{"id":547,"date":"2026-08-17T15:40:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T15:40:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=547"},"modified":"2026-08-18T22:13:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T22:13:41","slug":"the-face-that-worked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=547","title":{"rendered":"The Face That Worked"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tales from the Universe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moral Dilemma:<\/strong> If pretending to be someone else makes you stronger, safer, and more successful, when does taking the mask off become worth the cost?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask maker refused to sell Orin anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou don&#8217;t need one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin stood in the narrow shop while dozens of faces watched him from the walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some were beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some were terrible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some looked wise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some looked dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One appeared so kind that Orin found himself wanting to confess things to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have money,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat isn&#8217;t the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old mask maker continued sweeping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin followed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI need something frightening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSomething commanding, then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSomething people will respect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The broom stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask maker looked at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He leaned the broom against the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat I have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From beneath the counter he produced a plain wooden mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It wasn&#8217;t frightening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It wasn&#8217;t beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were no horns, fangs, jewels, feathers, or painted symbols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was simply the face of a man who looked as though he expected to be obeyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne silver.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin paid immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask maker handed it to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then he held on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin tugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old man didn&#8217;t release it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTake it off when you&#8217;re finished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cObviously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask maker let go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin wore the mask the following morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had been ordered to negotiate payment from a merchant who had ignored three previous letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Normally Orin hated such work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His voice became uncertain when people raised theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He explained too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He apologized when no apology was necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes he walked into an argument knowing exactly what he needed and walked out having agreed to something entirely different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But behind the wooden face, nobody could see him hesitate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The merchant shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The merchant threatened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The merchant explained why the debt wasn&#8217;t really a debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eventually the merchant stopped talking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou owe the guild forty-three silver,\u201d Orin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The merchant stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin walked outside feeling ten feet tall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He removed the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The feeling disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So he put it back on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soon Orin began wearing it for difficult conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then important conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People treated him differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They stopped interrupting him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When he entered a room, chairs were offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When he disagreed, people reconsidered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His employer noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;ve changed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin smiled behind the wooden face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;ve improved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within a year, he was supervising others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within three, he was running the guild office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He bought better clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A larger home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A long table for dinners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask became famous enough that people stopped asking why he wore it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was simply Orin&#8217;s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only at home did he remove it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One evening, Orin returned from work and found his wife setting the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He removed the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She looked up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Something crossed her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It disappeared quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But he saw it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou looked disappointed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI didn&#8217;t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She continued arranging the plates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin sat down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His wife sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou bring him home now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She pointed at the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt&#8217;s wood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo. The other one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He didn&#8217;t understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe man who wears it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat man is me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her answer came too quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin felt something tighten in his chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen who exactly do you think pays for this house?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin heard his own words again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not what he&#8217;d said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How he&#8217;d said them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He looked toward the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dinner was quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next morning, Orin decided not to wear it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He made it halfway to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then he imagined entering the guild without it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He imagined the clerks looking up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The merchants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The apprentices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The other guildmasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He turned around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask was waiting on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He put it on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Immediately, the anxiety disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin exhaled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere you are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His wife stopped asking him to remove it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That bothered him more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His son grew old enough to join the guild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the boy&#8217;s first morning, Orin found him standing before the mirror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had made something from scraps of wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A crude imitation of his father&#8217;s mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His son turned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPracticing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPracticing what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBeing like you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin&#8217;s amusement vanished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTake that off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The boy obeyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause you don&#8217;t need it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His son looked at the real mask hanging beside the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNeither do you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin slapped him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sound shocked them both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The boy stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin stared at his own hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His son walked out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin remained beside the mirror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eventually he looked at his reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask stared back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That evening he returned to the old shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was still there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same masks watched from the walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same broom leaned beside the counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask maker was much older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin placed both hands on the counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI want it off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old man squinted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen remove it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin reached up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His fingers touched wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He pulled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask came away easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin stared at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat isn&#8217;t what I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask maker returned to his work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin followed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t know how to be without it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen you wore it too long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou should have warned me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou said take it off when I was finished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI wasn&#8217;t finished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old man looked at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat is the trouble with useful masks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mask maker said nothing else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat am I supposed to do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI make masks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old man shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t make faces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin carried the mask home beneath his arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following morning he stood before the mirror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without it, he looked older than he remembered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were lines around his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His hair had thinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His face seemed strangely unfinished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He raised the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then lowered it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raised it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lowered it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally he left it on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the guild, people stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A clerk failed to stand when he entered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin nearly corrected him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He didn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the morning meeting, two people interrupted him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first time, Orin felt heat rise into his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second time, he said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI wasn&#8217;t finished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His voice shook slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The room became quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing terrible happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He did not throw the mask away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That surprised his wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re keeping it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin considered the question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd I don&#8217;t want to pretend it didn&#8217;t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He placed it on a shelf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were still days when he wore it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Funerals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Negotiations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once, when his son was badly injured and Orin needed to remain calm while everyone around him panicked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But afterward, he removed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years later, his granddaughter found the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She put it on and marched through the house ordering everyone around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The family laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin did too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then the girl climbed onto his lap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGrandfather?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWas this really yours?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt still is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDoes it make you brave?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin looked at the wooden face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He thought for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt showed me what brave looked like long enough for me to practice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The girl considered this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then she removed the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCan I keep it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orin smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor a while.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He handed it to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJust remember which face belongs to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If pretending to be someone else makes you stronger, safer, and more successful, when does taking the mask off become worth the cost? The mask maker refused to sell Orin anything. \u201cYou don&#8217;t need one.\u201d Orin stood in the narrow shop while dozens of faces watched him from the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tales-from-the-universe"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Face That Worked - Depth Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=547\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Face That Worked - Depth Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If pretending to be someone else makes you stronger, safer, and more successful, when does taking the mask off become worth the cost? 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