Beneath Face Value

Note: The following is an attempt at a play, to broaden my horizons. Don't mind the style change, it's not going to be a permanent one.

Scene: The confines of the cul-de-sac offer a sanctuary for exploration and play amongst the children of the families that reside there. One such area of exploration is beyond the tree line bordering a neighbors' house, where a crude path leads to a swampy river area. Fallen trees offer bridges that lead halfway across the murky waters from both sides, and there are little islands of sand and mud that can be reached via these trees without getting wet. The teenagers would get in trouble if caught with any signs of playing back here, but it was simply a matter of not falling in, or tracking too much mud into the house when they returned to their families. Sliding down the hilly decline covered in leaves and rocks to reach the waters edge was Cain Husher, a tall, solid Scandinavian boy, who slid down on his feet and came to a halt on a large stump, followed by two other friends and residents of the cul-de-sac, Morgan Hill and Mike Shwartz. Morgan is a petite girl of German descent and Mike is of French-Canadian descent, tall and skinny. The swamp, as they call it, has been a favorite spot for playing, exploring, and finding seemingly random odds and ends, such as toys, bottles, rusted metal artifacts of a widely random variety, and plenty of other things that tempt them to constantly return despite the consequences of being caught and end up grounded.

Cain: [Coming to a halt at the bottom of the small hill.] It's the a shame the others couldn't come with us.

Morgan: [Taking her time down the decline with baby steps as Mike takes big steps past her.] I guess, but that just means we are less likely to get in trouble.

Mike: [Comes to a sudden stop to the right of Cain.] Yeah, hopefully I don't fall in again. Let's go down this way again and see if we can find anything new.

[The three of them followed the narrow shoreline, heading left. They step over bare branches, mounds of algae, and logs. They occasionally jump from rock to rock in order to avoid getting their boots wet.]

Cain: You guys figure that we could go further than yesterday? My parents aren't gonna be worried about me until supper, so I've got at least three hours to kill.

Mike: Definitely man. Maybe we can make it to the old bridge!

Morgan: [Looks skeptical and anxious] I don't know guys, that's at least a couple miles away.

Cain: Oh don't be a puss, Morgan.

Mike: Yeah, it'll be fun! Besides, [Picks up a reputable walking stick off the ground] all you gotta do is not fall in like I did.

Morgan: [Reluctantly] Fine, whatever. But if we find anything cool, I call dibs.

Cain: You know it's first come first serve, Morgan. If I find anything, it's mine.

Mike: You can keep any worms we find, since you're so into fishing. Speaking of, when are we gonna do that as a group? You've only been doing it by yourself lately.

Morgan: Well, there aren't any fish worth catching nearby, it's all crappies and bass. But yeah, I guess I could try and fish with us sometime soon, if my parents will let me. I doubt they'd care.

Cain: [He jumps up onto a fallen tree and down into the mud, the others do the same.] My parents don't let me walk to the lake by myself, so it'd be more possible to do if we did it as a group. I'd just have to take my youngest brother with me, since he can't make friends to hang out with on his own.

Mike: [Laughs mockingly.] Sean is a little puss. He'd just cry the whole time.

Cain: Tell me about it. With his luck he'd probably get hooked, not that I'd care. If my mom insists on him coming along, I'll make sure he doesn't die or whatever, I guess.

[The three teenagers would flip rocks and logs as they tread forward, keeping eyes out for anything that stuck out to them in the water or on the shore for the next hour. Morgan found a piece of rusty barbed wire and a worn workers glove, Mike spotted a beach chair floating down the river and an old bullet shell that appeared to be a .50 caliper, and Cain found nothing. The bridge was within eyesight.]

Cain: Gotta say guys, I wish I had a metal detector or something. Imagine all the random shit we could find.

Morgan: Stuff buried in the mud deserves to stay where it is, if you ask me. Like intrusive thoughts. The closer they are to the surface, the easier it is for us to find and take them.

Mike: The hell are you talking about? You don't like to get your hands dirty? Why did you even come in the first place?

Morgan: For a walk, really. I needed to get away from the family, they're so damn irritating.

Cain: In what way?

Morgan: Like, they're toxic, to put it bluntly. Walking in this mud doesn't compare to walking through our kitchen alone.

Cain: Why don't they just pick up after themselves?

Morgan: [Scoffs passive aggressively] God, how should I begin to guess? It's why I never invite you guys over. It's embarrassing, to say the least.

Cain: [Shaking his head] My mom is psycho, but she does at least make us do things, unlike my dad. He's a good guy and all, and we like him, but he literally takes care of us and the house all on his own.

Mike: Maybe he feels so sorry for you dealing with your mom that he thinks you deserve a break every other week.

Cain: That'd be a valid excuse, maybe I'll ask him when we get back home.

Morgan: At least your parents aren't horrible to each other. They still love you and your brothers a whole lot, which says something about them that I couldn't about my parents. Together or apart, they wouldn't give a rats ass about us.

Mike: You guys are bumming me out. Look, we're almost at the bridge!

