Mom said she married him because he had a mustache like Tom Selleck.

When I was younger, I had to explain to adults the blemishes on my cheeks were borne out of affection.

Now I stand at his service accepting whiskered condolences, future marks from strangers no one will question.

Rob Parrish grew up near the Mississippi River in western Illinois. He is an MA student at Mount Mary University with an emphasis in creative writing. He lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his dog, Coltrane.