#uncle josh

Josh puts his truck into park and his eyes flick up to the rearview mirror, he sees his niece sitting in her car seat with her little brown stuffed dog in her lap. As he grabs his phone and his wallet from the cup holder his eyes gaze to the window of the salon.

“Look Emma, there are so many cool seats you can sit on. Can you see them?” He points through the windshield.

He turns his head to look at her in the backseat to find her straining against the seatbelt.

“Ooooh! A horse!”

Josh chuckles to himself as he climbs out of the driver's side. He opens the backdoor to unbuckle his niece.

“This is going to be so fun Em! You know, your cousin Halina has gotten her hair cut here before. She chose the race car to sit in,” he unbuckles her and helps get her arms out of the straps,” Now, do you want to take your Rose, or leave her here so she can be safe in the car?”

She looks at her puppy stuffed animal hard, concentrating on her decision.

“She can stay here.”

“Good choice babe,” he picks her up from her car seat and props her on his hip, unwilling to let the excited three year old walk in the parking lot.

He carries her in and as soon as he opens the door they are met with a wall of sound. Clippers going, kids laughing from the play area, children crying in the salon chairs.

Emma visibly shrinks at the commotion and tucks herself into Josh's shoulder.

Josh works his way to the front desk,” Hi! We're checking in. We're a little early.”

“Hello! What's the name for the appointment?” The girl behind the desk asks as she clicks away on the computer.

“Emma. Emma Kiszka.”

Her eyes dart around looking at the screen,” Ah! Yup, I see ya! You guys can just hang out in the play area until your stylist is ready.”

“Perfect, thank you.” Josh turns and works his way over to the area filled with toys and children and benches to sit on.

He makes his way over to a bench and sits down placing Emma on her feet in front of him. She looks at him with wide eyes.

“We have time to play Em. Look at that way cool puzzle toy!”

She barely turns her head before rushing to try to climb into the safety of his lap.

“Hey. Hey, what's the matter love? You don't need to be scared.”

“It's loud, and they're screaming.”

“Oh. Honey it's okay. It doesn't hurt, no not at all. Some kids scream and cry because they don't like the sound of the clippers. They won't use the clippers on you sweetie, we're keeping your hair long like Daddy's, not short like mine.”

Her worried eyes look into his,” Do you cry at haircuts?”

Josh giggles,” No baby, not anymore…. These ladies are very nice, okay? Nothing will hurt I promise. I think you'll even have fun!”

Emma snuggles into his body even closer, still apprehensive,” Uncle Josh, can you sit with me?”

“Of course sweetie.”

Emma continues to sit in his lap occupying herself by playing with the buttons on his shirt as Josh finger combs her baby curls.

A woman in a black apron approaches the play area,” I'm all ready for Emma!”

Josh scoops her up in his arms and walks over to the hair stylist.

“This is Emma! She's not too big on all the commotion going on, is it alright if she sits in my lap to get her hair done?”

“Oh yeah, of course, that's not a problem!”

She leads them through the salon to an area that is a little more quiet, filled with regular salon chairs instead of fun chairs, and gestures to him to sit down in one.

“Okay, I'm just going to put a cape over you first, so we don't get your clothes all messy, and then a cape over her.”

Josh nods as black nylon is placed over his body, and a small pink cape is placed over Emma.

Josh gasps,” Yours is so much cooler than mine! Do you think we can trade?”

Emma laughs in his arms proclaiming that the pink cape is hers.

The stylist proceeds to be gentle with Emma, talking her through each step she's taking.

“Your daughter is doing such a great job!”

Josh chuckles,” Oh! This is my niece actually! My daughter is a little bit older than Emma.”

“Oh wow! She looks just like you!”

Josh laughs again,” Yeah, actually her dad and I are identical twins!”

The stylist laughs,” Well that explains it then.”

Once the stylist finishes her haircut she asks Emma if she wants a fun braid in her hair.

Now fully warmed up to the experience Emma nods enthusiastically.

Once done the pigtail braids, the woman asks Josh if it's okay for Emma to choose some hair chalk,” It'll wash right out!”

“Oh yeah! She can have some!”

Emma looks to Josh, her little blonde braids sprinkled with the dark blue and purple she chose,” Uncle Josh, you too!”

“Alright alright! Uhhh put some blue in there, we'll match.”

The stylist laughs as she puts some blue tips in Josh's curls,” You two need to take a selfie with your matching hair, that would be too cute!”

After she takes the capes off he hugs her to his body, holding his phone out to take a picture of them,” Saaaay, cheeseburgers!’

Josh snaps a few pictures of them together, complete with a silly face version.

“Send them to Daddy!”

After paying and tipping the woman he gets her back into the truck and drives her back to Sevda and Jake's house.

Once back in the house Emma takes off running,” Mommy, Mommy look at my hair!”

Josh hears Sev in the kitchen,” Oh wow! Joshua! Why is my daughter's blonde hair blue?!”

Josh meets up with them in the kitchen, now showcasing his blue tips,” It's just hair chalk, chill Sevvie. It'll wash right out.”

“Josh her hair is blonde! The blue is going to stain!”

“Okay and? It's not going to be forever, let her have fun. She had a great time at the salon with Uncle Josh.”

Sevda sighs, knowing what's done is done. “How did she do?”

“It was a little rocky at first, the other kids crying spooked her. She sat on my lap the whole time.”

Jake walks into the kitchen and laughs at his brother,” Those pictures you sent me don't do the hair justice!”

Sevda's eyes widened at Jake,” Wait you knew about the blue hair?!”

“Relax Sev!”

“You know my mom's going to flip, I can hear her now, ‘ I told you not to get involved with those rock and roll boys, now my granddaughter has blue hair! What's next a tattoo for Jade?’”