David Stafford explores the feelings of this woman missing a tooth ...

[Nancy Bell Scott]

Here she is, and her dilemma actually speaks to universal human experience: According to David, the tooth problem "tilted her joy, skewed it to poignancy, made it complicated, and finally cast a heavy shadow over its sincerity." If that doesn't sum up well what the terrible cosmetic traumas we all experience do to us, I don't know what would. The perceptiveness is mind-boggling.

Fortunately for this particular woman, she happened to encounter that guy who worked at a bookstore called "Books 'n' Things"--what a richly defined name for a bookstore. The turquoise hat makes such a difference. I don't even see her missing tooth now, if seeing a missing tooth is possible.

By the way, in Maine we call that color teal or aqua, but I realize anything that has both blue and green in it will be pronounced turquoise in New Mexico.

Thanks, Dave ...

Oops, other side--note the nasty quote from her mother-- :

[Nancy Bell Scott]

It's not exactly easy to read, but it's worth it.

[Marie Wintzer]

Got to love this!!

[David Stafford]

You're welcome, Nancy. Boy, that's difficult to read, isn't it?

[DKeys]

I find her missing tooth endearing, and the Turquaqua Taco Cabana Trashpo hat must be hiding her DS signature buffonte!! Love the story of Leonard--the passive-aggressive book clerk. This is definately a feel good story. And poor Miss Sutcliffe, maybe the heavy demands of being a business owner have kept her from finding love in her life. Or did she perhaps reject Leonard's advances and that is why he wants to get even? David's stories always leave you wanting more.