Zara's Braces
By Kelly-Marie
Part 1
Zara had found herself, by chance, in East Germany. She fell asleep on a tram in Berlin on her way home from a night out. Her stop, still in the west, was near the border. Unfortunately, she fell asleep and stayed on the tram. The border guard ignored her, being rather annoyed at being on the night shift, so Zara found herself stranded in the east, waiting for the next tram or train back to the west.
She was beginning to wonder where she was going to sleep when she saw a light on in an apartment building. Taking her courage, she rang the doorbell. A few minutes later, a woman about Zara's age answered. As she greeted Zara, she smiled, showing Zara a mouthful of metal braces. Zara was somewhat surprised. She thought that that type of braces was something from when her mother was young.
The girl introduced herself as Lotte. "Please come in," she said to Zara. "My mother is just through here."
Part 2
Zara followed Lotte into another room to meet her mother.
Lotte asked Zara her name, then said, “Mum, this is Zara.”
“Hi Zara, what are you doing out this late?”
"It's like this," Zara said. "I was on a tram going home from a night out clubbing. My apartment is near the border, and I guess I must have fallen asleep. The next thing I know is I'm at the tram depot with no way to get home until tomorrow."
Lottie's mother said, "Well, really I should report you to the authorities, but I think this will just cause us both trouble."
"Don't worry, as soon as I can, I'll get a tram home. Tell me, do you have a phone I can call my mum on?"
“Yes, it's through here in my surgery.”
"Surgery?" asked Zara in surprise.
“Yes,” said the mother, “you wouldn't know, but I'm an orthodontist, so I'm allowed a phone for business.”
Zara glanced at Lotte. She now had an idea of why she had such obvious and complicated braces. Zara followed the mother into her rather old-fashioned-looking office. She asked, "What's your name?"
“I'm Karen,” the woman said.
Zara smiled. She had a distant cousin in America called Karen. Zara dialled her home number. Fortunately, her mum answered. Zara explained what had happened and where she was. Her mum said, "Okay honey, I'll see you tomorrow."
Part 3
After her phone call, Zara suddenly felt rather lost. She and her mum were rarely apart and it had been at least a couple of years since Zara had been away anywhere.
"You okay, hunny," Karen asked, putting an arm around Zara to comfort her.
"Yes, I'm fine thank you," Zara said.
After a few minutes of general chatter between Zara, Karen and Lotte, Karen said, "Zara, have you ever had braces?"
Zara said, "Yes, when I was a teenager. I was supposed to get them, but we moved from Cologne to Berlin, so it got forgotten about. Why do you ask?"
"I notice that you have an underbite and that you also have a tongue thrust habit."
Zara was a bit stunned. She didn't know how to react.
"Oh mum," Lotte said, "Zara's not a patient. She's going back to West Berlin tomorrow."
Karen chuckled. "Yes, your right, but I just noticed is all."
Zara said, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt. I do get jaw pain from time to time."
"Sit in the chair, make yourself comfortable."
Zara settled herself in the chair as Karen started to examine Zara's teeth.
Part 4
Karen gave Zara's teeth a thorough examination. Eventually she said, "Okay Zara, I'm finished with examining your teeth and jaws. Why don't you rinse and freshen your mouth, then we can talk."
Zara rinsed with the minty mouthwash. When she was done, she said, "What do you think, Karen? How's it all looking?"
"I think," Karen began, "that you could do with some extensive treatment. I'd like to start you with full metal bands, and in a month or so, headgear. You would need to wear it 14 hours per day for at least 1 year, maybe a year and a half, depending on how it goes."
Zara was in shock. "Is my mouth really that bad?"
Karen said, "I'm sorry sweety, unfortunately it is."
Zara was stunned for a moment, then she remembered she was heading home to West Berlin tomorrow. She thought, "I'm sure an ortho there will have a less invasive, less obvious treatment."
"Karen," she said, "can you write up what you think and what you found? I'll give your notes to an orthodontist in the West. Also, when I get back, I'll get my mum to send you a money order or something to pay for your hard work."
