THE COLOR ORANGE

Hair salons are by nature colorful places. Mine on Maui were so as well. One day, flamboyant orange danced through the door. A bare footed young thing, skipped at his side, wrapped she was in slight gauze fabric. "I cut hair, and if I may, can show you my ability. I brought this model with me." I rather enjoyed his self-assuredness, albeit his bright orange. "Okay; take it away." He was professionally entertaining. His methodology was not dissimilar to mine. Within the hour he had transformed nondescript longish hair into something attractively modern. His creation was well defined with signature whimsy. He theatrically bowed as he twirled her my way. "I'm looking for a place to work, my kind sir." His was fun energy. "It so happens I have an available station...when would you like to start?" He sat down beside me as the girl reviewed her reflection in the mirrors and danced to the music playing. "My name is Santosh." "That is unusual"...without my asking he told me it was Hindu, and meant Satisfaction. "I do need the money, and I could start right away, tomorrow." I walked him over to the station I had in mind..."Since I have my stuff here, can I set them here?" "Sure, why not." He placed his implements on the station in quick order. In the middle he placed a framed image. "Who is that?", I asked. "Oh, he is Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, he gave me my name!" A smile begot his face upon telling me. "Look, I have a client coming in a few moments." "Cool----do you mind if we hang out for awhile----kinda pick up on the vibes?" "Make yourself at home, and welcome aboard," I did my thing and made ready for closing. Santosh pitched in with the cleanup process. "Do you smoke?" I was lighting this joint I had pulled out of a drawer from the reception desk. "Sure." "So tell me a little about yourself." "I'm originally from Toronto,just got here yesterday from Oregon. "What were you doing in Oregon, cutting hair?" "Well I did some but was actually there just to hang at Rajneeshpuran. Have you heard about it?" "Yeah, been reading some in the newspaper. Your friend over there on the station, he's the dude with all those Rolls-Royce cars." "Yes he does have those, but it is really what he has to say that is important. Like, he is so cool, has an open attitude towards sexuality." "Right!....he's the Sex Guru." "Look man, I gotta get outa here, Catch ya tomorrow."
Sannyasins filled his appointment book. He performed his magic for a couple of years; then, one day was escorted from the salon by immigration officials. They sent him back to Canada. He never had gotten his green card.
The "sex guru" was deported from America as well.
Less orange was seen about Maui. What sannyasins remained, dressed down, and melted into the community. Every so often a picture postcard would appear from one Asian place or another. Aloha, Charles.....signed Santosh. I would run into one of clients and receive information of demise. Seems, Santosh died when a condom filled with heroin emptied into his stomach.
I looked that evening and watched as a giant Orange ball fell into the Pacific.