Chapter 2 Summary

Crawley resumes describing the Joseph Shaving Parlor to Webb before Buddy's own account of cutting hair takes over. Melting ice in the window cool and adds atmosphere before watering the only plants on Liberty St. A revolving fan makes stretching impossible. Snipped hair gets into everything, but shaving soap gives Buddy the cleanest skin in town. Buddy studies the faces as they laugh nervously at the changes he makes. He dreams about slashing their trusting throats and feels enslaved. He takes little care of his talented hands, although his worst nightmare is having them severed.

Webb visits Cornish to get a photograph of Buddy, who sends him to the professional photographer Bellocq. Webb is looking through prints when Bellocq pins him with his tripod and tells him to leave Buddy alone. Webb gets Bellocq to talk about Buddy convincing whores to pose for...