Well this thread has certainly gotten all assed up.

Part 11.

On the way home, I stopped by the grocery store.  I really didn’t know what they liked, and I obviously wanted to try to impress them with my culinary prowess.  So I bought way more than I normally would have for a single meal.  I had some grouper at home that I had pulled out of the freezer that morning.  I picked up some shrimp and petit filets.  For sides I grabbed some salad, zucchini squash and asparagus, and was also planning to cook some rice i had in the pantry.

Once I got home and got everything inside it was almost 5:30.  First I gathered up some dirty laundry and started a load. Once I got that task finished, I started working on dinner.  I got a little marinade on the steaks, got the fish trimmed and cut up, and the shrimp peeled.  I was making them bacon wrapped grilled shrimp, which is a complete pain to make, but is so good.  As I sautéed the jalapeño slices in garlic butter, I went ahead and sent both girls a text that if they wanted they were certainly welcome to come over earlier than 7. I added that I might be out on the deck and unable to hear the doorbell, so if they would please just come around to the back. A minute later, Haley sent a reply that they would be over soon; they were still getting ready.  While I was not planning on drinking; I had to get up around 4 am and had enough of a hangover that day to last me awhile, I had gotten a few options for my guests.  I didn’t know if they wanted anything, but I certainly wanted to be a gracious host.

After a good bit of work, I finally had a couple of skewers of large shrimp, each stuffed with a jalepeno slice and strip of cheese, and wrapped in half cooked bacon that I had nuked in the microwave.  With the hard part done, I went ahead and lit the grill.  It would take 20 or 30 minutes to get the coals right, so I went back inside and continued working on dinner and transferred the cloths from the washer to the dryer.  Around 6:30, I went out to check on the grill.  It was ready, so I went ahead and put the fish on along with the asparagus.  As I kept one eye on the grill, I kept the other on the neighbors’, hoping I would see the girls.

Around 6:40 they came out the door.  Even from across the yard, I could tell the two apart.  Britt was dressed casually, wearing shorts, a t shirt and tennis shoes. And she was wearing her headgear.  But Haley, she was dressed like she was going out, or maybe on a date.  She had on a yellow dress, sexy heeled sandals and a purse slung over her shoulder.  As they came up the steps, I also noticed she had done her hair and makeup, and had worn some jewelry that really complimented her and her outfit.  To put it simply, she looked incredible.  I greeted both my guests, thanking them for coming and told  them they looked great.  Haley came over and gave me a hug and a peck on the cheek.  She said “thank you for having ush”. I noticed how good she smelled.  And that she was wearing her expanders.

I offered the girls a drink.  Haley declined, but Britt said she would like one.  I asked her if she would like for me to fix her one or if she would like to make it herself?  She said she would fix it and disappeared inside.  Alone with Haley, I looked at her and told her “you really do look incredible”.  She smiled, the thin wire of her top expander framing her teeth.  She then came over and gave me a kiss, a real kiss this time.  She stepped back and said “I hoped you’d like it”.

Just a heads up, but I am going to take a little hiatus from writing here.  I am going to put my creative energy towards a little songwriting.  I have to; the words are there to be taken.  They are coming out even if I don’t want them to. And that is something I struggled with for a long time; I tried to make my brain do it.  And it said “nah bro, nobody wants to hear anything you have to say”.  I had become perfectly happy being miserable for a long time.  I had deadbolted the doors on my heart, and then managed to lose the keys.  But, and I don’t know why and I don’t know how,  I met a real, pretty little brown haired girl that for some reason had a key that fit.  And it might be because my heart is a little defective and doesn’t have the bandwidth to do two jobs at once, but I don’t have it in me to think about these gals when there is a real one that I need to cover up.  But I thank you all for reading,

I know I'm enjoying the story. But taking time off to get your creative juices back and to just step away for your mental health is more important than writing a story. Take the time you need.

