The new girl's secret

Story 1 - Her first day at school



Part 1

Monday Morning

Chapter 01/22 - The new girl

"Hey, who's that?" Monika nudges the girl next to her and points - not at all subtly - down the corridor. The eyes of all who have heard this remark also turn to the newcomers:

Two people walk towards them: A middle-aged man and a girl their age.

It is quite obvious who the man is: Mr. Jakob, their history teacher and this year also their class-teacher. And, if you like: a stroke of luck. He is considered to be one of the best teachers at this school after all. Sufficiently assertive not to put up with everything, but at the same time friendly and not too strict. And maybe the best thing about him: He even knows something about the subject he's teaching and manages to convey it in an at least somewhat interesting manner!

That doesn't solve the mystery about the girl who accompanies him though.

"No clue, don't know" therefore is the expected answer to Monika's question.

One thing is clear however: The girl walking down the corridor next to the teacher does not belong to them. She's not from the parallel class either, that's for sure. And that means: Until yesterday, she certainly was not in one of the two 11th classes of the Obereisenbach Gymnasium. And that makes things even more interesting.

"Is she going to join us?" As always, Johannes' eyes are riveted to his smartphone. One can only assume that he took a peek at the nearing persons in between. But just a quick look, otherwise he might miss something on the phone.

"Why else do you think she walks next to Mr. Jakob?"

Johannes just shrugs his shoulders. That he even notices that his question was answered is astonishing; he is already too deeply absorbed again in communicating with his Facebook friends.

"Maybe she's from 12th grade? And should go back a year now?" someone suggests.

"No, surely not!" Karina, who has an older sister in the grade above them, shakes her head. "I don't think she was at this school at all till now."

"No, she's definitely not from 12th grade..." Jessica says. "And you can't really believe that she was downgraded so smack-dab in the middle of the year. Neither will she have moved up from the 10th!



Further speculations are made impossible by the fact that the two are now within earshot. "Good morning, everyone," says Mr. Jakob. A bunch of keys jingle while the classroom door is unlocked. A more-or-less enthusiastic »Good morning« echoes back towards him.

"Why are the doors locked again, Mr. Jakob? We were still told last week that the classrooms would remain open!" There is a murmur of approval; many are annoyed, that they have to wait in front of closed doors for the teacher again.

As the children pour into the room, the teacher shrugs his shoulders: "In theory yes, while in reality... well, you can see what happens when someone can't tell 'mine' and 'yours' apart..."

At the beginning of the school year the teachers had finally responded to the constant requests of the students and started a 'pilot project': Classrooms are no longer locked; the children no longer have to wait in the corridor. But that also means that in theory everyone has access to every room.

And in reality - unfortunately - a few people took advantage of this: there had been a couple of unpleasant incidents where things had disappeared from backpacks. Admittedly, allowing unrestricted access to the rooms was probably a bit naive on the part of those in command. Perhaps even irresponsible? At least overly hasty, just to satisfy the student-organization.

But what else could they have done? Simply saying: »You are responsible for your own stuff« would be easy. But it can't be expected from every student to sit on their bag during recess just to make sure nothing gets stolen. And buying hundreds of lockers is no solution either. That not only would be very expensive, there is no room in the school for all the lockers to begin with!

"That's why, from now on, the rooms will be locked again," explains Mr. Jakob.

"What has happened again now?"

"I don't know exactly either, but once again, an expensive smartphone is said to have disappeared."

"as**oles", Christoph summarizes the opinion of the others. "A couple of idiots ruin it for everyone of us."

"I guess that's the way it is," Mr. Jakob nods. "If I understood the director correctly, we now have to consider this project a failure. There have simply been far too many incidents. It can't go on like this! And that is why you will have to wait outside the doors again from now on."

A collective murmur goes through the room.

"I don't know why you think you have to bring such expensive devices to school at all. After all, you are supposed to concentrate on your lessons," Mr. Jakob begins, while some of the pupils roll their eyes and Johannes tightens his grip around his smartphone, "but of course it is not acceptable that things - no matter what they are - change owners involuntarily!"



The seating arrangement is changed a bit. While that shouldn't happen in the middle of the school year, Konrad and Annika, the two - since a few weeks practically inseparable - lovebirds suddenly insist on having to sit next to each other from now on. This is however achieved without major problems, only Johannes is moved one seat further, whether he wants to or not. It doesn't seem to faze him much, however.

It remains to be seen whether it works out in the long run or if the two of them are perhaps too distracted with each other to be able to follow the lessons. Perhaps Konrad and Annika will have to be separated again?



And there is another difference compared to last week: The girl from before is standing uncertainly next to the door and does not know where to sit. She doesn't know anyone here and has no desire to start an argument by just sitting down 'somewhere'. Then she could quickly take away someone's seat. Better to wait for the others to sit down and then take an empty seat.

Just as it becomes apparent where empty chairs are to be had, a girl waves her over and then points to the seat next to them. Grateful that anyone at all takes any notice of her, she accepts the offer. Additionally: If she is 'invited', she may assume not to interfere there, right? Now she can only hope that her bench neighbor is nice... On the other hand, everything is better than being ignored and having to stand stupidly at the door.

The first step has been made and she has 'met' the first person in her new class. Even if she doesn't know her name yet, she decides to like her neighbor. The reason for this is simple: Even if a few eyes are fixed on her while she moves to her new seat, the girl is the only one who has taken active notice of her so far.

The sitting girl again waves to her: "Hi, I'm Jessica. Are you new here?"

"Yes, I am. Hello, I'm Leonie by the way..."

Jessica blinks once, twice. "That was a stupid question, wasn't it? I mean, I can see that you were not here on Friday..."

It's always nice to read a new story.

Write the way you feel comfortable. There is nothing wrong with having a slow-moving story, it gives the reader time to enjoy it rather than trying to keep track of everything that is going on.

Writing in one language and translating it can have interesting and confusing results, so I don't expect it to be perfect. Just being able to read another story from you is nice.

[...] and mentions braces more in passing, rather than all the time.

Nope, uh-uh, you couldn't be further from the truth.
I would've liked to strike some form of balance, but alas... I didn't achieve this.
No... in the first five chapters, braces are mentioned once. After that: All I do, is talk about braces.
Every single chapter...again and again

Chapter 02/22 - more information

Leonie can't find time for an answer because Mr. Jakob addresses the class. "Well, good morning again. I think, before we start class, there are some interesting news: And as even Johannes has noticed by now..."

"Haha, very funny," the boy protests, but doesn't keep his fingers off his phone. After all, the bell hasn't rung yet, so - strictly speaking - lessons haven't started yet.

That the adult in front of the class can make such a joke; that he is allowed to 'throw shade' on one of his students, shows how good the relationship between students and this teacher is. At the beginning of the year, Mr. Jakob suggested this as a kind of motto: »As long as you respect me, I'll respect you. As long as everything remains friendly and civil, we don't have to be stiff with each other. And then, we'll get along just fine, I think!« And so far, it works very well.

"Now that you've all noticed: Yes, there's someone new in class... Leonie, would you like to introduce yourself?" Then he has an idea: "Or would you rather prefer 'Miss Waldmann'?"

"Heavens no, 'Leonie' is just fine", the girl hastily shakes her head, a bit amused.

With all conversations fallen silent, all eyes are on her. Leonie gets up nervously and wants to go to the blackboard in front. In doing so, she overlooks her own school bag, one foot gets caught in the straps and she almost falls down. Only by vigorously flailing her arms does she manage not to go sprawling. With that, however, she wipes her pencil case off the table, the pens scatter over a large area.

"Oh bravo, I've already screwed that up royally," she grins broadly when she finally stands in front of the class with a bright red head. "Hmm, what can I say about myself..." She ponders for a moment. "You already heard my name, I'm Leonie. And I believe that first-name-basis is normal here?"

The majority of her classmate's nod.

"And as you have noticed: I'll never be a prima ballerina..."

And indeed, it would be difficult to seriously deny this: Spiteful fellows would describe her as 'chubby'; Leonie herself prefers the variant: »a little bit too small for my weight«. With the emphasis on 'a little bit'.

Shoulder-length straight brown hair; a nice and open face that seems to like to smile a lot. At least, that's what the pronounced dimples give away, that are currently showing on her face.

But her smile reveals something else as well: Leonie is one of only very few people in the 11th grade who still have to deal with braces. Most of them have long since completed their treatment. Or had never needed braces. Or would have needed braces, but never had them. Anyway: From what Leonie can see, in this class, she seems to be the only one still dealing with a permanent silver smile.

"Ah, thank you by the way," addressed to those who pick up her pens from the floor. Especially a girl with fire-red hair has to do the brunt of the work.

Leonie's cheeks are red, and her fingers are nervously playing with the hem of her T-shirt. "Hmm... what else... We - that is, my father and I - we only arrived here a few days ago. We haven't even had time to unpack everything, at home it still looks like a mess."

She sighs a little and grins. "But I'm used to that, we move quite often..."

"Why's that?" is dutifully asked when Leonie makes a dramatic pause.

"My father is a self-employed engineer. And one of the few specialists in the German-speaking region when it comes to electric cars. And you surely know that everything with 'electric' in its name is booming like crazy..." She shrugs her shoulders again. "Well, he's wanted everywhere, every company needs him..."

Leonie cannot - and does not want to - prevent that a distinct sense of pride in her father can be heard. However, it might have been piled on a little thick, because a few of her classmates roll their eyes.

"He can't complain about a lack of work," she continues unabashed. "But that doesn't only have advantages: As he is self-employed, he is only hired for specific projects. And because they usually last several weeks to a few months, he has to move there. Commuting across Germany every day for months on end just isn't possible. And if my father moves somewhere, of course I have to go with him."

"When the project is over, it's back to packing bags, because the next company is already waiting for him. As luck would have it, in most cases at the other end of Germany, of course!"

"Last school year, we moved twice because of that. So, I was in three different schools with three different curricula. And now we moved again in the middle of the year. This is already my second school this year." She laughs a little bitterly: "I now hope that I can at least stay at this school for the remainder of this year."

"But... why are you traveling around the country with your father at all? Don't you want to stay with your mother?" Monika asks.

"No, unfortunately that doesn't work" Leonie's smile fades a little. "It's a complicated thing. Let's just leave it at that, OK?"

"Yes, of course... I'm sorry. I didn't know...", Monika apologizes awkwardly.

"No problem! It was a legitimate question." Leonie nods affirmatively. "At least this time my father was able to arrange it so that we moved roughly halfway through the school year. Last week there were holidays in my old school. So, I had a few days to prepare for the move. Anyway, that means of course..."



The school gong interrupts her in the middle of a sentence. Johannes slips his smartphone into his school bag. He had made the mistake of waiting too long once and then had to live with a teacher taking his cell phone away from him for the rest of the day. That was a terrible time for him.

"Well, that's it from me for now. We can chat some more during recess..." Leonie walks back to her seat and smiles again gratefully at the red-headed girl, whose name she does not yet know, but who was responsible for picking up most of the pens.

Waiting for more!

Yes. the beginning of this story hast a lot of potential. 

Thanks. Let's hope, I don't squander this potential then 

Chapter 05/22 - Lunch break

What is there to say about a period that is even more boring than just plain boring? Just like the German teacher, Mr. Gründgen is an old man. And just as terribly boring. No, even more boring! And that... that is hard to do. But Mr. Gründgen achieves this easily. The children play tricks on the German teacher, while they sleep on the Geography teacher's period. Watching the Alps grow live is more interesting than listening to the teacher drone on about plate tectonics.

And so, the sixth hour approaches. To Leonie's astonishment - and not only to hers - Mr. Jakob sticks his head through the door: "Leonie, do you have a moment?"

The girl gets up and walks out the door with the class teacher, while Ms. Lessing, the English teacher, is already handing out the test. A boy complains loudly that he has forgotten his dictionary and therefore cannot take the test. Without a word, the teacher lends him a copy. This doesn't seem to be the first time this has happened.

Two minutes later, Leonie sits back at her place and turns over the test together with the other students (she was also lent a dictionary). She receives astonished looks from all sides. The bottom line seems to be that most people in the class had assumed that Leonie would of course not have to write any tests on her first day of school.

Well, even that last period is finally over, too. With a sigh, the teenagers pack their bags. Most of them set off to get a seat in the cafeteria.

The same boy complains again loudly: This time that the time was far too short and that he had only translated the text halfway. Johannes uses his cell phone for something 'productive' for the first time that day and looks up a few words in an online dictionary. This is when he has to realize that he has translated most of them incorrectly.



Leonie, on the other hand, grabs her new friend: "Jessica, can you show me the way to the staff room? I have to meet Mr. Jakob there to pick up my books now."

"Sure, can do!" Together they set off. "It's actually very simple: The staff room is exactly opposite the main entrance. When you enter school through the main entrance, you'll stand right in front of the teacher's sanctuary."

A gaggle of noisy lower school children run past them to the bus. After all, many of them have no afternoon classes yet and are thus released for today.

"I was amazed that you took the English test. And what did Mr. Jakob want, if I may ask..."

"Those things are connected," is Leonie's cryptic answer: "He wanted to tell me that I should take the English test. And that it will also be corrected, but not yet go down in my grades."

"Oh," nods Jessica. "To find out where you're standing, so to speak? That actually makes sense, I think."

"I think so too," nods Leonie.

"So, how did it go?"

"Can't complain; but of course, I don't know how strictly the teachers do correct here. We'll have to see!" In the meantime, they have arrived at the main entrance and thus also at the staff room. But Mr. Jakob is not there yet.

Jessica looks embarrassed: "Leonie, I'm almost starving... Would you mind if I find something to eat in the cafeteria? If I wait any longer, the line will be infinitely long..."

Leonie shakes her head: "No, it's okay, just go."

"Shall I get you something? A sandwich?"

"No, you don't need to, I've brought something for today. But in the next couple days, you can show me around."

"Deal", with that, the hungry girl has disappeared, and Leonie is left alone in front of the staff room. While she's waiting, she studies the large board next to the door on which all teachers are shown with photos. Let's see how long it takes before she can remember the names of those characters. However, she doesn't have to wait too long for her class teacher to show up.



Together, the two of them make their way to the basement. There, in a musty dark room, the books that all students have to use during class are stacked. It's freezing cold down here, after all, a room with books doesn't need to be heated. Since the school year is in full swing, there are of course only a few miserable remains of books left on the shelves.

And yet the teacher still heaps enough of them in Leonie's hands that she isn't even able to put all of them in her backpack. The fact that Mr. Jakob is supposedly one of the best teachers at the school, can be seen from the fact that he has thought along and now conjures up a paper bag in which the remaining books are stowed. Not exactly elegant, but better than nothing.

A look at the watch reveals that it is no longer worth looking for Jessica in the cafeteria. Not to mention that Leonie doesn't want to get into Jessica's personal space. She is happy and grateful that this morning the girl took pity on her and offered the seat next to her. She doesn't want to 'demand' too much all at once and maybe put Jessica off as a result.

Her bank-neighbor is quite nice indeed and if a friendship could actually develop between them, Leonie would be very glad. But if she besieges the girl from the very first moment, it will surely become too much for Jessica.

"Uh, Mr. Jakob", Leonie turns to the teacher, who was already in the process of walking away again to enjoy the rest of his lunch break: "Where can I find the Art rooms, please?"

"That's easy," he begins and then rattles down a litany of unfamiliar corridors and confusing changes of direction that Leonie gets big eyes. "Or you just follow me, and I'll show you" smiles the teacher.

In the end, it's not that complicated, because Leonie realizes that they are on their way to the Biology room (where she has been before). Except that they take a different turn one corridor before that.

There, in front of the classroom, which is of course locked, she's left alone. Another look at the clock. She still has a few minutes. Jessica had warned her not to leave anything unsupervised: If things disappear from backpacks in classrooms, stuff can all the easier disappear if she leaves the backpack IN FRONT OF the classroom. On the other hand, all those books are so heavy that she doesn't feel like carrying the heavy backpack around more than necessary.

She takes a few essentials out of her bag and then pulls out her smartphone. "Dad?..."

With this chapter, the "dry" braces-free streak is over. 

Chapter 07/22 - Free period, Part 1

With the end of Art class, Leonie's nervousness rises again. At least her cheeks have turned red when she swings the backpack onto her shoulders and picks up the paper bag.

The normally loud chat of the thirty or so teenagers is clearly hushed as they pour out of the room. Leonie deliberately takes her time and lets the others go first. As obtrusive as some of them turn to the newcomer, it is surprising that no one collides with the door frame.

"What shall we do now?" Leonie turns to Jessica, who is also staying behind. As the Physics lesson is canceled, they have a free period now. "Is there somewhere we can go to, or do we have to stand around in the hallway for an hour now?"

The addressed scratches her head. "We can go to the cafeteria. It's always open." She looks around. Some of the classmates have already set out on their own, but the majority of them linger behind. Just like bees around the beehive, they buzz around Leonie. Why they do this is obvious: The new girl suddenly became very interesting!

"Yes, let's go," asks Leonie with a red head. She has no desire whatsoever to stand around in the hallway and let herself being stared at. And so, they are on their way to the afternoon supervision in the cafeteria. As feared, the large group them. Leonie really doesn't like that, but what can she do? She can't very well say: »No, you can't come with us!« Maybe they can find a 'secluded' spot?

She can literally feel the stares of those around her boring into the back of her head. The people in front of and next to her keep throwing her 'furtive' glances that couldn't be more obvious. Of course, she can't see the stares of the people behind her, but she can 'feel' them. Sixth sense and all that.

Jessica tries to chat with her, but Leonie is distracted. While she looks straight ahead with red cheeks, her ears are pricked. It may be her imagination, but Leonie is of the opinion that between the whispers she can hear the word 'braces', 'headgear' and 'facebow' several times. All of that mixed with copious amounts of 'embarrassing', 'hideous' and '...I'd never...'.

But what she definitely did not imagine was one girl saying to another: "I'd rather be dead than come to school looking LIKE THAT!" and the other girl snickering. The girl probably didn't intend to be overheard; it's just that her voice is so loud and shrill that it easily pierces through the murmur.



Even if the distance between the Art room and the cafeteria is not that long, it wears on Leonie's nerves. She stares straight ahead, red-faced, her head pointing down.

Barrel bottom is reached when a boy unclips the strap of his shoulder bag and sneeringly hints that he wants to lead Leonie around like a horse on a halter. While waving the snap hook in front of Leonie's face, he laughs, "After all, she's already got a bridle!"

This is the final straw. She stops in mid-step and hisses at the 'joker': "What the fuck? Keep that thing away from me. That's not funny at all, you stupid dipshit!"

Then she sighs in frustration and says loudly, so everyone can hear her, "Yes, that's fuckin' headgear! Yes, I have to wear it! Yes, that thing is embarrassing as hell and yes, it makes me look like a dork. Believe me, I know well enough! Are you happy now?"

This outbreak does not go down well with her peers. Some are offended and are of the opinion that the new girl shouldn't get so upset. They didn't 'mean any harm' after all. They're still allowed to be curious, ain't they? And another part of her fellow students feels caught red-handed.

A few have the decency to awkwardly stammer an apology. Among them the girl with the shrill voice. At least something. The boy with the 'leash' however sulks and ignores Leonie completely. Either way, the majority of the group breaks away and continues on towards the cafeteria. This time without Leonie.

With lips pressed tightly together, the girl stops and stares after her classmates. Even now, more than one person turns back to Leonie.



