Nightmares from the Hair Horror Dungeon:

The excerpts from an actual nightmare are printed in bold italics.

The second of the Mary Beth series, a faceless subject of my nightmares who always gets tortured  in some way. Here, I give her an identity......

==============================

"The Coming of Age" (Fear)

 

Mary Beth and Mary Ann were friends most of their life. They met back in grade school, continuing their friendship in the years following. Both never married, however Mary Ann was engaged twice. Mary Beth never did well with men, partly because she was very shy and homely with buck teeth. As they turned 40, it was apparent that neither would get married any time soon, so they moved into a two bedroom apartment together to save on expenses. Through their 30-something years, each kept their hair very long, Mary Ann's to calf length, and Mary Beth all the way to her feet, hoping someday to lead a normal, married life. After they moved in together, Mary Ann decided to cut her hair short, giving up the charade of trying to look youthful. The cost of hair products was getting expensive, and she tired of the time she had to spend drying her hair. Mary Beth was more conservative, unable to find the courage to cut any part of her cherished tresses,  fearful as to how she would feel about losing any part of her five plus feet of hair. With her small bust, she needed long hair to feel feminine, so she didn't mind wasting a whole day waiting for her cherished locks to dry. Mary Ann did not want to go through such a drastic hairstyle change alone, so she continually pestered Mary Beth about cutting off hers, also. Also, if a single man were to move in after she cut her hair, Mary Beth may be more appealing with her very long flowing hair. It was a ritual that on the first of every third month, each would trim the other's hair in a straight line near the ends. Now that they lived together, Mary Ann wanted the next trimming ritual, June 1st, to be the day they should find the courage to cut off their long hair together. Finally, Mary Beth, tired of fighting the constant pressure, caved in and agreed to cut some of her hair.

Mary Ann wanted to make a whole day ritual out of cutting their hair, consisting of drastic cuts above the ears, since this would be a one time event ringing in middle age. Mary Beth wanted to just go to the salon run by Clarisse, who lived down the hall and go for a much less drastic change, perhaps a cut to the waist or longer. It was agreed, however, that the time to cut off at least some of their very long hair had come. Although both were shy, Mary Ann was more dominant, so she did the planning. Mary Beth realized that Mary Ann wanted to cut her hair very short and would not do it unless she cut hers very short also. Mary Ann kept dropping hints to Mary Beth how mature middle aged women should have short hair. Finally, Mary Beth agreed to have her hair cut short, with the day long ritual Mary Ann wanted. They went to the Memorial day sales and each bought something wild and sexy to wear for the day, along with a home haircutting kit. Mary Beth was feeling down as the day approached, but accepted the fact that her hair would be cut short.

Mary Ann bought her new sexy outfit first. She was short, about 5'2" and heavy set, so she shopped in the plus size department. Mary Ann had a large bust line, and her thighs were showing dimples. Her face was beginning to show a few wrinkles, possibly from stress from her younger days in sales.

There was a junior plus size area that had a few flattering things for her to choose from. She started with a strapless bra. "I've always wanted to do something like this, but never had the nerve.", she said. Her outfit consisted of a loose, flowered, spaghetti strap blouse and a short, pleated, black skirt. She finished her look with a pair of white platform boots . "This is going to be fun, sexy for a day!", said Mary Ann. "Even if the rest of the world thinks we look ridiculous being over 40, dressed like that with our long hair down? Mary Ann, it's just not practical to wear hair as long as mine down. Most will be laughing at us. Why don't we just cut our hair in a salon like normal people and skip this sexy outfit charade?", asked Mary Beth. "In fact, maybe I might not want to cut it short any more, I might want to go with a more practical waist length cut, thereby still having somewhat long hair.", she continued in a very rare assertion. "We are doing it for us, not for the world. I want to feel very sexy on my last day with long hair, because once it's gone, I am just like any other middle aged woman.", said Mary Ann. "Now, it's your turn, Mary Beth. If you are going to cut it, why not cut it all and maybe someone will notice you for doing it?", she added.

Mary Beth was tall, about 5'10''. She was thin, small breasted, and wore thick glasses. She had acne scars and freckles along with her long light brown hair, parted in the middle and almost always worn in a chinigon. She had a high, squeaky voice that tended to crack as she got excited. She was overly conservative about saving her money, so this sexy outfit shopping was something different for her. She always kept several thousand dollars in a shoe box in her closet just in case. She took two hundred dollar bills out for this event. Being thin, Mary Beth chose to shop in the junior department. This was exciting to her, trying on these short dresses, shorts, tank tops and bikinis, seeing what she looked like. This was way out of character for her normal second hand ankle length dresses and slacks. Being very shy, she never would even wear shorts in public as she got older. "This is only a one time fling, so I guess I could live a little.", she said. "I hope we don't run into anyone from the library!", she hoped. "That's the idea for our day! Have fun and feel sensuous", said Mary Ann.

