The first one gets a careful trim; blade running along edges for a new, neat, well-sculpted line. For the second, I cut off the lobe completely. I hear people scream in reaction to my work.

There are worse things to do in a retirement home than reshape jigsaw puzzle pieces.

DL Shirey has had several flash fiction pieces published, most recently in Pound of Flash, Fewer Than 500, and The Literary Hatchet. He writes from Portland, Oregon, where it’s now raining, most likely. You can find more of his writing at his blog.