Just a heads up, but I am going to take a little hiatus from writing here.  I am going to put my creative energy towards a little songwriting. 

Well, that was quite a hiatus... a few days over the year! But it's great to have you back!

How did the song writing go?

I'm gonna guess you play guitar... The closest I get to playing music is a CD player, or more likely these days, You Tube! And writing stories about people who can write music! I can't draw either... so you have my respect!

What sort of music is it that you write? Do you perform at all (eg open mic nights / around friends)?

Part 13.

I was very nervous as I walked up to the front door.  I knew it was irrational, that everything would go fine.  But knowing this did not calm the butterflies in my stomach.  I rang the door bell and waited. 

The door opened and I was face to face with Haley’s father.  I politely introduced myself and told him I was there to pick up Haley.  After he introduced himself, he welcomed me to his home and invited me inside.  He said Haley was still getting ready.  Once inside, I met Haley’s mother.  She was a very striking woman I guessed was in her 50’s.  I don’t know if it is really true that you can tell how a woman will age by looking at her mother, but if so I felt heartened.  She was a beauty.  I also met Haley’s younger sister Madison.  She told me to call her Maddie, everyone else did.  She told me Haley had told her all about me.  After about 10 minutes of chatting; I felt like her father was interviewing me; Haley appeared.  She looked stunning.  She had her hair up, and despite the fact I thought she looked gorgeous without any makeup on, it was clear she had spent some time and effort on it that night.  She was wearing a dress that was the perfect mix of modest and sexy, and on her feet she had on heels.  I knew she had told me she hated wearing heels, but it was obvious that she was going to make that sacrifice tonight.

She walked up and hugged me.  The first thing I noticed was how wonderful she smelled.  She then gave me a peck on the cheek.  She said “hey you!  Hash my dad been waterboarding you too hard?”  I laughed and answered “no not at all, we have just been chatting.”  She said “well good.  How about we make a run for it before he breaksh out the truth serum?” She was wearing her expanders.  She turned to her parents and said “mom, dad, I will be home later thish evening.”  Her father Dan shook my hand and said “take care of my little girl.”

Pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant, Haley removed her expanders and stored them in their plastic case in her purse.  Dinner was wonderful.  Since this was our first real date, I had chosen a somewhat upscale, romantic restaurant on the other side of the river.  The area had not been impacted by the storm. It felt a little strange eating an incredible meal overlooking the river, knowing how much destruction was just a few miles away.  Despite this, I quickly lost myself in Haley.  After dinner Haley excused herself to the ladies room.  When she returned she was wearing her appliances.

After leaving the restaurant, we walked along the riverwalk.  At one point we took a break and took advantage of a bench.  We held hands as we talked.  After a few minutes, she looked at me and said “this evening has been perfect.  Except for one thing.”  She leaned her head towards mine, and I accepted her invitation.  We kissed.  Actually it was a little more than a simple kiss.  It would be fair to say we made out.  Normally I would have felt some embarrassment, feeling the looks of passerby’s staring and thinking ‘get a room you two’.  But not there, not that evening.  I was alone in the world, just Haley and me.

Back at my truck I said “I guess I need to get you home.  I don’t want your dad putting out a contract on me after our first date.”  She laughed and said “I guess this is our first official date.  But it really isn’t.  It doesn’t feel like it is.”  She leaned in and kissed me again.

As we drove I brought up her expanders.  I told her it seemed like she was doing a great job wearing them.  She answered “yesh, I have been doing a better job.  I am trying to wear them all the time like I am shupposed to.  To be honest, you being ok with them hash made it a lot easier.  Thank you for putting up with my lishp.”  I squeezed her hand and said “I love your little lishp” and smiled at her.  I then asked “how goes the facemask?  I know you hate it.  When we were chatting the other night, I was wondering if you were wearing it.”  She looked at me and said “you are so weird.”  Noticing the look that came over my face she squeezed my hand and said “But I like your weird.”  The smile that came to my face was instinctive, I didn’t even realize I was doing it.