Mary Ann talked Mary Beth into a pink and white short baby doll dress with hearts across the bust line and a white band just below that tied in a bow in the back. It had pleats from the white band down to the hem and tie up spaghetti straps. She bought the smallest size she could fit into. "See, you can wear pretty things from the junior department to make you feel good about yourself and your femininity without having long hair" asserted Mary Beth. Since Mary Beth was small breasted, Mary Ann suggested she wear it without a bra for added effect. Because of her height and the size  this size of dress, the hem was way too short to wear with pantyhose. When they went to pay for Mary Beth's dress, the sales clerk held it up and said, "Oh, shopping for your teenager, huh? That dress will look cute on her". "I don't have children. I'm buying it   for my...", said Mary Beth, interrupted by Mary Ann.. "Niece.", said Mary Ann .The sales clerk looked at Mary Beth strangely. "Oh, sure. I didn't think you would wear something like that yourself.", said the clerk. When they left the register, Mary Ann took Mary Beth aside. "You  have to know when to assert yourself, but also learn when to shut up.", said Mary Ann. She had an idea. She thought the finishing touch for this dress would be to wear it with a pair of white knee socks and pink stiletto heels, which she had Mary Beth promptly buy. The teenagers always looked cute in the Clueless movie dressed that way. When they were paying for the last items, Mary Beth had second thoughts. "I don't know, Mary Ann. This outfit might make me look more like a 16 year old than a 40 year old.", she lamented. Mary Beth bought a new white purse to go with the new dress. They were offering free monograms to add to it. "What's your initials?", asked the salesperson. "She's Mary Beth Sawyer.", asserted Mary Ann. "OK, we'll do an M and a B with a larger S in the middle?", she asked. "What if I were to get married soon, then this purse is a waste of money! Maybe I'll go with just the M and B.", squeaked Mary Beth. "Mary Beth, after we cut your hair off, your chances of a quick wedding are nil!", said Mary Ann. "Put her three initials on it.", said Mary Ann to the salesperson. The salesperson looked at Mary Beth's large chinigon, then at Mary Ann with a blank look. Mary Beth became silent as they went home, knowing her cherished locks were doomed. 

Trying on their new, sexy outfits in the safety of their apartment, they planned for when the day would arrive. Mary Beth just washed her hair that morning and had it hanging free, down to her ankles, to dry. Mary Ann planned they would dress in their new outfits and spend the morning walking around the mall, dressed and pretending to act like teenagers looking for boyfriends. After all, this was their last chance to attract new boyfriends with their hair long. They would eat lunch at a fancy restaurant, followed by a trip to the park, walking the trail frequented by single men from the complexes nearby. After dinner, they would go to a club and dance the night away, the last chance for their hair. Upon returning to the apartment, and having no male prospects, they would flip a coin to see who would get their hair cut first. To make a game of it, they added a little chance. Before the cut, each would draw a number out of a jar . The number drawn would determine the type of haircut. The possibilities included everything from a one inch cut with the clippers to shoulder length bob. The hairdresser down the hall agreed to do the haircuts when the time came, so she left the evening free. Mary Beth had trouble walking in the pink stiletto heels, so Mary Ann talked her into keeping the dress and shoes on for the rest of the day, to get used to them. "I don't know, Mary Beth, maybe this was a mistake. It does seem a little too girly.", said Mary Ann. "Now you tell me! Maybe I won't wear the knee socks.", said Mary Beth. "You have to wear something on your legs, Mary Beth. The bare leg look won't work with that outfit or the veins showing on your ankles.", said Mary Ann. They spent the rest of the day hanging around the apartment, with Mary Ann making little cute comments on Mary Beth and the dress. "You better learn how to sit with that dress, or you will show a lot more than you want!", she said. Mary Ann made up the jar for the drawing. She put two of each number, one through four, with one being a short cut with the clippers, two, a cut just above the ears, three, a chin length bobbed cut with bangs, four, a shoulder length cut.