"I can help you find an ortho. Here is a business card for a friend of mine who lives in West Berlin, she will be glad to help you."
"Thank you," said Zara. "That's a great help."
Part 5
Zara thanked Karen again and then said she was going to get some sleep. It was late and Zara wanted to be up early, ready to head home. She was given a blanket and pillow and she soon was comfortable on the sofa, where she drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, she woke up. It was a bright sunny day. Lotte came into the lounge where Zara was just waking up. "Morning Zara, how did you sleep."
"Very nicely thank you. I was warm and comfortable."
They had some breakfast. Soon Zara and Lotte were headed for the tram stop so Zara could return home. When they got there, she realised there was about a twenty-minute wait for the tram. She was a little worried, as there seemed to be a lot of police about.
Lotte told her, "Just remain calm, this early most of them are not on duty yet, so unless you stand out in a crowd, they won't really notice you." Zara did her best to remain calm. Soon the twenty minutes was up and the tram arrived. Lotte and Zara said their goodbyes and soon Zara was heading home. She felt herself relax when they finally crossed the border.
Soon she was getting off at her stop. Her mum was there to greet her. Zara told her mum what had happened. She kept the bit about Karen's assessment of her teeth to herself for a while. This was something to bring up when everything was calmer.
Part 6
Several weeks have gone by since Zara found herself stranded in East Berlin. Since that evening, she had been careful to not drink so much at the clubs she went to and thankfully had not fallen asleep on the tram home.
As time passed, Zara forgot about the orthodontic assessment Karen had given her. However, one evening she returned from work. Her mother was a little off-hand with her. Zara couldn't work out why, what could she possibly have done, she wondered. Finally her mother said, "Zara, when were you going to tell me about this?" She held up a crumpled piece of paper.
Zara recognised it as the notes Karen gave her regarding her bite. "Oh I, er, had forgotten about that," said Zara.
"Listen, Zara," her mum said, "if you need treatment, we should get it sorted. I know you get jaw pain sometimes. I think you need to see to it before you get much older. I've already made you an appointment with an ortho not far from here so you can get there easily."
"Okay mum, will you come with me for the first time at least?"
"Of course darling, that's no problem. Your appointment is tomorrow at half past 5."
Zara couldn't take it all in. Suddenly she was going to an appointment where she might end up with braces.
The next evening, Zara and her mum went to the ortho office. Zara was pleased to see it was a modern-looking place. In fact, it smelled of new paint, as well as the usual medical smell these places always have. Zara's mum went to the receptionist and said, "My daughter Zara has an appointment at half past five."
"Ah yes, the young lady who had a referral from another ortho."
"Yes, that's right," said her mum.
The receptionist told them to take a seat and fill out some paperwork.
After 10 minutes, a nurse came out. "Zara Shmidt, please."
Zara looked up. She was surprised, the receptionist had headgear on, and when she smiled, it looked as though her mouth was filled with plastic and metal. Zara stood up to follow her, hoping she wouldn't have that much metal and certainly not headgear.
Part 7
Soon it was Zara's turn. The ortho greeted her warmly. "Now don't worry, Zara," he said. "As you're a friend of Karen's, I'll be extra gentle, okay?"
Zara felt comforted by this. Soon they were joined by a nurse, who also had brightly colored powerchains on, as well as pink headgear. Zara gasped when she saw it. The ortho said, "You like Jane's braces? They certainly stand out, don't they?" Jane blushed and the ortho said, "Right, let's get started."
He examined Zara's teeth, mumbling things to the nurse who was writing lots of notes, and Zara thought she was drawing something on a big pad. After what seemed like a lifetime, he said, "Okay, Zara, I've examined you and can tell you you need full bands, and I think you need a facemask. I think you'll be in braces for 3 years, although towards the end it will just be straightforward bands."
Zara was in shock. She didn't know what to say, or what to think. The ortho had gone to explain the treatment plan to Zara's mother. Both women were in shock, neither expected Zara to need such work done.
