Bracing Up

I still remember the two years of my life I spent with my mouth full of steel. Braces were a dreadful addition especially for a person as talkative as I was. At first I hardly opened my mouth and responded with a simple yes or a no, but then later returning to my basic nature I got used to my steel barrier. My smiles were always bright and toothy which became a problem when my mouth was prominently displayed, shining brightly in my yearly class group photograph. But carefree as I was I stopped minding the teasing comments from my friends and family.

The most memorable incidence in the course of my braced life occurred to me when I went to live with my grandparents during my Diwali vacation. I am a huge foodie and the array of delicacies spread around the table during the diwali festival made me drool. But unfortunately my braces kept me from eating hard cuisine. Not losing hope I stuffed myself with sweets that melted in my mouth. mmmm....
But one fine day a third cousin whom I had never met before visited our house with her parents and guess what she had braces too. this common trait bonded us at once! leaving our earlier generation to have their chat we left the house and went out to the park for a walk. Jaywalking was one of my worst attributes and when I was busy conversing I paid no attention as to where my legs lead me. As it turned out to be I crashed into a girl who appeared to be at least 5 years older to me. I said sorry and backed up and discovered that I had accidentally sullied her dress. the older girl came onto me and looked like she was in a very good mood for a fight. My cousin whimpered behind me. I spoke to her consolingly and we together backed up to run out of the park. but the older girl was much faster. she spotted our common trait and meanly made fun of our braces. I looked unshaken so she directed her anger towards my cousin; who soon started sobbing. The next thing I know, I was flying at this big girl and we had a huge brawl. At the end of it both of us were lying on the ground. My cousin picked me up and we were out of the place in microseconds. My parents questioned my dirty clothes and the few bruises on my hand but we kept our secret.
I am still in connection with my distant third cousin. We have both lost our braces but we still remember that those metallic barriers helped us to brace up against difficult situations in our lives.