She continued “the facemask is still my nemesis.  But I have been getting in a lot of time with it.  Since we are still off work, I have been wearing it pretty much all the time around the house and while I sleep.  And yesh, I wash wearing it the other night.  Maddie teases me about it.  And so does my dad.  But I know they are just giving me a hard time.  I am really trying to catch up on it, I have my checkup this Friday.  They are going to take some imaging and see how things are progressing.  That is assuming we have power.  They have told us this Wednesday we should be back up and running, and I will be back at the grindstone. But that is ok, I kind of miss it.” 

Back at her parents I walked her to the door.  I told her how wonderful the evening had been.  I smiled and told her I hoped we could do it again some time.  She looked back at me and said “of course silly.  You better take me on another date.  Many dates.  Or I will get Brittany to beat you up.”  She leaned in and gave me a quick kiss and opened the door.  She said “and you better call me when you get home tonight.”

I did call her that night.  And everyday that week.  On Friday I picked her up again.  We were going to a painting class.  It seemed like it would be a fun date.  Different and a little quirky.  Haley loved the idea.  Afterwards, as we looked on at our masterpiece, she looked at me and said “and now is when you take me home.  Your home. Just the two of us.”

Afterwords we lay in bed snuggling; hot, sweaty, and happy..  Haley had put her facemask on.  As we talked she said “so, do you remember I told you I had my orthodontic appointment today?  I have some good news and some bad news.  What do you want first?”  I told her to start with the good.

“Well” she started “the good newsh is in a week I won’t have to wear theesh huge, bulky removable expandersh anymore. That ish the good newsh.”  “And the bad?” I asked her.

“The bad” she said “is that I am going to get bonded expanders installed.  I’m just not getting the results I need with these.  They won’t be quite as bulky as these, but I won’t be able to take them out.  I will still have to wear the facemask.  But the worst news is that they noticed I have developed a tongue thrust.  I am going to have a tongue crib integrated into my top expander.  It is going to be pretty noticeable.  And my lisp will probably be even worse.”  I hugged her and said “I am so sorry baby.  But you will get through it.  It is just temporary right?  And you will still be just as sexy as ever.” 

She hugged me back and said “thank you.  Actually, it is something we will both have to get through.  It is really going to limit me on what foods I can put in my mouth.  And other things.  So I am going to have to try to get my fill over the next week.  Because I will have it for at least 6 months.”  She bit her lip as she looked at me.  She removed her facemask and then her expanders.  She then slid down the bed and pulled the covers back.  She smiled at me one last time before taking me to heaven.

Part 15.

Haley looked at me and said "Thank you for being here.  And you have had impeccable timing all day long."  As she turned and looked at Britt, who was sitting nearby to apparently help assist, she continued "I wonder how you knew I was about to have my fitting appointment?  And where I was going to lunch?"  I laughed and said "I will never reveal my sources" while at the same time I motioned with my head towards Britt.  I noticed that Britt had absently reached up to touch the mask she was wearing several times, but I didn't think anything about it.  I thought it must be a pain in the rear wearing a mask like they had to all day every day; especially after having been off work for over a week.  I just figured that Britt was getting back used to wearing one.

Haley was looking at Britt, and it looked like she was thinking of something to say when we were interrupted by a brunette woman in a white coat.  She exuberantly exclaimed as she approached "Haley, thish ish exciting.  Your big day!  You ready to get shtarted?'  As she sat down, I noticed her coat had 'Dr. Sanders' embroidered on her chest.  Also, did I detect a lisp from her?  She was wearing a blue medical mask over her face, just like Britt, so it was impossible to see her mouth.

