My Liberty Hall flash (The Artisan's Grandson) sparked a quite different idea, which this story follows. The opening is similar, but it soon diverges quite radically. I'm looking for readers and for comments on the opening (the story is 1800 words). Thanks in advance!
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Grandfather examined Elias’s new face with practiced hands. “An outstanding job if I say so myself,” he said, smiling his crinkly smile and stepping back to appraise Elias from a distance. “Yes,” he said, his eyes shining. “My finest work.”
Elias raised his hands to his face. Only minutes out of the growth compartment, and he had not yet touched it. It felt rougher than his birth face; more craggy. He ran his fingers along his jaw-line and his heart started beating wildly in his chest.
“Why—Artisan! You’ve given me whiskers!”
Grandfather laughed. A low, rumbling laugh that seemed to come from beneath the floor. “Weren’t you tired of waiting for them to come in?” he said. “Seventeen and still not a whisker. It was simply shameful!”
“And . . . my voice . . . it seems deeper!”
Grandfather sent him a crafty look. “This old goat still has a few tricks left,” he said.
[This message has been edited by davidedwardsmusic (edited July 15, 2005).]
[This message has been edited by davidedwardsmusic (edited July 15, 2005).]
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