Braces for Big Boy

Glasses and braces — two things I wanted badly as a youngster. In second grade, our class was asked by the school counselor to write down three wishes. “I wish I had glasses,” I wrote at the top of the page. The ones my bookworm sister had gotten made her look even smarter. My friend J. had really snazzy, orange-colored, octagonal eyeglasses. Dad had the horn-rimmed ones, and my mom, the cat-eye type. Sunglasses were as close as I got to having the “four eyes” of my dreams. As for braces, I just folded aluminum foil around my “chompers” until the bothersome feel of metal on teeth became too annoying. Whenever my sis and I would go to the dentist, the assistant would marvel at the straightness of our teeth, so that, too, was a lost cause. Of course, now I recognize how lucky I was, and how fortunate my parents were as well.

Today, at least one of my dreams of old came true for my teenage son when he had metal inserted into his top row of teeth. Unfortunately, I get all the expense and none of the fun I had so anticipated for myself “back in the day.” Also unfortunately, I was unsuccessful in bribing him for a photo. Maybe in a few weeks, after he’s gotten used to them, or in a few months, when he’s gotten his whole mouth done.

In the meantime, I might as well announce it here: “Writer, looking for additional work, needs funding for kid’s braces.”

One down. Four to go. Well, unless the other four have inherited their parents’ (our) teeth. It’s a little too early to tell, but they’re looking mighty straight to me so far.