The tiny bathroom was stifling, and the exhaust fan pulled the air weakly. Grandma's trailer never had been air conditioned, and in the summer it became as hot and greasy as a stovetop popcorn popper. The yellowing linoleum squeaked as he stretched higher to the mirror to inspect his reflection. A fine web of cracks netted the skin of his face and neck like cracks on desert ground. He turned his head slightly, inspecting, and they split and bled. Split and bled and clotted and split again. The already fierce morning sun was stifled in the drab beige &amp; orange walls. The upholstery, wood panelling, and carpet, all the same, and the brown cigarette smoke coating all surfaces. He heard a hoarse cough and startled, then held still like a rabbit, staring until all was truly quiet again. Danny's eyes were watering like crazy from the super glue fumes as he carefully dabbed the clear liquid onto his skin to seal the cracks, dabbed and dabbed until his face and neck were a glistening scab. 2008-05-22T15:15:10Z http://ficlets.com/feed/story/31262 <p>Very well written. Just one question&#8230;Money for superglue and cigarettes, but no money for a tub full of water to soak in?</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/31262?basename=64091 2008-05-22T15:15:10Z Krulltar http://ficlets.com/authors/krulltar <p>I almost starting coughing myself reading this. This place sounds run-down and forgotten. <br />I look forward to more.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/31262?basename=63907 2008-05-21T20:32:39Z ALRO613 ♪ LoA ♫ http://ficlets.com/authors/alro613 <p>Very depressing atmosphere, gritty and real. If I hadn&#8217;t of been listening to happy music while reading it, I would probably have felt slightly frightened by the descriptions.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/31262?basename=63893 2008-05-21T19:53:43Z JMSquire http://ficlets.com/authors/jmsquire