A Cut Above

Nico sat nervously, his legs twitching. Looking up at the opulent surroundings, he took a deep breath as a butler in a white jacket entered the room with a silver tray. He walked across the room towards Nico stopping a foot away. Bowing slightly, He took a wine glass off the tray offering it to Nico. Nico took the proffered glass, the butler stated “Godfather will see you soon Nico, you had better have your plan prepared he won’t like to have his time wasted.”
Nico nodded, gulping down the wine, in his head, he went through exactly what he was going to tell the Godfather. 

Eventually the butler came back in “Nico your Godfather will see you now.” Nico stood taking a big breath he knew what he he had to say he just hoped this plan was going to work. He walked across the room until he reached a large oak door. Knocking he waits. When he hears enter he opens the door and walks into the room beyond. The room was large with ornate wooden panels on the walls, the thickest shag carpet Nico had ever walked on and in the middle of the room was a large dark wooden desk. Behind which was his Godfather, walking up he took the hand his Godfather was proffering bending his head he kissed the large gold ring on the finger of the old man. With a wave of his hand the old man pointed to the chair. As Nico settled in the chair the Godfather looked over the desk at the nervous young man. “Ok Nico is Valerie well and the little one is he thriving?” Nico nodded “Yes Godfather little Enzo is doing well, he starts school next term he is growing so quickly.” The Godfather nodded. “So why you visit me today Nico in the office. Not just to tell me your son starts school soon no? Something troubling you?” 
Nico took a big breath this was it, time to lay it on the line. 
“We are getting pushed out Godfather, as you know my Grandad, your cousin came to these shores in the twenties. He established himself in the Midlands and was soon greatly respected. His son my dad and then myself expanded his business with your guidance of course. With other Italian families soon we owned the streets. Everyone knew who were the head honcho’s.” The Godfather nodded holding his hand up he said “I know what you are going to say next, I may be old but I’m not senile, I know you have lost ground to the Turkish upstarts. They have moved in so rapidly and have stolen what is rightly ours. But plans are a foot I have spoken to all the heads of the Italian families in the UK. Enough is enough I have said. For nearly hundred years when the British needed us we were there… We were the barbers of choice and we shall once again be the barbers of choice. The Turkish barbers with their ear and nose waxes and their hot towels, these are gimmicks we must show the British once again what a proper haircut really is!”
Nico stood and bowed “Thank you Godfather. I hoped you would be able to help.”
Waving his hand the Godfather stood. “Now go home, sharpen your scissors and your cut throat razors we start our resurgence into the high streets very soon”

True to his word the Godfather and the rest of the Italian families Godfathers, started to buy vacant shops next door to Turkish barbers and soon were offering cut priced haircuts. Running the businesses at a loss. This wasn’t to make money this was a sign of power. They were clearly stating we will be the dominate power in barbering once again. 

The Turkish barbers turned to their own heads of families. Surely we can’t take this lying down what can we do? They soon hatched their own plan. Turkish restaurants were opened up next to Italian restaurants. That was just the start of it though soon Turkish coffee houses and Ice cream parlours appeared. The Italians in turn opened up Italian baths next to Turkish baths, car washing outfits all manned by Italians next to the Turkish ones. It was getting out of hand. 

In the end the British government had to step in, they decreed an inclusion zone only one type of Italian or Turkish ran business so one barber, one restaurant etc. Within a town centre

Everything came back in line. A happy equilibrium was reached. Nico went back to see his Godfather again a few years later. His Godfather at this point was bed bound. As Nico walked in, the frail old man propped up in bed opened his eyes held his hand out. Nico kissed the gold ring then sat down by the side of the bed. “Godfather thankyou for all you did, we are now running several different companies we are doing well….” The old man smiled, then looking over at Nico he saw he looked a bit agitated. “What is wrong Nico? Didn’t we get the result we wanted?” 
Nico gulped nodded vigorously but still looking worried he said “Yes we are happy and the Turkish families are happy…. It’s just the Australians, pushing us out of the service life. No one serving in pubs or waitresses in restaurants are anything other than Australian now”
The Godfather groaned “For God sake boy it was so much easier when we dealt in drugs and prostitutes!”

The End