At the end of a haircut, I once said everything looked fine before the barber had finished lifting the little mirror. I tried to inspect the back afterwards, but by then we were discussing my next appointment. It seemed awkward to reopen the question.
That routine came back to me while reading the mirror scene in Bram Stoker's Dracula. Jonathan Harker can see the room behind him, but not the Count standing there. I found myself thinking about the ordinary appointments that might complicate.
Comic transcript
Panel 1. Dracula sits in the barber's chair. The barber holds a small mirror behind his head.
Barber: “How's the back?”
Panel 2. A silent close-up of the mirror shows the chair back and the room, but no Dracula.
Panel 3. Dracula nods politely as the barber lowers the mirror.
Dracula: “Perfect, thank you.”
Panel 4. Now wearing his own cloak, Dracula touches the back of his head. The barber folds the salon cape. Another customer waits near the door.
Panel 5. Dracula approaches the waiting customer quietly.
Dracula: “Could you check something?”
Panel 6. Dracula turns to show the back of his head. The customer leans forward to inspect it.
Dracula: “Is it straight at the back?”
