg omelet. As he left for Louie’s he rubbed his stomach feeling much more satisfied.

“So what brings you here so soon? You were only here yesterday, not that I don’t like to see you.” Louie said as he ushered Eddie into the empty, leather chair.

Eddie blushed a deep shade of crimson. “Thanks, I just was passing and thought I’d drop by.” Eddie lied.

“Sure thing Edward!” Louie said placing a hand on Eddie shoulder.

As Edward was under Louie’s complete control once again he went to work.

Louie had been a little worried his boy might still get that interview. He had to ensure there was no way Eddie was management material.

He lowered the chair and began to apply a gel through the toupee. This would lighten the hair when heat such as a hairdryer or the sun was exposed to it, however he’d just let it sit there for now so Eddie was unaware of the subtle change in the color. Next he got his subliminal tape and placed a pair of headphones over the ears. As he lay there he saw images in his mind. Images of big men at various stages of balding, puffing on pipes. He could even smell the tobacco and noticed how relaxed he felt.

As the tape played, Louie lit up one of his pipes. He was going to make this kid crave a big, briar all the time.

Before Eddie left Louie made sure that he would go straight to the address he gave him, a Tattoo and Piercing shop not far away. ‘You will go in and ask for both ears to be pierced.’ Louie had instructed him, ‘It will help you look more of the man you want to be. That I want you to be.’

When Louie brought Eddie out of his trance, Eddie was surprised to see the Barber smoking a pipe. He usually hated any form of smoking; however the pipe did seem to suit Louie, and the tobacco smell seemed very pleasant.

When Eddie left the shop he felt a strange craving, one he’d never had before. He passed a tobacconist and felt a compulsion to go in. He’d never smoked in his life, but suddenly he sensed a desire to head for the display of pipes.

He left the shop puffing on a newly bought pipe, which the assistant in the shop had demonstrated how to pack and light. Before long, Eddie looked like a seasoned smoker, puffing and sucking on it as if he’d been doing it for years. He wasn’t sure why he was so relaxed but it always seems to happen after seeing Louie.

As he continued on his way down towards the Industrial Estate he was totally unaware of his journey until he happened across a sign for Ear Piercing. Something told him he should go into the store that was under the sign. Despite his confusion the pipe was giving him a new sense of confidence. He was glad that Louie was helping him become more mature. He was sure he would secure the new job tomorrow.

He went straight into it without hesitating. There was no one in the shop which was well lit by overhead fluros.

“Hey there mister. Didn’t hear you come in. Sorry to keep you waiting.” The gravely voice belonged to a solidly built guy, covered in colorful tattoos and piercings. His bald head was the only area unadorned by art, and it glistened under the glare of the lights.

“No! It’s fine. I’m not sure why I came in here.” Eddie said stopping to take his pipe out of his mouth suddenly noticing all the tattoo designs on the walls.

“Don’t worry about your pipe. We don’t have any smoking policy here. The names

Eddie.” The guy held out a beefy hand to Eddie.

“Eddie? That’s my name too. Pleased to meet you Eddie.” Eddie said taking the hand and marveling at the patterns weaving up the Tattooist arm.

“So what can I do for you?” the tattooed Eddie asked studying the guy in front of him. He looked like he was obviously wearing a rug, the color match was terrible. He looked like he was more in need of a stylist than a Tattooist.

“I’m….not…..sure. I just know that I had to come in and have my ears pierced.” Eddie stammered feeling a little confused, as he took the pipe out of his mouth for the first time since he’d left the tobacconist.

“Well come and sit down and we’ll discuss what you’d like done Eddie.” The Tatooist said offering the customer a chair in the corner. “But it’s too confusing calling you my name all the time. Why don’t I call you Edward?”

Eddie had never liked his full name, Edward. It was too old fashioned, but lately he was starting to think the name suited him for some strange reason.

Studying the kid’s ears, Eddie saw he had great lobes – nice and meaty. “Were you thinking of sleepers or some nice studs?” Eddie thought the guy looked too conservative to even be in his shop.

“I…I’m not sure.....I just need to get my ears pierced…..Louie wants them pierced.” Edward garbled, confused why he was even in this place.

“Sure thing Edward! I’m your man.” Eddie replied. It had been a slow day and any customer was welcome. Obviously the boyfriend had sent him down here, but why looking like this?

Something changed in Edwards eyes. Eddie had just said the trigger that would put this kid completely under his control; he just didn’t know it then.

“Well what about the size of the hoops? Did you want something discreet or something to stand out?” Eddie asked. He didn’t get a reply. He looked closely at the customer. If he didn’t know better he’d say this guy was a lot younger than he looked. And now he seemed to have a dazed far away look; Eddie had seen it before on a customer that had been hypnotized as payback for cheating on his wife. Eddie decided to test his hypnosis theory; obviously the guy had been under the control of this Louie guy. Maybe he could have a bit of fun with this guy at Louie’s expense.

“Well I think a guy like you could carry off more than just your ears pierced.”

“Louie just said to get my ears pierced!” Edward replied.

“And you will Edward, but I want you to listen to the sound of my voice. You feel relaxed and good about yourself, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Louie. You trust me. You want to please me.”

“I…..want to pl…..ease……” Edward trailed off confused by the different voice.

“You will do everything I say because it makes you feel good. I am Louie and I want you to look and feel good. You trust my voice, you feel totally relaxed.” Eddie said in an even voice wondering if this would even work.

“Now you will sit back as I work. You will feel no pain you will only feel relaxed and at ease.”

“Yes Louie.” Edward said faintly.

“The more piercings I give you the more you enjoy them!”

“Yes Louie!”

Eddie couldn’t believe his ears. It seemed to be working. Who would have thought?

“Now let’s get started on those ears. I think some heavy gauge hoops would be best, something thick to stand out straight away, later I can start stretching them.”

Louie was worried. He’d just got off the phone with Jason, a good friend who owned a Tattoo parlor just down the main road. There had been no sign of Eddie since he’d left Louie’s. Jason’s place was where Eddie had been induced to go and have his ears pierced. “Shit!” Louie kept repeating to himself. What if someone found out what he was doing? He decided to close the store early, and drive around to see if he could find Eddie.

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