ABSTRACT
One black small hours night awoke screaming not the scream of a nightmare that stops when you realise it’s a dream the continuous ear-splitting shriek of someone in agony toothache he’d never known split open the back of one of his front teeth fell out nerve exposed pain indescribable the people called parents did not take to being woken up to silence him something had to be done the woman called mother telephoned the dentist’s surgery at the end of the street demanded something be done yes it is past midnight held out the receiver hear the screaming unlit street jacket over pyjamas tongue pressed against the back of front teeth ease throbbing in the aching night air head made a mistake at one point mouth air struck the nerve like an arc of electricity nearly 42passed out. The woman called mother was with him she did not scream at him. Was this care? She was with him. Didn’t feel care watched tense two sources of pain his hers. Reached the dentist’s house the woman called mother banged on the door dishevelled dressing gown ill-tempered man let them in bent double fell into hallway chair head held man called dentist ordered him to a room unlike anything he’d seen glaring lights white cabinets white chair festooned with chrome mirrors trays never been to a dentist didn’t brush teeth didn’t have a toothbrush nor did anyone in the grey box as far as he knew sixteen no idea you don’t brush your teeth they rot hygiene not a priority in his “family” weekly fortnightly bath unusual same clothes weeks months a peculiar cleanness did happen when clothes washed the woman called mother didn’t wash taken away brought back starched crisp paper bags “The Swan Laundry” clothes sheets towels socks everything came back with smiling Swan Laundry Sid stayed for a long time at school when Sid came or told to leave.