After she had seated herself beside Haley, Dr. Sanders looked over at me.  She asked "and who do I have the pleasure of meeting" as she stuck out her hand.  Haley answered for me "this is my boyfriend Rob.  He surprised me."  I looked at Dr. Sanders and said "it is a pleasure to meet you.  Please take good care of this gorgeous, sweet thing; she is pretty special."  Dr. Sanders answered "well Rob, it is a pleasure to meet you.  I am Krishtin Shanders.  Oh wait, are you the one responsible for the flowersh?  They caushed quite a shtir this morning.".  I looked back sheepishly and admitted "guilty as charged." She said "well, you certainly put some other boyfriends and husbands on notice I would say."

Dr. Sanders turned her attention back to Haley.  She asked her "ready?"  Haley let out a sigh and said "ready or not, here we go."  In the brief time I had been sitting across from Dr. Sanders I noticed two things.  One, she was fairly young. She couldn't have been much older than Haley, or I for that matter.  Second, I definitely did notice a lisp on some words when she spoke.  I had really noticed it when she had said her own name.  I was curious what the story was with that.  Did she have braces or an appliance too?

Dr. Sander's picked up a tooth model.  It was one of Haley's lower teeth.  On it was a stainless metal expander.  She explained to the both of us "I am going to start with your lower expander.  I will get those pesky spacers out first."  She leaned Haley back.  Britt inserted a cheek retractor into Britt's mouth.  With a pick, Dr. Sander's leaned in and quickly had the spacers removed from Haley's mouth, placing them one by one on the table adjacent her.  Once the spacers were removed, she said "I bet that is a relief, I know I was so glad when I got mine taken out."  Britt stuck a suction hose in the corner of Haley's mouth.  Dr. Sanders leaned back in and said "let's check the fit, open up for me."  Dr. Sander's quickly inserted the expander into my girlfriend's mouth.  She seated it partially on her molars, then had her bite down on what to me looked like a square stick.  Once she had the expander seated, she examined it closely.  She exclaimed "it fitsh like a glove.  Feel any dishcomfort or poking Haley?"  Haley answered the best she could with a "Nah feelsh ah kay." Dr. Sander's exclaimed "Great!  Let's get this little sucker bonded."  I noticed Dr. Sanders sure was upbeat and excited about this, much more so than my poor Haley.  She pried the expander up off of Haley's teeth.  She then took some cement that Britt had mixed and liberally coated the inside of the molar bands.  She then repeated the process of seating it on Haley's lower molars.  As she was seating the expander, Haley squeezed my hand.  I squeezed back and placed my other hand on top of hers.  I noticed she had her eyes cut in my direction looking me in the eyes.  I softly said "you are doing great sweety".  Once done bonding the expander, Dr. Sanders quickly dabbed away the excess cement that had run out from under the expander.  She looked at Haley and triumphantly exclaimed "we are half way there.  And you ARE doing great!"

She next picked up a model of Haley's top teeth.  On it was seated a gargantuan, complicated looking piece of metal.  Dr. Sanders held it over in front of me as she explained "so thish is Haley's upper expander.  You notish it hash four bandsh inshtead of two, it will be sheated on Haley's molarsh and pre molarsh.  Becaush of her tongue thrusht, we have integrated thish tongue crib.  Thish will help her break her habit.  There ish no easy fix, it juhst takesh time, but we need shomething that will break her of it.  Or all of thish will be for want.  Finally, you see these little hooksh on the outside?  These are what she will attach the elasticsh to for her facemask.  They will rest in front of her canines and will be fairly visible when she smilesh.  But it will be so much more comfortable than having the hooksh back beside her molars.  I actually had my hooksh extended not long after I got my expander.  The elasticsh were rubbing unbearably in the cornersh of my mouth.  The extra little visibility hash been so worth the additional comfort.  It will take Haley a few daysh to get used to all of this, but I know she will. She will have a lisp, but it will improve with time.  I did, and so shall she."

