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Description
Friday afternoon. All Loud siblings had an appointment to see dentist. Rita assisted Dr. Feinstein in checking dental state of all her children starting from the youngest. After Lucy came into dentist room Lincoln looked at the audience.

Lincoln: [to the audience] Periodic examinations in a family as big as mine can take whole day. Mom always takes part in checking our teeth. I don't know which of us is Dr. Feinstein's favorite patient, but surely that's not me. If mom wasn't employed here, I would never visited this place intentionally. I've never liked dentist visits. After each one I can't eat my favorite snacks for an hour and what's worse each of my visits is painful. I can't endure drilling or the disgusting substances Dr. Feinstein puts forcefully into my mouth. Oh, my turn is coming, I hope it will end quickly.

Lucy left the dentist room and Lincoln approached her to speak with her.

Lincoln: How is the visit, Luce?

Lucy: [sarcastically] Why are you asking, if you already know the answer? I spent several hours on blackening my teeth and mom undid everything in half hour.

Lincoln: It's called Ohaguro and it was practiced on Japanese women to prevent adultery of arranged brides.

Lucy: I didn't know that. I just wanted to have black teeth. I don't have a black heart, so I'm already pitying you. There wasn't a time you came back home happy after dentist visit.

Lincoln: [nervously] Thanks for your sympathy, Lucy. Now it's my turn, I hope it won't be anything serious.

Rita: Lincoln, come here. Sit on the chair now, your older sisters also want to be checked.

Lincoln: I doubt that. Let's do it quickly.

Dr Feinstein: Good afternoon, Lincoln. I hope your dental hygiene has been improved since our last meeting.

Rita: I do my best to make my 11 children take care for their teeth, but it is so hard to keep them all in check.

Dr Feinstein looked into Lincoln's mouth and frowned.

Dr Feinstein: Hm, I'm not pleased, young boy. Your upper jaw is so deformed that I need to take drastic measures.

Rita: He means you must wear braces.

Lincoln: [shocked] What?! I don't want to have braces and I don't need them!

Rita: Sorry, son, but I agree with Dr. Feinstein. I warn you it's going to be painful for several days, but you'll adjust to this just like Luan and Lori before you.

Lincoln: I said I don't want it! I like my jaw like it is.

Dr Feinstein: For now, but in few years you'll be afraid of looking in the mirror. Rita, bring the album and show it to your son.

Rita showed Lincoln album called "British Smiles". After watching few pictures Lincoln got so shocked that he lost consciousness.

Rita: It was supposed to encourage him to wear braces, not to scare him.

Dr Feinstein: At least we don't need to use sleeping gas now. Rita, prepare braces.

After several hours Lincoln woke up in his room feeling great toothache. After leaving his room he met Lola.

Lola: [smug] Come on, say something. I want to hear it.

Lincoln: [spitting] What do you want, Lola? I just had a dream about tomorrow dentist visit. [gasp] What's that?

Lola: [laugh] You sound so funny now! That visit was today. [laugh]

Lincoln: [spitting] So it was no dream. Give me a mirror.

Lola: [laugh] Here you are. Just don't get scared.

Lola gave Lincoln her compact with mirror. Lincoln looked in the mirror, he got shocked and angry.

Lincoln: [spitting] Dang it! I look terrible!

Lola: Rather more terrible than usually. I am beautiful and I will never be a freak like you.

Lincoln: [spitting] Freak? You little...

Lola: [laugh] Keep talking, it amuses me.

Lincoln: [spitting] You know, you're wrong. You look exactly like Lori in your age.

Lola: What of it?

Lincoln: [spitting] She also used to wear braces. If you look like her, then maybe you'll also have dental deformations and wear braces too. So don't be so cocky, because I will bite back!

Lola got surprised by Lincoln's response, she got angry and run away.

Lola: Mom! Lincoln threatened me!

Lincoln: [to the audience, spitting] I hope rest of the sisters won't laugh from me. How could mom do it to me despite my protests?

Rita: Lincoln, come to me now! How could you say such thing to Lola?

Lincoln: [spitting] She laughed from my agony. How do could you do this to me?

Rita: By neglecting your dental hygiene you brought it on yourself. But don't change topic. Apologize Lola now.

Lincoln: [spitting] Only if she apologizes me first for mocking me and laughing.

Rita: Lola, your brother didn't behave his best, but you shouldn't have laughed from him. You should have known he's going to have painful days not laugh from it. Apologize him.

Lola: [annoyed] I won't apologize for telling the truth!

Rita: [annoyed] You two, apologize each other now or you'll be grounded!

Lincoln and Lola: I'm sorry.

Rita: Lola, you can leave, Lincoln stay here.

Lincoln: [spitting] Mom, why did you not even protest, when Dr Feinstein suggested braces? I feel pain in all my teeth and I look grotesque.

Rita: Don't worry. After minimum a year I'll remove it. If we didn't put it, you would have had problem with proper speaking and chewing food in the future.

Lincoln: [spitting] Do you hear how I speak now?

Rita: I also used to wear braces and as a result I have teeth in perfect shape.

Lincoln: [spitting] My classmates will make fun of me just like Lola.

Rita: In my times braces were less convenient, be glad orthodontics have been greatly improved since then. You'll have to adjust to this. It won't be easy, but surely faster than in my times.

Lincoln: [spitting] I don't want to adjust, I want to remove it. Please, mom, remove it now.

Rita: Impossible. I can only promise you the pain will disappear after maximum 3 days. Luan was younger than you, when she got her first braces. You can speak with her about it. Actually we all inherit this dental deformation. That's in our genes.

Lincoln: [spitting] I never saw Luna, Leni or Lynn with braces.

Rita: Luna and Leni used to wear removable braces and Lynn will develop deformation sooner or later.