"Idiots!" she murmurs silently and uncertainly. She has had enough! This is all much worse than she had thought, she doesn't want to go on anymore. She presses her lips together even tighter and blinks. »No, no crying!«. She doesn't want to wear her headgear anymore. She doesn't want to have to endure that any longer. She cannot... Her hands raise automatically and unconsciously.

"You're right about that. Idiots!" says a voice next to her, making Leonie start.

Her head jolts around. "Shit, you surprised me!" She had completely forgotten that not all of her classmates have disappeared. She's not alone.

"Are you OK?", Jessica looks at her sympathetically. Then she raises her voice and shouts after the disappearing group: "Get lost, idiots!" Several raised middle-fingers are the only answer. Turning back to Leonie, she repeats: "Are you OK?"

"More or less...", with a distinct undertone of »Do you really think I'm OK?«

"Is there anything I can do?"

Leonie shakes her head. "Thanks anyway."

Damn, she had imagined this to go completely different! She never imagined to be nearly reduced to tears. She had hoped for a very different outcome... And now THIS... Shit!

She could very well do without her stupid headgear right now. That didn't work out at all the way she had hoped. There's just one thing that prevents her from taking that thing out here-and-now:

It is already embarrassing being watched wearing headgear. But it would be even more embarrassing, being watched as she removes the strap and pulls the bow out of her mouth. And a restroom, where she could disappear into, isn't in sight either. It seems that - at least for the time being - she will have to wear her brace. At least until she can find a spot to remove her headgear unobserved. Her hands sink again.



Leonie looks around to see who else is staying with her.

"We don't have to go to the cafeteria. We could go to the library as well," suggests Jessica. "There, it would be, well, 'quieter'". With a nod of her head, she points to the group that is walking away.

"But it's so stuffy there. Besides, Ms. Diestel - that's the librarian - throws a fit every time you so much as whisper," Karina interjects.

"Do you have a better alternative?" snaps Jessica.

Only a handful of people stay with the new girl, the rest has scampered of towards the cafeteria. She knows Monika and Jessica a little, Christoph as well. She can't complain about those three. They had already been there during the recesses. The girl with the red hair, Karina is her name? A nice girl as well. But there are also other girls who are still unknown to her.

But as naturally as this group sticks around and as naturally as Jessica - who has meanwhile taken on the role of Leonie's 'protector' - allows them to stay, Leonie assumes that there is nothing wrong with these people. Presumably, her circle of friendship will consist of those classmates. It's strange how quickly sympathies are expressed and friendships are made.

"We could also see if one of the study rooms is free," suggests the girl with the divorced parents. Leonie sighs silently. It will take time for her to memorize the names. Until then, she will have to use creative descriptions for her classmates.

She doesn't know what a 'study room' may be, but it seems to be the best alternative for the others, so they set off.

Towards the cafeteria. That is, following the other group. As she was told earlier: At the very end of the school is the cafeteria. A school-wing that stands at right angles to the orientation of the rest of the school and now gives the long 'snaky' school a roughly L-shaped appearance.

A room almost as big as the main hall. Filled with dozens of tables and even more chairs. When the cafeteria is not being used to serve meals during lunch break, here students who are not currently in class are supervised.

The closer they get to the glass door that separates the large room from the rest of the school, the more restless Leonie becomes. In the back row of the art class, where everyone had to turn to look at her, she was able to stand wearing her headgear. Moments ago, being stared at from all sides in the group of her classmates, it was borderline challenging.

She absolutely does not care to make it even worse. She doesn't want to have to sit down in a room with potentially several dozen students and be stared at from all sides. Because that would undoubtedly be the consequence if she sat down there. She would be stared at from all sides! Whether she wants to or not.

Chapter 08/22 - About braces, Part 1

The conversation slows down a little. The others seem to be wondering what they can ask the newcomer without stepping on her toes too much.

"Tell me, folks, I'm nearly starving" Leonie grins sheepishly: "I haven't eaten anything yet."

"I thought, you said that you brought something for today," Jessica interjects. "I should have brought you along to the cafeteria after all."

"No, no, that's OK. I HAD told you, that I brought something. But I must have forgotten it at home..." Leonie shrugs her shoulders. "I probably won't get any food down there by now. But do you have something like a snack machine?"

»Yes, there is one«, is the answer. However, it is - how could it be otherwise - down in the cafeteria.

"Great", Leonie sighs, but since her stomach thinks it necessary to rumble audibly at that very moment, she gets up. Indecisive and insecure, she looks through the glass door down into the great hall below.

"Just take out your headgear," suggests the girl with the divorced parents.

Leonie is thinking feverishly with red cheeks. »That might not be a bad idea!« She has already raised one hand slightly. »On the other hand...« After a second or two she shakes her head and drops her hand again.

"Should I come with you?" Jessica asks.

"If you like", Leonie nods visibly relieved. "Thanks", and so the two of them leave the room together. They come back a few minutes later with a bottle of soda and a bag of gummy bears.

"Idiots!" is Jessica's answer as they re-enter the room. "Nothing but idiots" A kind of water-level-report to the others in the room, how the 'big crowd down there' was behaved.



Leonie's ears are glowing and her cheeks have also turned an intense red color. She presses her lips together and exhales in relief as the door closes behind her. "I'm really glad we didn't go down there..." Then she sighs, "I understand well enough that I'm standing out quite a lot with this thing. A that I look like a total dork.... Still..."

Jessica shakes her head. "That's not true. You don't look like a 'dork' at all!" She lets her piercing gaze wander around the room. The others hurry to nod affirmatively.

One could almost have believed them, had Karina not dropped the remark, "It isn't quite THAT bad..."

"'THAT bad'?" laughs Leonie, and Karina shrinks under Jessica's angry stare.

"I mean... You are attracting attention with it, of course," the girl tries to explain, putting her foot into it time after time. "But it's the normal consequence of wearing such a conspicuous brace and... it's not so bad and... and... you're not a 'dork' and... I'd better shut up now," she breaks off meekly.

"That's not true at all," Jessica tries to save the situation, but Leonie waves it off.

Her face shows a grin, partly amused, partly embarrassed. "I know I stand out like a sore thumb with this thing. Don't even try to sugarcoat it."

Jessica starts to make an attempt nonetheless but then breaks off. Probably because she recognized the futileness of any such attempt. She avoids looking in Leonie's direction.

Who smiles embarrassed. She's silent for a second or two as her finger runs along the metal bow. "I wish this thing was less conspicuous. That would make things a good bit easier.... Well, it is what it is!"



"That I snapped at my classmates earlier..." she continues with a red head. "I'm sorry about that by the way, I didn't mean to overreact!" She opens the bag of gummy bears and pushes it into the middle. Then she takes the first one.

Now it's up to Jessica to wave her hand: "It's their fault that you hissed at them."

And Karina - anxious to make up for her slip-up - adds: "It was pretty rude of them after all." That she is mimicking the others at that moment and can hardly take her eyes off Leonie's face is another matter.

"And Marcel, the complete idiot...", Jessica begins, but she doesn't finish the sentence.

"What about him?" Christoph wants to know.

"Was that the one who said that he suddenly had much better radio reception when I walked past him?"

"Exactly that one!" Jessica confirms with an annoyed look. The rest of them look embarrassed.

"He also was the one with the 'bridle and leash' earlier, wasn't he?", Leonie asks.

Jessica nods, embarrassed for her classmate.

Leonie shrugs her shoulders: "Yes, that was a bit stupid, but I've already gotten used to such comments!"

"Even if you've gotten used to them - which I don't really believe by the way, as red as you are - he should still have shut up!"

Leonie smiles gratefully. Apparently, she was right about liking this group. She takes another gummy bear; Karina takes one too, and soon a few others follow suit.

Chapter 09/22 - A secret

"May I ask something?"

"Sure, go ahead," Leonie nods. If only she could remember the names of her new classmates! That would make things a lot easier.

The girl sounds nervous, as if she shouldn't be asking, but she really needs to know the answer. "I'm a bit confused: You said that you had the... the 'brace' long enough to get used to stupid comments. And then you just said that everything is still embarrassing because you haven't had the bow for long. Somehow that doesn't quite fit together. What did I misunderstand?"

"I... uhh...," Leonie blushes again. But a second later, she adds: "Well spotted! But it's correct the way I said it. Both is true." She makes a dramatic pause and takes a long sip from the bottle: "I feel like a broken record because I keep saying the same sentence over and over, but: »It's a bit complicated with me!«"

Karina giggles. "I'm beginning to believe you... A lot of things seem to be complicated with you!" She catches an angry look from Jessica for that.

"My treatment is the same as the school I go to: It changes regularly." Leonie grins as if she made a good joke. "Every time I move, I not only go to a different school, but also to a different orthodontist."

She shrugs her shoulders: "It really wouldn't make sense if I had to continue to go to Kiel once a month just to have my braces adjusted. My father would of course have to drive me. Then we'd be on the road for two days: One day to drive to Kiel. Then stay in a hotel, go to the orthodontist the next morning and after that drive all the way back. Much too expensive. And FAR too much hassle! I would be absent from school for two days a month just because of my braces! And dad couldn't work during that time. That simply does not work!"

"So, no: Every time we move, I have to look for another orthodontist. And just like at school: Different curriculum - different treatment plan. I didn't have to wear the headgear with the orthodontist in Kiel. My new one, however, requires me to wear it again!"

"Again?"

Leonie nods with a sigh: "Yes. The stupid thing is following me around. One orthodontist wants me to wear it, the next doesn't care and the third insists that it does more harm than good. That is the reason why I have had it for a long time and still haven't worn it that long."

"Pretty confusing!"



"And - if I may ask - how long have you had the brace? Well... the... umm..." Instead of finishing the sentence, Karina, red-headed, runs her finger across her face and 'redraws' the metal bow. Her faux-pas now made her overly cautious.

"Extraoral brace? Headgear? Facebow? Bumper? Nerd accessory? Stupid shitty thing? You can call it whatever you want" Leonie grins and then cocks her head: "YOU", with a lot of emphasis on the word 'you' - "...may also call it 'bridle' for all I care. I know that YOU won't lead me around on a leash with it!" A few classmates snicker, a few roll their eyes.

"Let me think. I got this thing... two-and-a-half years ago." She thinks for a second: "No, stop, that's a lie. It's over three years by now! Nearly three-and-a-half years! Wow folks, time flies!"

Everyone's eyes widen: "THAT LONG?"

"Yes, but as I said: I actually had to WEAR it a lot less. I got it over three years ago and then wore it for a few months. Then we moved. The next orthodontist insisted that it's useless and that's why I put it away." She laughs: "No that I would've complained!"

"A few months later, we moved again. And then again and again. Always searching for new doctors. In between I had to wear it for a few more months, but the last doctors were all of the opinion that I didn't need it anymore. So, it's only function during the last year was to collect dust in the bedside drawer. Only last week I had to put it on again. That's why everything is new to me. New to me 'again'!"

"I still knew what wearing headgear felt like, but to be stared at from all sides is 'new' again and accordingly embarrassing, if you understand what I mean."



"It would be too easy if - for once - the doctors pulled together at the same end of the rope, wouldn't it?" Karina's answer seems to reflect the opinion of the others. "But how long have you had the braces then - the 'normal' glued-on ones? EVEN longer?"

"Just as long. I got the headgear the same day. Together with the braces." Then she laughs: "Except that of course the braces stayed in all the time." She sighs: "It's just not much use, as you can see!"

She bares her teeth and - for a moment - shows her silver smile in full. It becomes clear that her teeth are still crooked. "The doctors not only disagree about the stupid headgear, but apparently cannot even continue the normal treatment of their predecessor."

"OK, apparently not every doctor uses headgear. I can somewhat understand that some doctors simply don't know how to use it. But I thought that at least the normal glued-on braces are standard and that there isn't much to do wrong. But my orthodontists manage to do so regardless: One destroys what the other started."

"»Too many cooks spoil the broth!«" Jessica oracles.

"You're right about that!" Leonie agrees emphatically. "If this continues at that rate, then I'll have my braces for another two or even three years!"

"Well, I would have long since lost all will to go on with it!" the girl with the divorced parents speaks up again. Others nod in confirmation and Christoph adds: "I only had my braces for one year!"

"Lucky you! But I feel the same way! I don't always feel motivated either." confirms the girl with the silver bow. "But you know: I want straight and beautiful teeth. And I have poured enough effort into it already that I don't feel like stopping now."

Leonie rolls her eyes: "That's why I put this thing in today during my lunch break. I'm not keen on it, but it's the only way to get straight teeth.... You do understand me, right?"

The others nod more or less strongly. "I'm not on the home straight yet, but: I've got used to the braces, they don't bother me anymore. Even if I'm apparently the only one in class who still has braces, that's OK. I've also already gotten used to the idea of still having the braces after graduation.... As I said, they no longer bother me!" She snaps her finger against her metal bow again: "But THAT thing... that sucks and I'm glad when I finally get rid of it."

"I can very well believe that. To be honest, I could never have brought myself to wear it at all. Much less to school. I have to admire you somehow!" Jessica nods.



"That's how I see it too," agrees the girl with the divorced parents. Strangely enough, however, she has turned quite red in the meantime. That doesn't go unnoticed.

"What's the matter, Susi?"

Leonie listens up. Ah, learned another name again. So, her name is 'Susi', probably short for Susanne; let's see if she can remember that.

Meanwhile, the girl hesitates, but then at the end she comes out with the truth: "It's only that... that I would never have dared to wear my headgear here. I had worn it at home far too infrequent as it is. No wild horses would have made me wear it to school even once!"

It seems to Leonie as if this is the first time today that no one is looking at her. Instead, all stare at Susanne, Leonie included. Susanne has turned red as a lobster in the meantime. "Don't tell anyone. I'll kill y'all dead if I notice that one of you couldn't keep their mouth shut!"

"Try me", laughs Karina, "you're more than a head shorter than me!"

"Karina, you're risking a black eye!", another girl warns: "You know very well that Susanne is a Judo black belt..."

Apparently, Karina forgot this small detail: "Uhh..."

"I didn't even know that you had headgear," Jessica finally answers.

Susanne laughs: "Of course you didn't know, silly. As if I had ever told you about it! I was way too embarrassed!" Then she shrugs her shoulders and points in the direction of the newcomer: "But now, well, now I can admit that."

"Really now, Susi?", Karina laughs incredulously. And when the petite girl nods silently, Karina laughs even louder. "I don't believe it: Now two of us have such a 'bridle'." She looks around: "Come on, you guys, out with it: Who of you also had to wear headgear and didn't dare to admit it. Now's the time. Spill the beans..."

"Come on, Karina," Jessica hisses, but Karina just shrugs.

The others just shake their heads. It becomes clear that Leonie and Susanne are the only ones who had to make this experience.   

Leonie also got big eyes: "You really had headgear too? Do you still have it?"

"No, thank goodness! Not anymore!" Susanne shakes her head. "I've been rid of that thing for a few years now!"

Leonie blushes. "That was a stupid question... You don't have braces anymore, so you can't have headgear.... Sorry. I hadn't thought that through. It's just that it's incredibly rare that I meet someone who also has to - or had to - wear headgear!"

"No problem!" Susanne is visibly embarrassed to be the center of attention: "Damn, I shouldn't have said anything. Don't blab it! But yes, I had one. For a few months, until the orthodontist realized that I would never wear it 'enough'. And then she freed me from it."

She seems to be almost a little melancholic: "That's why I say that I admire you. Because I didn't manage to come to terms with it. Not even at home! Was too much of a hassle."

Then she laughs and nods exaggerated: "Let's just say that it was my dad's fault." She turns to Leonie: "I told you that my parents are divorced and that I live with mom and dad alternately."

Leonie nods, she can remember that.

"And mom is much stricter when it comes to things like that. When I was with her, I had to wear the stupid thing. With dad, I was always able to talk my way out of it. I have a sort of 'fool's freedom' there. I'm seldom enough with him anyway. He probably didn’t want to ruin the mood by reminding me."

"At some point the orthodontist realized that it wouldn't make any sense to continue. Not that I would have objected. But it couldn't have been that 'extremely important' anyway, because she managed to straighten my teeth even without it! At least straight enough so that I'm happy with the result!"

Chapter 11/22 - Even more information, Part 1

"Which orthodontist do you actually go to?"

Leonie hesitates. Long enough for her classmates to notice. "Shall we change the subject?" Jessica suggests.

"No, no! No problem. I just couldn't remember the name. I could only remember the one from Kiel. In the end, it doesn't matter anyway, because you don't know either of them. His name is Dr. Reinhard."

The others shake their heads. "No, doesn't mean anything to me, where is he? Not from around here?"

"Munich!"

That makes for raised eyebrows again: "That is quite a long way! Not as far as Kiel, but still... Why are you going to Munich? The doctors around here were not good enough for you?"

Leonie shrugs her shoulders. "I probably could have gone to them as well. But you know: We asked the doctor in Kiel if he could recommend someone. If possible, this time, I would have liked the new one to continue the old one's treatment and not to reinvent the wheel. And the one from Kiel recommended the one from Munich. So we went there!"

"Sure, that's not right around the corner. But still feasible. It will take a whole afternoon, but it's worth it to me if it makes the treatment faster!"

Jessica objects: "But if the one from Kiel didn't want headgear and the one from Munich does, then it's not the same treatment anymore, is it?"

"Probably not." Leonie blushes, "Let's put it this way: I wasn't exactly thrilled when Dr. Reinhard came up with the notion that I should wear my headgear again..."

She sighs: "BUT: To be honest, I've stopped worrying about it. There's no point in me getting upset anyway. It doesn't make the treatment go any faster. I'm just doing what Dr. Reinhard wants me to do now and I hope he, unlike his predecessors, knows what he's doing."

"And if he thinks that he has to start everything over, then there is nothing I can do about it anyway. He's the doctor, not me. My treatment has been completely unraveled so many times now that I've gotten used to each doctor doing their own thing. I just hope that I will get rid of the braces soon. Especially THIS thing", with that she again flicks her finger against the metal bow.

"We went there at the end of last week. We've only been living here for a good week after all. In other words: I've only had to wear this stupid thing for a few days. First time in over a year that I've had to wear it at all. It's been even longer since I've been seen wearing it by as many people as you. The vast majority of the time I had only worn it at home! That's why everything is [/i]'new and embarrassing'[/i] to me again and I have to get used to it again."

"So, if I react a little rashly sometimes - if I quickly disappear around the corner or something - then please don't take it amiss."

Universal head-shaking all around shows that everyone will be very considerate when it comes to the braces situation.



"By the way," says Karina again: "You said earlier that you are the only one who still has braces." She looks around questioningly: "But Christina also still has braces, or am I wrong?"

A few classmates nod: "Yes, she still has."

"OK. Good to know? If I may ask: Who is Christina? Sorry, but I haven't remembered all the names yet. "

Jessica waves it off: "You haven't met her yet. Christina is in 11B. And we are 11A. We have Sports together, but nothing else."

Leonie nods: "That's why I don't remember having seen anyone with braces! I think, I would have noticed!"

Karina starts: "I'm sure you would have. You and Christina are after all the only ones who after all this time still..."

Jessica interrupts her with a wave of her hand. "Gosh, Karina, you're really putting your foot in your mouth today. It doesn't matter at all if Leonie still has braces..."

"Don't remind me," Leonie sighs good-natured.

