Open Wide
Oren hates dentists. His dentist is synthetic and unoffendable. The appointment is for a human tooth that has chosen a bad week.
A fictional narrative within Callizto Dark Symphony.
“Open.”
Oren opened.
“Wider.”
“That is wider.”
“It isn’t,” said Dr. Senn, whose face did not do the false sympathy Oren had been dreading. Senn’s hands were steady in the way of people who had never had a toothache of their own and had decided this was not an advantage to boast about.
“You can feel this.”
“I can detect it. Feeling is your hobby.”
Oren made a noise that in another context would have been a laugh.
The tooth was ordinary and traitorous. Senn talked about the umbrella shop downstairs as if conversation were anaesthesia.
“They sold me one in full sun.”
“Did you need it?”
“Later.”
When it was over, Oren rinsed and said, “I thought you’d be… I don’t know.”
“Colder?”
“Something.”
Senn peeled off the gloves.
“I am exactly as warm as a person who knows you will eat on that side tonight anyway. Don’t.”
Oren went to Black Kettle and ate on that side anyway, then sent Dr. Senn a message that said You were right, which was also anaesthesia, delayed.
Mentioned in this record
- Black Kettle