Broken Mirror

"I don't stink!"1

"Take it easy, Braun. Nobody said you stink." Artie wondered if it was the steroids that made his client so short-tempered or if he was just born that way. "It's a commercial, you know, acting. You'll just be playing a guy who needs their deodorant."2

"People'll see my face. They'll think I stink!"3

Just to be certain his manager understood his feelings, Braun picked up a shoe and hurled it at him. Years of dealing with the temperamental bodybuilder had given Artie excellent reflexes, so he had no trouble ducking out of the shoe's path. The mirror behind him did not duck.4

"You shouldn't have done that, Braun. Breaking a mirror's bad luck."5

"Bad luck for the mirror. Buy a new one."6

Artie looked around for a broom to sweep up the shattered fragments of the mirror. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it. And I'll tell the deodorant people you're not interested in their offer."7

"Good! Tell'em to find someone who stinks."8

The next morning, a man from the delivery service arrived with a new mirror. "Where do you want it, sir?"9

"In the gym. I like to see myself work out."10

"I'll have it set up in a minute, sir."11

Braun started his free weight routine while the mirror was brought in. After the deliveryman left, the bodybuilder went over to examine himself in it. Still working the weights, he looked his body over with the critical eye of a sculptor creating his masterpiece. Every muscle was defined exactly as it should be. While he was doing that, his manager stopped by and let himself in.12

"Hey, Braun, did you get the new mirror yet?"13

"Yes, it's a good one."14

"Glad you like it. I know you don't want to do the deodorant spot, so I've been..." As Artie entered the gym, he stopped short and stared at Braun. "How did you get in here?"15

"What do you mean? I live here."16

"Don't give me that, you old geezer. This is Braun Rockford's house. Start explaining yourself or I'm calling the police."17

"This isn't funny, Artie! I'm Braun."18

"You! You look too old to even be his grandfather"19

"It's me. I threw the shoe at you. Remember?"20

"Huh? Is that really you, Braun? What happened to you?" 21

"What happened? Nothing happened!"22

"I'd say something happened. You're a withered up old man."23

Braun shook his head. "No! I'm young! I'm strong!" He looked in the mirror and was reassured by his familiar reflection. "See! It's me!"24

Artie came over where he could see Braun reflected in the mirror. "Well, isn't that something! It has to be the bad luck from the mirror you broke yesterday."25

"I don't understand."26

"When you broke the mirror, it must've put a curse on you. Turned you into a bald-headed, pot-bellied, prune-skinned, old man. Of course, a mirror always shows your true self, so you can't see what's happened to you."27

"Do something, Artie. Fix this!"28

"Okay, I'll help you, but then you've got to do something for me."29

"Anything! I promise."30

"If I remember what my granny used to say, you can break the curse if you take all the broken pieces outside and bury them."31

"I'll do that right now."32

"No, no, you have to wait for tonight when the moon comes out. You had better stay inside and not let anybody see you until then."33

"Good idea, Artie. I'll do that."34

Braun could not wait until morning to know if the curse was broken, so as soon as the broken mirror was buried, he called Artie and told him to come over.35

"Did it work, Artie, did it work?"36

"It sure did, Braun. You're good as new. I guess my granny's pretty smart."37

"That's the last mirror I break. Ever!"38

"Now, remember you said you'd do something for me."39

"Yes, I'll do whatever you say."40

"Even that deodorant commercial? You did promise."41

Braun snorted, but then he nodded his head. "Alright. I'll do it."42

"You won't regret it, Braun. You'll be making a lot of money and if you do well, who knows what it might lead to. But it's late. I'll see you tomorrow."43

"Good night, Artie."44

As he walked out, Artie glanced at himself in the mirror. He wondered what he would see if mirrors really did show a person's true self, but like any mirror, it just reflected the light that fell on it and nothing more.