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maskurbatesTitle: Smile
Rating: PG
Characters: Roman, Roman's mommy
Words: 279
Note: Young Roman and his mother go to visit family friends. Roman is between 6-9.
Roman hates him.
He hates the way the parents touch their son affectionately on the shoulder in public, the way the boy angles his head up toward them just so.
He hates how the boy is always slightly better dressed, and how his hair looks like it falls naturally like that.
He hates the Leave it to Beaver smile that goes all the way to the eyes.
Roman hates how perfectly and easily the boy wears his mask, just as if it weren't a mask at all, but rather his real face.
It taunts him.
It infuriates him.
How does the boy achieve such perfection? No matter how many threats Roman receives, his mask is never good enough, the emotions never real enough.
His smile never extends to the eyes.
"Don't grimace, Roman, for God's sake, you're happy," his mother chides, scowling at him. "We are a happy family."
Roman smiles widely, baring his canines, his eyes still hard and without depth.
His mother presses a hand to her forehead and sighs with exasperation.
"No teeth, I've told you people don't want predatory, Roman, they want pleasant."
She plasters a society smile on her mouth as the driver opens the car door. Before stepping out, she hisses to her son, "Don't embarrass me."
He wants to sulk in the car wearing his true face. Why should he care to be friendly with someone who never shows his true face?
He feels his mother's sharp, manicured hand squeeze his arm too tightly, all but yanking him from the car. He imagines holding a match too close to her stiff, Aqua Net soaked hair and, finally, he has a genuine smile.
Rating: PG
Characters: Roman, Roman's mommy
Words: 279
Note: Young Roman and his mother go to visit family friends. Roman is between 6-9.
Roman hates him.
He hates the way the parents touch their son affectionately on the shoulder in public, the way the boy angles his head up toward them just so.
He hates how the boy is always slightly better dressed, and how his hair looks like it falls naturally like that.
He hates the Leave it to Beaver smile that goes all the way to the eyes.
Roman hates how perfectly and easily the boy wears his mask, just as if it weren't a mask at all, but rather his real face.
It taunts him.
It infuriates him.
How does the boy achieve such perfection? No matter how many threats Roman receives, his mask is never good enough, the emotions never real enough.
His smile never extends to the eyes.
"Don't grimace, Roman, for God's sake, you're happy," his mother chides, scowling at him. "We are a happy family."
Roman smiles widely, baring his canines, his eyes still hard and without depth.
His mother presses a hand to her forehead and sighs with exasperation.
"No teeth, I've told you people don't want predatory, Roman, they want pleasant."
She plasters a society smile on her mouth as the driver opens the car door. Before stepping out, she hisses to her son, "Don't embarrass me."
He wants to sulk in the car wearing his true face. Why should he care to be friendly with someone who never shows his true face?
He feels his mother's sharp, manicured hand squeeze his arm too tightly, all but yanking him from the car. He imagines holding a match too close to her stiff, Aqua Net soaked hair and, finally, he has a genuine smile.
