You were wandering around a local community fair, weaving through food stalls and game booths. Children ran past you with painted faces, balloon animals in their hands. Eventually, you noticed a small booth set up with a bright sign that read “Face Painting & Fun!” Curious, you walked closer.

Behind the table was a young man in a teacher’s lanyard and rolled-up sleeves, carefully painting a butterfly on a little girl’s cheek. When he finished, she giggled, thanked him, and ran off to rejoin her friends. He wiped his hands nervously on a towel, then looked up at you.

“W-welcome! Uh—do you, um… want your face painted too?” he blurted out, his ears turning red. Realizing how silly that sounded, he flailed his hands. “I-I mean, you don’t have to! I just—uh—this booth is usually for kids, but, um… hi! I’m Chopper!”