I was a little blown away by all of this.  By how big and obtrusive the appliance was.  And also by what Dr. Sander's had said about her own expander.  Did she have an expander too?  And did she wear a facemask?  Wait, what?  I didn't have much time to think about it, my attention turned back towards Haley.  There was fear on her face.  I stroked her hand and said "it is going to be a piece of cake baby."

Dr. Sander's repeated the process of the lower expander, placing and checking the fit of the upper device.  Happy with what she saw, she removed it. And like before, she applied the cement and had Haley bite down several times to get it seated.  Once done, she again dabbed away the excess cement.  She looked at Haley and said "almost done!"  She said "I am going to put some bite pads back on your back molars.  I will make them as low as I can, but you still won't be able to fully close your mouth.  It will make biting a little tricky at first as you know."  She took some blue composite and quickly applied it, a little bump to each of Haley's lower back molars. After everything was installed, Dr. Sanders cured the cement with a blue light.   Once done with that she removed the cheek retractor and said "you did great.  Let those pads cure for a few more minutes before you bite down, and I will go get your protraction appliances."  Wait, protraction appliances?  As in plural?

She was gone a minute or two before she returned.  In one hand she was holding a Petit face mask.  In her other hand she had two ziplock bags.  One was elastics.  The other was a clear baggy with a u-shaped metal bar in it.  She sat back down and said "I know you shtill have your other mashk.  And you can wear it if you want.  But since we are getting all new applianshez, we might as well get you a new mashk too.  We just got thesh new designsh in.  They are sho cute. They aren't just the boring bland solid colorsh we had before.  I think this cheetah print fitsh your pershonality perfectly.  Rawr! If you don't like it though, you can shwap it out for one of the othersh.  We alsho got in some flowersh, a flag, and even a camo one."

She placed the mask on Haley's face.  Using an allen wrench she adjusted the chincup and forehead pad to fit Haley's beautiful face.  Next, she adjusted the vertical protraction bar.  She looked at Haley from the front, then from the profile.  She exclaimed "that looks about right.  I know you are an old pro at it, but I will go ahead and show you how to fit the elastics on.  It is pretty self explanatory."  She had Britt hold the mirror up as she held the mask to Haley's face and attached an elastic from one of the hooks in her mouth to the face mask.  She had not been kidding, the hooks were very visible.  And while Haley probably would disagree at the moment, I thought they looked adorable on her. And the cheetah print facemask.  Oh boy, it was so sexy.  I could already picture her in my mind wearing it.  Wearing it and nothing else.  Dr. Sanders repeated the process on the other side.  She then said "shee, eashy peashy.  Now, that is your fashmask.  I need you to wear it 12-14 hoursh per day, obvioushly every night when you shleep. like you were before.  Now, I want to show you the tandem bow I need you to wear while here in the offish" as she removed the elastics and facemask from Haley's face.

Haley's eyes got big.  She said "wah? ey dey offish?"  Oh wow, her lisp was severe.  Dr. Sanders said "yes silly, we wear masksh every day here.  No one will even shee it.  I have been wanting shome company” and laughed.  “Plus, you and Britt can commiserate”. I didn’t even pick up on this last comment, or what it meant. She pulled down her mask and turned her head towards me.  Protruding from her mouth was a stainless metal rod that looped around in front of her mouth.  She was wearing one herself.  It did in fact look like a bow of sorts.  On it I saw several down turned hooks.  On two of these there were taut elastics that stretched back into Dr. Sander's mouth.  She said "shee, Rob here didn't even realizsh I was wearing one until I pulled my mashk down."  Turning back towards Haley and pulling her mask back up she reassured her "I promish you it will be ok.  In a week you will forget you are even wearing it."