Lincoln: [sadly, spitting] Sorry, mom, but that doesn't help.

Rita: As a professional dentist I'll give you advices I hope you'll follow them.

Lincoln: [obedient and sad tone] I'm listening.

Rita: Good. You have to eat soft food, cut your food into very small pieces, chew your food with back teeth and by all means avoid hard and sticky food. One more thing brush your teeth after every single meal.

Lincoln: [sarcastically, spitting] Great. Most of foods I like were just crossed out from my menu.

Lincoln left Rita's room. He met Luan waiting for him in his room.

Luan: Good day, Brace Bro. Now we have something to talk about. Let's Em-Brace for this moment. [giggle]

Lincoln: [spitting] I'm not in mood for jokes or hugging. Why do you not spit, when you talk?

Luan: On the start I also spat. I just learned how to control it.

Suddenly Lincoln started suffering bigger pain, so he grabbed his face to ease the pain.

Lincoln: [spitting] How do you endure this pain?

Luan: When I got my first braces, I felt great pain like you now. [she made sad face] You have my sympathy. To forget this pain I tried to laugh a lot.

Lincoln: [spitting] This won't work. I don't have your sense of humor. I fear how will my classmates treat me with this full metal jaw.

Luan: Didn't you just say you aren't in mood for jokes?

Lincoln: [spitting] That's not a joke, but expression of my anger. Were you mocked at school for having braces?

Luan: Sadly yes. Both elementary and middle school. My schoolmates called me by many awful names and avoided me before they even knew me. I befriended some other students with braces and introduced them my comedy talents.

Lincoln: [spitting] None of my classmates wears braces. I am the only one.

Luan: But look at the bright side. Now we're both "Brace Siblings". Before that we didn't have much to talk about. I will show you how to brush teeth with braces tonight.

Lincoln: [spitting] It's lunch time. Let's join our sisters.

At the table Lincoln was eating lunch along with Luan Lori, Leni, Luna and Lynn.

Leni: How can this be that you eat your favorite food and don't smile?

Lincoln: [spitting] With this pain all tastes the same. I must focus on careful eating rather than taste of my food.

Leni: Yuck! Don't spit around!

Lincoln: [spitting] I don't control it!

Lori: In my case the pain lasted only one day. I literally wish you the same.

Lincoln: Lori, how did you deal with this pain?

Lori: I did all, what could distract me from the pain. I watched TV, read books, had various activities. You can play video games to forget about the pain.

Leni: Shame you didn't get removable braces. I used to put mine during nighttime and removed it when I woke up morning.

Lincoln: [spitting] I have to tolerate it constantly. I can't speak normally and I fear my own mirror reflection.

Luan: You'll adjust to this like me.

Lori: The best is after removing braces. I have teeth in perfect shape thanks to this.

Luna: My removable braces improved my speech and singing. You'll have many advantages thanks to this, dude.

Lincoln: Lori, how did you deal with schoolmates?

Lori: I literally showed them that braces don't make me defenseless. I also studied a lot to have best grades and trained a lot of golf to earn respect.

Lincoln: [spitting] In both ways I'm not an ace. It will be hard.

Lori: No pain no gain.

Lynn: I'm lucky I never had to wear braces. My teeth are healthy thanks to my diet.

Lincoln: Mom said that we all inherit this and you won't avoid it.

Lynn: She lied to you to make you feel better. Sorry, but that's the truth.

Lincoln: [spitting] You know what? I just lost my appetite.

Lynn: Can I eat your food then? Wasting it would be a sin.

Lori: No! Lincoln, you won't leave the table until your plate is empty. Eat now.

After lunch Lincoln tried to play with Lily, but she was afraid of his new appearance. She also didn't recognize his voice because of the braces much to Lincoln's sadness. Lana wanted to play with Lincoln, but his braces scared her pets. Lucy actually liked Lincoln's new look, but had problem with understanding what he was saying. She read him her poem "Internal Pain" what made him no longer want to talk with her. He left Lucy alone and she sighed out of disappointment. At night Luan instructed Lincoln how to brush teeth with braces. He thanked her and went into his bed. He had problems with getting sleep.

Next day Lincoln woke up with pain in teeth smaller than yesterday. After he stood up he heard dropping. He looked down and saw blood drops, he realized his braces wounded his mouth much to his horror. He run quickly to bathroom, but it was already occupied by Lori. Luan opened door of her room and saw sad Lincoln.

Luan: Morning, Brace Bro, what's up?

Lincoln: [spitting] I'm bleeding because of the braces.

Luan: Oh, I see what's the problem. Sometimes my braces also wound my mouth. Come to me.

Lincoln: [spitting] Please, help me if you can.

Lincoln went into Luan's room and closed door. Luna was not in this room.

Luan: I have a salve to solve this problem. [giggle]

Luan gave Lincoln a small box with the salve right into his hands.

Luan: I should have warned you yesterday, I'm sorry. Now take a sample on your finger and rub your mouth with it.

Lincoln: [spitting] Like this?

Luan: That's right.

Lincoln: [spitting] It doesn't taste like pizza, but I can tolerate it. But how will I brush my teeth now?

Luan: [facepalm] Oh, silly me. I should have given you this after brushing your teeth, not before. I am as daft as a brush. [giggle]

Lincoln: [spitting] At least you try to help me.

During breakfast Lincoln didn't enjoy taste of his food, because the salve in his mouth made all taste bad. He looked annoyed at Luan thinking she forgot to tell him about it also. Luan understood his glare perfectly and made a silly face only.

Later like Lori advised Lincoln tried to keep his mind occupied to forget about pain, but reading comics and playing video games didn't help him at all. Whole noise in house caused by his sisters' antics made him feel pain even stronger. Instead of yelling he just decided to go for a walk. Luan stopped him by grabbing his arm.

