six sentence Sunday

From the Ed/Stede "spa day" story. Pedicure time has arrived; Ed has doubts.

"Have you ever really thought about feet?" Stede has a whole little setup by the footbath--some towels, a low stool to sit on, nail scissors and another oil bottle and what as far as Ed can tell is just a rough black rock.

"Pretty much never."

"We use them very hard and take very little care of them. We should be kinder to our feet."

"Mine are beyond kindness." Ed's worn heavy leather boots for thirty years, and never soaked in a foot bath with pine-smelling oil until today.

"Nonsense." Stede guides one of Ed's feet out of the bath and sets it in his towel covered lap. And it's too much, the sight of his hairy toes, thick nails, and calluses. Ed reclaims his leg and tucks his foot well back, under the chair.