Acquiesce
After wearing a Mexican wrestler's mask, a man is forced to comply with what society demands from him and the people in town are left to deal with the aftermath of his resignation.
When the facial hair became impossible to shave or even hide, he resorted to a mask. A Mexican wrestler’s mask. He spent hours browsing through thousands of makes and models. Vinyl, spandex, rubber, neoprene…
How about just a plain silver one?1 Or a blue one with silver around the eyes and mouth?2
Or maybe a ninja mask in black and white with a red headband?3 No, still too open at the mouth.
Then it was settled: it would have to be one that didn’t let any of his face be seen.
Oh, look at this black one with gold!4 Simple yet elegant.
He bought it right away and got it the next day.
It looked great on him. In fact, he looked fairly similar to the actual wrestler that made it popular.
He went back to work the next day, and despite all the wisecracks his coworkers made at his expense, he managed to get through the day without taking the mask off.
But the next morning his feet had grown considerably and now the nails on his toes stuck out, making it impossible for him to fit any sort of footwear.
Desperate, he went online again and bought the biggest boots he could find. And while he was at it, he ordered gloves too, just in case.
He called in sick that day. Said he’d be back tomorrow all right.
The boots arrived and so did the gloves.
Full getup on, he resembled the mascot of some weird, unknown sports team.
His fellow workers really lay into him this time. They ribbed him until they were on the floor, clutching their stomachs.
Before the day was over, his boss called him into his office and asked him what was wrong with him. Why was he wearing these ridiculous clothes? And would he take them off so he could talk to him?
He said nothing. He just stood there, swallowing his harassment. When the boss was done, he apologized and walked out.
Standing naked before the mirror that night, he was horrified at his reflection.
After trying all sorts of outfit combinations—scarfs, hats, glasses, baggy trousers, oversized shirts, he became weary of it all.
Seething with rage, he wrecked his apartment.
But just as he’d begun to clean up his mess, he realized that when he crouched down the pain in his back disappeared.
So, for the remainder of the day he moved on all fours around his apartment.
It’s time, he thought, dispirited.
In the middle of the night, he scuttled out the window, up across the roofs of the town, then down to the docks.
The few men who survived that night talked of a huge beast that walked on its hands and knees and had a frightful snout-like face with serrated teeth.
El Santo
Blue Demon
Octagón
Tinieblas
This “newsletter” is for free, but upgrading to paid helps me stay away from panhandling outside malls and churches or having to go back to work for people who couldn’t care less about me. Thank you in advance! You can support at any of the following levels:
Whose luchador mask was one black and gold? Tinieblas?
The choosing of the masks was really cute; he is trying to blend in but still be himself