Sacrifice

I let my nails grow longs for several weeks, perhaps a month. I wanted them long for a specific reason, and so I let them grow. Dirt and food would accumulate under them frequently. It would require more attention that normal. Sometimes they would catch and click against the keyboard, or scrape along the case of a computer, and I'd wince. But they never broke.
The time was approaching for their use, but there were stromclouds. Thing weren't going to be as perfect as I wanted them. I stressed and fretted, and one night deep in my cups I made a pact. I would sacrifice my nails, let them chip and break, and if they did the gods would be appeased and grant me my perfect night.
I opened door and computers with abandon. I slid my nails along the plastic of CD cases and food wrappers. I tapped the impatiently against computer screens and the windows of the T But they didn't break. And in the end, my perfect evening came to be, through the aid of a friend.
Today I snipped my nails, all of them. Ten half moons of protein karotin piled up on my desk. Perhaps I'll burn them in a shallow bowl, or just throw them in the wastebasket. But I think since my request was honored, I should still make my offering.
And I give all due credit to the one who actually carried out my request.