“Is ten years hard labour,” the Policeman pointed out, “Is not for ever.”
“Look we didn’t mean to!” Jo protested.
“But you are not registered,” the Policeman explained, “You must be registered, you must come with me, all of you!”
“We must do as he says,” Luis suggested, “We tie up horse outside Police station.”
Lynnie and Jo walked beside the Carriage as the Policeman led them to the police station, they followed him into the cool shade of the outer office and into an interview room where a Police woman was drinking a cup of coffee.
“Papers,” the Policeman announced, “No papers, no registration, no permits.”
“Oh not again,” the Police woman sighed, “Put them in the interview room.”
“Look,” said Carlos, “We have arrived only now, there is no time for registration!”
“What registration?” Jo asked.
“Work registration,” the Police woman explained, “You must have permit to enter and to work in Cuba.”
“Like how do we register?” Lynnie asked.
“Sign forms, have medical, ” the Policewoman suggested, “Pay taxes!”
“And then we can go?” Lynnie asked.
“Yes but first I have to arrest you as formality,” the Policewoman said, “Come with me!”
She took them into the interview room and produced a pair of Hand cuffs, “Hands behind back!” she ordered and quickly cuffed Lynnie’s hand behind her back and took a second pair of cuffs from the wall and hand cuffed Jo as well.
“Sit down,” she ordered and she called Carlos and Luis through.
“Why do we need registration?” Jo asked
“To stop Americano whores coming and stealing the tourist money for themselves and not pay taxes!” the Policewoman explained.
“But we are tourists, not whores!” Lynnie protested.
“So why you dress like whores and act like whores?” the Policewoman asked.
“We were offered a job,” Jo explained.
“So you come in Bikinis?” the Policewoman asked, “What sort of job?”
“To make up eight team for Carriage for tourists,” Carlos confirmed.
“And you took job?” the Police woman asked.
“We decided not,” Jo insisted, “We just want to go home!”
“Then we get you registered and you can go!” the Police woman declared.
“Like we can go?” Lynnie asked.
“Is two week trial,” Carlos explained, “They try see if they like?”
“They signed forms,” Luis explained, “See!”
“Then there is no problem,” the Police woman agreed, “Do you have uniforms?”
“Yes!” Carlos agreed, “In the Carriage!”
“Then we go next door to town hall and do paperwork!” the Police woman suggested.
“No!” said Jo, “It’s all a!” and Lynnie jabbed her in the ribs with her elbow..
“Do you want to rot in jail, just go along with it till we figure something out!” Lynnie whispered and said, “Sure, we’re just going to see how we like it.”
The Policewoman led them through a connecting door to the town hall, “Dos Americanos por favor,” she announced and left them by the counter as a bored looking middle aged woman looked on.
She smiled a nicotine stained smile, “Hi, I’m Grace,” she said, “You got forms?”
“Yes,” The Policewoman agreed, “Except they stories not straight, they don’t know how long they have come for.”
“Week ten years makes no difference,” Grace replied, “You still need registration and tags and medical!”
“Ok,” Lynnie agreed.
“Sign here,” Grace suggested and she showed Lynnie an official looking form.
“It’s in Spanish!” Lynnie protested, “I can’t the cuffs?”
“Don’t do it Lynnie!” Jo advised.
“Sit down and step through the cuffs so your hands are in front,” the Policewoman suggested
“You rot in jail if you want,” Lynnie suggested as she followed the advice and signed the form with a flourish, “I just want to get out of here!”
Jo reluctantly signed her form, “Can we go now?” she asked.
“You are workers now not whores,” Grace replied, “You must dress like workers, your hair is too long, you have no identity discs.”
“Ok, how do we get a haircut>” Lynnie asked.
“We can do it here, and identity discs, if you have money?” the Police woman explained, “Maybe your friends will pay?”
She went to speak to Carlos and Luis and returned smiling, “They have paid for you, Mr Ardiles will do your hair, you,” she said pointing at Lynnie, “Come with me!”
Lynnie went first an was shown into a small room where she sat in one of two individual barbers chairs in a facing a counter with a blank wall where you would expect to find a mirror, and the policeman stood with scissors and electric hair clippers ready to start work.
“Are you like qualified?” Lynnie asked and the Policeman laughed
”That feels very short,” Lynnie complained as he started work.
The policeman held her head down, already there was a bald strip running from Lynnie’s forehead to her neck and her remaining hair was cascading down around her even as she tried to look around.
”That must feel much cooler and lighter,” the policewoman exclaimed as the Policeman carved a second wide swathe of Lynnie’s gorgeous blonde hair away to leave a second bald strip, a third and a fourth strip appeared and the hair cascaded to the floor, and then he started to trim around Lynnie’s ears
“Can I see?” Lynnie said, “When I have finished the policeman explained and admiring the even quarter inch American Marine corps hair style Lynnie now sported she lathered up Lynnie’s head with a shaving brush and began to shave the remaining hair away until Lynnie’s scalp glistened in the sunlight and she was entirely bald .
”Are you shaving my head?” Lynnie finally asked.
”A very short style,” the policeman suggested, as he polished Lynnie’s bald scalp.
They took Lynnie to the next room and brought Jo in next, “Look this is weird,” she protested and she refused to sit down until the Policewoman clipped a dog collar around her neck and dragged her to the chair, “No!” she protested but the police woman held her head as the Policeman carved a bald strip running across Jo’s head and despite her protests the Policeman carved swathe after swathe of Jo’s thick dark hair away to leave her completely bald.
”You bastards!” Jo cried, “You sadistic bastards!” but they laughed as they led Lynnie back in to join her.
”Lynnie, he’s shaved my head!” Jo exclaimed, and then added, “Oh, he’s shaved yours too!”
“You look like a pixie!” Lynnie cried , “Oh my god!”
“Now don’t make a fuss, there’s still your under arms and bushes to, hold still!” the Policeman warned and raising Lynnie’s arms he buzzed at Lynnie’s underarm hair.
”No, please!” Lynnie protested, “You can’t!”
“And now your bush,” the Policewoman ordered. “So strip!”
“Look I’m out of here,” Lynnie snapped but the Policewoman shushed her.
”It’s ok,” she said gently, “It’ll be ok,” and she pulled Lynnie’s bikini pants down to show her small triangle of blonde pubic hair and her small pink labia.
”You see, is easy,” the policewoman insisted, “I do same for you?” she asked Jo and she dragged Jo’s swimsuit bottoms down as well.
”No please!” Lynnie pleaded but the policeman continued and shaved off her blonde pubes as Lynnie cringed in fear that she would cut her as the policeman set down the clippers and started to use the foam and razor to get a perfect smooth finish.