DR. MALONEY'S MAGIC SCALPEL - A COSMETIC FABLE

Once upon a time there was a lady of "a certain age," as the expression goes. Her life was more than half over, yet her heart was young.

As a young girl growing up, she was usually referred to as "attractive." She knew what this really meant. It meant not quite pretty, but not ugly enough to cause pity or embarrassment. She knew that to make her way through life she'd have to rely on her wits rather than her appearance. So, she set about making herself interesting in other ways. She studied hard and got high marks in school, learned to sing and dance and play an instrument rather adequately. She studied French and Latin and all things cultural and interesting. All the time she had the nagging suspicion that some people were fortunate enough not to have to put forth such efforts to enrich themselves. Some people were appealing simply because of the way they looked and people liked to be around them because they "basked in reflected glory," as another expression goes.

As this lady grew up, she was fortunate to meet someone who loved her more than life itself. She married the young man and they had a beautiful child together. Their life was a hard but happy one, creating much love and happy memories along the way. Just when their happiness reached its height, after many years together, the man grew mortally ill and died. The lady was now alone, caring for her aged mother who was also dying. The lady tried very hard not to let everyone see how sad she was. She remained cheerful on the outside, as life had taught her over the years. Lo and behold, the lady met a kind and loving man who helped her care for her dying mother and promised to love her for the rest of her life. Normally, they would now be able to live "happily ever after." There was a cloud in the lady's looking glass. The years of sorrow had etched ugly lines on the lady's face. She felt happy and peaceful inside, but her face looked tired and sad and old. How disappointed she felt that she knew she would never again look young or even "attractive," as that was long behind her now.

Then one day a friend told her about Dr. Maloney and his Magic Scalpel. This man was a kindly and skillful doctor who had the power to bring back people's lost dreams. This sounded like sorcery to the lady, but she decided to see for herself. She made a pilgrimage to an elegant place where delightful food was served and she was able to see with her own eyes the results of his Magic Scalpel. The visions of sad, tired old faces passed before her. She felt as though she'd seen the faces before, staring back from her own looking glass. Then, to her wonder and amazement, she saw that the Doctor and his Magic Scalpel had transformed the faces into rested, serene versions of their former selves. Yes, they looked younger, but more important; they regained the look of anticipation. He had returned the look of infinite possibility to the faces!

The lady excitedly agreed to have Dr. Maloney use his Magic Scalpel to restore what she thought she could never have back. The Doctor did indeed give the lady her dreams. She had been satisfied to be called "attractive," but for the first time in her long life she was called "pretty," and it made her very, very happy. In fact, she is convinced that many more people smile at her than ever before because her hope reaches out to them.

THE END