Ryan stopped as he walked by the kitchen door.  Was that the smell of pizza?  He took two steps back, so he could see into the room.

In the middle of the table was a box of Meat Lovers pizza.  Kyle sat on the kitchen counter with a large wedge in his hand, while Todd was leaned over the table to get another piece.  Todd looked up.

“Hey, it’s the old man!” he said.  Kyle sputtered into his piece, swallowed quickly. 

“That’s right,” he said.  “Ryan, I hear there’s a sale on walking sticks.  You should pick one up!”

Ryan folded his arms and leaned against the doorframe.  “Don’t you think that joke’s getting old?” he asked.  “I mean, surely there’s something funnier than pretending I’m going gray.”

At this the other two laughed harder.  Kyle grabbed another piece of pizza and went out the backdoor, whistling “For he’s a Jolly Good Fellow” as he went.

Ryan rolled his eyes and reached for the pizza.  He took a big bite, but avoided Todd’s eyes.

“You know, it wouldn’t be hard to dye it,” Todd said.  “If it bugs you.”

Ryan threw down the pizza and stood up.  “Todd, cut it out!  My hair is not gray.  I see it every morning and it’s not gray, okay?”  

” . . .Ummm, Ryan?”  Todd stood up.  “Come with me.  I’m really sorry, mate, but you’ve got to see this.”  He grabbed Ryan’s shoulder and pushed him toward the bathroom.  He reached into the cabinet under the sink and pulled out a shaving mirror. 

“Here,”  He said.  “Use this.”  He put the mirror into Ryan’s hands and turned him around. 

“This is stupid.”  Ryan said.  He raised the mirror.  “I don’t even need to  . . .”

He was silent, turning the mirror this way and that.

“Crap!  Where’d that big gray spot come from?”