Power can corrupt, but it can also be a force for good. This is something I’ve been wrestling with for years.
Yesterday when I was at the dentist, I was reminded of my unique genetic mutation, and while I don’t have a really cool mutation such as the ability to teleport or control the weather or read people’s minds, I was reminded that my first bicuspid and my canine are completely reversed on the upper left side.
Let that sink in for a minute.
Two teeth totally and perfectly switched. Are you amazed? Stop, I know.
Growing up was hard since no one from Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters ever came knocking on my door, but I’m not bitter. I’ve been blessed with the good fortune to have had several dentists take pictures to show their colleagues, and just yesterday, the woman cleaning my teeth remarked that she’d never seen the like.
So here is the decision that I now face. Do I continue to relegate myself to the sideshow freak parade of dental curiosities or do I find a way to use this for good.
Most people can’t see that I am a mutant. You’d have to know a bit about teeth, but I think that would help me keep my secret identity intact thus allowing me to become an even greater force for good.
Now if I can just settle on colors for a costume.
James Brush is a teacher and writer who lives in Austin, TX. He tries to get outside as much as possible.
That’s is a funny mutation! I’ve heard weird things regarding (missing) wisdom teeth, but I’ve never heard of switched teeth.
I won’t believe it until I see a photo. 🙂