Ring Lardner's Haircut at first, seems to be a story about the happenings of a barber shop in a very small country town. As you read on you are welcomed by the narrator as a "newcomer". (787) Here is where the reading begins to switch focus to what the story is really about. A man called "Jim Kendal" and the events that lead to the fatal accident or by my summation his murder.
             Jim is described to me, the newcomer, as a very practical joke type person with a comedic disposition. Jim and his comical partner, Hod Meyers, "used to keep this town in an uproar". (787) However, after Jim's death the comical team is dead as well. Hod simply couldn't amuse the town's folk by himself.
             As you read on the narrator seems to elude that Jim may take his pranks a bit too far. First, I am told a story of a prank that he has pulled on his wife and kids. (789) This prank, while possibly deserving to his wife, leaves his kids, whom I am sure did nothing to deserve this type of retaliation, outside a circus waiting for him to bring tickets to let them enjoy the show. Also, there was a story of Jim sending out post cards to people alluding that their spouses were doing less than appropriate things. (788)
             Toward the end of the story is the prank that some would say got him murdered. He telephoned Julie Gregg, who was someone he had a crush on, but could never like him. Jim knew she had a crush on one of the Doctors simply named Doc Stair. Well, one night Jim called Julie pretending to be Doc Stair. He apparently was good at doing voice impressions. Anyway, Jim, posing as Doc asked Julie to come by his office because he had something important to tell her. Giving in to her manners, she rushed over to see Doc, in hopes of a relationship, and there was no answer at the door. Jim and all of his drinking buddies were watching her in the dark. Jim made a n
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