Cain: Thanks Eagle eye.

[The kids make it underneath the bridge and find rocks to sit on near the water's edge. When Cain is about to sit between the other two, he notices something in the middle of the river stream held in place by a stick and a couple rocks. The others notice his inquisitive stance and search the water for what he sees.]

Mike: What is it? Did you finally find something?

Cain: I uh, yeah. Hold on. [He begins to walk until his knee high rubber boots are barely above the water.] Crap. If I bend down to reach it, I'll get wet.

Mike: [Tosses his walking stick to Cain.] Here, use this. Just give it back when you're done.

Cain: [He catches it with one hand and begins to carefully un-wedge the odd object. He struggles for a moment to put the stick through a visible hole before he tries to raise the stick above the water.] Almost got it. [Eventually he raises the stick and at the end of it is a weathered mask.]

Morgan: What the hell?

Mike: Now that's what I call the catch of the day! Bring it back so we can see it better!

Cain: [He turns and walks back to the shore, bringing the tip of the stick down to his hand and with the other, he took the mask and used the stick to keep balance as he made his way back to the shoreline. He gave the stick back to Mike and studied it, while the other two stood up to take a gander as well.]

Mike: I've never seen a mask that looks like that before. It looks uh, almost like a Jason mask but like, not quite.

Morgan: This thing is creepy and covered in algae. Throw it back, it's worthless.

Cain: Now hold on. [He takes out a rag from his cargo pocket and wipes the grime off of it inside and out, straps as well.] Damn. It's fucking badass.

Mike: Hah! What a find! Try it on!

Morgan: Dude, don't. It's still nasty. Who knows who used to wear it?

Mike: The germs of the old owner are long gone, Morgan. Cain, just put it on, I wanna see how it looks on you!

Cain: [With a sense of hesitation he grabs the bottom of it in one hand and the straps intersecting points in the other and carefully puts it on his face. He shifts it to make it feel more comfortable and when it does, he slowly lowers his hands to his side.] This feels…

Mike: Damn Cain, you look killer!

Morgan: Like a killer is more like it. Seriously, who'd make a mask that looks so…

Mike: Badass?

Morgan: I wouldn't say that, no.

Mike: Well I sure as fuck will. Cain, keep it on. Seriously, you'd get so much fucking candy if you wore that on Halloween.

Cain: Yeah, honestly, it feels pretty… good.

Mike: Dude look in the water and see for yourself!

Cain: [Cain turns and bends down to see how the mask looks on him, to which he saw something familiar yet new.] Holy crap, I look awesome! This is definitely the best thing I've ever found back here, hands down. I'm gonna, keep it on until we get back. I really feel in my element wearing it.

Morgan: Ugh.

Mike: Oh, don't be jealous Morgan. He found it fair and square.

Morgan: I'm not jealous, Mike. Honestly, it suits him better than it ever would me. Can we head back now?

Mike: Alright, fine. I'm at peace with my bullet shell anyways. C'mon, let's go Cain. Cain?

Cain: [He was still staring at his reflection in the water.] Hm? Oh, coming.

Mike: [He stares at Cain as he walks beside him, still in awe.] I just can't believe you spotted that in the river. How do you think it got there?

Morgan: It's simple. Someone threw it away like the trash it is.

Mike: Oh get over it, Morgan. We get it, you don't like it.

Morgan: Yeah, because it's creepy as shit.

Mike: Why do you think it's so creepy?

Morgan: The way it looks, it just, it ain't no novelty thing they stock in stores. It was probably made by a psychopath.

Cain: With all of the gunk that was on it, it had to have been there for a long time. Months, probably. Maybe years. It sure smells old, too.

Mike: It's an antique, no doubt. I bet it has an epic backstory.

Morgan: Yeah, honestly I'd rather not know. Ignorance is bliss, as they say.

Cain: Ignorance is what weak people call bliss. Though we may never know it's origins, all I can say is that it's part of my collection now.

Morgan: Don't think I'm weak for not wanting to know the freak who made it. What's it even made of?

Cain: Well, if it's plastic, it's pretty damn resilient. [He feels the mask with his hands] It almost feels metallic, even, yet no rust. Not a speck of it.

Mike: Crazy. Does it even bend? [He watches Cain attempt to, to no avail.] No, huh? Weird.

Cain: Yeah, but it ain't uncomfortable, that's for sure. It feels like it's fitted exactly for my face. If there ever was foam on the inside, it's long gone.

Morgan: Are you going to hide it from your parents?

Cain: Mm, yeah. For now, so they don't think we were back here. I can just say someone from school gave it to me closer to Halloween. Not like I can't hide it until then, even if I do feel awesome wearing it.

Morgan: Awesome how?

Cain: It feels, right. It brings out a feeling of self that really, well, it just feels right. Like it's a part of me.

Mike: I bet if you wore your camo coat and fingerless gloves, and your steel toe boots, you'd look sick as fuck.

Morgan: Like he is sick, sick in the head more like.

