Tex nodded morosely, as he idly poked at a couple of charred mushrooms.
“The specialist assures us that his hair will grow back.”
“Let’s hope he’s right,” Tex grumbled, putting his cap back on.
“Well, at least now you know to stay away from experimental methods,” said Alec as he touched his own scalp, where not much hair was left. “You should wear your baldness with pride, buddy,” he added. “I do.”
“You’re not bald yet, sweetie,” said Charlene, as she gave her man’s pate a pat.
“I’m not bald,” said Tex stubbornly. “Just… temporarily… hairless.”
At this, they all laughed, and even Tex joined in, seeing the humor in the situation.
“So what’s the moral of the story?” asked Harriet.
“Never lick another man’s head,” said Dooley.
“I can tell you I won’t do it again even if they promise me the finest kibble in the world,” I said. “Did you know that human hair is much coarser than cat hair? I couldn’t feel my tongue for days. And also—that’s a lot of hair to lick, you guys!”
“You should have asked us to help you, Max,” said Brutus. “We could have tackled the man’s head together. You know, like the four musketeers. All for one, one for the bald one.”
“I don’t think that’s what the musketeers said, Brutus.”
“And I’m sure it is.”
“Okay, so maybe next time. Though Tex has sworn he’s never coming near cat saliva ever again.”
“I’ll bet it wasn’t so much the licking as the urine he poured over his head,” said Harriet. “Delayed reaction.”
“Or it could have been the mayonnaise,” said Brutus.
“Or maybe it was the combination of mayonnaise, pee-pee and Max’s licking,” Dooley said. He gave me a curious look. “When you licked his head, what did it taste like, Max? Did it taste like mayonnaise, or pee-pee, or both?”
“Shampoo, probably,” said Harriet.
I was pulling a face, and now asked,“Odelia, can you ask Tex if at least he washed his hair before subjecting himself to my… special treatment?”
Odelia dutifully translated my question, but Tex shook his head.“I read an article that shampoo should be avoided at all cost. Dries out the scalp. And just think of all those chemicals they put in there. So I stopped washing my hair a week ago.” He patted his head. “All natural, baby!”
Oh, dear. So that’s why Tex’s head had had such a funny taste. Yuck. Double yuck!
“Humans,” said Brutus, once he’d stopped rolling on the floor laughing. “You can’t beat them!”