Every morning Betty stood before the bathroom mirror and painted Warhol lips on her face. She wore lipstick like others wear rhinestones or carry Gucci accessories even though she was lovely without colored wax. Her scarlet smile was frozen like a tattoo when she talked, her pearly whites framed in red. And she was proud of it, the way some are about recycling trash or walking instead of driving. A happy face was Betty’s way of saving the planet. When we made love, all I could do was hope that somehow it might slip, just once. But it never did.
Mary Wallace
22/1/2021 10:04:58 am
We all wear our masks for protection. Betty sounds as vulnerable as the rest of us.
Jim Woessner
22/1/2021 03:31:47 pm
Yes. Vulnerable. Frightened. Hiding her true identity.
Pamela Kennedy
22/1/2021 05:03:15 pm
Perhaps she needed privacy...holding back a piece of herself for herself. Nice story, Jim.
Sue Clayton
23/1/2021 02:02:30 am
Bright red lips perhaps gave her a mask of confidence.
Sivan Pillai
23/1/2021 04:28:13 am
We all wear different kinds of masks for different reasons. Nice story, Jim. Comments are closed.
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"Classic"
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