“No caramels, hard candies, hard fruits or vegetables, or even hard-to-eat meats like beef jerky, bubble gum…” My middle daughter let out a  gasp as the orthodontist read off the list of foods that were now verboten since her shiny braces went on (with pink and purple rubber bands).

 

“What, do you like bubble gum?” asked the orthodontist. I smiled — I  knew it wasn’t the bubble gum that elicited her reaction.