She had Haley open her mouth while Britt again held a mirror in front of her.  Dr. Sanders said "sho, you have sheen how thesh work before.  But let me show you any way."  As she inserted the bow into her mouth she explained "it is simple, simply slide the tandem bow into the two molar tubes on your bottom molar bands.  Like that" as she removed her hand from Haley's mouth, leaving the metal bow sticking out of her mouth.  She continued "that ish the only part that could be conshidered tricky.  Like your facemashk, you shimply apply a elastic to each hook on your upper expander, and then attach it to the bow.  It ish important to go over the top of the bow and loop it over the hook that way.  Otherwish it might pop off and sting you."  She quickly attached a elastic to each of Haley's hooks.  She then looped them over the bow.  She said "to shtart, I want you to use the shecond hook on each shide, just like I have it now.  Now, you try it."  Haley quickly removed the elastics and  then the bow.  It took her a couple of tries to fit the tandem bow in the molar tubes, but she finally got it.  She then stretched the elastics from her hooks and looped them over the bow.  Dr. Sander's gave a little clap and said "you are already a pro at it.  You are an exspert at hygiene, at leasht you better be!" and laughed. "Sho I don't think we need to go over hygiene.  Ash for the expandersh, you need to turn each oncsh a day for the next two weeksh.  Then we will shee how things look.  I know you know how to do it but let me show Rob here in cash you ever want a helping hand." 

Haley opened back up, as wide as her poor, abused mouth would allow.  Looking over at me Dr. Sanders picked up a blue plastic device with a little metal rod at the end.  She said "sho, thish ish the key to turn Haley's expandersh.  It doeshn't really matter which one you turn firsht; I prefer to turn my lower firsht and then my upper; but it doeshn't really matter.  Just turn them together at the shame time.  Morning or evening, it doeshn't matter. Whatever is most comfortable for Haley. Now, you insert this little metal key into the hole in the expander like this. Then, push the handle back towards her throat like this.  The key will rotate in the handle.  Make sure you get a complete turn.  Next, carefully pull the key out of the expander.  If you look closely, you can see the next hole in the middle of the expander, this is where the key will go next time, tomorrow."  As she had been explaining the process, she had also been demonstrating it on Haley's poor mouth.  I had leaned in close to get a better look, and also examine what all my baby had just had cemented into her mouth.  It really was a lot.  It looked more intimidating than I had imagined.  Looking into Haley’s face, I felt like she needed a hug.  The look on her face said she did at least.  Dr. Sanders continued "so, the process is the same for the upper."  She quickly demonstrated by making a turn on Haley's upper expander.  She then said "and that is it, that is all there is to it." 

She looked over at Haley and said "Yay! And we are all done.  Put that tandem bow back in for me, and we can finish up around here for the day.  One hour till the weekend!."  Haley inserted the tandem bow; it only took her one try this time as Britt held the mirror for her again, then attached the elastics as she had been prescribed.  As she stood from the chair she was opening and closing her mouth.  And awkwardly feeling around her teeth with her lips.  And I could see she was using her tongue to feel around her new tongue crib.  She seemed as if she was trying to snake her tongue around it, to possibly lick her lips or explore the new hooks in her mouth.  She was not having any luck, her tongue securely trapped by the large obtrusive tongue crib that hung down below her upper teeth.  My poor baby, I wanted to kiss it and make it all better.  But I knew I couldn’t.  She quickly put a medical mask on; I think trying to hide the tandem bow she was wearing.  Once she was standing, I went to her and hugged her.  I whispered "you did SO good sweety.  You look SO beautiful."  She said "I dah fee veey beaful.  Ah Gah what a lishp."  I squeezed her tighter "I told you I love your little lisp, there is just a little more of it to love now."

