This is a tribute to all those who get what my dad called a Shiner.
I hate spots. They are nasty pulsating objects that have the audacity to become red and shiny. Not only that but they appear with In seconds. One blink of the eye and bam. Instant spot. They grow anywhere as well, eyebrows, noses, foreheads, shoulders, chins anywhere that there is skin. And boy do they love my skin. It's not like I don`t stay clean, I shower once a day, maybe even twice if I have Been on an away trip. I hate feeling dirty and spots are a sign of grubbiness. My papa always told me that Russians always had flawless skin and it was the British and Americans who infected our skins well-being with oils and grease that resulted in Spots. I told Hikaru this and he laughed at me and said all teens go through spots. I told him that many Russians didn't. He just laughed again.
I try my best to cover up any spots but sometimes one will Shine out and the captain seems able to spot a spot from across the bridge. I had a rather large spot that had decided to grace my hairline. I naively thought my curls would cover it and all was going well until the captain ruffled my hair. He does this every morning without fail. I dislike it but it has become almost a tradition and I can't tell him to stop. Anyway he ruffled my hair which dislodged a strategically placed piece of hair and set the spot free. I swear it glowed. It reflected all the console lights and almost seemed to grow as it basked in its full red zitty glory. I hastily covered it up but it was too late.
"Good God Chekov! That's a ripe one you've got there."the captain all but shouted at me. I hung my head to try and hide my embarrassment but he was suddenly in front of my console and lifting my face up. He examined it, against my will I must add, looking at it from all angles. I pushed his hands away
and tried to continue with my work, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
Through out the shift the captain would comment on the spot.
"Has it gone into orbit yet Chekov?"
"Hows your second head?"
"What's it's name?"
"Is it paying rent?"
"Are you sure it's not alive?"
"Already growing devil horns?"
I think I heard it all. luckily for me however, Mr Spock was also growing weary of the captain's obsession. He stated loudly and clearly that `such a reaction to a naturally occurring formation of oil found in the ensign s skin is highly illogical`. Never had I been so glad to have Mr Spock on the bridge. After that the captain seemed to relent commenting on my spot apart from, as we were leaving at the end of the shift, saying I should get Doctor McCoy to lance it, although the needle may get lost. Well I must say ha ha ha captain. You Are so funny. NOT. Once I got back to my cabin I ran straight to the bathroom and inspected the spot in the mirror. I was expecting a large spot but the sight that greeted me was that of a monster. The spot was huge. It took up a good portion of my hairline and I swear it had quadrupled in size since this morning. With out thinking I touched it. I gasped as the pain shot down my head. I was not expecting that! Gingerly I touched it again this time pressing down slightly. I felt the core move but the pain made my eyes water. Closing my eyes I squeezed it. The contents went everywhere and didn't seem to stop. I stood there blankly as liquid poured out of my forehead and down my face. I heard Hikaru at the door as it opened. Laughter filled my ears and I couldn't help but grin. I looked a right mess and didn't hear the end of it for weeks. But the monster, volcano of a spot never came back. I put it down as a teenage problem and vowed that never again was I entering the bridge with a spot. Us Russians have our dignity.