Papa's New Look

"Papa's New Look" is a mini-story that is part of the EMPATH: The Luckiest Smurf story series.

The Story
It was a day about ten years after Empath had left Psychelia for good. Papa Smurf had left Empath in charge of the Smurf Village for a time while he went to Barber's shop for private business concerning his appearance. Empath sensed what Papa Smurf was doing, but said nothing as he accepted his assignment and allowed Papa Smurf to do his own thing.

As Empath was overseeing the village, Smurfette came up to him. "You wouldn't happen to know what Papa Smurf is doing right now, do you, Empath?" she asked.

"Papa Smurf is currently indisposed with a private appointment with Barber, Smurfette," Empath answered.

"A private appointment? What would Papa Smurf need Barber for other than to trim his beard as usual?" Smurfette asked.

"This smurf is not at liberty to say, if this smurf did know, Smurfette," Empath answered.

"Well, Papa Smurf sure smurfed a fine time to cancel one of my lessons in alchemy to attend to his own personal business, Empath," Brainy said as he approached Empath. "This was supposed to be a very important lesson, and one that I have studied real hard for, but 'sorry, Brainy, we'll have to smurf this lesson for some other time, because I have an appointment with Barber Smurf,'" Brainy said, sounding really disappointed.

"This smurf empathizes with your current situation, Brainy, but all the same, this smurf cannot let you see Papa Smurf until his business with Barber is finished," Empath said.

"I really wish I had your abilities so that I would know what's smurfing on in Papa Smurf's head at this moment, Empath," Brainy said. "I mean, what could he possibly need to smurf Barber for except for his usual beard-trimming sessions?"

"That's Papa Smurf's business to know about, Brainy," Empath said. "This smurf must keep such confidential information about other Smurfs from being discussed among this smurf's fellow Smurfs, whether they happen to be important village decisions or just personal information."

Just then, Papa Smurf stepped out of Barber's shop with a noticeable change of appearance. He approached Empath, Smurfette, and Brainy as they were talking with each other. "Hello, my little Smurfs," he greeted, sounding a bit happy. "How are things smurfing in the village?"

"Things are continuing to go along smoothly without any problems that this smurf can detect, Papa Smurf," Empath replied.

"Ooh, Papa Smurf, what's happened to your beard?" Smurfette asked.

"I would ask the same question myself," Brainy said. "I mean, the only thing left on Papa Smurf's face is a mustache."

"Oh, that," Papa Smurf said. "Well, I figured that now would be a good day for me to smurf with a new look among my little Smurfs. What do you think of it?"

"Gee, Papa Smurf, it makes you smurf a bit more handsome," Smurfette said.

"Not to mention a bit younger," Brainy added. "In fact, I wouldn't expect you to smurf so young after all those years of smurfing a beard on your face."

"I didn't expect that myself either, Brainy," Papa Smurf said. "But I guess that I can't complain that Mother Nature has smurfed her blessing of youth upon me at my 557 years of age."

To be expanded on.