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Hidden Smile

July 23, 2021 5 Comments

By Hallie Ranta

Got the second needle yesterday, and Mom announced today in complete euphoria that it’s Open Season next month.

We’re going to visit Nana. We’ll hit every restaurant along the way. Go to the movies. Sit in our old seats behind home plate.

Hallelujah.

Sure, I’ll go, but the mask stays where it is: perfectly positioned over the scars, acne roadmap, and dental affliction we can never afford to fix.

Continuing compliments on the hairstyle will make up for the eye rolls and head shakes, and I can take the ‘delusional coward’ and ‘paranoid sheep’ slurs. I’ve been called a lot worse.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. b. says

    July 23, 2021 at 10:18 am

    Under every dark cloud a small ray of sunshine… Very nice story and well written.

    Reply
    • Hallie says

      July 23, 2021 at 3:08 pm

      Thank you for reading, glad you enjoyed.

      Reply
  2. Liz Falkner says

    July 24, 2021 at 4:00 am

    That was terribly sad. Poor, poor young man.

    Well done, Hallie.

    Reply
    • Hallie says

      July 24, 2021 at 9:47 am

      Thank you Liz

      Reply
  3. Michael Neal Morris says

    July 28, 2021 at 9:40 am

    Nice work. Like the attention to detail.

    Reply

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