On Saturday morning, the day for the big haircuts, Mary Ann banged on Mary Beth's bedroom door to wake her up. "Get up! Time to get sexy!", yelled Mary Ann. As Mary Beth staggered out of the room, she was ready to back out. "Go on without me. I want to keep my long hair just the way it is.", said Mary Beth. "Come on, you can't back out now. It's time to move on to our new life of single middle age and we are doing it by cutting our hair. You have to do it, Mary Beth. You even said yourself it's not practical to wear your hair down any more!", said Mary Ann, raising her voice. Mary Beth started to cry and backed down. "OK, I guess it's time to cut my hair.", she said as she undid the chinigon from her long hair. Large alligator tears fell as she brushed out the long length of her hair. "Bye, my hair. Soon you will be lying severed on the living room floor.", she lamented.

She went back into her room to change into the pink dress, socks and heels. She came out with a plastic bag and the shoe box from the new shoes, finding Mary Ann ready to go with her short skirt and boots, her mid calf hair all washed and hanging free. "What's the shoe box for?", asked Mary Ann. "It's for my cut off hair, I'm going to save it.", said Mary Beth. "Me, too!", said Mary Ann, pointing over to a brown ceramic keepsake that looked like a treasure chest. They stared at each other in silence, moments in time, but forever in the mind. It was the realization of what they were about to do. They had long hair all their life, and before the day was done, both will have given in and cut off their beautiful hair. They didn't know what they would look like with short hair, or how they would be accepted, and because of the game of chance they would play, they didn't know how short their hair would be when cut. All of a sudden, almost in unison they cried and hugged each other. Mary Ann had to assure Mary Beth that she would be fine with her hair cut short and her hair would grow back. "The more I look at your outfit, Mary Beth, I really wonder what I was thinking when I talked you into it. But who knows? It should draw a lot of attention!", said Mary Ann, still with tears in her eyes. "Here, Mary Beth, let's put on a little make up.", said Mary Ann. Mary Beth never wore make up, so she was apprehensive. Mary Ann took some of her cosmetics and made Mary Beth pretty with pink blush and eye shadow, and black mascara.

Mary Ann got an idea to try to help Mary Beth through this haircut. "How much money do you have stashed in your closet?", she asked. "I don't know.", shrugged Mary Beth. "Go get it and count it, I think you should treat yourself to a new sports car!", said Mary Ann. Mary Beth counted $9,400. "Put it in your purse, and get the title to your car. You're getting a new sports car to go with your new haircut. I will even donate a thousand to it. How about it?", asked Mary Ann. "OK, I'll look, but I'm not making any promises. My car is only a year old.", said Mary Beth. They left the apartment in Mary Beth's car, several feet of hair trailing free behind each of them, and Mary Beth still having a little trouble walking on the platform stiletto heels.

Once they started walking the mall, several chuckles were directed to them. "Look at that old lady with the glasses and the pink dress!", said a group of teenage girls, laughing out loud. There were some middle age women who just looked at them and shook their heads. However, many men, especially those about 30 or 40 turned completely around to watch them walk by. Mary Ann was encouraged by the stares of the men while Mary Beth was ready to crawl into a shell. There was one instance where a 20 something man stopped them to tell them they had very nice hair. "That figures! here we are getting compliments on our hair on the very day we decide to cut it off. Let's reconsider cutting our hair!", said Mary Beth, hoping to get a reprieve from losing her cherished locks. But Mary Ann was bent on getting her hair cut and there was no way she was doing it without Mary Beth cutting hers, also.

They ate lunch at the mall's outdoor cafe. There were two couples at the table next to them with one of the men staring right at Mary Beth's short pink dress. Mary Ann noticed this and whispered, "Mary Beth, you better check your skirt!" She looked down and realized her skirt hiked so far up that her white panties were showing between her uncrossed legs. She adjusted her dress and crossed her legs, trying not to look embarrassed. After a setting of salad and pie, they left to go to the park, the next stop of their day trip. On the way out of the mall, Mary Beth, still unsteady on the stiletto heels, stepped on her hair and fell down, her dress coming up past her panties. Everyone who could see it started laughing at her. "I'm done with this! I want to go home!", said Mary Beth as she got up. "Come on, Mary Beth, Let's just go to the park and we'll reconsider cutting our hair, OK?", said Mary Ann. Mary Beth agreed so they left the mall and drove towards the park.