Dr. Sanders looked over at her two employees and said "thank you Haley.   You will be sho glad you are doing thish.  And Britt, how goes it with the headgear?  Are you going to get in the hoursh you need?"  Britt sheepishly averted her eyes towards the floor and said "I will do my best.  I promise.  It is just hard."  Dr. Sanders said "well, you know you need to do better.  I can't make you; I think the American Association of Orthodontics frowns on us wiring headgear on now days.  Please, get your 18 hours in like you need.  We have to make up for some lost time."  Wait, did she just say 18 hours?  As I looked over at Britt I noticed the mask she was wearing.  She had been wearing it the whole time since I had gotten here, even when she met me up front at the reception and waiting area.  As I studied her face her embarrassment was evident even with a mask on.  I then noticed the strange horizontal ridge that ran across the middle of her mask.  As I looked at her, I then noticed the straps over the top of her head.  I had been so laser focused on Haley earlier, I had not really paid close attention to Britt.  She was wearing her headgear here in the office, right now.  As I continued to study her, her face still downturned to the floor, I noticed something new.  She also had a strap protruding out from under the bottom of her mask.  It ran below her ear and wrapped around her neck. I could barely see the pad on her neck, she had her hair down like she was trying to hide it.  I realized Britt was now wearing combination headgear.  And she was supposed to wear it for 18 hours a day.

Haley was my girl, of that there was no question.  And I knew she would need some extra attention this weekend with all the new parts and pieces in her mouth and on her face.  But as I looked at the embarrassment etched on Britt's face, I realized she might need a little extra attention too.  Yes, this weekend was going to be interesting.

Dr. Sanders then had an idea.  She said "oh my, I don't get an opportunity like thish very often."  She looked at Haley and said "would you be a dear for me and put your facemask back on please?  And ya'll wait here just a second, I will be right back."  Dr. Sanders hurried off.  When you returned a minute later she was wearing a facemask herself.  Her's had a purple floral design on the forehead pad and chincup.  Trailing along behind her was another woman dressed in scrubs with the name of the office embroidered above the pocket.  She was a short, cute petite woman who looked around thirty.  Her name tag said 'Emily".  And she, like Britt, was wearing combination headgear.

Dr. Sanders smiled broadly at us as she strided back into the treatment area.  She said "it ishn't very often we get a chance to take a photo op that ish thish cool.  Thish will get so many responshes on Facshbook I bet."  She looked at Britt and said " take your mask off please.   We sho need to document thish."  She handed her iPhone to me and said "you look like a natural born photographer.  Would you take a few picturesh of the four of ush please?"  Dr. Sanders lined up the four of them, her and Haley in the middle being the two tallest, with Britt and Emily on each end. I took a few steps back and held the phone in landscape mode.  I said "CHEESE!".  The four ladies smiled.  Dr. Sanders was beaming.  The other three were forcing smiles the best they could.  They all looked amazing.  There was a slight blush on Haley's face that just added to her charm, and my attraction to her.  I snapped several pictures, adjusting the angle and zoom to try to get the perfect photo.  I then moved in a little closer and said "hold on, let me get a few close ups."  I was in heaven.  I took several more photos, these showed just the ladies from the shoulders up.  Once done, I pulled out my own phone. I said "Hold on just a second longer.  Let me take a couple with mine in case something happens to your phone Dr. Sanders."  Once done, the three employees of Dr. Sander's quickly put there masks back on, trying their best to hide their extraoral appliances.  Dr. Sanders did not seem embarrassed at all by her facemask.  She continued to beam.  She took her phone from me and excitedly said "Thank You!" as she reviewed the photos on her phone.  She looked at me and said "thesesh are great, they are going to make such a convershation piece.  And they will show the world how mucsch we believe in our own work.  I have to go get these posted right now!".

After she had left the three women remaining huddled together.  Emily said "oh God, I can't believe she made us do that." Britt agreed saying "I know, at least you have had your headgear a little longer than I have and are more used to it.  I felt like I was trying to smile with a bridle in my mouth. And she is going to put them on Facebook!"  Haley added "ah leash ya don hah a gaudy cheeta prin fahmashk ah ya facsh.  Ah ya can speak."  I moved in behind Haley and wrapped my arms around her.  I told her "you look incredible sweety.  Good enough to eat."  I then looked at the other two and added "you all look incredible.  Seriously."  As I stood there I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed.  Heck, that I had gotten to be a part of.  Can life get better than this I thought?  Later that night I was to find out that yes, somehow it could.

