Ascension / Dumpling

Freemont stood at the bottom of the fabled power tower and looked up. If the rumors were true he had an important decision to make. Is a physical deformity worth trading for a mental one? He took a long time trading glances between his contorted extremity and the tower’s summit, recalling every awkward look, each hushed giggle. The 14,741 twisting stairs would determine the lesser of the two evils. Confident his mind had long been made up he took the first step up and, realizing it was too late to turn back now, proceeded to pick up the pace and was soon skipping steps in threes. The higher he got the straighter his fingers stretched and the madder his thoughts became. By step 9,993 he could retie his shoelace but he contemplated eating his socks. When he finally reached the top the transformation was complete. He joyfully clapped his hands for the first time as he pondered strangling his best friend. Freemont’s gnarled hand had been transformed into a twisted mind.

zeroth life lesson: it's hard work hiding your faults and a worthwhile enterprise attempting to trade them for others.