------------------------------------------------------------ Ending #1- FEAR

On the winding road to the park, as Mary Beth was thinking how she may escape a close call with the shears, a truck went to pass them. But, instead of passing, it swerved over forcing Mary Beth off the road and into a road sign, down to the woods below. Both were wearing seatbelts, so they were OK, and the car started right up after stalling. The truck stopped, backed up, and parked in front of them, blocking the way back on the road. A car pulled in close behind, trapping them. The occupants of the other two vehicles, four, total, scraggly dressed, approached Mary Beth's car, all putting on ski masks. "Lock your door!", said Mary Ann as they approached. Mary Beth, still in shock from the accident wasn't fast enough locking her door, so one of them opened it and pulled her out by the arm. She grabbed her purse as they were pulling her out, thinking they were only after her car and she had her whole life savings in there. She fell to her knees, losing balance because of the heels. "Stay there, cutsie!", he told her. She put her purse over her shoulder and then froze in the kneeling position. "Get out!", they said to Mary Ann. Mary Ann grabbed her purse, got out and walked to the other side of the car where Mary Beth was kneeling. "Get down, bootie baby!", they told Mary Ann. She kneeled down, flipping her long black hair out of the way, resting herself on her legs in front of Mary Beth, who was still kneeling in an upright position.

The four of them walked around in front of them. One, a women's voice. busted out laughing. "Look at this sight! Billie, get the camera!", she said. "OK, Sissy.", Billie said as he got the camcorder out and started by filming the very scared kneeling women. Another, a woman's voice went behind Mary Beth and picked up her long light brown hair. "What are you two trying to do? Walk around the mall pretending you're about 13 or 14? What are you, about 50? I had more to show in front when I was 11 than you have there now, cutsie!", she said, laughing hysterically, and throwing Mary Beth's long brown hair in her face. "What's wrong with your teeth, didn't you ever hear of braces?", she said, sarcastically. Mary Beth broke out crying. "What's wrong, cutsie?", asked the last one to speak, obviously a man's voice. Billie was still filming. "I think the girl with the glasses should have her hair in pigtails.", he said. By now, they realized it was them they wanted, not the car, so they feared either being raped or even murdered. One of the women came back with a backpack and got out two rubber bands and pulled up Mary Beth by the arm. She took Mary Beth's hair and forced it into the rubber bands, making pigtails tied on the top of her head. "Be careful, you'll damage her hair!", piped out Mary Ann. Billie came over with the camcorder and proceeded to slap Mary Ann in the face. "Well that's just too bad, we don't have any fancy hair things.", he said.

Then, they had Mary Ann and Mary Beth stand up. They were told to turn around 360 degrees while Billie filmed. They also were forced to pull up their skirts, and walk up and down the road. After this, they were forced back to their kneeling positions. Before Mary Beth was forced down, he went to feel one of Mary Beth's breasts saying, "Yeah there is something there!", laughing. "I think we need to teach them how to act their age.", said one woman. "Yeah, old ladies like this don't wear short dresses with knee socks or go boots!", said the other. "Or have long hair, either!", said Billie. "Hey Jaster, see if there are scissors in that backpack!", said one of the women. Jaster picked up the pack and found two pair and gave them to her. "Here, Sissy, I found two.", he said. When he gave them to Sissy, Mary Beth wailed out loud, "Oh, NO!!", anticipating what might happen, remembering just moments earlier escaping a haircut. "What's wrong, somebody is scared of a little haircut? Honey, your hair could bring me over a thousand dollars on the open market. She took the scissors and cut the rubber bands out of Mary Beth's pigtails, then took a large chunk of her hair and cut it right at the scalp. Then another chunk, right at the scalp. After this, she threw the cut hair on the ground in front of Mary Ann, who gasped. After this, she gave the scissors to Mary Beth. "Since you seem scared of me cutting off your precious hair, you can just cut it off yourself! Billy, get in here for some close ups.", said Sissy. She gave the other pair of scissors to Mary Ann.

Now with tears in her eyes, also, Mary Ann began cutting her long hair just below the chin. Since she was shaking, the cut was very uneven. Her hair got shorter as she cut around the back, as she couldn't see what she was doing. Mary Beth just stared at her scissors, whimpering. "Good job, bootie girl. Stop there for a minute before you cut off the other side.", said Billie. "You with the glasses, start cutting!", said Sissy. Shaking, Mary Beth started cutting off her hair at the shoulder. "No, higher", said the other woman. Mary Beth moved the scissors to a point above the jaw bone and weakly started to cut, still crying. As she cut around the back, the scissors were right at the top of the neck. She transferred the scissors to the other hand and started cutting the other side. This time her cut was higher, a point near the top of her ear.

