THE DOWNHILL SIDE OF THIRTY
BY VIRGIL F. SHOCKLEY
Health was no longer a problem for the
aged. All they had to do was ban sex and
tobacco to those over thirty-five....
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Worlds of If Science Fiction, August 1958.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Chuck Dane patted shaving lotion on his face, enjoying the second of vicious sting. He closed the medicine cabinet and stood for a minute examining himself in the fluorescent lighted mirror. He was lean and hard and, of course, tanned. A few grey hairs flecked the sideburns, but he didn't think that he looked thirty-five. And, damn it all to hell! he didn't feel thirty-five!
He opened the bathroom door, and hesitated. He dreaded to walk through the photoelectric beam and set off that odious disc! Sometimes he got down on hands and knees and crawled under. But he felt so damn silly!
Well, he couldn't stand there all day. It was Monday and they would expect him at the office.
He squared his shoulders and walked into the hall.