17 Chapter Seventeen.

(Uptown, 777 Grant Wood Road, Gotham City)

It's been about a six days since Jayden's grand opening and his little encounter with that Hyena.

He had just finished up with a scheduled customer, and now since no one was in the shop he had decided to have an early lunch.

Lola had come by earlier in the morning with some food she had made for him so now he was going to eat it while watching a game of football.

*Meowwww!*

Though during his break Raven had started meowing at Jayden. Lifting his head from his chair Jayden turned his head in the direction Raven was looking towards.

And just outside the store on the other side of the road, there was a person on the shorter side that kept looking at the store.

They were pacing back and forth as if trying to figure something out. Jayden wondered what they were doing, but since they didn't look dangerous he decided to just continue eating his lunch.

Half an hour soon quickly passed but no customers had come in yet. The person who was pacing back and forth before was still there and looking in the direction of his shop.

Raven had an almost sixth sense for dangerous people so if she wasn't reacting then everything was good.

But it seemed that whoever they were they had come to a decision and walked across the street, looked both ways and came in front of his door.

Jayden stood up, if they were a customer then he would greet them like he did everyone else.

The person in question grabbed the door handle before walking into the store, the familiar ringing of his doorbell rang.

Before Jayden could greet them however they took off their hoodie, finally revealing their face that had been hidden underneath.

A young man with Down syndrome had entered the shop.

Boomer's eyes sparkled with excitement as he greeted Jayden with an enthusiastic wave. "Hi! I'm Boomer!" He exclaimed, his speech slightly slower and his voice filled with genuine warmth.

Jayden was slightly caught off guard, he would have never thought he would get this type of customer today...but nevertheless, he was a customer so of course Jayden would welcome him.

Would he be okay with him touching him, is he okay with loud noises?

"Hey there, Boomer." Jayden replied, his voice filled with a mix of nervousness and curiosity. "I'm Jayden, your barber for today. Take a seat."

Boomer nodded, taking off his hoodie and hanging it on the hanger before comfortably settling in one of the chairs.

Jayden draped a cape over Boomer's shoulders, his hands still slightly shaky. He struggled to find the right words or actions to make Boomer feel comfortable.

" So what's it gonna be today, short back in side maybe a crew cut." Jayden asked while looking at Boomeres' slightly long and dishevelled hair.

" Could I have an undercut..." Boomer replied in a paced manner.

"An undercut...yeah, I could see that for you." Similar to a fade, an undercut is one of the most popular types of haircut for men. It involves trimming the hair on the sides and back.

Yet, unlike a fade, it does not blend seamlessly into the top but creates quite a stiff transition instead.

Thanks to this, your hairstyle will look high contrast and sharp.

As Jayden began cutting Boomer's hair, he stole glances at his reflection in the mirror. Boomer seemed unfazed, his eyes filled with trust and a sense of contentment.

Jayden's tension slowly eased, replaced by a growing sense of admiration for Boomer's genuine joy.

"So, Boomer, how's your day been?" Jayden asked tentatively, hoping to initiate a conversation.

Boomer's eyes lit up, and he eagerly shared his experiences at an ice cream fair he went to all weekend, he excitedly talked about his experience and all the different flavours he tried and how fun it was for him.

Jayden listened attentively, his initial discomfort fading away as he saw Boomer's enthusiasm.

"You must really love Ice-cream." Jayden remarked, genuinely interested. Boomer shook his head lightly.

" I like all food." He said widening his arms under the cape to express just how much he liked food.

"Haha! Is that so, well can't really argue with that, I love food too...now you got me all excited for food."

Jayden couldn't help but smile at Boomer's infectious enthusiasm. He realized that despite their differences, they shared a common love for food and the world of comics.

As Jayden continued cutting Boomer's hair, he found himself engaging in casual conversation, discussing their favourite food, music, characters, storylines, and even exchanging recommendations.

He noticed Boomer's eyes lighting up whenever he talked about his favourite superhero, Miles Morales.

By the time Jayden finished styling Boomer's hair, a genuine friendship had formed between them.

Boomer's contagious laughter filled the air, and Jayden couldn't help but join in.

He realized that it wasn't about knowing exactly how to interact with someone like Boomer but rather embracing their shared interests and finding common ground.

" And done, what do you think Boomer, am I good or what." Boomer looked into the mirror and he just couldn't contain his contagious smile.

Boomer turned around and hugged Jayden tightly." Wow, so I guess you're a hugger then." Jayden commented while giving him a pat on the back.

Boomer let him go before saying." Best haircut ever! I look so cool... you're definitely better than the other barber."

"Other barber?" Jayden questioned.

" Yeah, he was really mean to me, and they all laughed when I wanted a haircut like miles so I couldn't cut my hair like him." Boomer said in a happy tone but Jayden could see the sadness on his face.

Jayden frowned upon hearing that, his fists balled up into a fist before he finally relaxed them.

" Well they were idiots, It doesn't matter what you want your hair to look like, if you ever want something different boomer you're welcome here anytime."

Boomer nodded and talked to Jayden for a bit longer, he even played with Raven before finally leaving the barbershop.

Jayden chuckled.

He had learned that while interactions with individuals with Down syndrome might require a different approach, genuine connections could still be made.

They weren't emotionless and they weren't stupid unlike what had been said on some the things he's read online...but-

Jayden took out his notebook and started scribbling away. Whether it be his notes, his thought, lessons that he had learned or even things to do.

He wrote them all down in his Notebook.

Jayden had never even thought about how he would be interacting with people with disabilities.

He wanted to make sure that he knew his stuff and was educated on it so he wouldn't upset a customer in the future that had a disability.

" And that barber shop Boomer went to... too bad I didn't ask him about it, maybe I could get their address if Boomer ever comes back."

With that said and done, Jayden decided to finally close up shop since it was already seven o'clock.

And just like that, another day passed peacefully in the shop.

.....

Dear Readers,

I would like to take a moment to address a character named Boomer in my fanfiction. Boomer is a new character with Down syndrome who plays a significant role in the story. As a writer, it's essential for me to approach this character with sensitivity and respect.

I want to emphasize that Boomer's portrayal is based on my understanding of Down syndrome, but I acknowledge that everyone's experiences and perspectives may differ.

I have conducted research to ensure that Boomer's character is represented thoughtfully and accurately.

However, I also understand that my interpretation may not fully capture the diverse range of experiences within the Down syndrome community as I have never interacted with someone who has Down syndrome.

If, as readers, you feel that my portrayal of Boomer is inappropriate, inaccurate, or disrespectful, I encourage you to let me know.

Your feedback is valuable to me, and I am committed to learning and improving. If there are any concerns or discomfort regarding this character or any aspect of my fanfiction, please feel free to express them openly. I am open to discussions and willing to make necessary changes.

When adding Boomer I wanted to give myself a challenge. In every fanfiction I've read, I've never seen a character who had disabilities like Down syndrome and such, so I wanted my story to be different.

If, upon reflection, I find that my portrayal of Boomer does not meet the appropriate standards or is not in line with the values of inclusivity and respect, I am prepared to remove the chapter and the character from the story.

And if anyone has personal experience and would like to add anything about Boomer and things not to do to the character im all ears.

Thank you for your understanding and engagement with my fanfiction. Your support and feedback are immensely appreciated.

Sincerely, [John_Len_2493