"Well, then that's out because I can't grow a beard to save my life," Thomas said, rubbing his chin and shaking his head. He'd spent weeks in the Scorch without a shaver and all he'd come away with was a few wisps of hair on his chin and some erratically scattered hair new his sideburns.

"So, no beard, no belly, and no being controlled by women," Thomas decided with a nod. He tried to imagine himself looking like a chubby lumberjack and couldn't do it. The Scorch had made it nearly impossible to look well fed and full what with its scarcity of food but Thomas could see how easy it'd be to over eat in Darrow. "Guess you'll just have to content yourself with how I look now. Doomed to look twelve for the rest of my life."