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The boy leant on the sink and looked closely at his face in the mirror. He realized that blood was still flowing in his veins. He didn’ t feel any fatigue as though he had been sleeping for hours and now he were up to have his breakfast and his toilet. He sat on the border of the bathtub, dropped his arms by his sides, crossed his legs and took in a deep breath. So full of dew it seemed to him like in a wintry morning. He gazed at the shower but decided to fill the bathtub and have a bath. He took off his clothes and slipped into the water. He gripped the green bottle. He fixed it with suspect. The whole experience of the day had made him distrust everything. He wondered whether he should use it. The warm water and steam hypnotized him and left no room for him to make his mind up. He squeezed out the soap and turn the whole tub greenish. It was amazing.
Little by little, he started enjoying the foams. He slapped the water, rubbed his chest, filled his hands and poured the water on his hair. He dipped his whole body, sat and took the green shampoo and poured more. He Splashed, drummed and sang. Such a joy he had! He forgot the horror of the lake and its mire. However, he felt a strange streak through his body. He left the bathtub. He switched on the hairdryer and passed it over and over again on the whole body. He put on the bathrobe and stepped out.“ You’ ve used the green lotion, haven’ t you?” hunchback said when the boy snapped through the door. He laughed with pleasure and satisfaction.“ Bad man!” said the boy with an aggressive loud voice, and added,“ Peeper!”“ Grasshopper!” murmured the man.
The boy couldn’ t understand.“ Go and check it.” jested the man and pointed towards the mirror.
When the boy approached the mirror and glanced at himself, he shrank back with an involuntary gasp:“ How is that?”. His voice was harsh and shrill. He was almost crying. He was green like a grasshopper. He looked older. It shocked and made him mad. He rubbed his body nervously with his hands. He gripped the bathrobe and passed it violently on his legs and face.“ Don’ t try.” the man uttered ironically,“ It won’ t go. How much have you poured?” The boy felt the derision. He said grudgingly:“ This is one of your wicked tricks, isn’ t it?” and added,“ I used half the shampoo!”
" Grasshopperboy " By Ezzeddine Cherni 18