Part 1

The Power of a Smile to Change Lives:  Denny’s Story Part 1

Denny wondered to himself how he had got trapped between two women intent on making his life miserable.  Well, maybe not miserable, but certainly grouchy.  He was trying to drink his tea in silence as his wife and Mimi chatted away as only women could do.  What did they have to be so happy about?

It was true that Denny had a reputation for being a grouch.  The grandkids were always cautious around him and he had a hard time making friends.  Paula would socialize circles around him like she was doing now, so he contented himself with staying in the background.  His wife was prettier and livelier anyway.  He enjoyed retreating into his own silence and he found himself scowling upon the world.

Tonight, however, these girls were getting on his nerves.  Not only were they talking up a storm, but it was about a topic he had absolutely no interest in hearing.  He wished he had a tall shot of rum to pour into his tea just to drown them out.  Mimi had gotten her new Dr. Yeoman smile, and was telling every last detail of her experience.  He knew that Paula had put her up to this for his own “benefit”, and now he was stuck listening to all the warm fuzzies and raptures of a happy lady.  There’s nothing warm and fuzzy about dentures.

Dentures had made Denny miserable for years.  He had gotten them when he was fairly young, and had such a bad experience that he never went back for another set.  The dentist had told him, “This is as good as it will get,” and Denny believed him.  So why do it again?

Denny knew that his smile was not what it used to be.  When he had gotten his first set of dentures, that old dentist had given him a decent looking smile even if it didn’t feel comfortable.  But that was 35+ years ago.  Denny had gotten used to the feeling of having them in his mouth, but his smile had worn out.  His face had aged significantly.  Paula would suggest that his dentures were making him look caved in, but he would snap back that this was the drawback of marrying an old man.  When he looked in the mirror, he felt old.  There was a constant scowl that wouldn’t disappear even if he tried to smile.  Even when he grimaced, he could hardly see his front teeth anymore.  There was pain in his jaw joints.  Getting old was the pits.

Coming out of his grey reverie, Denny heard words like, “it’ll change your life,” and “you owe it to yourself.”  He realized the conversation had turned from Mimi to himself.

“All I have is my appointment card from last week, but it has the phone number on it for you when you decide to call.”  Mimi placed her card on the table, but he ignored it.  Taking a bite of his dinner, he winced as his lower denture cut into his jawbone.  Ignoring the approving looks of the two girls, he placed the card into his shirt pocket and asked for a box for his food.

The Power of a Smile to Change Lives:  Denny’s Story Part 2