Luan: Do you prefer to play alone instead of playing with your sisters?

Lincoln: [spitting] I do not play. Those braces give me only troubles. Lily and our pets fear me, but the worst is this pain and this noise only makes it stronger.

Luan: Follow me to the attic.

Lincoln and Luan went to attic and the girl closed the door to limit the noise.

Lincoln: [spitting] It's quite quiet here.

Luan: Funny choice of words.

Lincoln: [hopeless tone, spitting] If you want to make me feel better by your jokes then it will take very long.

Luan: So you forgot. [sigh] We used to come here as children to play hide and seek.

Lincoln: Well, I start to remember. Leni was so silly that she always hid herself in this crate and was always the first one to be found. You on other hand always set a trap before your hideout.

Luan: Yes. Also when Luna was the seeker she always sang about how she found one of us.

Lincoln: [spitting] For example, when she found me she sang "I've found my bro, who he hid like a crow". [giggle]

Luan: To me she sang "Luan is found, time for second round".

Lincoln: [spitting] And about Leni "Leni again in crate, your imagination is second rate". [giggle] What are you doing?

Luan: I'm searching for my old hand puppets. They will give you a helpful hand. [giggle]

Lincoln: [spitting] What is this all about?

Luan showed Lincoln hand puppets of white and black bunnies.

Luan: Do you remember our old buddies Bianca and Blake? They were your favorite puppets, when you were little.

Lincoln: [spitting] Don't tell me you brought me here to give me a puppet show.

Luan: It always improved your mood, when you got injured or your toy was broken or you feared something. I guess it will help now as well.

Luan gave Lincoln some funny dialogues between her hand puppets. He enjoyed this not because of his sister's humor, but because of how funny she was moving her puppets. After several dialogues he asked her for Blake so they both could play together. Later they were sitting next to each other and looking through attic window.

Lincoln: [spitting] This sight didn't change for years.

Luan: But we have changed just like our interests.

Lincoln: [spitting] Sometimes I miss good old times, when we were younger and closer as we had nearly same interests.

Luan: You played with all of us as a toddler. You enjoyed my puppet shows. Your laughs were reward for me, because it meant you liked my plays.

Lincoln: [spitting] Now you try to entertain the twins and Lily by this.

Luan: Audience gets older and replaced by younger, but the artist remains the same and works for the new generations.

Lincoln: [spitting] I see. You know, you just helped me to forget about my pain. Aghh... Why did I mention it?

Luan: [annoyed] You just undid whole my hard work! How painful it is to get rid of pain. What a crazy irony. [giggle]

Lincoln: [spitting] Actually the pain is smaller. You did it well. Thank you, sis.

Luan: I'm glad you appreciate it. I've always believed that laugh is the best painkiller. [smile] I had a lot to speak about with Lori, when she began wearing her braces. She could give advices about dealing with them. I hoped I can talk with you too since we're both brace siblings now.

Lincoln: [spitting] You wear your braces for many years. Are there any profits from this?

Luan: You don't get money for wearing few pounds of metal on teeth. [giggle] But seriously my braces improved my speech, so my jokes are heard loudly and clearly.

Lincoln: [spitting] When do you expect them to be removed?

Luan: I don't mind it. I look funny with them as I can replace some parts for ones in different color. Once I looked like I ate rainbow. [giggle]

Lincoln: [spitting] I remember this, we all laughed from this. [smile] Luan, you helped me a lot, thank you. [he hugged Luan]

Luan: I should laugh to express happiness, but you just made me cry out of this joy. That's a true paradox.

Lincoln: [spitting] I often say it, but I'll say it again. I love you for making me happy.

Luan: Please, stop, because you make me cry more.

Lincoln: [spitting] The sun is shining strong today. Look how much light is here.

Luan: How about a small shadow puppets show? Let's do it together. I promise to not overshadow you. [giggle]

Both siblings performed shadow puppetry. Luan was happy, because she was making Lincoln happy. It reminded her how she used to entertain him when he was a toddler. Those old memories made Luan smile out of joy.

At Sunday Lincoln felt the pain no longer and he learned how to not spit during talking. At Monday he went to school with his younger sisters. Luan and Lynn returned from middle school first and then Lincoln returned in company of Lucy.

Luan: Hey, Brace Bro.

Lincoln: [angry] Don't call me that!

Luan: Hey, why are you so aggressive? I just greeted you.

Lincoln: [sadly] Sorry. I had a bad day at school. You aren't the cause of my problem, so I apologize again.

Luan: What exactly happened to you?

Lincoln: Well...

Lucy: He won't tell you whole truth.

Lincoln: Lucy, please don't.

Lucy: You have to tell it, brother. For your own good.

Lincoln: I can't.

Lucy: You're disappointing me. Then I will tell it.

Lincoln: No, I will right now! [sigh] As I expected I was mocked and humiliated by my classmates because of my braces.

Luan: [annoyed] I get it, but to react so angry on your new nickname?

Lincoln: They give me worse nicknames. Bracefreak, Metal Weirdo, Wirejaw, Bracarry...

Luan: [confused] Bracarry? What kind of word composition it is?

Lucy: Lincoln, go the worst part now. If no, then I'll tell it.

Luan: Huh?

Lucy: What he said is an euphemistic version. I saw what they were doing to him and I couldn't stand it, so I tried to help him. I scared them, but then they began mocking me. I'm not as resistant to insults as Lincoln, so I felt very hurt and started crying. I begged them to stop, but they didn't listen.

Lincoln: Lucy! Let me end this. That's true. They could insult me, but nobody will insult Lucy without consequences! Without a second thought I charged on them in rage and bit one of them in ear, so he screamed like a harpy.

Luan: Wow!