"But you still can't miss Christina", Christoph ends his silence: "You recognize her immediately when you see her." He feels exposed to the disapproving looks of several girls.

"You guys only have ONE thing in mind", chastises a girl.

Leonie doesn't understand and looks over to Jessica, who replies silently with "Double-D!"

"Not at all", the boy defends himself. "I didn't even imply that. All I wanted to say is, that she has recently dyed her hair gray, that is noticeable. I did not want to say anything else!"

"Ash blonde, not gray," retorts Karina. "I think that it looks awesome!" Others nod.

Christoph shrugs his shoulders: "Each to their own."



"Speaking of hair color," Leonie turns to Karina, "you don't have to hide either!"

The addressed runs a hand through her flame-red tousled hair. Her voice sounds half defensive and half aggressive as she asks, "So, what's your take on it?"

Leonie is surprised by the tone of her voice, so she takes a little more time to respond: "Well, it wouldn't suit me at all. But it fits you! I only know you like this, with red hair, but - to me - there's nothing wrong with it."

"Thank you!" Karina nods, visibly relieved. "You're clearly in the minority there. Most people don't like it, and a few people are, well, very vocal in their dislike..."

"Am NOT!", Jessica feels put on the spot. "You can dye your hair any color you want for all I care. I was just saying that I find this shade of red pretty 'aggressive', that's all!"

Karina shakes her head, "I wasn't talking about YOU at all, Jessy!" With an eloquent gesture, she points through the glass door into the large room. "'Pumuckl'," was the nicest thing I got to hear from them."

Comment: Pumuckl is a rather well-known German 1980s children-series about a kind but cheeky red-haired kobold

"Marcel?", Leonie has an idea who Karina is alluding to. And Karina's nod confirms her - not particularly good - opinion of that boy.

Karina runs her hand through her hair again. "But yes, Jessy, you're right. The color is much more vibrant than I originally wanted. But in the meantime, I have come to like it!"

"And since when have you had red hair?", Leonie wants to know.

"Since the week before last. So, not that long yet!"

"And before that? Have you had other hair colors?"

Karina shakes her head. "I dyed it blonde a few years ago, but it didn't suit me at all."

"I'm just surprised the school administration is going along with this," Leonie rummages in the gummy bear bag.

"What do you mean? What are they supposed to do? Even if the teachers don't like it, they can't very well forbid me!"

"Yes, they can," is Leonie's answer.

"No, they can't," Christoph shakes his head.

"Well, in Kiel, a girl once dyed her hair blue. And two days later she had to change her hair color again or else get reprimanded."

"Then the school rules in Kiel are stricter than here." is the opinion of the majority. "Something like that wouldn't happen here!"

Chapter 12/22 - End of school

Loud chair movements can be heard from the cafeteria. "We have to hurry up," Jessica urges her friend. "We now have Economy and Dr. Pfeiffer doesn't like it when we're late!"

"Doctor?" Leonie is amazed to hear this academic title in a normal school.

"That's a long story. I will tell you another time, right now we have to hurry!"

Leonie quickly stows the soda bottle into her backpack and they are on their way.

Just when they passed most of the doors on the balcony, a door right in front of them opens. And another one right behind them. And another one. Nearly two dozen people file of the rooms and want to go, where Leonie is standing in this very moment.

»Oh shit.« Leonie thinks. »That's the last thing I need: More people that haven't seen me with headgear. More being stared at«. She cannot turn back into 'their' room to take her brace out there. The people behind her are already pushing towards the exit. There is only one solution: To be faster than the others and be on the stairs first. Then she can 'escape'.

With a fast stride she presses on:  Along the balcony, down the stairs and... OH FUCK! Right into the group of others who are also leaving the cafeteria.

They left so hastily; Jessica had called for a quick departure so suddenly that Leonie didn't even realize what was about to happen. She didn't realize that not only the small group she had spent the last hour with would be leaving the cafeteria.

But also the students who had occupied the neighboring study-rooms. And not only them, but also most of the people who were sitting downstairs in the large room.

Only now, as Leonie is walking down the stairs, she realizes that she is about to find herself in a group of several dozen people. That she is about to meet up with the rest of her classmates. Those people that she had snapped at her barely an hour ago for being too pushy. And that she has to walk among them through the entire school!

Shit! Leonie would have liked to take out her headgear right then and there. But that's not possible on the stairs. There are too many people pushing down the stairs for her to just stop moving for a few seconds. If she even tried to slow down now, she would've been pushed down the stairs! And she definitely doesn't want to take her headgear out when she jerkily moves down the stairs, constantly bumping into other people! Much too dangerous! The only option: To try to break out of the group down there as quickly as possible. And to hope that during this time there won't be too many stupid comments!

But things were to turn out differently: Perhaps the last hour has given the rest of the class enough time to 'familiarize' them with the thought of a classmate wearing headgear. Or everyone is tired and just wants to see the day end. Or Leonie's earlier rebuke still lingers? Or she just plain doesn't notice it while they quickly head back to the upper-class school wing.

In any case, it seems to her that she feels less glances directed at herself and less whispering reaching her ear. If that were really the case, it would be an excellent start to her braces school career. Bit of a rough start, but it turned out fine in the end?



Economy itself is uneventful again. With the exception that this is probably the only teacher who does not even notic that his class has grown by one pupil. He is droning on about some economic principles while he is clearly not interested in his students in the slightest.

Leonie wonders why the teacher has a doctor's degree and still teaches at a 'normal' school. Was he ambitious enough to want to have a doctor's degree? Did he first work at a university and then he voluntarily decided to teach teenagers instead? Or was it not at all voluntary and he was transferred for disciplinary reasons? She might be onto something there. It is very obvious after all that Dr. Pfeiffer doesn't enjoy having to hold classes here at all.

Leonie wants to know what's up with this man in front of the class. Jessica will have to tell her. By now there are several things that Leonie wants to know more about.

She wants to know what Dr. Pfeiffer is all about. Mr. Jakob is nice; the rest of the class seems pretty excited about him. She wants to know more about him as well.

She wants to know how to eat lunch in the cafeteria. After all, Jessica was going to show her in the coming days. She also wants to know whether there are other important topics in this school she should know about.

She wants to know more about her classmates, especially about the people in 'her group'. And especially Jessica. She is a very nice girl.

And fourth - if she's honest, she'd also like to learn more about Susanne and her headgear past. It's only logical that she's interested in this topic.



During the last lesson of the day, Leonie has to accept, that her fellow students have sadly NOT yet come to terms with the fact that she has a metal bow strapped around her face. Since she is sitting next to Jessica again - in the front half of the classroom - there are now enough people around her who can throw more or less conspicuous glances at her without her noticing.

Because now she would have to turn around to catch the others staring. And of course, that will never happen. At the same time, however, the hair on the back of her neck keeps rising. For Leonie that's an unmistakable sign that someone is watching her. Sixth sense and such!

When the bell rings for the last time that day, everyone breathes a sigh of relief.



The girl who wants to accompany her to the bus approaches her. "Ready?"

"Can I rush to the toilet before we go?" Leonie asks. And since there is more than enough time, she disappears. She comes back a short time later. However, compared to the girl who disappeared behind the toilet door, there is now a significant difference:

The silver metal bow has disappeared. Leonie's cheeks are flushed when she walks back to the group of her newly-found friends. She need not guess why she is now eyed again in amazement.

"Enough for today," she grins. "I've achieved enough for the first day, I should think. I don't want to deal with a whole busload of people who haven't seen me with headgear yet." She shrugs her shoulders: "If it got out-of-hand HERE, I could've just walked away. I can't - of course - just jump out of the bus if I can't cope with the stares anymore!"

With that, they are on their way. First, Jessica says goodbye: "I live here in Obereisenbach. In THAT direction", she points in the direction opposite the bus stop. "See you tomorrow."

Leonie nods and then grins awkwardly: "Thanks for everything. It was a pleasure meeting you."

A few more people live in walking distance and break away one after the other. Some walk towards the bus-stop with Leonie. The group around her is getting smaller and smaller however. When they finally stand at that part of the bus stop where [/i]'her'[/i] bus will depart from, there is only the one girl with her.

"We're waiting for number 5981." The girl explains.

"I'm not sure whether I can remember that number," doubts Leonie.

"But it's important! And DO take care to board number '5981' and NOT '5918'. Otherwise, you won't get off in Thalfeld, but in Hermershausen. That is a completely different direction. Ask me how I know that!" The girl laughs. "They have a nice open air swimming pool there. In the summer one might go there after school, but now you definitely don't want to!" Leonie shivers at the mere thought of having to go swimming in these freezing temperatures.

"The stupid thing is, that BOTH 5981 and 5918 stop right here. So, DO take care!"

"Oh", Leonie oracles.

"I'm not going all the way to Thalfeld, I have to get off a few stops before you, but that's not bad: Thalfeld only has one stop, right at the village square."

The girl thinks for a few seconds, "Um, when you see a squeaky green house at the end of a village, you know that Thalfeld is next." Then she smiles. "And when you see an orange house, you know that you're sitting in the bus to Hermershausen."



The bus is much emptier than Leonie had thought. Still, she doesn't regret her decision to take out her headgear. She has really achieved enough on the first day of school. One shouldn't try to do too much.

The way home unfolds without any problems. She chats with her classmate until the girl has to leave. Leonie presses the STOP-signal in the bus when she sees the green house and gets off shortly afterwards in her new home. Of course, she is the only one to exit the bus. She pulls out her smartphone, switches to Google Maps and realizes that she has to walk only three streets. The village is small, after all.

It is slowly getting dark and thus even colder than it already is.

She calls her father: "Dad, I'll be home soon!"

Wow!  I only just got caught up on this one.  I love the detail.  I can't help wondering if maybe she would not have been better to have shown up at first at school in headgear, rather than suddenly in the afternoon.  Anyway, I love the details about her treatment and impacts from moving and how she handled the wear requirements.

Chapter 15/22 - Family ties

Now that it is clear that there is nothing to worry about, the girl can calmly devote herself again to building her desk. She's done soon after. Her father helps put her desk next to his own. Both take a few steps back. Leonie shakes her head: "That looks so wrong. That I should sit here right next to you is so strange! I'll do my homework and you work right next to me."

The father smiles dryly: "That proves that you are old enough now to be able to work with me!"

"Ough, dad", Leonie rolls her eyes: "You won't be a good joke-teller ever!" She nods emphatically: "I probably won't be able to concentrate on my homework because you're always distracting me!"

"I'M distracting YOU? That's steep!" He laughs: "I can already see it coming: »Dad, can you help me?«, »Dad, I don't understand that«, »Dad, do you know this-or-that?«, »Dad, may I...«"

Laughing, Leonie nudges him in the side: "Won't happen!"



The two have no choice but to put their desks right next to each other: The rooms are cut so strangely that there is absolutely no room for a desk in Leonie's small bedroom.

Actually, until recently, her bedroom was not even a bedroom, but a storage closet. There was, when they arrived, only one room with beds in it. But of course it is not acceptable for father and daughter to sleep in the same room. And certainly not in the same double bed! So, without further ado, the storeroom was converted into the children's bedroom and one of the beds was put in there.

"There were such nice flats on the market around here," the father had sighed when he had shown Leonie around the new place for the first time, "but no one wanted to rent to me as soon as they found out we're only staying for a few months. I was even willing to pay more than the asking price, but no.... Everyone always wants long-term tenants. So, this is the best I could find!"

"We'll manage to get the whole thing homely," Leonie had said confidently. And they did indeed manage. At least partially.

Apart from the bed and a small wardrobe - from IKEA of course - almost nothing fits in Leonie's room. Just a small bedside table, which she will have to assemble later. But definitely no desk.

The same is true for her father's bedroom, by the way. Just big enough for two beds and a wardrobe. Now that one bed has been removed, maybe the desk would actually fit in. But it would have to stand so stupidly because of the sloping walls that there would be no more room for the chair. Then the father would have to sit on the edge of the bed while working, which is not very sensible either.

In other words, the only place where there is room for two desks is in the living room. But only if all the rest of the furniture is rearranged. They had done that in the last few days and had also set up the father's desk so that he could start working. Now that some moving boxes - which had previously been on Leonie's side - had been emptied, there is finally room to put her desk next to his.



"I only put the headgear on in the afternoon. During lunch break. After I called you." After the nervousness has abated, Leonie can tell him what she did at school today.

The father looks astonished: "If I am to be honest, I expected that you would wear it all day, starting with the first period. Wasn't that what you wanted to do? I can remember you telling me that you even wanted to enter school wearing headgear."

His daughter's cheeks redden. "Well, actually yes. I wanted to do that. After you dropped me off, I had already reached for the bag..." She shrugs her shoulders, "But then I didn't dare. I didn't want to run into the fifth-graders like that! Besides, I didn't know what the others in my class were like. If it had been a class full of as**oles, I wouldn't have put it on in the afternoon either."

"Wise decision."

"Are you making fun of me, dad?" Leonie threatens with the screwdriver. In the meantime, she has taken on her floor lamp. Without it, her desk would be a little too dark to be able to study meaningfully without getting a headache.

"Not at all. I mean it the way I say it."

"I was so nervous that I felt almost sick when I walked through the empty hallways. But after lunch break, we had a double period of Art. And I was sitting in the very back row where nobody was able to look at me... so I had some time getting used to it all."

"After all, it was the first time ever that so many people saw me with that thing on! And the fact that they were all future classmates made things even worse. I was glad to have found a seat in the last row. Because now, everyone had to turn around to face me!"

"And did they?" asks the father.

"Unfortunately, yes," sighs his daughter. "Well, it's kind of understandable. I know I'm standing out with this thing. But then the Art teacher almost threw a tantrum and then it got better. Well... at least until the end of the Art lesson. I already told you what stupid jokes followed..."



The connection between the two is a little difficult to describe. They certainly have a good relationship with one another; just like so many other fathers also have good relationships with their daughters. So far, not too unusual.

However, there is one thing that distinguishes Leonie and her father from other families: Both of them had to witness how the third part of them - beloved mother and adored wife - was carried to her grave because a drunk idiot had lost control over his car. This decisive experience had welded the two closer together. All the more so since there were almost no other family members who could have consoled and given comfort. And having to live 'through grief and loss' together for a few years finally made them into what they are now:

An inseparable father-daughter team. It's hard to describe how they feel for each other. The words 'open' and 'heartfelt' are probably best. For both of them it is the most important thing for the other side to be happy.

After the death of his adored wife, he threw himself into his work. After two years however, he could no longer stand to stay 'at home'. And so, he gave up his old job and started his own business as a consulting specialist. Now he is touring Germany as a consultant and industry expert and offers his know-how to anyone who is willing to pay for it. If he is not constantly busy, he quickly becomes restless and 'brooding'.

That's why Leonie is willing to accompany her father everywhere. She wants to see him happy and not borderline depressed. After all, he's all she has left. The 'good times' with the [/i]'entire'[/i] family were over five years ago. Nothing and nobody will bring them back. But that is exactly why it is all the more important, the girl thinks, that they now make their time as good as possible.

And if she has to be a little considerate of her father in the process, then that's a price she'll be happy to pay. Because she gets a lot more in return.

Her father feels the same way. However, he is also aware that he is forcing his daughter to make sacrifices. That is why he tries to make life as comfortable as possible for his daughter in all things that are in his power.

This does not mean to put one's own interests completely behind the others, but to find a way how both can achieve their goals.

In other words, they both try to take the other side for who they are. To be open and honest with one another. To accept that nobody is perfect. To live with each other's quirks. To take part in the life of the other.

However you want to phrase it, the two stick together.



"What are you doing tomorrow? Do you have to go back to your employer, or have they given you leave?"

The father sighs: "We'll have to wait and see. At least I plan on being here tomorrow and to prepare some things. They sent me documents yesterday. Yesterday! On a Sunday! I had a look at it this morning." He takes off his glasses and massages the bridge of his nose. "Don't tell anyone, but if all of their records look like this, it might end up being a pretty short job."

"Why's that?"

"By now, you - simply by virtue of being my daughter - just might have more knowledge of electromobility than the company I'm supposed to be working for over the course the next months. At least it seems to me like that. Admittedly, it's not a global company, just a smallish supplier. Still: if they really are serious about the documents they sent me, I first have to teach them the basics." He shakes his head: "And if they don't want to see that I'm right, the whole project is doomed from the start. And then, well, then they don't need me anymore. But then they don't need to entertain hopes to gain a foothold in e-mobility!"

"So that means: It may be that we have to move again in a month?" Leonie looks scared and annoyed at her father. That was EXACTELY what she had secretly feared.

"No, child, that won't happen!" The father leans against his table and looks directly at his daughter. He sounds serious and honest. "I promised you that. We'll stay here for the rest of the school year. No matter what my work with this company does, we'll stay here."

Leonie nods in relief. That sounds a lot better. At the beginning of the year, they had reached an agreement: He himself had realized that the last year was far too chaotic for his daughter: two moves in the middle of the school year - three different schools - that was just too much. While he himself does not have many ties anymore, his daughter does! Not to mention that not only she had to deal with three different curricula, but she also had to meet new people and make new friends three times!

That is why he had promised her during the last summer vacation that he would change jobs no more than once per school year, as long as she was still going to school. And that was what he had done a few weeks ago; the 'target' has thus been met. Fortunately, he has just confirmed that he intends to keep his promise. At least something!

"But you can't sit around without work for months." Leonie knows her father well enough: he earns enough money not to have to rely on a job for these months. The problem lies elsewhere: he couldn't stand sitting around doing nothing without getting restless. And Leonie, on the other hand, would not be able to endure a pacing father for long.

"I wouldn't either," smiles the father. "I would find something to do. If necessary, I could probably move the job with the next company forward. They are near Frankfurt, so I couldn't travel there often, but a lot can be done online. I would find something that can be done without having to move. Of course, I would prefer for my clients to turn out to be capable people after all. Be it as it may: You don't have to worry: we will stay here for the remainder of the school year!"

Chapter 16a/22 - Revelations, Part 2

After dinner, the father goes back into the living room. He has to work through a few more documents before more calls from his clients come in tomorrow. He has to be prepared for that.

He didn't expect Leonie to come into the living room a few minutes later and sit listlessly on the floor next to her half-assembled bedside table.

The father nods to himself: The documents can wait until tomorrow, now something else is clearly more important! His daughter needs his attention now!

"How will you get to school tomorrow morning?" he asks. She hadn't expected to be spoken to and now flinches. "Have you found out what time the busses leave Thalfeld tomorrow?"

Leonie is wide-eyed: "That... I completely forgot about that. I really have to do that now." She makes an effort to get up, since she had left her cell phone in her room. "Thanks for reminding me!"

"I can drive you again tomorrow," her father suggests, but Leonie shakes her head.

"You don't have to. I'm sure you have better things to do... Tomorrow is probably the last time you'll be able to sleep in."

"I'm just offering; I won't force it on you."

Leonie disappears into her room and comes back a short time later with her cell phone. But she has a hard time finding the information she needs. Especially because she has already forgotten - as she had feared - the number of the bus line. She sighs in annoyance: "Then I'll just have to stand at the bus stop extra early tomorrow and wait for the bus..."

"My offer stands," her father repeats.

"I know, Dad, I know," Leonie shakes her head. "I'll have to manage on my own, though. I can't always rely on you..."

"Well, someone is in a particularly good mood," jokes her father.

Leonie just shrugs her shoulders. "I'm tired, the day was exhausting!"



Leonie's progress at the bedside table is barely noticeable when the father nods to himself a few minutes later, "I know you don't want to talk about it, child, but it's really important, that we come to a solution. What should we do about your treatment? Can you tell me?"

"Can't we put this off until tomorrow? Or the day after? Or even better, next year?"

The father shakes his head, "One day more or less won't matter, but we don't have much time left."

"Why not?"

"Do you remember? The letter was sent to our old address in Kiel and then redirected here. In other words, the letter has been on the road for quite a few days already. We don't have that much time left before the health insurance expects an answer. If you want, we can postpone it until tomorrow. Or the day after. But we have to deal with it THIS week." He thinks for a moment: "Would you like to tell me what your problem is?"

"No problem!", Leonie's voice sounds thin and low.

"What then?"

She silently shrugs her shoulders. A minute passes with Leonie staring into empty space. Then she asks almost breathlessly: "Should... should I stop?"

He looks astonished: "Where does that come from now? For all I care you can do what you want. If you want to continue treatment, you can of course do that. And if you want to stop, you also have my blessing. I don't want to talk you into something; it's your treatment after all. And - I think - you know best what you want. Why do you think that you should stop?"

"I... I didn't mean the treatment itself..." Leonie is still playing with the screwdriver, her face is averted, and her voice sounds fragile and thin: "You... you know, what I'm talking about!"

The father nods. If Leonie had looked at him, she would have been able to read in his face, »All right, my little darling daughter is finally ready to talk about it?« Out loud, however, he says, "I can hazard a guess. But I ask again: Why do you think you have to stop? After all, I gave you my promise that you could do whatever you want..."

"Sure, but..." Leonie shrugs her shoulders.

"Explain it to me, child. Why do you think you should stop?"

"Because... because it's not 'normal'. Because I shouldn't do it? Because you're embarrassed?"

"What am I supposed to be embarrassed about?"

Instead of answering, she silently points to the place where the metal bow spanned around her face until just recently. "A daughter who wears something like this even though she doesn't have to, that's..."

He interrupts her resolutely: "I hope you know that you're talking 'whisked dog shite' now, right?"

She stares at her father with wide eyes.

He shrugs his shoulders: "That's what you youngsters say, isn't it?"

Leonie holds both hands in front of her mouth as she bursts out laughing. She can only shake her head, she can't even utter a simple 'no'. Breathing without coughing is enough of a task.

"Well then, child. The good mood is back?"

The laughter dies as quickly as it came. Leonie presses her lips together.

"I hope you know that I love you, just as you are."

"Yes, but if it were 'different', it would be easier for you, wouldn't it?" Barely a whisper, her voice strained to the point of breaking. "If I were different..."

That's a bit of a longer chapter, but I don't want to split it.

Chapter 18/22 - The truth

They walk side by side in silence again. In the distance a car drives by; behind a window, the TV is flickering, but otherwise it's quiet.

But it is exactly this silence, that starts to weigh on her nerves. And finally, Leonie feels like she has to say something. The longer they walk side-by-side in silence, the more restless she becomes. Until she can stand it no longer: "You know, dad, I'm a little scared of the next orthodontist."

"Why's that?"

"Well, because I haven't been to a doctor in such a long time. Half a year...  long enough that even the health insurance is contacting us! I'm afraid he'll give me a hard time about it!"

"I don't think he's going to chastise you. Sure, he will ask you why you took such a long break. You'll have to expect that, but that's about it. While we're at it: Would you tell me WHY this pause has become so long?"

"Because...", Leonie hesitates, "...because Dr. Reinhard was a stupid git. That really put me off for a while!"

He looks at his daughter in the light of a streetlamp. "I can understand that. But somehow, I have a feeling that's not all. Won't you tell me?"

But his daughter does not answer. She is busy blowing white clouds into the air.

"You know that you can tell me everything, Leonie? If you want to tell me something, then I'll be there for you, no matter what it's about."

"I know, I know," but there is still no answer.

"Does it have something to do with you liking braces?"



His daughter stops dead in her tracks. She looks at him wide-eyed and scared. Then she looks down, ashamed, "You think I'm mad!?"

He shakes his head. "Where did you get that stupid idea?"

She just shrugs her shoulders.

"I'll tell you something, child. But be so kind and listen to me first, OK?"

Leonie nods uncertainly. So, there it is! The conversation he didn't want to have with her in the living room at home. The reproaches, the moral sermon, the I-am-so-disappointed-by-you. She clenches her hands into fists. "It's so embarrassing...", directed at no one in particular. Especially not at her father, whom she takes great pain to ignore.

And yet - of course - he heard. "This conversation isn't easy for either of us, child," is his gentle reply. "But I think it's high time we addressed this issue, don't you think so too?"

A silent shrug is all he gets from his daughter.

"It's not going to get any easier if we ignore it any longer. You don't need to answer now; neither 'yes' nor 'no' nor anything else, Leonie. Just listen to me and then think about it, OK?"

Even though she nods, it is clear that Leonie would give a lot to be able to escape this conversation.



"So... You have a 'preference' for braces. Many people have some kind of 'preference'." He smiles: "Can you still remember your Uncle Robert? And how he had always enjoyed riding his motorcycles?"

Leonie nods cautiously. She has no idea what her father is getting at.

He continues: "You could say that he had a preference for motorcycling."

Leonie looks at her father as if he's gone mad. "That's something COMPLETELY different!", she murmurs nearly inaudible.

"Granted, not every 'preference' is the same. With Robert it was an intensely pursued hobby," he nods. "Nevertheless: He had a lot of fun riding his motorcycles. And you... You have fun wearing your braces."

Leonie looks away.

"Are you ashamed, child?"

Leonie nods silently.

"Why? Tell me: Did you feel embarrassed listening to Robert talk about his motorcycle rides?"

Leonie shakes her head: "Why should I? It was really interesting. If I had been old enough back then, I might even have made my motorcycle license because of it. Uncle Robert was always good at telling stories."

"Why are you embarrassed about one and not the other?" he asks her. "Where's the difference?"

At first Leonie doesn't answer. Then, with little more than a whisper: "This braces-thing... that's not normal!"

"Says who, child?"

His daughter doesn't answer.

"What do you think: Maybe the difference is that society accepts motorcycling as a hobby? And that braces are seen more as a necessary evil. A lot of people might therefore have a hard time understanding how something like that can be fun?"

Leonie's ears are burning. If they had been at home in their apartment, she probably would now have fled to her room. But she can't just run away here. Maybe that's why her father has insisted on taking this stroll? Because he wanted to make sure that she doesn't abscond halfway through?

"Would you agree with me when I say: The main difference between a 'harmless hobby' and 'unnatural behavior' is whether society accepts what you do?"

His daughter nods. And her lips become even thinner.

"In other words: Whether you are 'crazy' always depends on the point of view of the person who makes this 'diagnosis'. Some would say that you're quite normal. Others would call you quirky. Still others would say that you're indeed a nutcase." He pauses for effect: "And the expert would probably call it a fetish!"

Leonie shakes her head, ashamed of herself. However, the father continues: "Yes, Leonie, I think we may as well call it that." With a gentle smile, he looks down at his daughter, who is standing next to him:

Hands in her coat pockets, head turned to one side. She doesn't want to look at her father now. A few seconds pass.

"You disagree?" he then asks.

Her reply consists of a mixture of a nod, a shake of the head and a shrug.

"Even if we do call your relationship with braces a 'fetish', you don't need to take that to heart. Because having a fetish isn't a bad thing."

Leonie snorts through clenched teeth, a white cloud rises to the sky.

"Yes, I certainly mean that," affirms the father, "A fetish is nothing bad, even if people are made to believe that all the time!" He wants to put an arm around his daughter's shoulders, but she flinches. The father feels a little helpless; he hadn't expected that and now he doesn't know, what to do.

"A lot of people have some sort of 'preference'. Many of those are accepted by society as 'harmless hobbies'. But if not... Then it doesn't matter whether you call it [ i]'sexual preference'[/i], 'extravagance', 'kink' or 'fetish' or something else. Most people have a hard time admitting that they have SUCH a preference. Precisely because the subject is so extremely stigmatized."

"'Stig...' what?" Leonie blurts out before she can stop herself.

"'Stigmatized': Laden with prejudices," explains the father. "Mostly with false prejudices. A fetish really is nothing bad, child, you can believe me."

"Then why is it so 'stigma...' You know what I mean? Why?"

The father sighs: "People are dumb, Leonie. They're afraid of things they don't understand. And people without a fetish find it difficult to understand what drives people with such preferences. And because they can't understand it, they are afraid of it. They demonize it. And that - of course - makes it extremely difficult for people with fetishes to admit that they have something that others consider 'deviant' and 'perverted'."

Leonie presses her lips together.

"If people would just be open and honest with each other, everyone would realize that the 'others' are just normal people as well. People just like you and me."

Leonie shakes her head.

"Do you not want to believe me, child? Or can you not?"

Now the girl laughs: "Oh, dad, I want to believe you, I really do! I just have a hard time with the 'just normal people' part!"

"Oh child, don't you think the earth would be a damn bleak place if everyone was 'perfectly normal'?"

"Right now, I'm wishing for it..."

"Then you may as well stop wishing for that again now."



Then he adds: "However, if I may say so: Of course, not everyone has a soft spot for braces like you do."

Leonie rolls her eyes.

"There are 'other topics' that are much more well-known and 'popular': Foot fetish. Latex-and-leather. Bondage. S/M. Just to name a few."

Leonie's eyes widen as she hears what her father is saying.

"Are you embarrassed, child?" he asks softly.

"Of course! I... I NEVER expected that we would talk about something like THAT!"

"You have problems with people who have a fetish?"

"No, I don't." She shakes her head hastily, "What you mentioned before: Bondage and all that stuff..." She shrugs: "That's not my cup of tea, but if someone likes it: »More power to them...«"

For a short moment, she smiles broadly: "On the other hand: A pretty girl in tight leather pants: Yes, I'd definitely like that..."



He nods: "You came out to me last year that you like girls. Would you tell me: Are you ashamed of not being straight?"

Slowly Leonie shakes her head: "I'm surely not going to tell every soul on this planet. There are still enough as**oles around that cannot accept that. But no... I'm not ashamed of that. Not anymore at least. I came to accept it."

He smiles: "Do you realize, what you just said? You called those people who cannot accept your life-choices »as**oles«. As in: »It's those people - and not ME - who have to change their views!« But when it comes to your fetish, you want to hide under a rock..."

Leonie looks to the side: "That's different!"

"Is it really? Sure: Being gay isn't the same as having a fetish, I give you that. You really must not say that those are the same! On the other hand: The LGBT-people had - and still HAVE - to fight, not to be regarded as 'deviant'. Just as people with fetishes have to! Over the past decades however, society slowly changed. 'Being gay' is now in the process of being accepted by society, but still there is backlash."

"If you look at it from this side, child: Having a fetish and not-being-hetero were once both regarded as 'deviant'. One of them is finally more-or-less accepted. Don't you think that this shines a ray of hope on the fact, that the other will become more acceptable over time as well?"

His daughter doesn't answer at once. "Maybe... but other people still HAVE a problem with fetishes. Dad, you said that yourself just now. What do I know: Maybe it will change in thirty or fifty years. But that doesn't help me NOW!"

"Doesn't that make you think that maybe having a fetish - just like being gay - is nothing to be ashamed of?", he asks.



Leonie shakes her head. "I know, what you're trying to say. I just... I just can't...", she shrugs her shoulders. "I'm not allowed to judge!"

"Of course you're allowed," he contradicts. "You are just as much a part of this society as anyone else. You may judge others just as they judge you."

"Yes, but..."

He smiles: "I have the feeling that your views on that matter are significantly more open than many others."

"It's THEIR life and not mine. They should do what makes them happy. No, I don't have a problem with other people being gay or trans or whatever. Or with them having a fetish. Really not." And then much quieter: "I have a problem with ME having one!"

"But if you give other people permission to be happy in their own way, why do you not allow that yourself?"

Leonie shrugs. She does not find an answer to this question. "I haven't thought about that yet," she has to admit. But at the same time, it's clear that she still has trouble accepting that she's 'different'.

"I've already told you that you don't have to be ashamed. That there's nothing bad about it and that everything is frowned upon because people are too stupid to understand it."

"It's easy for you to say, dad!" Leonie exclaims. "You have no idea what..." She breaks off.

"Tell me, child: why don't you have a problem if other people have a fetish, but you can't accept it for yourself?"

Leonie does not answer.

"Uncle Robert drove his motorcycle nearly everywhere. He had four of five of them. He even repaired and modded them himself. He was more involved in his hobby than many other people. So much so that some people looked at him askance."

Her favorite uncle being criticized makes Leonie start in anger: "So what? What's so bad about driving motorcycles? Nothing at all!"

"What's so bad about wearing braces and enjoying the experience?", her father asks softly.

Leonie looks at him with wide-open eyes. She doesn't find an answer. "Why... why are you trying so hard to convince me that..." she shrugs: "... that I... don't have a 'problem'?"

"Because you don't. And because I think that it would be stupid if you beat yourself up over something that doesn't warrant that."

A few seconds pass. Then a few more. Leonie just looks straight ahead.

"We don't have to find the answer to every single question here-and-now," he partially closes the topic. "Just think about it, child!"



For a few seconds, they stand side by side in silence. Leonie blushes and turns her head even further away, "You seem to know exactly what I... what I feel and..." She licks her lips. "You know: What... What 'makes me tick'!"

"I can guess," is his soft reply.

"That's so embarrassing!" in barely more than a whisper.



"I'm not Wikipedia, you can look up everything there much better than I could ever explain it to you. Now let me just say two things:"

He reaches out for his daughter. This time, Leonie allows him to take her into his arms. Then he bends his knees a little so that he can look his daughter directly in the eyes. Leonie sinks her hands - trembling with cold and nervousness - even deeper into her coat pockets.

She no longer manages to escape his eyes. Now... here it comes. What... What is her father going to say? Is it going to be very bad? She presses her lips together.

"»A fetish is nothing bad« and »I don't judge you«. You are my daughter and I love you with all my heart. Just the way you are!"

Leonie sniffs, but not because of the cold. She blinks several times.



A few seconds pass during which both stand silently next to each other.

"Let's go on, I'm really getting cold," she finally asks. Her father surely expected a different answer, but he straightens up again.

A short time later, walking silently side-by-side - they turn into 'their' alley; they will soon be back at their apartment.

"You are stupid. Like really really stupid!" Leonie complains at last.

"Why, child? What have I done now?"

"It's your fault that my eyes are frozen shut now!" the girl wipes the tears from her eyes.

"I don't think so: tears are salty and salt water has a lower freezing point!" He replies dryly.

In response, Leonie prods her father's side.



Comment: Yes, I know: Directly comparing hobbies and sexual preferences probably isn't correct from a psychological standpoint. But if it helps Leonie...

And yes: Kink and fetish are not the same. And BDSM is not a fetish, but both are paraphilias. Which again is a subpart of sexual preferences…

But I think, that this is neither the right time nor the right place to further discuss that.

Chapter 19a/22 - The Beginning, Part 2

It all began with Leonie's first orthodontist being of the opinion, that he had to 'bestow his favor' on his patient by treating her with such an 'extraoral brace'. And like most children who have to wear a thing like this, she had complied rather poorly. While she had no problems with her normal braces, Leonie had not been able to get accustomed to her headgear.

Her father - as he had just confirmed again - hadn't wanted to push her to do something she didn't want. And so, Leonie had never worn her bridle that much.

How things would have developed with her first orthodontist must remain an open question, because less than two months later they had moved. The new orthodontist had indicated that he did not think much of his predecessor's treatment strategy and promptly stopped using the headgear. And his successor in turn only knew from records that Leonie had once worn a facebow for a short time.

And Dr. Reinhard from Kiel - her fourth orthodontist - knew nothing at all. He didn't want to be bothered with a patient who's moving away again in a couple of months. He had downright refused to even look at her records.

And so it came, that Leonie 'only' had to wear her 'normal' braces and was freed from the conspicuous additional treatment device, after she left her first orthodontist. That should have been a cause of relief for Leonie.

And it was!



At least for some time. Because over time - and especially in the last few months - something had changed in Leonie's behavior and feelings toward the braces. What? No idea! Who knows how such 'preferences' develop.

However, one evening - several months after her orthodontists had stopped using headgear - her father had seen her come out of the bathroom with her headgear in her mouth and disappear into her room. Leonie hadn't noticed at the time that she was being watched. And he hadn't asked her about it.

Her father didn't think much of it, however. Even though Leonie at this point in time no longer had to wear that brace, it had been part of her treatment earlier in time. So, while it certainly was surprising seeing his daughter with it, it wasn't anything to worry about.

A few days later the event repeated itself and then again and again and again. At some point Leonie had noticed that her father knew, but neither side had made the first step, but always pushed the topic aside.

But when - instead of 'hiding' in her room - one evening she suddenly stood in the living room with her headgear in and without saying a word snuggled into a blanket on the sofa to watch a film with him, the subject could no longer sensibly be ignored.

Leonie had answered his question; she had said something about trusting the first orthodontist more than anyone else. And that she started wearing her headgear again because she was afraid that all doctors - with the exception of the first one - could be wrong. That she might have to wear the metal bow after all. That she is afraid of not getting straight teeth if she's not wearing it anymore.

This explanation was at the same time logical and yet so obviously far-fetched that her father thought it easier to live with his daughter's explanation for now. That made the situation a lot easier for both of them for the moment. He wasn't sure how to deal with it. But in the end, he had made up his mind not to say anything.



From then on, Leonie had worn her headgear from time to time outside her own room, so that at some point it became 'a familiar sight' for him to see his daughter walking around with it. And Leonie had become more and more used to the fact that her father just seems to accept that she again wears her - actually no longer necessary - headgear.

At some point, however, Leonie was wearing her headgear more of her own accord than she had at the beginning of the treatment, when the orthodontist had still instructed her to do so. That was the moment when the father felt it was necessary to talk about it again. So, one evening, he had brought up the subject again.

And Leonie had brought up the same explanation that she trusted the first orthodontist a lot more. That she was now convinced that he was right. That all other orthodontists were wrong and that she really had to wear her headgear. That she could not get straight teeth otherwise.

Her father knew - or at least strongly suspected - this to be an excuse, but did not want to pursue the subject further. His daughter's heart seemed to be very much attached to wearing her headgear. He simply didn't want to see her dejected, if he had told her that he doesn't believe her 'explanation'.

And so, he gave in and they reached a sort of compromise and agreement: Leonie could wear her headgear whenever and wherever if she felt that she had to do so. She was allowed to wear her headgear as much or as little as she felt was necessary for her 'treatment'.

Her father knew where he stood with his daughter. And he strongly suspected that Leonie also knew her own position. But both kept up the illusion in order not having to face the 'embarrassing truth'.

Which was not that complicated to do. After all, Leonie's orthodontic treatment continued. Her still having those glues-on braces is the best proof! That made it easier for both parties to pretend that headgear was also still part of her treatment. Even if only on a purely 'voluntary basis' from Leonie's side.



That way it had become more and more normal for both sides, until finally Leonie had told her father a few weeks ago that she intended to wear her headgear a lot more after the move. That she was convinced by now, that she had to do a lot more in order to finish her treatment. And that therefore she also wanted to take the big step of wearing her headgear to school for the first time ever.

"I want to go to school on my first day and pretend that it's the most normal thing for me", she had said. And then she had added: "I WANT it to become the most normal thing for me too!"

That was the first time, her father actually started to worry about his daughter. What if he misjudged the situation during the last couple of months? If his suspicions that Leonie had developed a braces-fetish, were not correct?

What if she REALLY believed that she HAD to wear her headgear? What if she got fixated on an idea that is not true? After all, her last orthodontists both had the same opinion that headgear was not needed! What if Leonie would simply refuse to accept that? Or what if she doesn't understand that her phantasies are not based on reality? In that case he really ought to have a serious conversation with her. So he had made up his mind to talk to his daughter for a third time.

That they had talked about that topic today, wasn't planned. It was a lucky accident. In more than one way. Because now he knows for sure, that his daughter is not becoming obsessed with an 'idee fixe'. But that she used this only to justify and hide her fetish before him.

All of this happened without them ever having 'seriously' discussed the subject. That only happened today. And it was a 'good talk'.

Hey folks,

as this story will come to an end shortly, I will soon start publishing the second story in the "The new girl's secret"-saga.
I have just skimmed over the second story and I have realised that the length of the individual chapters is longer than those I published so far.

The seconds story consists of 33 chapters of varying length.
If I try to cut chapters aparat to achieve roughly equal length, I estimate that would result in around 50 chapters.

My question to you: Would you prefer
- longer chapters - 1 chapter per day  -  the last chapter would be published in 33 days
- shorter chapters - 1 chapter per day  -  the last chapter would be published in about 50 days
- shorter chapters - cut longer chapters apart but post both halves the same day  -  the last chapter would be published in 33 days

It would be nice to head back from you.

I don't think it really matters very much. Your stories are good and you should post them at whatever speed you want to. The size of the chapters are a good length to read in a short time without having to reread them to keep up with what is going on.

I have decided to split longer chapter in half but post both parts the same day. Thanks for your feedback

Story 2 - Her first Week in School

What happened so far:

Five years ago, Leonie had lost a large part of her family in a terrible accident. Only her father remained. But he couldn't stand staying at home anymore and is now touring across Germany as a consulting industry expert. As long as Leonie was still a minor, she had to accompany him. Now she is of age, but she still prefers to continue following him.

Even if that means that Leonie has to move several times a year and every time get used to new schools and new friends.

Today is Leonie's second day at her new school.

But at least she quickly found acquaintances at this school - in the small town of Obereisenbach in the deep south of Germany - and it is to be expected that friendships will soon develop with Jessica, Karina, Nadine and Susanne.

And that's a good thing, too, because on the very first day of school, a somewhat unpleasant situation had happened: When she came back from lunch break, she had surprised her classmates by suddenly wearing headgear. Most of her classmates had responded with obtrusive stares and stupid comments. Above all a boy named Marcel. But her new friends stood by her.



Leonie then told them that her treatment had started a long time ago. But due to the constant moves, her treatment had made little progress. That's why she still has crooked teeth even after more than three years with braces.

But the most annoying thing about her treatment is that she also has to wear headgear. However, not during her entire treatment, because her orthodontists cannot agree on the headgear. One insists on it, the second doesn't care, and the third thinks that headgear only does harm.

So, Leonie only has to wear her headgear for a few days again, after it had been packed away for months. So, everything is new to her again and she is accordingly sensitive and nervous at the moment.

However, her father insists that she fully complies with the wearing schedule that her new orthodontist gave her. Since her health is at stake, she shouldn't slack off. And since the orthodontist stupidly insists on a quite tough schedule, Leonie has no choice but to wear her headgear to school on the first day already.

At least if she doesn't want to keep arguing with her father about her braces. And since he is all, she has left in terms of family, she rather wants to "jump over her own shadow" and wear her headgear to school from now on.



But when after school she arrives at the apartment where she will live with her father for the next few months (she refuses to call that place "home"), it turns out that the story she told at school cannot be true.

A letter from the health insurance is waiting for her, asking her whether she wants to continue her treatment after she hadn't been to an orthodontist for six months.

It also turns out that her treatment has by no means already lasts for more than three years, but that she got her braces about one-and-a-half years ago. And nothing had happened in the last six months. The biggest difference, however, probably is that Leonie actually hasn't had to wear her headgear for many months.

But she did do exactly that: She wore her headgear off-and-on during the last couple of weeks and months. And - since yesterday - even to school.



When her father insists on an answer, whether she wants to continue her treatment, Leonie has a moral meltdown. Her father takes her for an evening walk through wintry Thalfeld. In the course of this walk, the conversation that Leonie had been dreaded for weeks finally talks place. After all, it's about why she hasn't seen a doctor in half a year and why she still wears her headgear, even though she no longer has to.

Her father explains that he knows - or at least strongly suspects - that Leonie's behavior is due to her having a braces fetish. Of course, the girl is very embarrassed by the subject and at first, she doesn't want to admit that he is right in his assessment. But little by little he is able to convince her that a fetish is not a bad thing and nothing to be ashamed of.

Leonie can relax even further when her father promises not to judge her because of her "preferences". After all, he admits to her that he knows well enough what it means to have a fetish. In the light of these new facts, Leonie is relieved that her father doesn't think of her as "perverted".

He gives her the freedom to continue wearing her headgear if she wants to. At least as long as it does not interfere with her treatment - which Leonie wants to resume.

Chapter 23a/56 - A clarification, Part 2

"Don't be miffed, but then I understand even less why you wear that brace to school if you don't really have to," Jessica shakes her head.

"But I have to...", Leonie repeats doggedly.

"What's the matter? What's going on?" Leonie flinches in surprise as a disembodied voice speaks directly behind her. She hadn't noticed Susanne approaching in the last few seconds. The girl is now brought up to speed in quick words by Karina. Susanne then nods emphatically, "I wouldn't do it either if I were you."

Then the girl looks around nervously. Did she just reveal too much with her comment? After all, she wants to keep it a secret that she once had to wear headgear herself. But all the people standing around Leonie already know. And the other classmates are not interested in the conversation. Lucky!

"You're right. I'm not keen on having to put it on again later," Leonie shrugs. "Nevertheless, I believe, I already told you yesterday: If I don't want to fall way too far behind, I'd have to keep the bow strapped on almost constantly at home. And that's damn exhausting. And I don't feel like doing that either."

"I don't understand: You just said that not even your father wants to cause you so much stress..."

Leonie pressed her lips together. Damn it! She wasn't paying attention to what she was saying. She wanted to exonerate her father and has now maneuvered herself into a contradiction. Now she has to watch how she gets out of it!

"It really almost sounds like you WANT to wear that brace...", Jessica grins.

"Not at all," Leonie stares at her new acquaintance, her cheeks deep red. "Where did you get that stupid idea? The sooner I get rid of this thing, the better. But you know: The more I wear it, the easier it gets. And then hopefully I'll care less and less about wearing headgear to school, too."

"Well, it sounds to me like you're the only one whose stressing out about your braces!" is one response to that.

And Karina says, "Exactly. The only reason for your stress is that you try sticking to the schedule down to the last minute. But you said that even your father doesn't push you that hard.... Why are you doing it then? And Susi said that with her headgear an hour more or less didn't make a difference either."

"Can you maybe blurt it out even louder?", Susanne hisses and looks around, startled. But still none of the others is interested in the conversation. Lucky!

"I'm sorry, Susi, I didn't mean to," Karina apologizes, but isn't particularly contrite. "I don't see why it should be any different with you, though, Leonie." The others nod in affirmation.



"Do you really have to count the minutes?" Nadine takes the same line.

"No, a MINUTE more-or-less is certainly not important." The addressed shrugs her shoulders: "Probably an hour more or less doesn't make any difference either."

The bystanders nod.

"But folks, I don't even want to start down that rabbit-hole! Because if an hour less isn't bad, sooner or later I would indeed wear my headgear an hour less per day. And then ANOTHER hour less. And then ANOTHER... And at some point, I'd only wear it for two or three hours a day. And then I'd be surprised that there's no progress anymore."

"Do you really think you would do it that way?" Jessica asks.

Instead of an answer, Leonie laughs. "Of course!". She looks over at Susanne "What do you think?"

Who nods with a red head: "Back then I used every way out that I could find. Every excuse was good enough!"

"I feel the same way," Leonie picks up the thread. "And that's why I'm stressing about it now! Because now everything is still new to me. If I can get used to wearing headgear as much as possible NOW, everything will be easier. Cause then the temptation to leave the darn thing in the bedside drawer, wouldn't be so great anymore. Do you understand me?"

"We understand you," Jessica replies. The others nod. "But that doesn't mean that we would do it the same way!" Now the bystanders shake their heads.

"Well, you're not in my situation after all!" Leonie objects.

"I WAS in your situation," Susanne murmurs, "and I still didn't do it that way!"

Leonie doesn't know how to respond to that and decides to ignore Susanne's statement.



"I'm almost a little bit glad that my father is pushing me a bit to wear my headgear enough."

"What now? Is he strict with you or not? Are you annoyed that he's pushing you or are you grateful to him? I'm totally confused now."

Leonie rolls her eyes: "He's strict enough that I don't start to slack off too much, but he's not a tyrant either, OK? He wants me to wear headgear. Because it's important for my treatment. But I wouldn't have to sacrifice every bit of my free time."

"Dad and I - as I had said - discussed it over the weekend. And he had suggested several times that I could wear it to school." She raises her finger: "»Suggested!« Not demanded! Anyway: That had annoyed me. That's why I was maybe a bit grumpy with my father yesterday! And that's why I maybe made him a little 'too evil'. I'm glad - after all - he's keeping an eye on me not falling behind my schedule too badly."

"Please don't be offended, but what you're saying sounds kind of contradictory!"

"Why's that?" Leonie swallows nervously, her heartbeat accelerating. Has she already given herself away? Has she said something that might make the others stop believing her story? Has her secret been blown after just one day?

No. Not yet!

"Maybe 'contradictory' isn't the right word...", Nadine cocks her head. "In any case, I find it strange that you're annoyed with your father for insisting that you wear your brace. And then the next minute you're grateful to him for it."

"Split personality, huh?" laughs Karina.

Leonie bites her lips: Damn, even if Karina is miles away from the truth, by now she's too close for comfort. Her grin is strained: "Yes, I understand what you mean. In your place, I would call that »contradictory« as well. But believe me, it's really like that. I'm sure Susanne can confirm:"

"It's a damn awkward feeling having to wear headgear. On the one hand, it doesn't matter how well you get used to it; it's no fun at all. It is and always will be embarrassing and uncomfortable. On the other hand, you know that you have to wear such a conspicuous device to straighten your teeth. Isn't that right?" The last question was directed at Susanne.

Who nods with a red head. "That's exactly how it is. Although there is still a difference between you and me: Even though I knew that I would have to wear headgear, I couldn't bring myself to do it. With you it's the other way around: even if you don't like it, you wear it anyway because you know you need it."

Leonie blushes. To be praised like that is embarrassing. Even more because in reality there is no reason the be praised in the first place.

"Come on, don't always hide your light under a bushel, Susi! You certainly didn't make it easy for yourself either!" admonishes Jessica. Susanne shrugs but gives her classmate a grateful look.

Leonie continues: "And because you know you need that brace but don't want to wear it, you're torn about what to do: Should you wear it and then have to live with being the center of attention? Or should you not wear it and then have to live with the fact that your teeth won't be as straight as they could have been?"

She stretches her arms out and holds her hands far apart, "And the stupid thing is that those goals are polar opposites. You can only have one." She wiggles one hand, "Either you have straight teeth or..." she wiggles the other hand, "...you don't stand out like a sore thumb. You can't have both."

She sighs theatrically: "Sometimes I don't want people to laugh at me. And sometimes I prefer straight teeth. Do you understand what I mean?"

Slowly and thoughtfully, the girls around her nod. "If you explain it that way, it actually makes sense..."

"And because I know that I need this thing, well, I'm willing to wear it. Most of the time, at least. And that's why I'm actually grateful to my father for pushing me a LITTLE bit. So that I keep at it and don't start slacking off. But every now and then he gets on my nerves after all. Do you understand now?"

"A new neighbor for me please! Mine is crazy!", Jessica announces with a laugh.

Leonie sticks her tongue out at her. "I was about to say that I only wear my headgear to school because you're all really nice and supportive. But that changed quickly..."

Tuesday Noon

Chapter 25/56 - During lunch

The second recess, just like the fifth and sixth period pass again uneventfully.

"Do you want to come with us today and grab a bite?" Jessica points in the general direction of the cafeteria.

"Yeah, let's go, I'm starving. I hope there's something good to eat!" And so, accompanied by a few others, they set off.

"By the way, do you already have a cash card for the cafeteria?" Christoph has joined them again.

"»Cash card«?" Leonie looks at him confused. "You mean like a debit card? Do I really have to pay with a bank card here?"

"No, he means a card like that," Jessica holds up a white, credit-card-sized card with the name "Jessica Karelius" written on it in felt-tip pen. "You use this to pay for your food here. Only the snack machine uses money. Well, money or card, to be exact. At the counter in the cafeteria, you can only pay with a card like this."

"This is the first time I've seen this card." Leonie shakes her head. "Is there somewhere I can get it? In the cafeteria? Is there a vending machine for it?"

"There is a machine. But only for charging the card," Christoph explains. "The only place to get the card itself, is the secretary's office."

"Oh...", Leonie looks crestfallen. "And without this card I can't get any food? Then there's no use in me coming with you at all, is there?"

"Don't worry about it," Jessica waves it off. "I'll just pay for you today. Then you'll give me the money back later. And we'll just drop by the office on our way back and get you a card."

Leonie gratefully accepts the offer.



It's strange to step through the glass door today and not - like yesterday - walk up the stairs right next to the door. They're lucky: It's not yet overcrowded. There is already a queue at the food counter, but it's not that long yet. And there are still plenty of free seats. "But it will get crowded in a few minutes," predicts Susanne. "That's why we always have to hurry a bit!"

Jessica explains everything in quick sweeping motions: "Here are - as you can see - trays and cutlery and such. Remember to get your drink - if you want to drink anything at all - BEFORE you get in line at the food counter. Because you pay directly at the counter. If you remember too late that you are actually thirsty, you'll have to queue again."

"There's not a lot of choice. The line on the left is for - well - 'normal' food, the line on the right is alternatively vegetarian and vegan. And over there are side dishes, like fries and salad and stuff. And dessert too, if you want to have some. But remember: Get the side dishes first and get in line for the main course at the end!"

"It's a bit stupid to look for the side dishes before you know what to eat," says Leonie.

Nadine points to a large poster in the middle of the room: "There's the meal plan for the entire week."

Jessica gets in line in the left queue with her tray. Leonie - after a quick look at the poster - in the right queue. She's a little concerned that this might have been a stupid idea. She can't pay after all. And if she has to wait for Jessica to come and pay for her, the people behind her would surely get impatient. Maybe they should stand in the same queue together?

But the problem resolves itself before it even arises. Jessica's queue is moving faster. And by the time Leonie is getting her plate from the counter, her neighbor is ready to hold the cash card onto the reader.

Seats are found quickly. But it's good that they hurried to the cafeteria. In the meantime, the queues at the food counter have grown significantly.

"Oh, Jessica, I forgot to check what my meal cost exactly."

But she waves it off. "You don't have to give it to me in cash. When you also have a cash-card, my next meal is on you."

"Deal," Leonie nods in relief.

"Are you a vegetarian?" Karina points to the plate in front of Leonie.

"Nope," she shakes her head. "Not at all. It's just that my father made sausages and mashed potatoes yesterday already and now I just wanted to eat something else. And the spaetzle pan doesn't look half-bad."

"Yes, the food isn't bad. There's not a lot of choice, but it's actually always good. You can't complain!"

"Yes, you can: The tofu burgers were really awful," Susanne objects, "but they haven't been on the menu for ages... but overall, you're right: Nothing wrong with eating here."

The next few minutes pass more or less in gluttonous silence. Every now and then someone makes a comment, but a conversation doesn't really want to ensue.



At one point, Leonie's attention is caught by a movement in the corner of her eye. She looks up. Only now does she really see it: there is a balcony above the food counter. And from there several glass doors lead to small rooms. One of them has just been closed and had reflected the light from the ceiling lamps. Leonie had seen that out of the corner of her eye.

As if Jessica could read minds, she replies: "We were up there yesterday. These are the study rooms, where we can retreat to, if we want."

"Right, right! Now that you mention it... It looks so different from down here. It took me a second to figure out what the rooms up there are supposed to be." Leonie shakes her head: "You can't believe how relieved I was yesterday that I didn't have to sit down here with my headg..." Leonie interrupts herself. "You know. That we found a place UP THERE and that we didn't have to sit down with the others down here..."

The people around her suggest that they very well understand that. "But the solution would have been very simple," Susanne objects: "You could have just taken that thing out. Then it wouldn't have been so bad to sit here."

"True enough," Leonie has to admit. "Nevertheless, I'm glad things worked out the way they did."

"I'll never understand how you can wear 'that thing' voluntarily," Susanne shrugs. She chooses her words carefully so that she does not have to use the word 'headgear'.

Leonie shudders when she imagines having to sit down in the crowded cafeteria NOW with her headgear. And then having to endure the eyes of everyone turning to her. »I think I would die...«

And that isn't really necessary. Wearing headgear when there are a few - nice - classmates around: Yes! After all, this creates a certain tingling in her stomach area. But being stared at by dozens - or hundreds? That's more than she wants. More than she could stand at the moment.



"I hope you didn't plan on staying here for the entire lunch break," Jessica puts in after emptying her plate. "The cafeteria is big, sure. But not big enough for all the students to sit here at once."

"Then let's go," nods Leonie, who has also finished her plate.

"Don't rush," demands Karina, who is still struggling with the last bratwurst. But this fight is won a minute later and the group stands up collectively.

As they take up their trays to return the dishes, Leonie has to admit that Jessica was right: "Wow, it has filled up!" Almost every seat is taken by now, and yet people continue to line up at the food counter.

"Look: Our seats are already taken again...", Nadine points with her head to where they had just eaten.

Chapter 26a/56 - Through the auditorium, Part 2

Nadine and Susanne quickly join them. Karina considers following, but then decides against it. "You go, I'm too lazy..."

"Where are we heading that fast?" Susanne wants to know, who - because she is a head shorter than the others - has difficulty following Leonie's fast step.

"To the secretary's office. Leonie wants to get a cash card for the cafeteria..." explains Jessica.

"You do know that they're still on break, right?" Nadine points out.

"No, not anymore. It's THREE minutes past," Jessica replies after checking her watch.

"But you don't have to run like that, the lunch break isn't over yet...", Susanne gasps behind them.

"Sorry," Leonie slows down. But just a little bit. "At the moment most of them are still eating. I want to take advantage of that." She laughs dryly. "Because to be honest, I don't want the whole school to see me 'like that' when I walk through the main hall..." She points to the metal bow that is currently spanned around her face.

"Then you shouldn't have put it on in the first place," Nadine addresses a sore point.

"I already regret it," admits Leonie. "But it's too late for that now, I won't take it out again now..."

That earns her a few surprised looks.

"Really, Leonie, I don't understand you. Yesterday you didn't want to wear the stupid brace. And then you walked across the cafeteria to the snack machine. And now you know you have to walk through the main hall, and you put your headgear in anyway. Even though you already regret it... that's just stupid and...", Susanne doesn't finish the sentence and instead concentrates on not losing the connection.

Leonie presses her lips together. »Damn, I have to be REALLY careful not to overdo it!« And loudly she says "That's just because..."

"...you want to get used to it as soon as possible, we understand that," Jessica replies. "Still, Leonie. You're the one creating all the stress for yourself."

By now, Leonie's heart is pounding in her throat: Should she really do this? Should she really walk through the main hall with her headgear on? Where she can theoretically be stared at from dozens of eyes? Should... should she REALLY do that?

Susanne is right after all: it sounds like a stupid idea. No... it IS a stupid idea. After all, yesterday she had hardly been able to stand her classmates staring at her. It had cost her so many nerves that she had almost started crying. Why - why the hell - does she now want to walk through the MAIN HALL with her brace on, where there are at least as many people? Has she learned nothing from yesterday?

Her breathing is fast and shallow, she presses her lips together. Yes... yes, she HAD learned from yesterday. Albeit a 'different' lesson from what one might expect: Because when last night she had thought back, one thing had become clear to her. It HAD been bad yesterday, to be stared at. But... BUT: There had also been a certain tingling in her stomach.

And now... That feeling is back! Just a few minutes ago! When she had stood in front of the mirror in the girls' bathroom. When she had imagined what it must feel like to walk through the main hall with her headgear on. The tingling had made her totally flustered.

Leonie knows that it's a stupid idea to walk through the hall with such a conspicuous treatment device. But she also knows that she will only feel this tingling if she leaves her headgear in now. THAT is what drives her forward.

But the closer she gets to the main hall, the more uncertain she becomes. Should she really? REALLY really? Yesterday she had told her friends that she had once walked through the auditorium with her brace on. And then came to regret it because the fifth graders had run after her jeering.

That had been a lie, of course. After all, yesterday was the very first time she had ever worn her headgear to school. Still, should she really risk it now? Should she really risk being laughed at by potentially dozens of kids? Wouldn't it make more sense for her to.... well... start SLOWLY? If she's content to wear her brace to her own class first? And only then, when she has gotten used to THAT...?

But an invisible force moves her legs without her doing and sends her towards the main hall.



"I wasn't sure if you would actually put that thing back in today," says Jessica. "Yes, I know you said you had to wear it and stuff. Still, seeing you with it is still kinda..."

"...embarrassing?" Leonie completes the sentence tensely.

Jessica laughs: "Not for us, only for you. I have NO problem with you running around with that thing in your face. Doesn't faze ME in the slightest."

Leonie smiles lopsided. And yet, at the same time, she's very relieved. Memories of yesterday's conversation with her father come back to her. And so, Leonie is quite relieved about what Jessica had just said: Her wearing headgear does not cause the others to be ashamed of her!

"No, I did want to say something else: It's still... unreal," Jessica corrects. "Or 'surprising'. Or however you want to put it. I still can't really believe it."

"You might as well believe it, Jessica. I'm definitely going to be wearing it regularly from now on." Leonie smiles relieved, "Seeing me wear headgear will become a lot more normal for you in the coming days - and weeks."

Jessica shrugs her shoulders in an eloquent gesture: She doesn't think she'll ever get used to seeing her classmate with it. "But the facebow can't be folded up, can it?" she asks suddenly.

Leonie looks at her bench-neighbor as if she's gone nuts. "Huh? What do you want? Why should this thing 'fold'? The bow is made of metal. If you were to fold it, you'd just bend it..."

"That was a joke," Jessica feels misunderstood, but has no opportunity to explain herself.



They are now walking through the main hall. Leonie visibly stiffens and her head points to the ground. There weren't many people in the corridors, so it was bearable. But there are already more people in the large hall than she had anticipated. So many people want to spend the rest of their lunch break here that it will be impossible to avoid everyone's looks. She didn't imagine it like this!

There are only a few options: Turn around and take out the headgear? But her legs are still guided by an invisible force. Turning back is impossible.

Take out the headgear here and now? No, it would be far too embarrassing to be watched.

There is only one thing: Push on with eyes closed. Or better: Push on with eyes OPEN. Closing the eyes and then unavoidably colliding with someone would only draw unnecessary attention. And the more she tries to avoid groups of people, the more she turns away and tries to shield her headgear with raised hands, the more she will attract attention as well. And thus make everything worse.

So, with her eyes fixed to the ground, she quickly struts across the auditorium. And then also past the main entrance.



She made it! Here in the administration wing, there are significantly fewer people around. This amount of attention she can tolerate! "Phew," Leonie sighs. "It went well. I didn't hear anyone calling me out."

"Because no one did," confirm her companions.

"But if I may say one thing," Nadine begins. "Even if it's difficult for you: next time, walk a little slower. Not many people noticed that there was something 'strange' going on. But the people who did, probably did so, because you rushed through like an express train. And we followed behind. THAT stood out, I think."

"Embarrassing," Leonie grins when Susanne and Jessica nod in confirmation. "I really have to get used to it... This is the first time I've worn headgear in front of so many people after all!"

This makes the eyebrows of her companions rise: "The first time?"

Leonie grins awkwardly, nods and turns to Susanne: "You said you didn't dare to... well, you know... that you didn't dare to wear that thing in public." Susanne nods, her face red.

Leonie continues: "It's the same for me: I hadn't worn that brace that much in public before either. In all the time I have worn it until now, I had it on - just like you - almost exclusively at home. So, I'm not that much ahead of you."

"I thought that in the three years...", Susanne doesn't finish the sentence.

Leonie shakes her head, "So far, I've always managed not having to wear that thing outside."

"Didn't you say that you were once chased by kids from the lower school?", Nadine interjects.

Leonie looks to the ground. "Well... almost always. At the very beginning, I actually had worn my headgear to school, you're right. But then this stupid thing happened you were talking about. And since then I've only worn my headgear at home. Well... until yesterday, that is! And that..." she points with her thumb over her shoulders toward the main hall. "that was the first time I ever walked through a group like that."

"But then it really would have been easier if you had taken that thing out before you marched through the hall..."

Leonie is pretending to be far calmer than she actually feels. "I could have done that. But then I never get used to wearing headgear."

"You don't have to choose the hardest path for that", think her classmates. "Really, Leonie, you cause all the stress to yourself. You don't have to be hell-bent..."

The fact that Leonie felt a tremendous tingling sensation in the stomach area was the real reason why she kept her headgear in. But she certainly won't tell her friends that.

Chapter 27a/56 - A few errands, Part 2

"I... All right," Leonie gives in. She doesn't want to get on the wrong side of the secretaries on her second day. In the meantime, Mrs. Rudolf gives the impression of really being at the end of her patience.

She goes back to where she was before. A few more brief instructions, and then the secretary is also satisfied with the image composition. Leonie just hopes that she put on a halfway 'normal' facial expression. Apparently not, because Ms. Rudolf admonishes: "Don't look so angry at the camera!"

Leonie forces a smile on her face. "Much better!" exclaims the secretary behind the camera. With burning cheeks, Leonie waits for the picture to be taken. When Ms. Rudolf shows her the screen of the mobile phone again, her eyes widen:

Her cheeks are crimson. Her head is turned a bit to what is probably called a three-quarters portrait. While her hair is neat now, she managed to drape it in such a way that her neckpad is clearly visible. She smiles at the camera. No, that's not true: she's not smiling, she grins. She grins widely. VERY widely. So wide that both her braces are clearly visible. And of course her headgear. Oh my gosh! The metal bow catches the light from the ceiling lamps and reflects it towards the camera. Her braces - all the metal in and around her mouth - glints silver.

No, she can't leave it like that! Leonie stares at the display. Her braces are so noticeable! She didn't want that. She didn't want to grin THAT widely. She gets goosebumps: Her face seems to consist only of braces and silver glints. No, that... that's not...

"Yes, the picture is indeed better than the first one, we'll take that one," says the secretary satisfied.

"I... uhm...", Leonie begins, but she is ignored.

Mrs. Rudolf is already connecting her mobile phone to the computer. "You can pick up the ID in two - or better three - days."

"Uhm...", Leonie starts again.

This time, she is heard. "Yes?"

"I... I didn't really want to be in the picture with my brace on," Leonie points to the silver bow around her face.

An indifferent shrug is all Frau Rudolf offers in reply. She doesn't seem to attach any importance at all to that metal bow. "Then why didn't you remove it?" with a large pinch of »Don't you dare to blame ME! How am I supposed to know that YOU have a problem with your headgear if you leave it in for the photo?«

"I... uhh... maybe we could...", begins Leonie.

The secretary is not amused at all. She seems to regard being asked to take a third picture as a personal affront. "You are free to submit a photo from a professional photo studio!", she replies piqued.

Leonie swallows nervously. "I... OK, that's fine. We'll take the one you made," she then gives in.

That was the 'correct' answer, Mrs. Rudolf nods contentedly. "Your ID will be ready in three days."

"Can you maybe send me the picture? Would that be possible?"

"Of course. If you tell me your phone number."

A minute later it goes 'ding' and Leonie stares at the picture on her phone. »Oh my god. Is that really going to be my school ID picture?« A tremendous tingling sensation spreads through her stomach.

"If there is nothing else..." Ms. Kempff slowly seems to prefer the quiet of the empty office.



A few seconds later the girls are on the other side of the door.

"Sometimes I don't understand you," Jessica shakes her head. "What was that now?"

Leonie grins stupidly: "What do you mean? I applied for my school ID card."

"You know exactly what I mean," replies Jessica.

Susanne also asks: "Why didn't you take your headgear off? You said you didn't want to be in the picture with it."

"I didn't want to, but did you see how Mrs. Rudolf looked at me? She almost pounced at me!"

"Where did you get that idea?" is one answer.

And another: "Oh, Mrs. Rudolf is very docile. She may hiss a bit, but she is actually a cuddly cat."

"»Fully grown tiger with anger-issues«, you probably meant to say," replies Leonie. "You know, I really wanted to leave the office for a moment so that I could take the brace out unseen. But then I didn't dare. I was afraid that Ms. Rudolf would maul me if I so much as touched the door handle!"

"Never! She's really nice. Well yes... She has a bit of a harsh charm. You'll get used to that however.", is Susanne's opinion.

"If I were you, I would go back and say that you will submit another picture in the next few days," says Nadine. "Or... we could take a quick picture of you here..." She points to the wall. "Just stand there, take out your headgear and I'll snap a shot of you."

Leonie looks back and forth between the wall and Nadine uncertainly for a few seconds. Then she shakes her head. "I think I'll leave it as it is..."

"My goodness, Leonie," Jessica rolls her eyes. "Shall I go back in the office for you if you don't dare?"

The girl shakes her head hastily. "No, that's fine... Really Jessica. I'll leave it the way it is now!"

"You do know that the picture will be printed on your ID card?"

"No, I didn't know." Leonie shrugs her shoulders in a deliberately calm manner: "But: So what? Hardly anyone sees the ID except me."

"That picture is not only on your ID-card. It is your official school photograph! Do you really want to leave it like that? In the annual report at the end of the school year, every student will be printed with their official photo. Do you really want to appear there with headgear?"

Leonie swallows hard, her eyes get big. "Really? Oh... I... I didn't know that. Maybe I really should..." she breaks off and a second later she shales her head. "I'll leave it as is is."

"Really now?"

"Yeah! Taking a new picture and all that stuff … that's too much effort for me now."

"Too much effort?", Susanne shakes her head: "It's really quick. Not even a minute."

Leonie sighs theatrically. "OK, I'll admit it: I WANT to leave it the way it is now."

"THAT is clear. But why?"

Leonie smiles lopsided "Why? It just occurred to me, that is actually isn't half bad that it worked out the way it did!"

"Huh?", the girls look at her askance. "Why is it a good thing?"

"Well, it's actually quite simple: I have to wear headgear to school. I explained that to you. And if... if my official school picture now also has headgear... well, then that's sort of a reminder to myself not to slack off. Can you understand that?"

"No," laughs Jessica. "Susi, would you like to be my new neighbor? Leonie is too crazy for my taste!"

"Whoa, you're mean!" Leonie exclaims. But then she laughs. Unsure whether she's gone too far.

But at the same time, she almost doesn't care. The thought that the girl in every picture of her in this school will wear headgear from now on makes the tingling linger for a long time.

Chapter 28a/56 - An unpleasant encounter, Part 2

"Now you stay, where you are," Leonie suddenly hears Jessica's voice. A voice that sounds much more emphatic than usual. "What do you want here anyway?"

"None of your business," one of the boys cries. But the authority Jessica placed in her voice is having an impact. The crowd of lower school children comes to a halt.

"Now, listen!", that's Nadine. "You have no business here. This part of the school is out-of-bounds for you."

"You're not ordering us around!", the same boy again. He seems to be something like the leader?

"Get out of there, leave us alone, you little pests," Susanne feels audibly uncomfortable in her role as an authority figure. Perhaps because she herself is hardly taller than the children she faces? Therefore - unfortunately, one has to say - she doesn't cut a particularly good figure.



Nevertheless: Jessica, Nadine and Susanne stopped, confronted the pursuers and are now blocking the corridor. Her friends are buying her time to find somewhere to hide. Her friends stand up for her without knowing that Leonie has already solved the 'problem'.

A big lump forms in her throat. Oh man, her friends are so nice! She's only known the girls one single day and she's already crying with gratitude.

Leonie ponders whether she should join her friends or whether she can stay in the background. Can she let her friends handle this situation? No, she cannot! She brought it on herself, so at least she has to help solve it.

Jessica sees her friend approach. And the leader of the pests also recognizes her. Just as he's about to make a racket, he realizes the reason they pursued the girl in the first place has gone. And the other kids look at each other confused. Most of them hadn't even seen Leonie with headgear. They were just running after their 'leader'. And now he's standing in the middle of the hallway meekly. The children become insecure.

And Jessica takes advantage of that. She puts her hands on her hips and suddenly seems four inches taller. And then she teaches them a lesson they probably won't forget for quite some time. With every sentence they shrink further. The first children turn around and want to disappear. "You stay put until I'm done with you," orders Jessica. But the children don't do that, instead they run away.



A minute later everything is over, the four are alone again. All alone! Apparently, Jessica's harangue was so powerful that it didn't just drive off the younger kids. Even the middle school children - who actually have their classrooms here - don't want to find themselves on Jessica's wrong side and have therefore scampered off. 'Unmolested' the four walk back to their classroom.

Leonie grins awkwardly. "Thank you, guys. Thank you so much! You saved me."

"What for?" Jessica dismisses. "No matter what happened, the little ones have no right to cause such a fuss!"

"But it was the right decision to take out your headgear," Nadine points to Leonie's face.

"Sorry guys. I was in panic-mode and completely forgot I could have just taken that thing out. It didn't occur to me until way too late. If I had thought of it sooner, it wouldn't have come to this in the first place."

"You have nothing more to fear from them," says Jessica. Leonie looks around, but the little ones are indeed nowhere to be seen.

"I was almost afraid that you would start a fight with them, Jessy!" Nadine looks at her classmate.

"What's going on? Jessy wants to fight? That's so typical! With whom and why?" Karina was attracted by Jessica's loud voice. She is now told what happened.

With a red face, Leonie presses her lips together. "Girls, I'm sorry for leaving you alone. I wasn't really thinking straight and..."

Her friends wave it off. Susanne in particular hurries to assure Leonie that her reaction was quite normal.



"You suddenly sounded so 'different', Jessica. Like... I don't know... 'emphatic' and 'authoritarian'?" Leonie is impressed.

"If you have three little brothers, you learn not to put up with everything," the girl smiles. And to Nadine she says: "And you also learn to assess how far you can go without getting physical."

Then she points back over her shoulder: "They'll behave for now. You have nothing to fear from them for the next few days."

The new girl breathes a sigh of relief. "Nevertheless, I probably will not wear headgear in the main hall for the time being."

"That might be wise," is the opinion of all bystanders.

"Thanks guys! Really. I'll buy you all dinner tomorrow!"

"Now don't exaggerate, Leonie! That wasn't worth mentioning!"

Her heart is still pounding in her chest as they make their way back to their classroom together.



However, as they approach their classroom, Leonie's eyes automatically drop. Even without seeing the faces of her classmates - she knows that she is being stared at. By EVERYONE. She knows that smirking stares bore into her head. And that only Jessica's still dominating presence keeps the others from behaving 'too badly'. The news that Leonie has made a fool of herself has - as feared - already made the rounds.

"What's the matter with them? Why do they stare at you like that?" Nadine wants to know.

"Let's go a few steps further, then I'll tell you," Leonie asks with a red face.

At the end of the story, Susanne in particular has turned bright red. "If that had happened to ME... I think I would have puked!"

"I wasn't far off," Leonie laughs dryly.



Luckily Marcel is still not here. Even if he will surely find out about it sooner-than-later, Leonie is glad that this idiot did not witness the 'spectacle' with his own eyes.

Then she grins mischievously at Jessica: "Do you think your intimidation tactics will also help with Marcel, in case he makes such stupid jokes again?"

Karina laughs while the others shake their heads. "With HIM, it's too late. The only thing that helps is to hit. Hit hard!"

"Is there a place where we can sit a bit 'apart'?" Leonie points to the rest of her class with a terse gesture. "I don't feel like being stared at all the time."

A suitable place is soon found: This wing - in addition to the upper-school rooms - also houses handicraft and workshop rooms. And next to the workshop is a bench. Luckily, the bench is behind a wall and thus out of sight from her classroom.

Sighing, Leonie sits down on the bench. "Really: Thanks guys. Without you I would have locked myself in the toilet by now! And hoped that the 'little ones' wouldn't crawl over the partition!"

Karina laughs: "That would have caused a lot of ruckus if the boys had tried to go into the girls' toilet!"

"I don't even want to imagine it!" Leonie waves it off.



A plaque on the bench on which they sit proudly proclaims that this was a project work of the seventh classes of 2013. Despite its age of almost 10 years, the bench still looks quite sturdy: "Not that many people come back here, the bench is not used that much," Nadine explains.

"We also have a bench with such a plaque on it in Thalfeld. But that's pretty much all, Thalfeld has to offer," smiles Leonie and then talks about the walk with her father yesterday and the bench in the center of the village.

Of course, she changes many of the details or omits them entirely. In the end, the classmates get the impression that it is normal for Leonie to take evening strolls with her father.

In a family that has lost most of its members in a horrible accident, this might be normal? Father and daughter enjoying time together? That's a nice picture, isn't it?

And telling this story helps Leonie to calm down a little. Damned. Yesterday she had said that she had once been followed by a group of fifth graders. Of course that was a fib. Yesterday she had worn her headgear to school for the very first time!

She shouldn't have jinxed it. Because now this stupid situation has become reality! Now that's what she gets for lying. Small sins are punished immediately!

Leonie firmly resolves to be more careful from now on. Because THAT really wasn't nice. It was very different from walking nervously through the main hall not knowing if she is being watched or not. THAT now hadn't triggered a pleasant tingling sensation in her, but rather a cold panic. That must never repeat!

Leonie can only hope that the little ones will actually calm down in the next few days and not start hunting her again! Luckily, she had friends who averted the worst. And who would hopefully come to her rescue again if need-be?

Chapter 29a/56 - Several questions, part 2

"How does the library work here?" Leonie then changes the subject. "Do I need the school ID for that? Did I understand that correctly?"

"Exactly," is one answer and Karina asks in astonishment: "What do you want in the library? It's just dusty and musty there. And there aren't any good books either!"

Nadine laughs: "Don't listen to Karina. She's at loggerheads with Ms. Diestel - that's the librarian!"

"I almost got a reprimand because of her," Karina exclaims.

"Because you don't want to understand that talking loudly is a no-go in the library."

"It wasn't loud. Ms. Diestel just has it in for me!" Karina rolls her eyes and then turns to the newcomer: "It's a long story. It doesn't have to be told now."

Leonie would have loved to know how one can be reprimanded for speaking too loudly in the library. But she nods: Karina clearly does not feel like talking about it now.



Another change of subject: "If I read the timetable correctly, we have Sports tomorrow. Where do we have to go? Is the gym here at school?"

"No, not here. It's hard to describe. We share the sports hall with the secondary school next door," explains Jessica. "The best thing is, you just follow me tomorrow."

Leonie nods. "And what are you doing at the moment?"

"What do you mean »What are we doing?«" Susanne looks blankly. "Just sport..."

"Yeah, but what? Floor exercises? Ball sports? Equipment training?"

"You made such a strict distinction in Kiel?" Susanne is surprised.

"You don't?" Now it's Leonie's turn to look amazed.

"No, not really; it always gets mixed up," is the answer. "But last week we did high jumps and not everyone had had their turn. So, it may well continue with that."

"Oh great," Leonie sighs, looks down at herself and pats her stomach. "This is my 'favorite discipline'!"

"But you don't leave your headgear in during sports, do you?"

Leonie shakes her head. "No, definitely not! If I get a ball in my face with it, I can pick up my molars off the floor. It's certainly enough if I hit the mat with my head during a high jump. SO, no! Headgear in sports is MUCH too dangerous!"



Leonie presses her lips together and looks around nervously. They are alone right now. Nobody else is there. Can she ask the question? "Susanne, you said yesterday that your headgear..."

"Shhh," she is interrupted. Faint footsteps can be heard in the nearby stairwell.

Leonie is contrite: "Sorry, I didn't hear that", both have turned red again.

She looks around the corner: She doesn't know the boy who walks past them a few seconds later without paying them any attention. "Was that someone from 11B?" she then asks to break the awkward silence.

"No, that's someone from 12th grade," is Jessica's astonishingly loud answer. "Those from 11B would at least have had the decency to say hello. But those from 12th don't want anything to do with us. They always think they're better than us!"

As a response the boy raises his middle finger as he walks away.



That's how the conversation continues until the bell. And then even further, because the first two hours after the lunch break are free periods. They talk about everything under the sun; what Leonie liked about Kiel and what not. Whether Northern Germany really is that flat? And Leonie asks for more details at the school: Things she maybe should know. Which teachers to be wary of and so on.

She also learns a few things about Dr. Pfeiffer, her economics teacher. Leonie was surprised that a teacher with a doctor's degree teaches at a normal school. And now she learns that he is probably not here voluntarily. Even though no one knows for sure, it seems that he had a relationship with an - adult! - student.

In any case, he was transferred here as a sort of punishment. In a few years he will then be able to apply to be reassigned to his old teaching post, but until then the students at the Obereisenbach Gymnasium have to put up with a teacher who couldn't care less about his students.



After an hour, Leonie gets a little restless. That is being noticed. "What's up?" she is asked.

"Actually, I should put my headgear back in..." she says. "I'm supposed to wear it in the afternoon after all."

"That that you were chased by a horde of fifth graders wasn't enough for you?" Jessica is amazed.

And Nadine adds: "If I were you, I'd have enough for today!"

Leonie, on the other hand, shrugs her shoulders and says: "To be honest, I really don't wont to, either." And that's not a lie. She REALLY doesn't feel like putting her bridle on again today.

"Then don't do it!" is one reaction.

"I would like to, but... The little ones have since left for home; I don't need to be afraid of them anymore. And I haven't worn my brace enough for today yet. When..."

"My goodness, Leonie, screw those two hours. You really don't have to stress yourself out like that!"

Susanne shakes her head: "You're really insane."

"Why?"

Susanne rolls her eyes: "Well, if you don't even notice that, there's no more helping you!"

Jessica adds: "Give up, Susi. Leonie is a hopeless case!"

"Woah, you're mean!" Leonie puffs out her cheeks and 'sulks'.

However, she has become insecure. Did she exaggerate now? She wanted to reiterate her story about having to wear her headgear in the afternoons. But did she do too much now? Was her reaction so unrealistic that the others must have noticed?

Maybe. No...: Probably!

The more she thinks about it, the more she has to come to the conclusion that she definitely has gone overboard now. Even with her braces-fetish, Leonie right now loathes the idea of strapping her facebow back on. Today was 'adventurous' enough. Probably even too much so already!

Even her fetish-addled brain refuses. Then the girl she plays in school - the girl who doesn't want to wear headgear - would have even less reason to put it back on. Yes... even hinting at putting it back on might be too much.

That's why she decides to 'stop resisting' and to follow the advice of her friends instead. "You might be right," she nods. "I think I've really had enough for today."

"OF COURSE we're right!", Susanne nods. The others agree with her.



In the meantime, they had tried to get a place in one of those study rooms above the cafeteria, but they were all occupied. And most of the chairs down in the large room were occupied as well. They could hardly all have sat together. And even if they had, it was so loud there, they almost had to shout to talk. "It's a mystery to me how someone can do their homework in that noise," Leonie shakes her head. So, in the end, they retreated back to the bench next to the workrooms.



Leonie didn't have any more opportunity to ask Susanne about her headgear. But that topic probably shouldn't be forced anyway. Maybe Susanne will be more talkative once they get to know each other better?



The rest of the school day is uneventful, even if Leonie doesn't like the timetable: after all, they just had two free periods. Three if you count the lunch break. And then they have a double lesson in computer science. That's stupid. Now they had to sit around idly and bored for hours! Couldn't the two computer science lessons have been brought forward? No... of course that's not possibly. Typical!

Chapter 30a/56 - Home again! Part 2

"No headgear today?" he asks after a few minutes.

"Where did that come from?" Leonie lowers her pen. She looks at her father nervously. What is he up to now?

But he only casually shrugs his shoulders: "Well, homework is the ideal time for it, isn't it? You can check off two annoying duties at once: Your homework will be done in an hour, and you've already worn your headgear for a bit ..."

"What's going on? Dad, what are you talking about?"

"Well, I just thought...", the father begins, but he doesn't finish his sentence.

But Leonie thinks she understands what her father wants to imply: This is probably his way of once again allowing her to continue wearing headgear. He probably wants to avoid the embarrassing situation of addressing her fetish directly.

After all: In the last few weeks and months, both had maintained the illusion that Leonie was wearing her headgear because she believed that she had to do it. That the first orthodontist was 'more right' than all his successors. That headgear is still important for her treatment, although the last doctors had no longer used this treatment device.

Maybe she still believes that, maybe she doesn't. It is however now clear to the both of them that this a welcome 'excuse' for Leonie to be able to live out her fetish. And to keep it a secret at the same time. Which hadn't really worked, because her father had quickly seen through the flimsy excuse.

But he had 'played along' and pretended to accept the reasoning. In order not to have to speak with his daughter about the embarrassing situation. And apparently, he has now decided to keep doing exactly that?

Even if - after the talk yesterday - both sides now know for sure that her fetish is playing a major role, perhaps the simplest solution is to continue as before? After all, everything has remained harmless so far. And as long as there are no problems: Why should they change anything now?



Well... stop! No, that's worded wrong. What her father is doing right now is NOT 'business as usual'. So far, he had always ignored it when she had worn headgear. He had always pretended that headgear was so perfectly normal that it wasn't even worth mentioning. And sometimes he had pretended not to see the silver bow at all.

So far, he had been unsure on how to handle this situation and had decided to just plain 'ignore' it. So far, he had hardly ever spoken to her about her braces. And he had NEVER asked her to put her headgear back on. He had tolerated her walking around in it, but nothing more.

What he's doing now is new. New and unusual. It's almost as if he now wants to 'actively play along'.

Well no. It can hardly be called 'active'. After all, he had only asked her if she planned to put her headgear back on again today. Nothing more. But even that's more than he normally does. And that's noticeable!

So, the question is WHY he's doing it. Is this just his way of allowing her to continue wearing her brace? Or does he have other motives?

There's only one way to find out! After a scrutinizing look at her father, Leonie gets up and disappears into the bathroom. After a short while she comes back. With the silver bow around her face.

"Jessica - a friend from school - asked if the bow could be foldable," Leonie snaps her finger against the metal.

"What is it supposed to be? »Foldable«?"

Leonie laughs: "I looked just as surprised as you do now!". She then explains that Jessica was only joking.

"So, you wore it again in the afternoon?" That's less of a question and more of a statement.

"If I hadn't been wearing that thing, I couldn't have been chased by the fifth graders."

"Right; you're right of course."

"I AM allowed to, dad, aren't I?" Leonie hesitates. "Or do you mind?"

"Not at all, child. I promised you! Just do what you want."

Leonie nods, relieved. So, he probably really has no unpleasant ulterior motives? Was that why he 'asked' her to put on headgear for homework? Because he wants to do her a favour? Because he knows that she wants to wear her headgear? Because he wants to show her that she's allowed to do that?

And now, several hours after this 'incident', it starts being fun again. Especially so here in this apartment, where she can feel a lot safer.



"By the way: Have you looked for an orthodontist for me?" Leonie puts the math exercise book aside and now takes up English.

The father shakes his head: "I haven't gotten around to it yet. Why are you asking? Have you changed your mind again? Do you want to quit?"

"No, no, no," Leonie hastily dismisses. "I want to continue."

"I didn't know that the topic had suddenly become so important to you," the father gently interjects.

"You said yourself, Dad, that the health insurance is waiting for an answer. And that's why an orthodontist should look over my teeth 'as soon as possible'... and I just wondered how urgent this 'as soon as possible' is!"

"You know, child: My clients won't give me much free time in the next few days. I don't know when I'll get around to it. Let's just do it like this: If you want it to go faster, YOU just pick an orthodontist you want to go to. And I'll make the appointment, okay?"

His daughter quickly nods.

"While we're on the subject: I'm going to ask you one last time, Leonie: do you want to continue your treatment or not?"

"Yes, Dad, I do. Really!" Leonie is looking for the right words: "I want straight teeth. Even... disregarding the 'rest'. You understand what I want to say?" Leonie has turned quite red.

"I understand you very well." He allows himself a smile: "And to be honest, I'm glad you made that decision."

"Why? You always said it was MY decision..."

"It is yours. But am I not allowed to think it's good that you still plan to have your teeth straightened? And I also called the insurance company this morning and told them that we are definitely interested in continuing your treatment."

"Oh", Leonie got red cheeks. "And what did they say, why 'we' waited so long?"

"Nothing, because they didn't ask."

"That surprises me."

The father replies thoughtfully: "I think they saw that we moved often and drew their conclusions from that. In any case, the phone call went very smoothly."

"That's good," Leonie is relieved. "Do we have to do anything now?"

The father nods: "Yes, there is actually one thing that is quite important. We must not forget about that."

"And what is that?"

"You have to go and visit an orthodontist."

Leonie scowls at her father for a second: "Ha, ha, dad. Your jokes are getting worse every day!"

He shakes his head: "That was meant seriously, child. The person in charge wants confirmation that your treatment will actually continue. As soon as we have found a doctor, he will have to issue us such a confirmation. And that's why we shouldn't be waiting much longer to pick an orthodontist, okay? So, it would actually suit me really well if YOU could pick a doctor."

His daughter sighs, "I'll take care of it. As soon as I know which doctor I want to see, I'll let you know, OK?"

I agree with Sparky. The way you write is fine.

I have great respect for you, being able to write in two languages. Your translation into English is very well done, and the way you have left some of the German words and way of speaking in your story makes it interesting to read.

In North America, the Native Americans use cousin, uncle and auntie to refer to people in their tribe who are not related to them by blood or marriage. Grandfather and Grandmother are used as a form of honour when talking to the senior members of the tribe they consider to be wise and knowledgeable.

Wednesday morning

Chapter 31/56 - Third day of school

"Good morning," Leonie waves to her neighbor. Who's leaning listlessly against the wall, covering her mouth with her hand just in time to hide a huge yawn.

"How about you go to bed a little earlier?" Leonie teases. "You're still so tired, even though we're starting two hours late today."

Wednesdays are indeed quite unusual this year for the eleventh grades: Lessons only start after the first recess, that is, with the third period. Luckily, there are enough busses driving through Thalfeld, so that Leonie doesn't have to be overly early to school today.

Leonie looks around cautiously. They are alone "Hey, Jessica, may I ask you something?" She hesitates, when the other girl eyes her wearily. But then she forces herself to actually ask the question: "Do you mind if I call you 'Jessy'? The others do that as well..." Leonie doesn't continue and shrugs her shoulders. "If you do mind..."

"Now that was a stupid question! You can see for yourself, right? Of course you're allowed...", Jessica grins. "And what about you? Do you listen to 'Leo'?"

Instead of an answer, Leonie curls her fingers into 'claws': "Rrrrooaawwwrrr!"

Jessica looks confused. "What was that now?"

Leonie admits embarrassed: "That was my impression of a lion. You know - 'Leo' - 'Lion'. And lions DO roar."

Jessica rolls her eyes: "You have to practice a lot if that was meant to be a roar! That was a kittycat-meow at most."

"'Leo' is fine. But I'm not too keen on being called 'Ninni'." Jessica looks confused again, so Leonie explains: "Well, you know: »Leonie. Leo-nie. Nie. Ni. Ninni...«" She shrugs: "In Kiel, a few had called me that. Wasn't meant mean or anything. But if I have the choice, I like 'Leo' better."

"Hehe, 'Ninni', I have to remember that," Jessica grins. "Morning, Naddl!"

Nadine, who just comes within earshot, doesn't look particularly happy to be called like that. Leonie's bus colleague actually prefers the long form of her name. It doesn't really matter to the others who are gradually trundling in, whether Leonie uses the short form or not. In any case, Leonie gets permission from all of them.



"Is the cafeteria already open?" the newcomer asks.

"The cafeteria is always open. At least as far as you can get into the building. But you can't get food just yet. Why do you ask? Do you want to use the snack machine?"

"No, I want to top up my cash card. Better now than if I have to do it at noon and the queues at the counter get even longer."

"Can you do it?" Jessica asks. "Or should I come with you?"

"No, stay here and get some sleep," laughs Leonie and disappears. After a few minutes she comes back: "No luck!"

"Why? Is the machine broken again? Did you let the secretaries know?"

"No, the machine isn't broken. But it doesn't take 50€ notes. I didn't know that. But that's all I have with me right now!"

"Unfortunately, I can't break it down," Jessica shakes her head. Susanne, Karina and Monika cannot help either. Nadine looks in her purse, but that's not enough either.

"Between the five of us we probably have fifty euros, but that won't do you any good either," Susanne announces.

"That's what happens when the rich daughter only gets big bills as pocket money," Jessica teases.

"I'm only doing that because I have to invite YOU today. Otherwise, 20 euros would have been more than enough!" Leonie replies with a grin. Jessica plays offended while the others laugh.

"You can ask the secretaries later if they can break up your bill."

"If it doesn't work out, you'll have to pay for me again today." Leonie turns to Jessica.

Who looks dejected: "I don't know if that will work, I don't have much left on the card myself."

Just as Frau Wollschläger, the Maths teacher, approaches, they agree that Susanne will step in if Leonie cannot top up her card.



Well, Maths is over at some point. Then German. The German lesson today is no more interesting than yesterday's lesson and so Leonie - and pretty much every other pupil of 11A - is secretly happy when Mr. Fischer has completed his forty-five minutes. The teacher is probably happy as well to have survived these annoying students for the day.

During the second recess, Leonie peers into her backpack again. Should she, or shouldn't she? Should she get the flat pouch out of the backpack?

After what happened yesterday, she doesn't really feel like wearing her brace in school at the moment. And yet: There's a tingling in the stomach area when she thinks about whether she should perhaps strap on the bow ANYWAY. If she stays here in the upper-class wing where the little ones normally won't go, it should be reasonably safe, shouldn't it?

On the other hand, she really shouldn't overdo it! Even if she had fabricated her story in such a way that it is quite important for her to wear her headgear: If she wears her headgear 'too much', it will eventually be noticed. And her classmates might wonder why Leonie behaves so 'unnaturally'. She shouldn't do that!

In the next moment that entire thought is forgotten again. Jessica reminds her that she wanted to change money. She has to go to the secretary's office to do this. And to walk through the main hall with headgear? AGAIN? After what happened yesterday? No thanks. Certainly not! So, no headgear during recess!

Thanks to the helpful ladies in the secretary's office, the 50€ note is quickly broken up and the cash card is topped up with 50€ a short time later.



However, this takes so much time that they now have to hurry up a bit. Because the fifth and sixth period is Sports. And the way to the gym is a bit longer, as Jessica explains. They shouldn't therefore set off too late. Especially since they still have to change.

The gym is attached to the secondary school, explains Karina. The Gymnasium only has a right of joint use, so to speak. She also explains that the gym halls are also used from time to time for regional sporting events. And that there was even a big table tennis tournament last year.

"You almost sound like Christoph!" Jessica rolls her eyes.

"You don't like Christoph?" Leonie asks in astonishment. On Monday they had sat together without any problems. Even if the boy isn't with them as much as he was on the first day of school, he seemed quite nice.

"I have nothing against him, really," Jessica acknowledges. "He's quite nice. And usually easy to deal with. But once he starts 'revealing his untamed knowledge', he won't even stop rambling when no one is listening to him anymore."



As Leonie had feared, they really do continue with high jumps. No matter how hard Leonie tries, she is dead-last and just manages to keep the distance between her and the second-to-last from getting too big. Even Susanne, who is a head shorter, jumps significantly higher than Leonie.

"It's no wonder," the girl gasps. "You don't weigh anything! You can almost levitate over the bar. I'll have to be glad if I don't jump through underneath!"

For the first time she has contact with the girls from her parallel class. Of course, Leonie has seen most of them in the hallway in the past two and a half days. But this is the first time that most of them are consciously aware of the newcomer from 11A.

Leonie had decided to keep an eye out for Christina. The girl from 11B who's the only one who still has braces. Apart from Leonie herself of course. She was quite willing to look at the mouths of all the girls in 11B, but then a more unobtrusive way of identification occurred to her: Christoph had mentioned that Christina had dyed her hair 'gray' - or 'ash blonde'.

With that it is not difficult to recognize the girl in question. But there would have been another way of identification. It would have sufficed to call Christina a 'sports ace': she jumps higher than everyone else. And even when no one can follow her anymore, the 'grey-haired' girl still seems to perform her feats quite effortlessly.

"That's because of her balloons," Jessica teases, "they give her lift." Leonie enviously has to admit that Christina is indeed - well - 'rather well endowed'. Even if that - to be honest - can't exactly be beneficial for the high jump.

