The Photo

Max couldn't stop laughing when she saw Mike in the tight unicorn pajamas.

"Oh god, Mike, you have to see this," she said as she pulled her camera out of her bag.

"What?" Mike asked, feeling like she was already feeling a rising sense of panic.

"Don't move!" Max said, holding up the camera. "This needs to be immortalized."

"No, no!" Mike shouted, raising his hands in an attempt to stop her, but Max had already pressed the button.

The flash lit up the forest for a second as Max took the photo.

"Perfect!" Max exclaimed, looking at the photo and bursting into laughter. "I'm going to keep this as a souvenir!" This is pure gold."

Mike felt like the earth should swallow him up right then. The unicorn pajamas, so tight and ridiculous, made him feel even more vulnerable.

"Delete it now, Max!" he said, his face completely red, but Max just shook his head.

"Delete it? No, no, Mike. This is too good. Did you know that embarrassment makes you more photogenic?" He leaned in to look at the photo again. "Seriously, it all works... the unicorns, the tight pajamas, that desperate look on your face... It's a masterpiece!"

Mike, feeling more humiliated than ever, turned around, trying to hide his face and body as best he could.

"Max, please!" he whispered, barely audible.

Max, still laughing, put his camera away with a mischievous smile.

"Don't worry, Mike. It's no big deal." Though... if you ever need a souvenir for your grandkids, you know who to call. —He patted her on the back as he continued walking.