Please Wait

Please Wait

combed

special

haircut

patient

scissors

mirror

Today was the first day of school, and my friend Jody had a new haircut. It looked so cool. When I got home, I asked my mom for a haircut, and I told her exactly how I wanted it. I asked her, very politely, “Could you please do it today?” Sadly, she was busy. She told me that it takes a long time to cut hair. 

“First, you have to take a bath so that your hair is wet. Then, you have to brush it out really well,” she said. My face dropped as my mom continued. “Finally, when you cut, you have to use special scissors, and cut very gently so that everything is even…” Her voice trailed off. 

“You need to be very careful and get it just right. If you make a mistake, you can’t glue the hair back on,” she said, laughing. I didn’t think it was very funny. “Maybe I can cut it for you on the weekend,” she told me. I went back to my room and looked at my hair in the mirror. It was way too long, and I didn’t want to go back to school looking like this. 

I thought about what Mom had told me. She said to take a bath first, but I already took one this morning. Then she said to brush my hair, so I gave it a quick brush. Mom had said to use special scissors. I got my school scissors out of my desk. If they could cut paper, they could cut hair! I looked in the mirror again and paused. Mom’s comment that “you can’t glue it back on again” made me worry a little. I decided to cut off just a little hair. Snip. Snip. Snip.

 I watched some hair float to the floor. I looked in the mirror, and one side was shorter than the other. Snip. Snip. Snip. I looked again, but now the other side was shorter! Snip. Snip. Snip. It was still wrong. Snip. Snip. Snip. I kept trying to fix things, but the more I cut, the more lopsided and crooked my hair became. I started to cry. Mom walked in. She looked at my new haircut. She shook her head and didn’t say anything. I don’t like it when she doesn’t say anything. 

“Are you mad because it's ugly?” I asked. “No, I’m disappointed because you were not patient. I am disappointed that you did not wait for me,” she replied. I went into the bathroom and took a bath. My mom brushed my hair out, then clipped gently with her special scissors. It wasn’t perfect, but it was much better. My mom smiled as she combed my hair one last time. “All good things come to those who wait,” she said.

Multiple Choice

Why did the girl want to cut her hair?

• She was bored with her hair.

• Her best friend got a new haircut that she liked.

• She didn’t want hair anymore.

• She wanted to annoy her mom.

Multiple Choice

Why did the girl’s mom ask her to wait?

• She did not want to cut her daughter’s hair.

• She was not in the mood.

• She was busy.

• She wanted her daughter to cut her own hair.

Multiple Choice

What lesson did the girl learn at the end of the story?

• Do not steal.

• Be kind to others.

• Be respectful toward your parents.

• Be patient.