Teaching to shave. Thanks! These three word prompts are wonderful!

— ANONYMOUS

#205

—-

"Usually soap, but Dad buys expensive shaving cream so we're going to use that."

Ellery tilts her head back and swings her legs from the bathroom sink, watching her mom pull stuff out from the linen closet. She begged all month after she got to school and found out everyone is shaving their legs except her. And finally Mom's giving in.

"You do it in the shower?"

"Yes." Her mom turns with a disposable razor still with the plastic guard in her hand, one of Dad's fancy shaving creams cradled in the crook of her arm. "You sure you want to do this? Once you start, cricket, you can never stop."

Ellery snickers but her mother gives her a very sober grimace.

"I'm not kidding. This is one of those parts of being a woman that feels arbitrary and capricious the older you get. Like buying expensive tampons and needing a prescription for birth control."

"What?"

"Never mind," her mom sighs, dragging the chair from the vanity over to the sink where Ella sits.

She drums her heels against the cabinet and her mother lays a quelling hand on her knee. She stops. Waits. Mom pats her leg and sinks down before her, places Ella's feet on top of her thighs.

"Run water over that washcloth, baby, and get your legs damp." Her fingers circle Ellery's ankles as if measuring them. "You've got my legs, so your ankles and knees are going to bleed. Just a warning."

"Jeez, Mom," Ella says, rolling her eyes as she turns on the faucet. "Way to be a killjoy."

"Sorry." Bu Mom doesn't sound sorry. She's taking the washcloth out of Ella's hands and doing it herself, passing the soaked cloth up Ella's shin to her knee and then back along her calf. Just the left leg, and the bottoms of her shorts are soaked.

Mom squirts shaving cream from the can and the sharp scent of winter trees rises up.

"Smells like Daddy," Ella laughs, grinning at her mother.

Mom actually smiles back, lips pressed in amusement. "I suppose so. This is is favorite. Figured it might cut down on razor burn. First time's always a bitch."

Ella gasps, mouth dropping open at Mom's cursing. Mom never curses in front of them, though Ellery is pretty sure she does curse. Dad does, saying words he thinks are appropriate because he doesn't believe in censorship, but Mom has always kept things separated out, compartments for work, for home, for church, for public. Mom censors. (Though Ella is pretty sure she cusses at Dad when she's mad, just never in front of them.)

Mom waves her hand at Ellery's shock, shakes her head as if it doesn't matter.

As if Ella is old enough now to hear it.

"I'm just telling you like it is, baby girl. You're only eleven. You're going to be doing this the rest of your life."

Her mom says it like it's a death sentence, like Ellery's childhood has been murdered and she's the bad guy here.

"Little melodramatic, Mom. Dad rubbing off on you?"

Her mom levels her with a look, and Ellery shuts her mouth.

Mom goes back to the shaving cream, applying in an even layer over her leg, putting it around her knee and ankle especially thick. She makes quiet comments as she does, be sure to hold the razor at the base as you go along here, otherwise you'll cut yourself. Small things. Hints.

Ellery listens.

And then her mom uncaps the razor and holds it out.

Ella takes it by the bright orange handle, glancing down at her leg, getting a better grip on the razor through the leftover shaving cream from her mom's touch.

Her mom, fingers still sticky, taps the top of Ellery's foot. "It's like walking the grid at a crime scene, baby. Start at the bottom, right above the curve of your foot, and draw it up on a slight angle. Then move to the next strip, then the next. Rinse it in the water when it gets too thick. I'll guide you over the difficult places."

Ella places the razor, leaning forward to reach, and her mom nods in encouragement.

"You got this. Go as slowly as you like."

Ellery blows out a breath.

Here she goes.