Cain: Oh shut up Morgan. You make it sound like this thing is the worst thing that could've happened today.

Morgan: What I'm saying is, it's a creepy mask. It just freaks me out is all.

Cain: [He took out a foldable knife from his pants pocket and began playing with it as they walked.] If it'll make you feel better, I won't wear it before or after Halloween.

Morgan: Why don't you take it off now?

Cain: Because I want to relish it before I have to take it off when we reach the cul-de-sac. I like how it looks, and I like how it feels.

Morgan: Its still dirty though.

Cain: [With a risen, threatening tone of voice.] Good fucking God, shut the hell up. I'm getting sick of your bitching, Morgan. You sound like my bitch of a mother.

Morgan: God, take it easy, edge lord.

Mike: Yeah man, I've never heard you sound so hostile before. What gives all of a sudden?

Cain: I, uh. [He takes the mask off and puts away his pocket knife, though feels a bit of vertigo in doing so. He doesn't dare make it obvious.] Sorry, I didn't mean to say that. Wowsers. I don't know what came over me.

Morgan: It's whatever. I guess I am being a bit bitchier than usual. Like you said, I don't know what came over me.

Mike: You guys alright? Do we need a water break or something?

Cain: Nah, I'm good. [He continues to study the mask in his hands, feeling it up and down.] Mike, you keeping that walking stick? I could whittle it down at the ends if you want me to.

Mike: Hm? Oh, I mean, I am keeping it, yeah. It's sturdy enough. But I'll pass on you whittling it, I like it how it is. Not like I'm a caveman and need a spear, y'know?

Cain: If you say so.

[The kids continued in silence, and while the sun was at its peak height in the sky, their shadows became more prominent. Cain's was especially darker and more pronounced, as a sudden impulse drove him to put the mask back on his face until they made it back to the crude path.]

Morgan: Well, I gotta say guys, that was rather… eventful.

Mike: Yeah man, no doubt. Cain, you should take that off before your brothers or dad notice it. How are you gonna sneak it past them by the way?

Cain: [He reluctantly took it off, and put it under his shirt.] Don't you worry, I can sneak it past them and hide it under my bed. I'll clean it more when I'm home alone tomorrow.

Morgan: Well, it's been fun guys. I guess I'll take my time getting home. Hopefully someone cooks supper tonight.

Mike: Gee whiz, I didn't know it was that bad for you, Morgan. You've got my empathy.

Cain: Yeah, it sounds sucky. I can bring you some spaghetti later on tonight if you need it, just text me.

Morgan: Honestly, I might take you up on that regardless. That's my favorite meal. If you add garlic bread to the equation, I'll love you forever.

Cain: [He chuckles bashfully.] You got it. See you guys at the bus stop tomorrow morning.

Mike: Yeah, I gotta head back before my dad realizes I took his boots. See ya!

Morgan: Later, gators.

[The group disbands and they each head to their respective homes. Cain sneaks past his family and heads to his bedroom on the top story of his house after taking his boots off at the shoe rack next to the side door of the house. He gets onto his bed and stares down at the mask, after revealing it from his shirt, and stares into the vacant eye holes, before studying it thoroughly. He felt a need to put it back on, to which he fought a short mental battle before caving in and doing so. He sat there on his bed, as the silence was filled with tempting, disturbing thoughts. He pulled out his pocket knife and gently stroked the serrated edge with an index finger.]

Cain: So sharp… I wonder if… no, no.

[He resisted the urge to stab his mattress, but eventually brought the tip of the blade to the side and punctured it, slowly applying pressure until the knife's handle was pressing against it. He left it there for a moment, watching and feeling it as he twisted it, before he realized what he was doing and swiftly pulled it out and took off the mask after hearing someone coming up the stairs. He quickly put it under his pillow and closed the knife as he heard a knock on his door.]

Cain: Yeah?

[The door opens, revealing his father, who stands at the half opened door.]

Homer: Hey, there you are. I was calling for you but heard nothing. I thought you got lost or something.

Cain: No, I just got home. Sorry faja, we were playing in Mike's back yard on the trampoline.

Homer: Ah, alright. Well, I'm going to start cooking supper soon, just wanted you to know is all. Are you in for the day?

Cain: Yeah, I'm just gonna be resting in here until supper is ready.

[Something unexpected came to his mind for him to say, but he choked on his tongue to cease himself before speaking further. He cringed, but his dad didn't notice.]

Homer: Alright son, I'll come get you when it's ready. [He closed the door gently.]

Cain: Jesus Christ. [He pulls the mask out from under his pillow after hearing his dad go back down the stairs, and proceeds to stare at it again.] Thank God I caught myself. What's up with me? [He proceeds to shake his head vigorously to rid himself of some dark thoughts that began popping up like fireworks, thoughts about harming his family came up, and he decides to gather the courage and will to hide the mask under his bed. After doing so, he takes a big inhale and lets it out slowly, and suddenly the thoughts come to an end. He then turns to his gaming console and forgets about his worries for the rest of the evening.]

-CURTAIN-