A simple act of kindness

Alison Holme

A fresh haircut and a professional shave can make anyone feel like a millionaire.Anil Çakmak understands this feeling better than most.He's a barber at The ChuckMuck,a shop in Istanbul,Türkiye.Recently,he met a homeless man named Hayri,who only ever asked him for an occasional cup of hot tea or coffee on cold days.

Anil enjoys making videos of some of the incredible hair transformations he saw,and one day he got the idea to offer Hayri the same experience for free.“I asked and explained my idea about a transformation,a haircut,barber treatment,and new clothes,but he rejected my offer,”Anil said.“Suddenly,the day after,he came and said he was OK for it.”

The barber couldn't wait to get started! Of course,washing and straightening Hayri's hair was not an easy task.Years of living on the streets had turned it into a snarl of grime and knots (一堆污垢和结).Hayri couldn't even remember the last time he'd had a trim (修剪),let alone a professional cut in a nice barbershop.

When Anil finished snipping and styling his hair,Hayri looked like a totally different person! Best of all,by the time they were done,Hayri seemed to feel better,cleaner,and more loved than he did when he walked inside.

Later,Anil explained that he didn't make the sweet offer for himself.Instead,he was hoping he touched Hayri's heart and showed him the respect and dignity he deserves.

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Did you have similar experience of helping someone?If any,please share it with your classmates.