[ WP ] a shapeshifter has been walking among humans for thousands of years . write about him finally getting discovered , by a small child .

“ Mommy? Why does that man's face look funny? ” 
 
 In fairness to the little girl, she was keeping her voice down... for a little girl. Which meant it was a stage whisper loud enough to be heard two tables away. The man in question kept his eyes on his newspaper, but focused his mind on the conversation about to unfold. 
 
 The mother was quite predictably horrified. “ Emily! You know better than to say things like that! It's rude. ” 
 
 “ But his face does n't fit, ” Emily continued, all innocence. 
 
 “ I have no idea what you mean, ” the woman countered, quiet but stern. Out of the corner of his eye, the man saw her steal a glance at him. “ There's nothing wrong with his face, and even if something were, you have no call to say so. Would you want someone pointing out how funny *you* look? ” 
 
 Emily giggled. “ Mommy, I do n't look funny! ” 
 
 The mother was smiling now. “ I happen to think your freckles are hilarious. ” 
 
 Their conversation turned towards other things, school and chores and the utterly mundane details of a normal life. The man let their voices fade into the background as he sipped his coffee and read about the latest reasons mankind had decided to wipe each other from the surface of the planet. 
 
 He sensed movement nearby and looked up, expecting to find that nice young waitress hovering, coffeepot in hand, offering a refill. But it was Emily standing next to his chair, her freckled face set in the overly serious expression that children always affected to seem grown up. 
 
 “ I came to say I'm sorry, ” she said. “ My mommy was sure you heard me, and I did n't mean to be rude. I was just curious. ” 
 
 The man set the newspaper down and studied her for a moment. “ I accept your apology, young lady. But I'm curious too—why do n't you think my face fits? ” 
 
 Indulged by the adult she thought would be mad at her, she brightened up immediately. “ Your eyes look tight, and your mouth is too small. ” 
 
 “ Can you keep a secret? ” 
 
 She nodded enthusiastically. 
 
 “ Well, my eyes are feeling a little tight. Watch this. ” He blinked rapidly a few times, subtly shifting his eyes outward, and changing them from blue to brown as well. “ What do you think now? Better? ” 
 
 “ Oh, yes! ” She clapped her hands together and bounced up and down, not quite jumping. “ Can you do any other tricks? ” 
 
 “ Lots and lots, ” he answered in a conspiratorial tone. “ But I do n't think your mother would like to see you talking to a great big grizzly bear. She might get worried! ” 
 
 “ A bear! You can turn into a bear? ” 
 
 “ I can turn into anything, ” he answered. “ But people do n't expect to see a bear in a restaurant drinking coffee, so mostly I stick to looking like this. ” 
 
 “ Oh, no, do n't be a bear then, ” Emily said, the ridiculous words said with a child's utter conviction. 
 
 “ No bears, ” he replied. “ Promise. ” 
 
 Emily turned as her mother called out to her. “ I have to go, but thank you for showing me your trick. And thank you for not being mad. ” 
 
 “ No, sweetheart, I'm not mad, ” he said, smiling. “ Go on back to your mother, and remember, it's our secret. ” 
 
 Not that her mother would believe her daughter's story, of course, but Emily seemed like a nice girl, and the man did n't want her getting into any trouble on his account. Every so often he ran across a child who could see into his illusions, as Emily had. It was n't such a problem now, but in years past, when a child told her elders what she'd seen, one of two thing would happen. She would n't be believed, and would get into some kind of trouble, according to the era—institutionalized for insanity, or burned as a witch, to name the worst. Or she would be believed, and he'd be run out of town by an angry mob with torches and pitchforks. 
 
 There was n't much danger of pitchforks now, but it was still better to be cautious. He folded his paper, threw money on the table to cover his coffee, and winked at little Emily on his way out. She'd keep his secret. 
 
 But just in case, he needed to duck into an alley, put on a new face, and start hanging out in a different part of town for a while. 
 
 -047