Lincoln: I received a week of detention for this. My teacher didn't care they insulted my sister. They had evidences of me wounding them and not evidences of them tormenting Lucy.

Lucy: Lincoln, know that I appreciate your actions and this jerk deserved to suffer like this after wounding my soul. I'm happy to have a brother ready to sacrifice like this to protect me.

Luan: In my times children weren't so cruel. You don't deserve detention.

Lincoln: Please don't tell the others.

Luan: You can't just let them be unpunished. If you don't take proper measures, then they will never stop. [she grabbed Lincoln's shoulders] I'll teach you some ripostes, which I used when I was mocked. Let's go to your room.

Lincoln and Luan came into his room as she asked him to and they both sit on his bed next to each other. She tried to teach him ripostes and he did it well, but he began going too far.

Luan: Wait, stop! That was a bad idea. You become as bad as them with such method.

Lincoln: But you just told me...

Luan: I was wrong! Becoming worse than your foes to defeat them was a bad idea from the start. When I used such ripostes I felt better, but it was temporary and very short time of triumph as others feared me.

Lincoln: What did you do then?

Luan: I had even worse idea. I made a very disgusting prank to my tormenters. After this they stunk for two weeks, but I got a month of detention.

Lincoln: I would never have such idea.

Luan: I thought it would be better to teach you how to use harsh words, but now I see it's wrong. - You were a kind and cheerful child, I don't want to break your cuteness for what we all have always loved you.

Lori overheard conversation between Lincoln and Luan, so she joined them in Lincoln's room.

Lori: What are you, two, talking about? I see on your faces that something bad happened to you, so don't deny it.

Luan: Bullies tormented Lucy and Lincoln defended.

Lincoln: [annoyed] You were supposed to not tell anyone!

Lori: You did nothing wrong. You did, what every good big brother would do.

Lincoln: They attacked her, because she tried to defend me. All because of my braces. I want to get rid of them!

Luan: Even without braces they would find another reason to be jerks.

Suddenly Lori's phone ringed, because Bobby was calling. She was about to get it, but she didn't in order to keep talking to Lincoln. Both of her siblings couldn't believe this.

Luan: Not getting your phone? Now I've seen everything.

Lori: Family problems are literally more important.

Lincoln: Mom refuses to remove my braces. Did she know that I can become such outcast?

Lori: I literally understand you have hard time now, but think about the future. I used to wear braces too and look at me now. You will also get more attractive with perfect teeth.

Lincoln: [lamenting] I will have to wait year or two for becoming a handsome boy this way.

Lori: Like I said no pain no gain. I wish I could help you more, but I literally don't know how. Sorry, Lincoln.

Lincoln: Eureka! You two just gave me an idea to deal with it. [he hugged both his sisters]

Luan: Each year you're getting stronger.

Lori: What exactly do you have in mind?

Next day at school Chandler had a bandaged ear, because Lincoln bit yesterday. When he saw Lincoln he approached him in anger.

Chandler: Beware the Ear-biter. He's a really dangerous freak!

Lincoln: Shut up and watch!

Lincoln smiled and revealed that he has a small photo album.

Lincoln: I invite everyone for my little presentation.

Many of Lincoln's schoolmates got interested by Lincoln, so they approached him.

Rusty: This can be interesting.

Lincoln: On the left side you have a famous person wearing braces and on the right one same person after removing them. [he opened the album]

Clyde: Is this...?

Lincoln: That's Mick Swagger who wore his braces for 3 years and thanks to them today he sounds like he sounds now.

Girl Jordan: Cool. Hard to believe those are photos of same guy.

Lincoln: [turning page of his album] This famous comedian also used to wear braces, look at him now, handsome, right? I can tell more similar stories about all actors, artists and sportsmen I have in the album.

Kat: Wearing braces isn't that bad if thanks to them we can become stars.

Mollie: Right, look at their perfect teeth.

Liam: Doesn't matter how they looked earlier if they look so wonderful now.

Joy: I don't need braces now, but they are indeed useful.

Chandler: Hey, guys! Don't forget that this is Larry. He's not any celebrity, he's just an insignificant nerd.

Clyde: Only you think like that. You think you're better because you just don't have braces? At what? You can't even properly remember names of your classmates.

Lincoln: Maybe I won't be as famous as them. But at least in the future I'll have perfect teeth like them.

Chandler blushed, because he couldn't say a single word.

Liam: That guy only thinks he's someone big, but he can't find even a simple counterargument.

Girl Jordan: Just ignore this guy, who has no idea about respect. Let's leave.

Chandler felt humiliated as his classmates turned their backs on him. Lincoln smiled out of satisfaction. Chandler left in fury, when Mrs. Johnson approached Lincoln.

Mrs. Johnson: That was a very nice change after what you did yesterday. Still I can't let you avoid further detention.

Lincoln: I said I was protecting my sister.

Mrs. Johnson: This is no excuse for biting. However I can relocate your seat in the detention room right next to door, so you could leave first after it's over.

After school Lori came by van with older sisters to the elementary school to take Lincoln with his younger sisters.

Lori: Did your idea work?

Lincoln: Yes. I restored my respect. Sadly my detention will last till Friday.

Luan: I'm proud of you. A strength of argument is better than an argument of strength.

Lincoln: Thanks for information about your idols.

Luan: No need to thank us, dude. That was your brilliant idea, we just helped you.

Lincoln: What's more interesting, now many of my classmates consider getting their own braces.

Luan: Then you'll have a big pack of friends.

Lynn: Despite getting the detention, I think you did the right thing to defend Lucy. In your position I wouldn't be so merciful.

Lori: Lynn, show your teeth to the mirror.

Lynn: For what?

Lori: You just literally developed a diastema!

Lynn: What? I can't be.

Luan: Looks like I will have a new Brace Sis. [giggle]

THE END

Description
Friday afternoon. All Loud siblings had an appointment to see dentist. Rita assisted Dr. Feinstein in checking dental state of all her children starting from the youngest. After Lucy came into dentist room Lincoln looked at the audience.

Lincoln: [to the audience] Periodic examinations in a family as big as mine can take whole day. Mom always takes part in checking our teeth. I don't know which of us is Dr. Feinstein's favorite patient, but surely that's not me. If mom wasn't employed here, I would never visited this place intentionally. I've never liked dentist visits. After each one I can't eat my favorite snacks for an hour and what's worse each of my visits is painful. I can't endure drilling or the disgusting substances Dr. Feinstein puts forcefully into my mouth. Oh, my turn is coming, I hope it will end quickly.

Lucy left the dentist room and Lincoln approached her to speak with her.

Lincoln: How is the visit, Luce?

Lucy: [sarcastically] Why are you asking, if you already know the answer? I spent several hours on blackening my teeth and mom undid everything in half hour.

Lincoln: It's called Ohaguro and it was practiced on Japanese women to prevent adultery of arranged brides.

Lucy: I didn't know that. I just wanted to have black teeth. I don't have a black heart, so I'm already pitying you. There wasn't a time you came back home happy after dentist visit.

Lincoln: [nervously] Thanks for your sympathy, Lucy. Now it's my turn, I hope it won't be anything serious.

Rita: Lincoln, come here. Sit on the chair now, your older sisters also want to be checked.

Lincoln: I doubt that. Let's do it quickly.

Dr Feinstein: Good afternoon, Lincoln. I hope your dental hygiene has been improved since our last meeting.

Rita: I do my best to make my 11 children take care for their teeth, but it is so hard to keep them all in check.

Dr Feinstein looked into Lincoln's mouth and frowned.

Dr Feinstein: Hm, I'm not pleased, young boy. Your upper jaw is so deformed that I need to take drastic measures.

Rita: He means you must wear braces.

Lincoln: [shocked] What?! I don't want to have braces and I don't need them!

Rita: Sorry, son, but I agree with Dr. Feinstein. I warn you it's going to be painful for several days, but you'll adjust to this just like Luan and Lori before you.

Lincoln: I said I don't want it! I like my jaw like it is.

Dr Feinstein: For now, but in few years you'll be afraid of looking in the mirror. Rita, bring the album and show it to your son.

Rita showed Lincoln album called "British Smiles". After watching few pictures Lincoln got so shocked that he lost consciousness.

Rita: It was supposed to encourage him to wear braces, not to scare him.

Dr Feinstein: At least we don't need to use sleeping gas now. Rita, prepare braces.

After several hours Lincoln woke up in his room feeling great toothache. After leaving his room he met Lola.

Lola: [smug] Come on, say something. I want to hear it.

Lincoln: [spitting] What do you want, Lola? I just had a dream about tomorrow dentist visit. [gasp] What's that?

Lola: [laugh] You sound so funny now! That visit was today. [laugh]

Lincoln: [spitting] So it was no dream. Give me a mirror.

Lola: [laugh] Here you are. Just don't get scared.

Lola gave Lincoln her compact with mirror. Lincoln looked in the mirror, he got shocked and angry.

Lincoln: [spitting] Dang it! I look terrible!

Lola: Rather more terrible than usually. I am beautiful and I will never be a freak like you.

Lincoln: [spitting] Freak? You little...

Lola: [laugh] Keep talking, it amuses me.

Lincoln: [spitting] You know, you're wrong. You look exactly like Lori in your age.

Lola: What of it?

Lincoln: [spitting] She also used to wear braces. If you look like her, then maybe you'll also have dental deformations and wear braces too. So don't be so cocky, because I will bite back!

Lola got surprised by Lincoln's response, she got angry and run away.

Lola: Mom! Lincoln threatened me!

Lincoln: [to the audience, spitting] I hope rest of the sisters won't laugh from me. How could mom do it to me despite my protests?

Rita: Lincoln, come to me now! How could you say such thing to Lola?

Lincoln: [spitting] She laughed from my agony. How do could you do this to me?

Rita: By neglecting your dental hygiene you brought it on yourself. But don't change topic. Apologize Lola now.

Lincoln: [spitting] Only if she apologizes me first for mocking me and laughing.

Rita: Lola, your brother didn't behave his best, but you shouldn't have laughed from him. You should have known he's going to have painful days not laugh from it. Apologize him.

Lola: [annoyed] I won't apologize for telling the truth!

Rita: [annoyed] You two, apologize each other now or you'll be grounded!

Lincoln and Lola: I'm sorry.

Rita: Lola, you can leave, Lincoln stay here.

Lincoln: [spitting] Mom, why did you not even protest, when Dr Feinstein suggested braces? I feel pain in all my teeth and I look grotesque.

Rita: Don't worry. After minimum a year I'll remove it. If we didn't put it, you would have had problem with proper speaking and chewing food in the future.

Lincoln: [spitting] Do you hear how I speak now?

Rita: I also used to wear braces and as a result I have teeth in perfect shape.

Lincoln: [spitting] My classmates will make fun of me just like Lola.

Rita: In my times braces were less convenient, be glad orthodontics have been greatly improved since then. You'll have to adjust to this. It won't be easy, but surely faster than in my times.

Lincoln: [spitting] I don't want to adjust, I want to remove it. Please, mom, remove it now.

Rita: Impossible. I can only promise you the pain will disappear after maximum 3 days. Luan was younger than you, when she got her first braces. You can speak with her about it. Actually we all inherit this dental deformation. That's in our genes.

Lincoln: [spitting] I never saw Luna, Leni or Lynn with braces.

Rita: Luna and Leni used to wear removable braces and Lynn will develop deformation sooner or later.

Lincoln: [sadly, spitting] Sorry, mom, but that doesn't help.

Rita: As a professional dentist I'll give you advices I hope you'll follow them.

Lincoln: [obedient and sad tone] I'm listening.

Rita: Good. You have to eat soft food, cut your food into very small pieces, chew your food with back teeth and by all means avoid hard and sticky food. One more thing brush your teeth after every single meal.

Lincoln: [sarcastically, spitting] Great. Most of foods I like were just crossed out from my menu.

Lincoln left Rita's room. He met Luan waiting for him in his room.

Luan: Good day, Brace Bro. Now we have something to talk about. Let's Em-Brace for this moment. [giggle]

Lincoln: [spitting] I'm not in mood for jokes or hugging. Why do you not spit, when you talk?

Luan: On the start I also spat. I just learned how to control it.

Suddenly Lincoln started suffering bigger pain, so he grabbed his face to ease the pain.

Lincoln: [spitting] How do you endure this pain?

Luan: When I got my first braces, I felt great pain like you now. [she made sad face] You have my sympathy. To forget this pain I tried to laugh a lot.

Lincoln: [spitting] This won't work. I don't have your sense of humor. I fear how will my classmates treat me with this full metal jaw.

Luan: Didn't you just say you aren't in mood for jokes?

Lincoln: [spitting] That's not a joke, but expression of my anger. Were you mocked at school for having braces?

Luan: Sadly yes. Both elementary and middle school. My schoolmates called me by many awful names and avoided me before they even knew me. I befriended some other students with braces and introduced them my comedy talents.

Lincoln: [spitting] None of my classmates wears braces. I am the only one.

Luan: But look at the bright side. Now we're both "Brace Siblings". Before that we didn't have much to talk about. I will show you how to brush teeth with braces tonight.

Lincoln: [spitting] It's lunch time. Let's join our sisters.

At the table Lincoln was eating lunch along with Luan Lori, Leni, Luna and Lynn.

Leni: How can this be that you eat your favorite food and don't smile?

Lincoln: [spitting] With this pain all tastes the same. I must focus on careful eating rather than taste of my food.

Leni: Yuck! Don't spit around!

Lincoln: [spitting] I don't control it!

Lori: In my case the pain lasted only one day. I literally wish you the same.

Lincoln: Lori, how did you deal with this pain?

Lori: I did all, what could distract me from the pain. I watched TV, read books, had various activities. You can play video games to forget about the pain.

Leni: Shame you didn't get removable braces. I used to put mine during nighttime and removed it when I woke up morning.

Lincoln: [spitting] I have to tolerate it constantly. I can't speak normally and I fear my own mirror reflection.

Luan: You'll adjust to this like me.

Lori: The best is after removing braces. I have teeth in perfect shape thanks to this.

Luna: My removable braces improved my speech and singing. You'll have many advantages thanks to this, dude.

Lincoln: Lori, how did you deal with schoolmates?

Lori: I literally showed them that braces don't make me defenseless. I also studied a lot to have best grades and trained a lot of golf to earn respect.

Lincoln: [spitting] In both ways I'm not an ace. It will be hard.

Lori: No pain no gain.

Lynn: I'm lucky I never had to wear braces. My teeth are healthy thanks to my diet.

Lincoln: Mom said that we all inherit this and you won't avoid it.

Lynn: She lied to you to make you feel better. Sorry, but that's the truth.

Lincoln: [spitting] You know what? I just lost my appetite.

Lynn: Can I eat your food then? Wasting it would be a sin.

Lori: No! Lincoln, you won't leave the table until your plate is empty. Eat now.

After lunch Lincoln tried to play with Lily, but she was afraid of his new appearance. She also didn't recognize his voice because of the braces much to Lincoln's sadness. Lana wanted to play with Lincoln, but his braces scared her pets. Lucy actually liked Lincoln's new look, but had problem with understanding what he was saying. She read him her poem "Internal Pain" what made him no longer want to talk with her. He left Lucy alone and she sighed out of disappointment. At night Luan instructed Lincoln how to brush teeth with braces. He thanked her and went into his bed. He had problems with getting sleep.

Next day Lincoln woke up with pain in teeth smaller than yesterday. After he stood up he heard dropping. He looked down and saw blood drops, he realized his braces wounded his mouth much to his horror. He run quickly to bathroom, but it was already occupied by Lori. Luan opened door of her room and saw sad Lincoln.

Luan: Morning, Brace Bro, what's up?

Lincoln: [spitting] I'm bleeding because of the braces.

Luan: Oh, I see what's the problem. Sometimes my braces also wound my mouth. Come to me.

Lincoln: [spitting] Please, help me if you can.

Lincoln went into Luan's room and closed door. Luna was not in this room.

Luan: I have a salve to solve this problem. [giggle]

Luan gave Lincoln a small box with the salve right into his hands.

Luan: I should have warned you yesterday, I'm sorry. Now take a sample on your finger and rub your mouth with it.

Lincoln: [spitting] Like this?

Luan: That's right.

Lincoln: [spitting] It doesn't taste like pizza, but I can tolerate it. But how will I brush my teeth now?

Luan: [facepalm] Oh, silly me. I should have given you this after brushing your teeth, not before. I am as daft as a brush. [giggle]

Lincoln: [spitting] At least you try to help me.

During breakfast Lincoln didn't enjoy taste of his food, because the salve in his mouth made all taste bad. He looked annoyed at Luan thinking she forgot to tell him about it also. Luan understood his glare perfectly and made a silly face only.

Later like Lori advised Lincoln tried to keep his mind occupied to forget about pain, but reading comics and playing video games didn't help him at all. Whole noise in house caused by his sisters' antics made him feel pain even stronger. Instead of yelling he just decided to go for a walk. Luan stopped him by grabbing his arm.

