“No Mom! They look dorky, I don’t care what you say. Stop trying to convince me that they look okay.” Trish begged.
Her mother sighed and rolled her eyes. “Oh Trish, there could be so many worse things than this! Now, stop being overdramatic and face the fact that you have to deal with them.” She looked over at her, still looking in the mirror. “Come on hun, it’ll be okay. Besides, lots of kids your age get them!”
She smiled wide, but the metal inside cut the sensitive areas of her mouth. “That’s not the point mom! Pictures are next week and I’m a metal mouth. I’ll be one for another four years!”
Her mother took her away from her reflection, sat her down in a chair, and began to sooth her by rubbing her shoulders. “Listen, you’re in eighth grade. I get that the pressures of middle school and starting high school will be all about looks, but you’re still beautiful, and you’ll be even more when they come off.”
Trish got up and went to the mirror. She showed her teeth, “I guess I can deal,” and then she smiled.