Lissette E. Manning

 A tooth’s life is truly ordinary, and quite uneventful. The darkness that surrounds it is something it knows intimately. Rarely, will it see the light of day. Though it can hope to have its world turn out differently.

In Root Canal, we join a tooth whom has lived its entire life surrounded by that darkness. Its life is the same, day in and day out. It shares space with others of its kind, along with a warm pink tongue, and a generous cheek to keep it cozy. In its mind, its living the high life. Yet everything changes when its beloved owner changes things up, and introduces it to a whole new environment.

Acidic drinks, sugary sweets, and salty foods – there’s a myriad of items that can take away from a tooth’s life. The ensuing cavities are a nightmare, and the pain that follows can be never-ending. A tooth can only hope that the person taking care of it will be more lenient. That he or she will wisen up, and make its life better. Sometimes, for some, unfortunately, that is a possibility that may never happen.

When a trip to the dentist becomes a necessity, a tooth’s life takes a drastic turn. It begins to think about the endless possibilities that come from such endeavors. Will the tooth continue to exist? Will it be sent to tooth heaven? Will the pain ever go away? Those questions and more filter through a tooth’s mind. Granted, they might be inanimate, but they provide us with a means of enjoying the foods we eat. Sometimes, saving one is the only way to go, even if you have to endure the pain of doing so in the process.

This was such a delightful short story. I enjoyed it immensely. Sharon has done a wonderful job in depicting the life of a tooth as it struggles to survive amidst the ‘atrocities’ committed against it by its beloved owner. We can feel its angst as it tries to understand why its owner isn’t more caring of him and his brothers/sisters, as well as feel its happiness when its life is spared, to some extent.

She’s spun a wonderful tale about everyday happenings when it comes to taking care of your teeth and going to the dentist. To see the tooth tell its story in such a warm and insightful way is quite refreshing. It really is. Sharon has a way with words that draws you in from the very beginning. I look forward to more of what she has coming her way in the future.

Available for purchase via the following retailers: Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo.

Summary:

The inevitable is sometimes painful.

A tooth’s life is never easy. It puts up with multitudes of abuse. From the acidic effects of the atrocious Pepsi, to the sugary sweetness brought about by chocolate, its pain knows no bounds.

Immersed in darkness, it’s rare for a tooth to see the light. Living a solitary life, each day blends into the next without the hope of seeing something new. Death and decay is a certainty many see on a day to day basis.

Survival is the key to living a long, pain-free life. When that very option is threatened, it’s the tooth’s obligation to make his beloved caretaker see the light. The hope of garnering a longer lifespan is a must, as is a trip to the dentist. The question is, how can one measly tooth bring about a much needed change without causing any further pain in the process?

About The Author:

Sharon C. Williams is a native of New England, raised in Northern Maine. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and son. She is also owned by a flock of eight birds.

Sharon has a B.S. degree in Chemistry, but is currently disabled, so writing keeps her busy. She tends to lose all track of time. The world could be coming to an end, and she would be oblivious to it. When writing, she envisions the scenes in her head, and tries to imagine the reality of what is written down on paper. Different options, scenes, and problems are noted on the side in case she can use them later.

Sharon tends to write by long hand as the flow works better for her this way. Her bookshelf consists of works written by Stephen King, Agatha Christie, Bentley Little, and James Patterson. The best advice she has ever received about writing was to write about what you know. Her first thought was, “Yeah right,” but it really is that easy. A writer just needs to know a little tidbit to turn it into a short story, and soon enough, there’s a book.

Sharon loves to read, sketch, take pictures, walk, exercise, go to the movies, and listen to music. She is a budding bird watcher, and knits on the side. She is a huge sports fan of baseball, basketball, hockey, and football.

Two of her short stories were published in the anthology, “Cassandra’s Roadhouse.” She will be releasing several short story anthologies during the upcoming months. Her children’s book, “Jasper, Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure,” has just been picked up by Fountain Blue Publishing, and should be released sometime this year.

Connect With Her Online:

Blog: http://www.newenglandmuse.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Sharon-C-Williams/195232693863109
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/NewEngland_Muse
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5394360-sharon
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Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/NewEnglandMuse
Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=165672049
Email: NewEngland_Muse@yahoo.com