Luan: Do you prefer to play alone instead of playing with your sisters?

Lincoln: [spitting] I do not play. Those braces give me only troubles. Lily and our pets fear me, but the worst is this pain and this noise only makes it stronger.

Luan: Follow me to the attic.

Lincoln and Luan went to attic and the girl closed the door to limit the noise.

Lincoln: [spitting] It's quite quiet here.

Luan: Funny choice of words.

Lincoln: [hopeless tone, spitting] If you want to make me feel better by your jokes then it will take very long.

Luan: So you forgot. [sigh] We used to come here as children to play hide and seek.

Lincoln: Well, I start to remember. Leni was so silly that she always hid herself in this crate and was always the first one to be found. You on other hand always set a trap before your hideout.

Luan: Yes. Also when Luna was the seeker she always sang about how she found one of us.

Lincoln: [spitting] For example, when she found me she sang "I've found my bro, who he hid like a crow". [giggle]

Luan: To me she sang "Luan is found, time for second round".

Lincoln: [spitting] And about Leni "Leni again in crate, your imagination is second rate". [giggle] What are you doing?

Luan: I'm searching for my old hand puppets. They will give you a helpful hand. [giggle]

Lincoln: [spitting] What is this all about?

Luan showed Lincoln hand puppets of white and black bunnies.

Luan: Do you remember our old buddies Bianca and Blake? They were your favorite puppets, when you were little.

Lincoln: [spitting] Don't tell me you brought me here to give me a puppet show.

Luan: It always improved your mood, when you got injured or your toy was broken or you feared something. I guess it will help now as well.

Luan gave Lincoln some funny dialogues between her hand puppets. He enjoyed this not because of his sister's humor, but because of how funny she was moving her puppets. After several dialogues he asked her for Blake so they both could play together. Later they were sitting next to each other and looking through attic window.

Lincoln: [spitting] This sight didn't change for years.

Luan: But we have changed just like our interests.

Lincoln: [spitting] Sometimes I miss good old times, when we were younger and closer as we had nearly same interests.

Luan: You played with all of us as a toddler. You enjoyed my puppet shows. Your laughs were reward for me, because it meant you liked my plays.

Lincoln: [spitting] Now you try to entertain the twins and Lily by this.

Luan: Audience gets older and replaced by younger, but the artist remains the same and works for the new generations.

Lincoln: [spitting] I see. You know, you just helped me to forget about my pain. Aghh... Why did I mention it?

Luan: [annoyed] You just undid whole my hard work! How painful it is to get rid of pain. What a crazy irony. [giggle]

Lincoln: [spitting] Actually the pain is smaller. You did it well. Thank you, sis.

Luan: I'm glad you appreciate it. I've always believed that laugh is the best painkiller. [smile] I had a lot to speak about with Lori, when she began wearing her braces. She could give advices about dealing with them. I hoped I can talk with you too since we're both brace siblings now.

Lincoln: [spitting] You wear your braces for many years. Are there any profits from this?

Luan: You don't get money for wearing few pounds of metal on teeth. [giggle] But seriously my braces improved my speech, so my jokes are heard loudly and clearly.

Lincoln: [spitting] When do you expect them to be removed?

Luan: I don't mind it. I look funny with them as I can replace some parts for ones in different color. Once I looked like I ate rainbow. [giggle]

Lincoln: [spitting] I remember this, we all laughed from this. [smile] Luan, you helped me a lot, thank you. [he hugged Luan]

Luan: I should laugh to express happiness, but you just made me cry out of this joy. That's a true paradox.

Lincoln: [spitting] I often say it, but I'll say it again. I love you for making me happy.

Luan: Please, stop, because you make me cry more.

Lincoln: [spitting] The sun is shining strong today. Look how much light is here.

Luan: How about a small shadow puppets show? Let's do it together. I promise to not overshadow you. [giggle]

Both siblings performed shadow puppetry. Luan was happy, because she was making Lincoln happy. It reminded her how she used to entertain him when he was a toddler. Those old memories made Luan smile out of joy.

At Sunday Lincoln felt the pain no longer and he learned how to not spit during talking. At Monday he went to school with his younger sisters. Luan and Lynn returned from middle school first and then Lincoln returned in company of Lucy.

Luan: Hey, Brace Bro.

Lincoln: [angry] Don't call me that!

Luan: Hey, why are you so aggressive? I just greeted you.

Lincoln: [sadly] Sorry. I had a bad day at school. You aren't the cause of my problem, so I apologize again.

Luan: What exactly happened to you?

Lincoln: Well...

Lucy: He won't tell you whole truth.

Lincoln: Lucy, please don't.

Lucy: You have to tell it, brother. For your own good.

Lincoln: I can't.

Lucy: You're disappointing me. Then I will tell it.

Lincoln: No, I will right now! [sigh] As I expected I was mocked and humiliated by my classmates because of my braces.

Luan: [annoyed] I get it, but to react so angry on your new nickname?

Lincoln: They give me worse nicknames. Bracefreak, Metal Weirdo, Wirejaw, Bracarry...

Luan: [confused] Bracarry? What kind of word composition it is?

Lucy: Lincoln, go the worst part now. If no, then I'll tell it.

Luan: Huh?

Lucy: What he said is an euphemistic version. I saw what they were doing to him and I couldn't stand it, so I tried to help him. I scared them, but then they began mocking me. I'm not as resistant to insults as Lincoln, so I felt very hurt and started crying. I begged them to stop, but they didn't listen.

Lincoln: Lucy! Let me end this. That's true. They could insult me, but nobody will insult Lucy without consequences! Without a second thought I charged on them in rage and bit one of them in ear, so he screamed like a harpy.

Luan: Wow!

