In elementary school Carlo’s classmates, first male then female, called him banana-nose, which in high school became elephant-nose. Even allowing for Southern California fixation on cosmetic perfection, it must be acknowledged Carlo had an exceptionally large nose. We don’t know how his personality would’ve developed without this malady but can surmise, had he resembled older brother Luigi, blessed with a sculpted Roman nose, he might have assumed some of Luigi’s charm.

Carlo became more dour and withdrawn each year, but not in the way of a wimp. He was in fact his high school’s finest wrestler, in the heavyweight division, no less, and on and off the mat enveloped and pounded tormentors. Most mouths were closed by the spring of his senior year, but judgmental eyes cut as much as words, and the night of senior ball he stayed in his bedroom.

Rather than continue wrestling in college, and getting his nose ground into armpits and mats, he worked in a warehouse after class his freshman year at a local university, and in June tensely entered a plastic surgeon’s office and asked for a nose job.

The doctor examined Carlo from all angles, showed many before and after pictures, explained the procedure and realistic expectations, and enumerated dangers but considered them unlikely.

“Don’t make me look like Michael Jackson,” Carlo warned.

“Try another doctor,” said the proud sculptor.

“I’d tell him the same.”

Carlo had to borrow from a bank, under pretenses, to secure the rest of necessary funding. In the operating room he arose from the table, ordered the anesthesiologist and two nurses to step out, and told the surgeon, “This procedure will determine whether I have a painful or happy life. Don’t screw up.”

“We better cancel,” the doctor said.

Carlo pulled two needles from his arm, rolled off the table, and lowered his head, bulling the doctor and lifting him by the waist, and slammed him into a wall. “You’re doing this today.”

“Okay, relax.”

In the recovery room Carlo awoke unpleasantly. After sobering some, he gently raised an index finger to his nose. Instead of bandages, he touched bare skin, and realized pain emanated from his chest which he cupped with each hand and screamed.

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