As she started cutting the other side, Billie and his camcorder focused on Mary Beth's white monogrammed purse hanging from her shoulder. "I wonder that these girls carry in their purses?", said Billie. Mary Beth's heart sank because she knew her life savings was in there . Sissy went over to Mary Beth's side where her white purse hung from her shoulder. As she grabbed it, Mary Beth stopped cutting her hair long enough to submissively hold out her arm so that Sissy could take her purse with her life savings away from her. As the purse was taken from her shoulder, the spaghetti strap of her dress came untied, revealing her naked breast, bringing a laugh from all of them. Mary Beth was humiliated. "I'll take that sapphire ring, also, cutsie. "Please don't take my ring! It was my great grandmother's! Please...", pleaded Mary Beth, being interrupted by Sissy. "Just quit whining and give me that ring, you whiney crybaby!!", scolded Sissy, ripping the ring off of Mary Beth's finger. Mary Ann just lifted her purse and gave it to Sissy. She set them on Mary Beth's trunk and told them to finish cutting their hair, then put Mary Beth's sapphire ring on her finger. Billy came up to Mary Ann and took a switchblade and cut the straps of her blouse, allowing it to fall down. Meanwhile, Jaster was going through Mary Beth's car. In the glove compartment, he found the title put there by Mary Ann in order to trade it in later in the day. "Hey, the title to the car is in the glove compartment!", he said. "Good, make cutsie sign it over to us.", said Sissy. "We can resell it out of town.", said Billie.

Jaster grabbed Mary Ann's purse from the trunk and found a pen. Mary Beth was just finishing with her haircut. "Here, cutsie, sign this.", said Sissy. After she signed it, and both were done cutting their long hair into crude messes, they were told to pick up their hair and put it in a trash bag. Each was given a trash bag and each filled it with several feet of their newly shorn hair. After this, they were told to sit behind the car parked behind them, guarded by Billie and the camcorder. When Mary Beth got up, her dress stuck above her panties. Billie filmed Mary Beth's white panties as she sat on the ground. By the time he moved over to Mary Ann, she had already pulled down her skirt and pulled up her top. He did some close ups of their crude haircuts, catching the gut wrenching expression of Mary Beth over the loss of her floor length hair and fearing the loss of  her life.

Then there was a loud yell, a woman's voice. "I guess they found my savings.", said Mary Beth. They heard, "Yeah, that ugly one with the glasses.". "I think we did enough damage to them, lets go.", said Jaster. They heard the truck start, followed by Mary Beth's car and both being driven off. Sissy then came behind the remaining car. "I need you to show me which key is for your apartment, I want to see if there is anything else you have stashed, cutsie.", she said to Mary Beth. Mary Beth promptly showed her the correct key. "Sis, we better get out of here! I saw a police car go by.", said Billie. After this, they got in the car and car left, leaving Mary Ann and Mary Beth stranded on the side of the road. They started to walk home, as Mary Beth got blisters from the new shoes. It was after dark when they got back to the apartment, and after getting the manager to let them in, were relieved that the hoodlums hadn't been there yet. The hairdresser came down and looked at their shorn hair in shock. "What happened?", she asked. After they told the story, the manager called the police.

The police came to the apartment, and after taking statements, left the two of them alone in the apartment with Clarisse, advising them to notify the bank and credit card companies. They offered little hope of ever recovering the lost $9400 or the car. "Since you signed the title, there is no way to prove you didn't sell it.", said the policeman. The hairdresser fixed Mary Ann's hair into a bob just above the ears, with bangs, the cut she wanted all along. However, Mary Beth wasn't so lucky. Because of the large hunks cut out right at her scalp, there was no choice but to cut hers into a very short boyish cut with very short bangs. Both were thankful that they were not raped or injured.

In the weeks following, Mary Ann was able to put this incident behind her, happy to be free from her care of long hair, satisfied she made the right decision to cut her long hair short. Next time I need a haircut, I'm going to the salon dressed like an old lady!", said Mary Ann, trying to make the best of the bad situation. Mary Beth was depressed and very angry at Mary Ann, blaming her for losing her savings, her car, her great grandmother's ring, her dignity, and for the horrible short haircut she never really wanted in the first place. She moved out to a new place near the library where she worked, and never spoke to Mary Ann again.

This is a fictional horror story, one of the Mary Beth Sawyer Hair Horror sagas. This character appeared in a few dreams, but slightly different each time over a course of about three years. The name was made up at random and doesn't depict an actual person. No real hair was destroyed....