My dad said, 'You're welcome to shave if you really want to, pumpkin, and I'll teach you how to do it correctly.' He used my childhood nickname as if I weren't going through the worst experience of becoming a woman. My dad, actually, had never been shy about discussing all the things a girl would normally discuss with her mom. So, my dad sat me down for the most uncomfortable discussion of my life. I insisted I wanted to learn how to shave. This conversation, like many others, were now delegated to my dad. 'You're too young to start shaving,' he said.
My dad paused for a few moments before responding, as he often did.
