Not Having It All Cut Off¹

Bill² Jenkins worked in a big office in the city, and he often went to the barber's during³ working hours to have his hair cut. This was against⁴ the rules since⁵ clerks⁶ had⁷ to have their hair cut in their own⁸ time.

While⁹ Bill was at the barber's one day, the manager¹⁰ of the office came¹¹ in by chance¹² to have his own hair cut. Bill saw¹³ him and tried to hide¹⁴ his face, but the manager came and sat¹⁵ beside him, and he soon recognized¹⁶ him.

“Hello, Jenkins,” the manager said¹⁷. “I see that you are having your hair cut in office time.”

“Yes, sir, I am,” admitted¹⁸ Bill calmly¹⁹. “You see, sir, it grows in office time.”

“Not all of it,” said the manager of the office at once. “Some of it grows in your own time.”

“Yes, sir, that's quite true,” answered Bill politely²⁰, “but I'm not having it all cut off.”