Saving Face

Copyright 2009 by Carl Garrett

Walter Boggins came home from work with the notion that his face didn't fit right. All through Rodney's leathery chuck roast, his face felt too loose and then it felt too tight. It seemed to ripple in new ways as he tried to watch his favorite sitcom. It felt wrong as he scrubbed it before bed; even his beard stubble seemed to scratch him in a different direction than usual. He finally gave up on it. With the straight razor he kept handy for just such a necessity, he deftly drew the blade in a perfect line around his face, then tore it off and tossed it in the trash with a practiced hand. He'd be needing a new one, he thought with a sigh, and followed the clinking of Rodney's chain to give the boy the bad news.