"Just Lather, That's All" is a great little read, written by Bogota native Hernando Tellez.

This is a rather simple story, highlighting the interaction over the length of a shave by the only two characters in the story:

The Barber and Captain Torres. In a barbershop in a small Colombian town, the proprietor, the narrator of the story, is shaving a man. This is no typical customer, however; the barber recounts that he began to tremble when he recognized him.

The barber’s detailed description of Captain Torres hanging up his military cap, bullet belt, and holster highlights the man’s authority and his potential for violence. During the course of the shave, the two men engage in brief but revealing dialogue. It is in this dialogue that we truly get the sense of the conflict, both internal and external, that the Barber faces.

ASSIGNMENT DUE: Thursday, July 19