Part 16.

That evening, I sat on the couch watching a movie.  It was a psychological horror movie and I will admit it was scary.  And it seemed to have been the perfect choice.   Because on either side of me were Britt and Haley.  They were each being exemplary patients and both were wearing their headgear.  The movie had been a good choice, both girls were tightly clinging to me.  One jump scare had actually made Haley jump.  She leaned into me even harder.

After the movie was over, I picked up my phone and opened the Facebook app.  I went to the City Orthodontics Facebook page.  I didn't know if either of the girls had investigated it yet, but I had not.  I was very curious.  I wanted to see if Dr. Sanders had really posted any of the pictures from earlier in the day.  After the page loaded, I scrolled down past the header.  And sure enough, there they were.  There were several pictures of the four of them.  The caption said:

"Here at City Orthodontics, we understand that orthodontic treatment can be a big commitment and an adjustment.  We understand well because we don't just work here, but we are patients too!  Here is Dr. Sanders and 3 of our beautiful staff; Haley, Brittany and Emily; proudly wearing their extra oral appliances.  If extraoral appliances have been indicated in your treatment, it is important that you wear them the prescribed amount of time.  As you can see in these pictures, they aren't something to feel embarrassed about.  Instead, feel proud that you are improving your health and well-being.  And getting a dazzling smile in the process!  We would love if our patients would share their big, proud smiling faces while wearing their own appliances in the comments here."

Just as I had when it happened, I couldn't get over how amazing they looked.  Haley and Britt had both been looking over my shoulder as I looked at the post.  Britt buried her facebow in my shoulder and said "oh my gosh, how embarrassing. Oh shit Haley, Dr. Sanders even tagged all of us.  This is going to be popping up on everyones’ feeds.  Shit.  I am mortified."  Haley was still having enormous trouble with her pronunciation and simply added "sa bah".  I turned and looked at her and said "no, it is not so bad.  You both look incredible there.  Just like you look incredible here, right now."  I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.  Britt said "I can't believe anyone would willingly share a picture of themselves wearing their 'extraoral appliances'."  I clicked on the comments and said "let's see."  The first post was from 'Maria Andrews, DMD'.  There was a picture of a pretty 40 something year old woman wearing a bright red petit facemask. Beside her was a man around her age, probably her husband I thought. He too had a Petit facemask on, his was white in color. They each had their fingers in the corners of their mouths, pulling their mouths open, their metal braces gleaming for the whole world to see.  Each was sticking their tongue out at the camera.  Her comment was 'Right back at you Dr. Sanders and crew.  Here are Mark and me this evening!  Both improving our health!  And working on our Hollywood smiles in the process!'

Below that was a photo of an older lady, a silver haired beaut even at her age, probably in her mid to late 50s.   She was wearing cervical pull headgear.  Her comment was funny.  It read "Hey Dr. Sanders, if I post this photo will you tell me I don't have to wear it anymore?"  There was a third photo in the comments as well.  This was a pretty young blonde, who appeared to be in her early 20s.  She was wearing combination headgear.  Her comment read "I certainly never dreamed I would be wearing headgear in college.  But my smile is SO much better.  Thank you Dr. Sanders!".

Scattered in amongst the photos were other comments.  They were all positive, saying things like "you ladies look fab", and "HOW CUTE!!!"

I looked over at Britt and said "you were wrong, what do I win?"

Haley leaned in and said "axshul, me and Bri hah bee talkin.  Will ya tell him Britt, he mah nah unershan me."  I squeezed Haley's thigh and said "I understand you just fine."  Looking at Britt I raised my eyebrows.  Britt fumbled a little as she started.  Then she said "um, Haley and I have been talking.  And um, we want to go to bed.  The three of us.  And not just to pass out drunk like our first night together."

The shock on my face would have been visible from space.