Part 16: Very Little Progress
Cora felt like an animal on show as her husband Jared spoke to Dr. Brandt as though she wasn't there at her next appointment. Her mouth was held open and a suction tube hung out the right side giving her an awful case of cotton mouth. Dr. Brandt was showing Jared how to turn the key on her new expanders. Both men ignored her tears and she whimpered as Dr. Brandt cradled her jaw and turned the key on her top expander.
"See? Not hard at all Jared. Now you do the bottom. " Jared turned the key slowly, causing Cora to gasp at the pressure.
"Great job, Jared. She needs that turned every night. I know we just did a turn, but another one tonight won't hurt." The orthodontist explained, unwiring the cervical headgear he placed weeks ago. Cora squeezed Jared's hand feeling relief as the headgear she despised was removed. He gave her a squeeze back and then smirked as another headgear was pulled out. Cora was going to hate this, and he knew it.
Dr. Brandt held up the contraption that looked more like an umpire's mask than an orthodontic device. Rubber bands were poured out on the tray, and would be used to hold tension. As Cora realized that this was to be wired in like the last one she began to cry and look up at Jared helplessly. Silently begging him to make it stop as he held her hands firmly to her chest.
In and effort to calm his bride down, Jared spoke kindly to her. "Honey, it's temporary, and for your own good. I promise you'll thank Dr. Brandt and I some day, yeah?"
At the reception desk, there was a sign that help was needed in the way of a part time receptionist. With Kara feeling confident enough to be out in public with her braces off, she was going to begin college, and the office needed help a few days a week. With some hesitation Elise signed in and then looked at the sign.
In the last week, she'd been asked by the school to take a step back until she was able to speak clearly and not rely on videos and handouts to teach. For that reason, Elise was now in the middle of a job hunt, wanting to make sure that she could still pay her bills monthly. With a sigh, she sent her resume to the email address on the sign.
Elise's deep thoughts about her future were interrupted as she saw a woman come from the back with a facemask. The lady leaned on what was assumed to be her partner as they made an appointment and left. Touching her hated brackets, Elise sighed wondering what her fate would be today.