Lincoln: I received a week of detention for this. My teacher didn't care they insulted my sister. They had evidences of me wounding them and not evidences of them tormenting Lucy.

Lucy: Lincoln, know that I appreciate your actions and this jerk deserved to suffer like this after wounding my soul. I'm happy to have a brother ready to sacrifice like this to protect me.

Luan: In my times children weren't so cruel. You don't deserve detention.

Lincoln: Please don't tell the others.

Luan: You can't just let them be unpunished. If you don't take proper measures, then they will never stop. [she grabbed Lincoln's shoulders] I'll teach you some ripostes, which I used when I was mocked. Let's go to your room.

Lincoln and Luan came into his room as she asked him to and they both sit on his bed next to each other. She tried to teach him ripostes and he did it well, but he began going too far.

Luan: Wait, stop! That was a bad idea. You become as bad as them with such method.

Lincoln: But you just told me...

Luan: I was wrong! Becoming worse than your foes to defeat them was a bad idea from the start. When I used such ripostes I felt better, but it was temporary and very short time of triumph as others feared me.

Lincoln: What did you do then?

Luan: I had even worse idea. I made a very disgusting prank to my tormenters. After this they stunk for two weeks, but I got a month of detention.

Lincoln: I would never have such idea.

Luan: I thought it would be better to teach you how to use harsh words, but now I see it's wrong. - You were a kind and cheerful child, I don't want to break your cuteness for what we all have always loved you.

Lori overheard conversation between Lincoln and Luan, so she joined them in Lincoln's room.

Lori: What are you, two, talking about? I see on your faces that something bad happened to you, so don't deny it.

Luan: Bullies tormented Lucy and Lincoln defended.

Lincoln: [annoyed] You were supposed to not tell anyone!

Lori: You did nothing wrong. You did, what every good big brother would do.

Lincoln: They attacked her, because she tried to defend me. All because of my braces. I want to get rid of them!

Luan: Even without braces they would find another reason to be jerks.

Suddenly Lori's phone ringed, because Bobby was calling. She was about to get it, but she didn't in order to keep talking to Lincoln. Both of her siblings couldn't believe this.

Luan: Not getting your phone? Now I've seen everything.

Lori: Family problems are literally more important.

Lincoln: Mom refuses to remove my braces. Did she know that I can become such outcast?

Lori: I literally understand you have hard time now, but think about the future. I used to wear braces too and look at me now. You will also get more attractive with perfect teeth.

Lincoln: [lamenting] I will have to wait year or two for becoming a handsome boy this way.

Lori: Like I said no pain no gain. I wish I could help you more, but I literally don't know how. Sorry, Lincoln.

Lincoln: Eureka! You two just gave me an idea to deal with it. [he hugged both his sisters]

Luan: Each year you're getting stronger.

Lori: What exactly do you have in mind?

Next day at school Chandler had a bandaged ear, because Lincoln bit yesterday. When he saw Lincoln he approached him in anger.

Chandler: Beware the Ear-biter. He's a really dangerous freak!

Lincoln: Shut up and watch!

Lincoln smiled and revealed that he has a small photo album.

Lincoln: I invite everyone for my little presentation.

Many of Lincoln's schoolmates got interested by Lincoln, so they approached him.

Rusty: This can be interesting.

Lincoln: On the left side you have a famous person wearing braces and on the right one same person after removing them. [he opened the album]

Clyde: Is this...?

Lincoln: That's Mick Swagger who wore his braces for 3 years and thanks to them today he sounds like he sounds now.

Girl Jordan: Cool. Hard to believe those are photos of same guy.

Lincoln: [turning page of his album] This famous comedian also used to wear braces, look at him now, handsome, right? I can tell more similar stories about all actors, artists and sportsmen I have in the album.

Kat: Wearing braces isn't that bad if thanks to them we can become stars.

Mollie: Right, look at their perfect teeth.

Liam: Doesn't matter how they looked earlier if they look so wonderful now.

Joy: I don't need braces now, but they are indeed useful.

Chandler: Hey, guys! Don't forget that this is Larry. He's not any celebrity, he's just an insignificant nerd.

Clyde: Only you think like that. You think you're better because you just don't have braces? At what? You can't even properly remember names of your classmates.

Lincoln: Maybe I won't be as famous as them. But at least in the future I'll have perfect teeth like them.

Chandler blushed, because he couldn't say a single word.

Liam: That guy only thinks he's someone big, but he can't find even a simple counterargument.

Girl Jordan: Just ignore this guy, who has no idea about respect. Let's leave.

Chandler felt humiliated as his classmates turned their backs on him. Lincoln smiled out of satisfaction. Chandler left in fury, when Mrs. Johnson approached Lincoln.

Mrs. Johnson: That was a very nice change after what you did yesterday. Still I can't let you avoid further detention.

Lincoln: I said I was protecting my sister.

Mrs. Johnson: This is no excuse for biting. However I can relocate your seat in the detention room right next to door, so you could leave first after it's over.

After school Lori came by van with older sisters to the elementary school to take Lincoln with his younger sisters.

Lori: Did your idea work?

Lincoln: Yes. I restored my respect. Sadly my detention will last till Friday.

Luan: I'm proud of you. A strength of argument is better than an argument of strength.

Lincoln: Thanks for information about your idols.

Luan: No need to thank us, dude. That was your brilliant idea, we just helped you.

Lincoln: What's more interesting, now many of my classmates consider getting their own braces.

Luan: Then you'll have a big pack of friends.

Lynn: Despite getting the detention, I think you did the right thing to defend Lucy. In your position I wouldn't be so merciful.

Lori: Lynn, show your teeth to the mirror.

Lynn: For what?

Lori: You just literally developed a diastema!

Lynn: What? I can't be.

Luan: Looks like I will have a new Brace Sis. [giggle]

THE END