There wasn’t a whole lot to do for the next couple of days. Mom was working, Dad was studying; Sam was playing on the computer, and certain other people were busy not calling me back. I was so bored that I almost looked forward to going to the orthodontist.
Dad checked his watch as the two of us sat in the waiting room. “Dr. Ohno must be running behind.”
That cracked me up every time. Get it? It’s like “Oh no! The orthodontist is coming! Run! Hide!”
I didn’t care if the doctor was running late. It wasn’t like I was looking forward to getting my braces. Plus it gave me more time to reread my favorite book, Savvy by Ingrid Law. It was about a girl named Mibs who got special powers on her thirteenth birthday. I wished I had special powers. Or at the very least, straight teeth.
Unfortunately Dr. Ohno’s assistant eventually showed up and took me back. Two long and boring hours later, I was standing in front of the mirror in the hallway. I checked out my new braces and the purple bands I’d picked out. Gently rubbing my jaw, I decided making someone keep their mouth open for two hours should be against the law. So should nasty-tasting-bracket glue. And pokey wires, too, for that matter.
“Hi Eliza!” someone said.
I turned to see a girl walking toward me. Her name was Annie, and she was in my class at school. I waved.
Annie talked faster than anyone I knew. Especially when she was excited. She also talked a lot. But she was one of the few people who was nice to me.
“I’msogladIranintoyou!” she said. “I was gonna call, but now I don’t have to. You’re coming to Tony’s birthday party next week, right? Duh! Of course you are! I just got him a gift card. It’s not that exciting but I don’t know what guys like. Aren’t you stoked about getting to go to his parents’ bakery? Tony says we’re going to decorate our own individual cakes. Won’t that be awesome? I can’t wait. Well, my moms are waiting for me. The three of us are going to a movie and then dinner. See ya!”
I stared after her as she bounced down the hallway and out the door that led to the waiting area. I didn’t dare move. I was too afraid that if I did, the tears in my eyes would spill over.