Wednesday 8 May 2019.

It was week 2 of the motel being fully operational. They still had Chase and Mink in the double suite, Jonny in a bachelor suite and they had a couple coming as guests for 3 days. Business travelers were starting to stay and everyone liked the continental Breakfast.

The high tea was going really well too. Mark got a delivery of baking from the Community college every morning and his new charcuterie boards were popular. Mark arranged them artfully and had vegetarian options that were fruit and nuts and cheese and many other combinations. Mink and Mark took and filled the orders and served coffee and tea and Chase did the bar service. It was getting so busy they needed an extra server. Bobbie helped Chase serve drinks and was thinking she should hire another a co-op student from the community college.

Bobbie went down to the Restaurant to check with Rose. She was due to have her first dentist appointment. Mark was getting to know her and said Rose was really funny and most certainly could read. They had made a dishwasher list together and Trixie was getting her an I pad.

Bobbie found Rose. “Lets go.”

“I think I’m ready but I’m a little nervous.” Said Rose, climbing into the car beside Bobbie.

“Dr. White is a really nice dentist. Our dentist in Cid City was nice too. Eddy and Charlie used to get mad if I went to there without them when they were kids. I never heard of kids crying to go to the dentist before.”

Rose’s eyes were tightly closed. A small tear escaped one corner of her eye and her hands were shaking. She wished she was anywhere other than in the dentist office waiting room and Bobbie was trying to calm her down. Finally Bobbie crossed all professional boundaries and took her hand. In a soothing tone she told Rose. “This was just a short visit. The hygienist will clean your teeth and they will feel really nice and smooth after. And then the dentist is going to look at them and tell you how she can fix the broken ones. No one will hurt you.”

“So they are not going to pull out all my teeth?”

“Goodness no.” Answered Bobbie. “Who told you that?”

“Isn’t that what dentists do?”

Bobbie realized Rose had never actually been to a dentist before and was thinking about that and wondering If Effie and Drey had gone to the dentist lately, when Rose’s name was called. Bobbie approached the desk and said. “She’s a little nervous, I might just go in and make sure she’s OK, I won’t interfere.”

Rose called out. “Bobbie!” As she was being led to examination room.

The hygienist was good. He joked with Rose and complemented her pink hoodie and managed to settle her down. He proceeded with a gentle cleaning and got a mirror and explained how to floss teeth. A while later he was all done and he said that her teeth were nice and clean but they needed to take a picture. Bobbie thought, crap, I didn’t tell her about that. Rose seemed more relaxed anyway.

When the hygienist left Rose asked Bobbie if that was the Dentist.

“No that was the hygienist, they clean you teeth extra well so the dentist can see better and the scan he took, will let the dentist see even more.

The dentist arrived about 15 minutes later. She looked a little concerned. “Hi Rose, I’m Dr. White and I see that you have some damage to your teeth.”

Rose nodded.

Dr. White said. “That must of happened when you were a little girl. I can see that your jaw was damaged and your front teeth never formed properly.”

The dentist spoke into a small voice recorder. “The patient has in the past suffered a partial Le fort Fracture to the upper mandible that was left untreated and now has missing teeth and a maladapted bite. Tooth 7 is twisted and 8 and 9 have not decended and there are several twisted teeth in the lower front; 23-26.” The dentist put her recorder away and said “Rose you must have dealt with a lot of pain. You have some very healthy teeth with just a few cavities that we will deal with right now but you have some damage that a plastic surgeon will have to fix and how do you feel about braces?”

The dentist called her assistant in. “Have you ever had a filling before Rose?”

Rose looked terrified and shook her head.

The dentist put her hand on Rose’s shoulder. “I promise it will only hurt a tiny bit. Like a little pinch when I freeze the area around the cavity so it doesn’t hurt when I work on it. Then the only thing that will bug you is how wide you have to open your mouth. You have 2 tiny spots were something damaged your teeth. After you are numb, I will take a tiny drill and smooth up the edges of the damaged spots and then I’ll put some tooth filler in there so no more damage can happen. Are you ready? I like to put this rubber dam in your mouth so that all the rough edges don’t go in your mouth as I drill. Let’s see how it feels.”

The dentist prepared the needle, out of Roses view and subtly injected her. Rose didn’t really notice. The assistant installed the dam and Rose squeezed Bobbies hand and gave a thumbs up with the other. She squeezed her eyes shut when the drilling stared and grunted when the dentist packed the stuff in her cavity. The dentist smoothed out the new filled area and had her assistant remove the dam. He helped Rose rinse her mouth.

“My mouth feels funny, like it’s numb.”

“Be careful not to bight your lip or cheeks. The sensation should come back in a few minutes. You were great Rose. You are all finished for now.” The assistant handed Rose a bag with toothpaste and a toothbrush and dental floss.

“How much does this cost? Asked Rose, looking at the bag.

The dentist smiled. “It’s our gift to you Rose. Be sure you keep your teeth clean and we’ll see you soon to get you ready for braces.”

They left the dentist office and when they made it to the car Rose told her with a little smile. “Braces are for rich kids.” They didn’t say much else. They decided to stop at Rose’s Aunt’s before she dropped Rose off at the half way house.

Rose’s Aunt offered them some tea.

“That’s a good idea, it will help your mouth un-freeze.”

Aunt Jane looked up. “Did you finally get to a dentist Rosie, can they help you? Rose’s Dad was drunk and he was playing at pushing her around with the end of a baseball bat and he slipped and hit her in the mouth. He said. Her Mamma tried to get her to a dentist or doctor but he said kids were resilient and not to baby her. Ah well, I always felt bad about her staying with my brother but he scared me too. He told me to stay away or else. I wish I was braver. I tried to take her once but he called the police, saying I was trying to kidnap Rose and they came down on me. That beat the fight out of me and I left well enough alone. When her Daddy lost custody, the court still had that kidnapping wrap on me and they wouldn’t let me look after Rose. It broke my heart.”

“I always wondered why I never saw you until, after Daddy died.”

“I thought it’d be better when you were a bit older and social services was not involved. I’d like Rose to stay with me if she wants. The lady at your house said you can come any time now.”

Bobbie changed the topic to gardening. She noticed there were a couple fallow garden beds outside Jane’s house. “Jane, it is a good time to plant your garden were you thinking of getting a few seedlings?”

Rose said. “I work with a guy named Mark and his people run the Van Dyke Nursery. He could get seedlings and we can help you plant them. I remember how great your garden was when I was a little girl.”

Jane shook her head smiling. “Having a garden sure takes me back to more happy times. You’re going to shake me up when you move in Rosie.”