By Rebecca Rogers
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The Mask Zone
Ever heard of the T-Zone? You know, that area of the face that face cleansers are marketed toward? Well I have a new, un-marketed to situation with my face. The Mask Zone.
COVID is in town and doesn’t appear to be getting the hell out of here anytime soon. I’m a diligent sanitizer, washer-of-hands, and… mask wearer.
I like that I’m keeping myself just a little bit safer. I like even more that I’m possibly preventing putting anyone else at risk. I’ve even, dare I say it, gotten used to the wearing a mask all the time thing. I’ve found some masks that fit well and don’t tickle my claustrophobia bone. I’m good with this.
Until today.
Driving home from Trader Joe’s I had an itch on my now un-masked nose. I reached up to scratch said itch and found a layer of crusty dry skin. Ew. I’m also a wearer of spectacles. The spot in question lay right at the point of contact between glasses, mask, and face.
I had noticed small blemishes in the other mask contact regions, but none so icky as this… this dried batter of a spot on the bridge of my nose.
I feel the need to call someone. You know, for advice. I want to tell them that I already have a relatively decent facial maintenance regimen, and that I have a very particular bath glove thingy that scrubs my face to baby’s bottom smooth. “What more can I do?” I’d ask. “Is there a special material I could super glue to the nose bridge of my mask to prevent this affliction?” I’d query.
And, if I’m honest, which I usually am, I already know the answer: There is nothing to do but wear your damn mask and stop your whining.
WHAT’S THAT YOU SAY – A MONOLOGUE
By Rebecca Rogers
SETTING: VIDALIA – A SMALL TOWN IN SOUTH GEORGIA. SCENE OPENS ON FAYLENE AS SHE ENTERS HER ROOM, HAT IN HER HAND AND BLACK SHAWL SLUNG OVER HER ARM. THE ROOM IS SIMPLE WITH A SINGLE BED, NIGHTSTAND, MIRROR, AND DRESSER. FAYLENE SITS ON HER BED. SHE SEEMS EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED. AFTER STARING AT HER REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR FOR A FEW BEATS.
FAYLENE
Well, damn. You’ve really stuck your foot in it this time, Faylene. Papa would be so angry with me and my dadgum mouth. But, as I’m sure he understands now, I meant well. I truly did.
She pauses to reflect, clearly reliving something. She goes from ashamed to stubbornly resolute.
FAYLENE
Why the hell’d Cooper have to show up anyway? Ain’t no one here like him. He’s a rat bastard, just like Papa used to say. Him an his big fat mouth.
(fuming now)
I told him… we ALL told him he was full of it. Him thinkin’ that listenin’ to some stupid travelin’ preacher down at the grange made him an expert. Well whaddaya say now, asshole.
(takes a few calming breaths)
I cain’t believe Cooper convinced mama he knew what he was talking about. He was always her favorite. And she listened to Cooper like he was the second coming of Jesus. So I guess she’s as much to blame as him.
She stands to set her hat and shawl on the dresser. She stares at herself in the mirror.
FAYLENE
Well I wouldn’t take any of it back. I’d do it all over again. When I said, “None of us’d be here if mama wore a stupid mask,” and Cooper said, “What’s that you say?”, I wasn’t sure I could stand up to him. But then… I did. And boy did I lay into him. I told him that I was standin’ next to a damn wooden box that was containin’ my papa. And the it was all his fault for not believin’ in what smarter people than him were sayin’. I told Coop that he was a whole new breed of ignorant. I said that now I was stuck stayin’ at home, ’cause he sure as hell wasn’t gonna stick around and help mama. And I told him he was a damn idiot and a murderer, and that I wished it had been him who was dead instead of Papa.
She pauses at the gravity of this last statement.
FAYLENE
Well, that part wasn’t true. I just wish my papa wasn’t.
She slowly sits back on the bed.
FAYLENE
The worst thing is that Papa wore a mask. He didn’t know if it’d make a difference, but he said, “If it has a chance to help, it’s worth it.” He and mama would go round and round about it at first. And, ya know what’s the craziest? Mama never did get sick.
Papa was the best and strongest man in the whole wide world. But he just couldn’t beat this thing.
Lights Out
FIN