When Leonie lets herself be carried away to an impressed "Man, you're good!", Christina smiles back at her. A smile of which Leonie doesn't know whether it's supposed to express joy at the praise or says: »You call that good? I haven't even started.« Or maybe »What does Chubby McChubbington want from me?«

Leonie's heart skips a beat when there's a familiar silver glint between Christina's lips during her smile. She would have liked to talk a little more with the girl. But she doesn't get the chance, because the sports teacher isn't happy with Leonie standing around idly. »Go on, go on, hopp, hopp«

Ms. Sorija is probably the teacher Leonie will have the most problems with. Because the teacher definitely has her favorites. And everyone who doesn't belong to her favorites has to suffer from sarcastic, snarky and sometimes even downright mean comments. It's easy to know, who belongs to the illustrious circle: The more athletic, the higher up the favorite ladder.

Christina is praised to the skies, while Leonie is being told that she should stay on the move lest she accidentally starts sprouting roots.

"Stupid bitch," Leonie murmurs under her breath as the double lesson finally comes to an end. She can't wait to get changed and head back to her normal school.

The one that sounds REALLY odd to me is how, in America, younger people (well on TV and films they do...) will call their seniors "Sir". The only real time we'll get "sir" in England is a worker (eg a waiter/ress, or Customer Service person) addressing a customer, although often, when they know your name will use either "Mr X" or your first name (although they usually ask if that's ok).

Maybe the "Sir" goes hand in hand with the "Child"?

Referring to the child as "child" is also very unusual in German. I noticed it when reading the German story and perceived it as the personal style of the author.

Is it really that uncommon? To me it feels natural. I always assumed this to be a regional thing, kind of like a dialect.
That just goes to show that I don't know my mother tongue as well as I thought.

Oh well... if this is to become my "personal style", I won't mind    I'm (more or less) happy with me writing the way I do. And I guess, that's the main aspect? Having fun?

Chapter 32a/56 - Lunch break, Part 2

"What a lovely mood," Christoph had joined the group of girls. And now he's obviously thinking about leaving again.

"Not at all," Jessica snaps.

"It's okay, then I'll be going again," the boy replies.

"Stay here," Leonie waves him back. "You are not bothering us."

Christoph thinks about what he got himself into, but then he decides to stay. "So? How have you settled in here so far?"

Leonie shrugs. "Can't complain. Of course it will still take a few days before I'm familiar with all the procedures, but I already feel quite at home. Thanks to all of you, I actually feel really welcome."

Now it's up to the others to blush. "Well, she certainly knows how to butter us up," laughs Nadine. But it is clear that everyone present is flattered.

"I don't want to make any comparisons between Kiel and here, I think, that would be unfair," says the newcomer, only to break her intention again in the very next sentence: "I feel more comfortable here. Of course it's difficult to say after two days, but... well, yeah... that's how it is!"

"If I may ask, what's the big difference?"

"Phew, hard to describe." Leonie searches for words: "I would say: The Northern Lights are much more distant. Sitting together like this would have been unthinkable on the third day in Kiel. I think it took almost a month to get halfway accepted. Of course, I had friends up there as well. It's not like I've been all alone. Not at all. But it just took longer. You're a lot more open overall."



"Anyone who is open to everything, has obviously flipped their lid" smiles Karina, who has already recovered from having been reprimanded by Jessica.

Comment: That sadly is an untranslatable German proverb. I tried to approximate it. As far as I understand, it's probably not correct, but I'll use "having flipped one's lid" as a synonym for "being a bit dense". While it's not very funny in the German version, here it is even less so, sorry

"Well, in that case, you definitely are open to everything!" Jessica grins.

"Stupid bitch!" Suddenly Karina looks over at her classmate angrily. Jaws clenched tight, lips narrow, eyes piercing.

This is of course noticed by Jessica, who becomes insecure. "What's up?"

"You know very well!", Karina flares up.

"I don't."

"Yes, I can see that you don't understand anything!", hisses Karina.

"Can someone explain to me what's wrong with Karina now?" Jessica turns to the bystanders, in an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the whole thing with humor.

The two stare at each other grumpily while most of the others look away embarrassed. Nadine finally tries to mediate: "Jessy, you just called Karina a school-mattress!"

Christoph chokes and Leonie looks back and forth between the girls with wide eyes.

"I did not!" Jessica retorts.

A second passes, then another. Neither girl shows any sign of wanting to give in.

For Leonie, it seems like everyone - except her - knows. She turns to Susanne in a low whisper. "What's going on?"

Who replies just as quietly: "Some years ago, a fight about a boy both had the hots for and..."

"Susi! That's a matter between Jessy and me! It's nobody else's business!" Karina hisses, who has heard it anyway.

Embarrassed, Susanne looks to the side and Leonie raises her hands defensively. "I'm sorry, I didn't..."

"Oh damn, Karina, I'm sorry," Jessica blurts out, "I didn't mean to say that. You know that! I didn't even mean to imply it. It's all over now! I haven't been angry with you for a long time now. You know that! Don't you?"

Karina is surprised. She obviously hadn't expected an apology. But she's also still pissed off. "And what DID you want to say?"

Again, Nadine mediates: "That you are a bit 'dense', Karina. »Anyone who is open to everything, obviously has flipped their lid«. Those were YOUR words. And Jessy just turned it around. »Anyone who has flipped their lid, must be open to everything« Don't get angry at me now, Karina, but you have 'flipped your lid'. You definitely are a bit 'dense' from time to time!"

Karina blinks once. Twice. Three times. Then she grins awkwardly: "I never said that I wasn't!"

Jessica shakes her head: "This girl will bring me to my grave!"

"But if I'm a bit dense, then what about HER?" Karina demands, pointing in Jessica's direction.

Who grins lopsided: "Me? I'm completely bonkers!" and rolls her eyes.

"We're all a little 'abnormal'," Nadine tries desperately to get a good mood going again.

"I'm still the most normal of us here!", Christoph interjects. Mostly for saying anything at all and not just standing there stupidly.

"Dream on," laughs Susanne awkwardly.

"Well, ALL of you are nutcases, I can tell. That must be the school. And because I haven't been here long, I have to be the most normal of us!" Leonie's lips form a strained grin.

Everyone's eyes are on her and Jessica replies dry as a bone: "Anyone who voluntarily wears headgear to school has automatically lost all rights to being called 'normal'!"

Karina snorts. A minute later, Karina and Jessica are good friends again. Just in time for afternoon classes to begin.

Luckily, her friends don't realize that Leonie's head is redder than it should be in this situation. Of course, Jessica didn't mean any harm. But being called »not normal« left its mark.

Chapter 33a/56 - Considerations, Part 2

A few minutes later, the more pressing part of her homework is finally done. More than ready for a break, she asks her father, "By the way: What are you doing?"

He sighs, "I'm trying to keep track of all this stuff. These are different documents. And sometimes different versions of the same document. And I try to have the important parts all visible at the same time so I can correlate the data better."

Leonie sighs and puts her notebooks aside. "You can use my desk as well." When her father shakes his head, the girl gets up. "I'm way too tired right now; I absolutely can't concentrate on my homework. Feel free to use my desk."

"You still have homework to do, don't you?"

"I've finished the important stuff. There's still time for the rest. Really, dad. I'm done for now!"

"And what are you doing instead?"

In response, Leonie points to the corner of the living room, where the half-assembled bedside table is still waiting to be assembled into a working unit.



An astonishingly short time later, the small bedside cabinet has taken shape. Leonie looks at her father and smiles. Completely engrossed in his papers, he mumbles under his breath, his eyes darting from sheet to sheet. Several pens - as markers - give the impression of having been randomly strewn across the desk.

A large amount of papers, which only her father still can keep apart, has completely spread over the two desks. He has pushed his daughter's chair out of the way and now rolls his own chair back and forth between the tables.

Even if Leonie wanted to do her homework now, she would have had to find another place to do it. Maybe the low living room table? Or better in the kitchen? She certainly will not get her desk back any time today.

She gets up quietly and carries her bedside table to her room. This makes it even more cramped in here: She has just enough room to open the doors of her wardrobe. And that doesn't work completely either, because the doors hit the edge of the bed first.

The TV is on the window sill, and the game console that goes with it is under the bed. And the bedside table is now so much in the way that Leonie has to be careful not to bang her toes on it while she's half asleep. That's what happens when a closet is turned into a children's bedroom.



She lies down on her bed, hands clasped behind her head. A few things are going around in her head, imposing themselves on her, whether she likes it or not.

What she thinks about the longest is a remark she casually dropped at school two days ago: »Maybe I'll get my own apartment during the summer holidays. It doesn't make sense now, in the middle of the school year... But at the beginning of the next year? Let's see.«

In the time she lies on her bed and thinks about it, she doesn't come to a conclusion. She doesn't want to leave her father. Neither does she want him to be alone, nor does she want to be alone herself. On the other hand, the thought of having to move again in six months isn't particularly tempting either.

She doesn't want to have to leave her newfound friends again. And the fact that next school year will be her last doesn't help either. After all, she has to prepare for Abitur at some point!

So, it would really make sense to come to terms with 'settling down' from now on. At least until after graduation. At the same time, however, her father's job means that he has to change places of work as well as residence every few months. To ask her father to stay here for the next year and a half? No, she can't do that. He wouldn't be able to stand that. Maybe now really is the time to get used to the idea of looking for her own apartment and to go separate ways from now on?

Or maybe some kind of middle ground? When it's time for the next move, she'll stay here. In this very apartment. Her father will move and rent an apartment wherever his job takes him. But at the weekend he comes back here, and they can spend a few days together? Or she visits him? Alternating, one weekend her, the next there? Maybe she should suggest this idea to her father?

When the time comes to take care of dinner - her father is far too engrossed in his work to notice the passage of time - Leonie doesn't feel that her thoughts have advanced much. She hasn't even come to a decision as to whether she should really think about looking for her own apartment in the summer holidays. How is she there supposed to ask her father for advice?

Especially since she already knows, what he's going to say: »You don't need to believe that you have to tie yourself to me, child. You have your own life.«

Maybe she should wait and see how the school year develops? If she makes really good friends at school, maybe she really wants to finish her school here? And if Obereisenbach turns out to be a class full of idiots after all, might she want to move with her father again?

She will probably have to wait a few more weeks before she can seriously think about a decision.

Chapter 35/56 - Choosing an orthodontist

But for now, during the second recess, Leonie is making her way from her normal classroom to the biology room. "Tell me, folks, which orthodontists are there in the area?"

"Why do you ask?"

Leonie shrugs. "No special reason, I'm just curious."

"You won't have much choice," explains Jessica, counting on her fingers, "There's Dr. Mann. Then there's Dr. Klein. And what's the name of the other one? Jägerlein? Something like that at least."

"His name is Jeddermann. But he quit two years ago," corrects Karina. "He treated me, so I know that. I was one of his last patients!"

"But other than that? I think that was all. So only two all-in-all! Not much choice. Especially not when you're going all the way to Munich to go to the orthodontist!" Jessica teases.

"What? Who is going to Munich for that?" Annika wants to know. She and Konrad were within earshot and spontaneously decided to join the conversation. To be more precise: Annika decided that and Konrad has to follow, whether he wants to or not. He would have preferred being alone with 'his girl' right now.

Annika had not been part of the elect circle in the study room on Monday when Leonie told her story. She found it more important to 'have fun' with Konrad under the stairs to the gym. And so of course she doesn't know.

"Who goes all the way to Munich? Leonie!" Karina points with her thumb over her shoulders to the girl walking at the end of the group.

"Munich? Really? For the dentist? That's far. Why are you going so far away?"

"Not for the normal dentist, but for the orthodontist," corrects Leonie and then gives a brief summary of the reason: The doctor from Kiel had recommended the one from Munich. So they went there.

Then she shrugs her shoulders: "But I don't know if we should continue to go to him. As you just said, Annika: That's still quite a long way away. Of course, not as far as Kiel, but much further than the doctors here."

"Dr. Mann is right here in Obereisenbach. Would be just few minutes' walk for you. And Dr. Klein is in Fischbach. About half an hour from here."

Leonie nods. "And that's exactly the reason why I'm considering changing doctors. I spoke to my father yesterday. And he wouldn't mind if he didn't always have to drive me all the way to Munich. Because that's still takes an entire afternoon!"



"You don't have a driver's license yet?" Konrad asks. "You're already 18 after all! You could drive yourself." The way he says it sounds a little arrogant.

Leonie shakes her head. "I didn't want to do that with all the moving every few months. It would have been stupid to interrupt driving school because we're moving again. It's possible that I'd have to start all over again after the move... Besides, I've only been an adult for four months. So, it wouldn't have helped me that much yet! But you already have a driver's license, Konrad?"

He nods. "For a year. In the beginning, of course, I was only allowed to drive 'supervised', but now I'm 18! Now I'm allowed to do everything!" Yes, he definitely sounds arrogant. "Now my parents aren't allowed to ride with me anymore!"

"Now only Annika is allowed to ride with you in the passenger seat - or to ride you in the back seat," says Karina dryly. Giggles all around. Annika looks angry, but Karina doesn't mind.

"You know," Leonie now specifically addresses Konrad and Annika, who don't know all the facts yet, "The doctor in Munich didn't continue the treatment of the doctor from Kiel, as I had hoped. Instead, he totally changed my treatment again. That's why I have to wear this stupid headgear now!"

She blushes. Although Konrad and Annika have seen her with it multiple times in the meantime, it is still embarrassing to talk about it with 'other' people.

She shrugs. "I just don't see anymore, why we should go all the way to Munich if the doctor can't stick to the 'rules'. I can't mess up my treatment anymore if I change doctors AGAIN. And that would have the advantage that the doctors here are much easier to reach!"

"I already told you on Monday," Jessica interjects.

Leonie shrugs her shoulders: "And where were you three weeks ago when dad and I were faced with exactly this decision?" Jessica has no meaningful answer to that.

They have long since arrived at the door of the biology room and have put their backpacks in the corner.

"Anyway, Dad wouldn't mind either if I went to a local orthodontist. Would be easier for all of us! I'm seriously considering going to one of them now. What are their names again? Dr. Mann and Dr. Klein? At least as long as they aren't as**oles?!" The last one was formulated more as a question than as a statement.

"They aren't as**oles. They're both OK.", is the conclusion of the group.

"Dr. Mann is here in town, if I understood Jessy correctly. That speaks in his favor. But what about Dr. Klein? What's he like? Is one of the two maybe your 'favorite'?"

"Dr. Klein is a woman!", Annika corrects. "She's not that old and only opened her practice a few years ago. But she's super nice. And I'm happy with the result too! Even now, after a few years, it still looks good without anything having moved! So, I can only recommend her. If that helps you?"

"That definitely helps, thanks, Annika." Leonie is secretly surprised: Annika seems to be quite nice. She hadn't had much to do with the girl before, but somehow, she had always assumed Annika to be conceited - like her crush Konrad.

She seems to have been wrong about that. Konrad, on the other hand, is definitely a bit of a buffoon.



"OK, thanks, that helps me a lot! Who did the rest of you go to?" She looks around.

"As I said, I went to Dr. Jeddermann. But he has quit in the meantime." That was Karina. "So, it doesn't matter what I think of him!"

"That doesn't sound particularly enthusiastic?" Leonie digs deeper.

"He was an as**ole. I wouldn't have recommended you go to him. But it doesn't matter anymore."

"I was also with Dr. Mann", Christoph then explains again that his treatment only lasted for a year because his teeth weren't too crooked. And then he starts into a lengthy explanation of how Dr. Mann's practice is set up, that he has a large treatment room with three or four chairs, but things like that are now going out of fashion because single rooms are now popular and that he is more or less remotely related to him, but they still don’t know each other and he only knows that because his mother does some genealogical research and that Dr. Mann had previously worked at a university clinic, but left there because...

Eventually Jessica manages to slow down his flow of speech without stepping on his toes too much. She looks over at Leonie with a look that says: »That's what I meant when I said that Christoph sometimes is hard to stop!« Leonie grins back.

Like Karina, Konrad was with Dr. Jeddermann and shares her assessment of his character. Nadine was with Dr. Mann.



Many eyes turn to Jessica. Who is slowly but surely turning red. "I guess I don't need to mention it, but... well... you don't have to ask ME where I've been."

And really, this question does not arise because it's clear that Jessica hasn't undergone any orthodontic treatment. Her teeth aren't overly crooked, but compared to her classmates' straight teeth, she would've benefited from treatment.

On the other hand, as already said, Jessica's misalignments aren't too dramatic. And the girl has no problem with this little 'blemish'. She doesn't hide it but laughs confidently.

"If... if I may ask anyway...", Leonie begins cautiously.

"Why didn't I see an orthodontist?" replies Jessica. "Quite simply: because my parents thought that it wasn't necessary." Then she shrugs; it's clear that this topic has come to an end.

Leonie nods. She doesn't want to annoy her friend. The question didn't go down well with Jessica, so she doesn't want to ask a second question. Even if Leonie is very much interested in why Jessica's parents thought their daughter didn't need treatment.



"And you, Susanne?" The petite girl is the last of the group who hasn't revealed who her orthodontist was. Leonie had considered for a moment whether she should ask Susanne at all. After all, the girl doesn't want to talk about her braces.

Leonie wants to know however and decides to ask nonetheless. After all, the question about the orthodontist is a legitimate one. If everyone had been asked - except for Susanne - that only would attract more attention than necessary. As long as Susanne isn't specifically asked about her headgear, the girl hopefully shouldn't have a problem with it either.

At least as long as Karina doesn't babble without thinking again. However, as often as that girl puts her foot in it, it could end in disaster. Susanne seems to have the same concern, because she nervously looks over at her before she finally answers, "I went to Dr. Klein too! I can't complain either, my teeth... ended up straight as well."

Damn it, Karina is opening her mouth now. If she starts pronouncing the word 'headgear', she's needs to get kicked on the shins immediately!

But for once Karina luckily does not spout any nonsense. She merely announces: "If I haven't miscounted, it's 3:3. The same number of people have been to Dr. Mann and Dr. Klein. No clear favorite recognizable. You'll have to choose one, Leonie!"



"Well, you guys don't make it easy for me," jokes Leonie. Then she pulls out her cell phone and switches to Google Maps. Shortly thereafter, she announces her decision: "I think I've decided on Dr. Klein. From your side there is no clear favorite. Google Maps tells me however, that it is shorter from Thalfeld - where I live - to Dr. Klein in Fischbach than to Dr. Mann in Obereisenbach."

"Or you could walk straight to Dr. Mann after school," Jessica objects.

"I could. But then I'd miss my bus. And then Dad would have to pick me up. That doesn't make sense either... If he has to drive me regardless, then it's better to go to Fischbach. That's shorter."

"That's true," Jessica has to admit. "I didn't remember that you have to take the bus home after that."

The others acknowledge Leonie's decision with a nod. Why not? The choice of orthodontist is not so important that you have to put in a lot of work. After all, both doctors are fine!



That there is a reason for Leonie to strongly prefer Dr. Klein, none of the bystanders know. It was a small, inconsequential statement from one of the girls that significantly influenced Leonie's decision. Everything after that was just pro forma. Searching in Google Maps? The decision had long been made; that was pure show, to be able to give the others a plausible reason.

Now, what is this one mysterious statement? »I also went to Dr. Klein!« Those were Susanne's words. Susanne had said that! Susanne! The girl, who had to wear headgear during her treatment, had been to Dr. Klein!

Everything else is irrelevant.

Leonie feels her heart pounding against her chest as she texts her father: »I spoke to the people in my class. They all recommend Dr. Klein in Fischbach. Is supposed to be the best doctor far and wide. Can you see if you can get an appointment? L.«