Amid the quiet urban routines and hidden stories, Jeremy’s seemingly monotonous life hid a hidden depth that few could discern.
His introverted nature and perceived slowness inadvertently led to misconceptions and dismissal from the townspeople, leaving Jeremy to navigate his world alone.
Within this calm facade, however, an interesting series of encounters at the local barbershop revealed a deep aspect of Jeremy’s character, challenging perceptions and revealing an unexpected story.
It’s funny how some people in this world just see what they want to see. Their egos and self-perceptions have blinded them to what is clearly in front of them. This is the perfect environment to make people laugh. Scammers are everywhere, so we have to be on our guard to make sure they don’t take advantage of us. But if the person you’re cheating on isn’t exactly trustworthy, where do you draw the line between good and bad?
Little Jeremy
Little Jeremy was a shy young man. All the adults in their sleepy town assumed he had trouble making friends, but he just liked being alone. People just ignored him because they were uncomfortable with his infrequent conversation and never knew what to say to him. Jeremy was supposed to give a presentation in front of his class one day, but he was nervous. Due to his teacher’s strict behavior, he stuttered. The other students in the class were all really mean and kept laughing.
The rest of the students at the school heard about his disastrous performance. As it turns out, everyone saw Jeremy’s slowness due to small-town rumors. He began to receive different treatment from others; some mocked him as he passed by. Some would simply not look him in the eye. Jeremy ignored them all as his mother had instructed.
Jeremy’s mother was a sick person. This may have clarified the reason for his silence to the psychologist. He never interacted with other children in his life. So social skills were rare. Jeremy learned that his mother had terminal cancer when he was just six years old. She died after a year. Jeremy now lived with his grandparents as his father was unable to care for him due to his extreme grief.
He keeps to himself and finds it comforting.
Ironically, Jeremy seemed to take great pleasure in his social status. He was basically ignored for the most part, which allowed him to act amazingly.
Although everyone felt he was slow, he enjoyed going to school. His teachers were aware of his respectable grades. Sometimes he wondered why they never said anything, but then he would have to deal with the others wanting to talk to him.
He decided that one day he would go into hairdressing. His grandmother, who was particularly neat, insisted that he cut his hair to keep it from looking messy. Jeremy didn’t mind; he was just using his phone to play games while the hairdresser worked. This time, the person who normally cuts their hair was not present. He should have substituted instead. Jeremy’s heart dropped when he realized who it was. He was embarrassed because this man always made fun of him in public. Jeremy took a deep breath and told himself to accept it.
Come on, let’s do it.
As Jeremy sat down, the hairdresser tried to stifle his laughter. He gently nudged the guy next to him, motioning for him to look. The hairdresser kept grinning at Jeremy, assuming he wasn’t looking. But Jeremy witnessed it all. After the job was done, Jeremy got up and continued to pay at the front desk, with the stylist and friend following close behind.
He asked about Jeremy’s desire to play the game. Even as he nodded, Jeremy secretly sighed. The man laughed and muttered to his friend that Jeremy was going to make a bad decision and that he was so stupid. He showed two coins in one hand and a $100 bill in the other. He then asked which one Jeremy preferred. After surveying the options before him, Jeremy reached out and grabbed the coins. The hairdresser and his friend began to laugh heartily.
This exchange happened regularly whenever Jeremy needed a haircut. When the hairdresser was done, she would approach him and give him a change or a note. You’d think Jeremy would pick the coins even though the bill was much more valuable, but he didn’t.
I noticed
Another client one day saw what was going on between Jeremy and the hairdresser. Angry at the stylist for making fun of the young boy, and confused by Jeremy’s choice to keep the coins. He was clearly not at his best. When he was done, he got up and paid at the front desk. At that moment, the man gave the hairdresser a stern look as he hovered over the counter.
As he left the salon, he realized he was hungry, so he went to a neighboring restaurant across the street. He saw Jeremy sitting on the opposite side of the restaurant with a large sundae in front of him as he waited for the waitress to bring the menu. You could see they were having fun. Why would a boy take coins and buy one ice cream when a hundred-dollar bill could buy so much more confused the man even more.
Jeremy sat there enjoying his sundae. Double chocolate strawberry swirl with whipped cream and sprinkles was his favorite flavor. The waitress knew his grandparents who frequented the restaurant, so he didn’t have to order it right away.
Now let’s play a game.
The man felt a sudden and overwhelming curiosity that he couldn’t ignore. So when he finished eating, he passed Jeremy. He walked over to Jeremy who looked up. The man asked him why he chose the coins after introducing himself. The question surprised little Jeremy. It’s not talked about much these days.
Taking the last bite of his sundae, Jeremy put the spoon in his mouth. He made a face and pretended it was the best thing he’d ever eaten like he was saving the last bits. The man couldn’t help but blurt out that he could buy more ice cream cones if he picked out a $100 bill. Jeremy looked at him with a strange look on his face as he opened one eye.
The man who had always believed that Jeremy was the complete opposite of stupid was taken aback by what he said next. He informed him that the hairdresser would stop playing with him if he took out a $100 bill. So after each cut, he will keep collecting coins to enjoy his sundae.
Jeremy’s actions spoke volumes for his resilience and understanding far beyond his years. The seemingly simple choice of opting for coins over a more valuable banknote unfolded a story of depth and wisdom. His reaction to the peculiar game played by the hairdresser shed light on a deliberate decision, not one of ignorance, but of a deliberate strategy.
The food encounter offered a glimpse into Jeremy’s delight as he savored his favorite treat, undeterred by the illusion of surface play. His deliberate choice to repeatedly withdraw coins was not about monetary value; it was a conscious decision to keep his innocent joy, his indulgence in ice cream, and the wonderful ritual that followed every haircut.
Jeremy’s story highlighted a deep understanding that sometimes happiness is not found in apparent monetary gains, but in simple pleasures that one appreciates. His choice reflected a poignant lesson about priorities, resilience, and finding contentment in small, cherished moments. It was a story of a young boy’s wisdom, how to keep joy in an otherwise challenging environment, and making conscious decisions that had more meaning than they seemed.