Slippery Slope

Excuse me. If you don’t mind my asking. I’ve noticed that you seem to be sucking in your lower lip all the time.

You could wait until I tell you I don’t mind you asking before asking. But never mind. You’re interested in my lower lip? That’s pretty strange.

Well, I don’t normally go around commenting on people’s body parts but how you’re sucking in that lower lip is very noticeable.

It’s probably just an unconscious old lady thing.

I’m not so sure about that. I think the old ladies really sucking in their lower lips are usually rockin’ in the holler, if you get my drift.

That’s unkind. Haven’t you read Hillbilly Elegy? Those are some super trod upon folks. You shouldn’t make fun of them because they’ve lost their teeth.

Oh. Is that what’s happened? Have you lost your teeth? Are you gumming it, as they say in the trade?

What trade?

Dentistry! Dentists trash talk about people. Like “Here comes the gummer!”

Oh brother. Look. I don’t know why I’m sucking in my lower lip. As if it’s any of your business. Probably just a little tension.

Oooooh, we’re getting to the crux of the matter. Cool. So, what’s making you tense. Tell Papa.

Oh my God. You’re just some random guy who comes up to me every couple of months and we have a conversation that I put on my blog. Papa? You wish.

There’s a tooth involved, isn’t there? I can tell just by the way you’re holding your head, trying to hide it and all. Not working, Cookie.

It’s just a crown that came off, that’s all. No big deal, Papa. And the tooth, well, it probably needs to come out.

A slippery slope. First one, then another and boom, you’re rockin’ in the holler with all your comadres.

Whatever. Other gummers. Good people. I’m fine with that.

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Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash