“George, Harry needs to go!” Anne pleaded. But her husband disagreed and stood in defiance.

“No, Anne, Harry has been with me for 5 years. We are inseparable.”

“But George, Harry’s presence has only hindered you…he makes you look bad and he, himself, looks scruffy and old against you! And would you please tell me what he has ever done to help you with anything?” Anne silently hoped that her words would awaken her husband’s conscience so that his eyes might finally be opened to the truth about Harry.

George pondered her last question before answering.

“Well, he brings me good luck and a sense of security. I would feel quite naked without him, to be sure!” He insisted stubbornly.

“I tell you, woman, Harry isn’t leaving, so you might just as well get used to him! He is as much a part of me as you are and that’s to be the end of it!”

Oh, he’d done it now! Anne’s emerald green eyes flickered with rage and she bit her lip as she braced her tiny feminine frame for another round of arguments.

“Well, George, if you insist that he remain in our lives then so be it, but as long as he does, I shall have to insist that you keep your distance from me!” Her lovely face smiled now in complete bliss, believing that she had just won not only the round but the entire battle of wits with her hard-headed husband.

George’s stature stiffened, as if he’d been slapped hard across the face. Being of Irish descent, his volatile temper had begun to gear up towards utter explosion and as a result, words failed him now when he needed them the most. His tall and lanky frame began to tremble and his fists closed in tight balls at his sides. His tiny but equally stubborn wife stood her ground and dared him to erupt in her presence.

In the year of our Lord of eighteen-hundred and seventy two, it was considered slanderous to use profanity, especially in front of women, so instead, George blathered incomprehensibly rather loudly for a matter of several minutes before he’d calmed himself enough to think of actual English to use in their stead.

“Confound it woman! I should think that my preference to Harry would matter most, since I am the closest to him! He has never angered you before, why should he presently?”

“I’ve nothing more to say on the subject, George, you know my heart. The decision is yours to make. I’ll not say anything further.” Anne now turned to leave the large drawing- room, leaving her husband standing alone with his thoughts.

George stood in the middle of the room staring ahead blankly. He knew it was over. He would have to say goodbye to Harry. Anne had to come first, she was his wife, after-all.

He and Harry had been very close for five years and they’d shared many wonderful moments but it was to end now.
George inhaled deeply and straightened himself before taking the first step out of the massive parlor. He held his head high and set his jaw, as he strode up the ornately carved oak staircase, dreading each step he took towards the room where the final confrontation would take place. He walked slowly down the short hallway and turned in at the first door on his left. There was no turning back now. He would have to cut Harry out of his life forever.

He saw the straight razor on the dressing table in front of him and lowered his eyes to avoid looking at it for a few more seconds. It would be the instrument to which Harry would fall. His hands began to tremble now as he returned his gaze to the straight razor that had been left so neatly for the barbaric task to be performed. He couldn’t believe this was happening and wished with all of his being that he didn’t have to commit this horrible deed but Anne had resolved herself to Harry’s end and she wouldn’t stop until George had done away with him once and for all.

He slowly reached down and lifted the shiny instrument with his left hand and raised it to eye level so that he could look it over completely before continuing on… His heart was racing inside his chest and his breathing became labored and heavy.

“Steady old boy, you shall be alright once the crime has been completed.”

He went straight to work now to get everything ready for Harry’s demise.
It was time. George now stood facing Harry. It would be a slow and painful end for them both.
With all of his courage, George raised his left hand to strike and began cutting away at Harry until the deed was done.
George now wiped his face with a hand towel and looked at himself in the mirror.

“Well, I certainly look younger without Harry but I shall miss having my beard!”