Smiley Time
Caleb closed his eyes, hearing the low-frequency hum of wind turbines which sat on the roof of his workshop. It was a constant thrum which had become the soundtrack to his solitary nights. Tools hung in precise order along a pegboard wall. A half-finished electric motorbike sat on the lift, its sleek lines interrupted by exposed wiring. Caleb tightened a bolt with a wrench in his grease-stained hands.
He glanced up and noticed a flyer pinned to the wall near the entrance. "Solar Rhythms," it proclaimed, a burst of vibrant color that contrasted with the shop's utilitarian gray. The flyer was for a community dance, with music and laughter under the soft glow of solar-powered lights. Caleb’s eyes lingered, a ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He hadn't danced in years.
He turned away and walked to the shop's small, cramped powder room. Flicking on the light, he was met with the harsh reality of his reflection. His eyes, once bright and youthful, were now shadowed. Lines etched around his face due to years of hard living. But it was his teeth which held his gaze the most. The gaps were a stark reminder of a life of neglect. He ran a calloused thumb over the rough edges, a wave of familiar shame washing over him.
"Me? A dance? Laughter? Who'd want to see me laugh?"
He remembered the young man who had brought in the motorbike. He was a kid with a bright, eager smile and quick laugh. Caleb thought of him as a younger version of himself, a self he barely recognized anymore.
He shook his head. The image in the cracked mirror was too different from the dancing figures on the flyer.
"Nah, not for me," he said to himself.
He switched off the light, plunging the bathroom back into darkness. The flyer remained pinned to the wall, quietly mocking his solitude.
The next day, as Caleb was continuing his circuit work, he heard a sudden bang against the roll-up door. He stood up, feeling a sharp pain rush down his spine.
"What's going on?"
"Dad, it's me," replied a familiar voice.
"Ben! Hey there kiddo!"
Ben had a similar build to Caleb, but his features were softer. His eyes were less weathered.
"Are you still working on that bike?" Ben asked as he stepped inside. "That kid's been asking about it."
"Nearly done," Caleb answered with a grunt. "Just a few more tweaks."
Ben wandered over and eyed the exposed wiring.
"Looks complicated, but I believe you. You always had a knack for this kind of stuff."
There was a comfortable silence as Caleb wiped his hands on a rag. Then, Ben shifted.
"So," Ben started, with a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Have you heard about that new drug they're testing? The one regrows teeth?"
Caleb grew stiff and looked down at the wrench in his hand.
"Yeah, I heard something about it," he said gruffly.
"Apparently it's working wonders," Ben continued, his tone careful. "They're saying it's a real game-changer."
Caleb remained silent. His jaw tightened.
"They're even offering it to... well, to people who've lost teeth due to decay."
Ben leaned his head to try catching his father's eye. "You know, people like you."
Caleb’s grip on the wrench grew so tight his knuckles were turning white. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He just looked down at the wrench.
"Just thought you'd want to know, pops," Ben said quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It might be worth looking into. It could make a real difference."
Caleb finally looked up, feeling a dampness on his face. His eyes were filled with a mix of emotions: hope, skepticism, and a decades-long sense of shame. He nodded slowly.
"Maybe," he muttered roughly.
The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the small room of the solar-powered clinic. Caleb sat stiffly in the waiting room. His calloused hands fidgeted with the worn brim of his cap.
"Caleb?" a nurse called out.
"Present," he answered.
"You can come with me now."
Dr. Sasooli gave him a warm smile as he entered her office.
"Mr. Caleb," she began, speaking slowly and calmly. "Thank you for coming in. Your son mentioned that you were interested in learning more about the regenerative dental treatment."
Caleb nodded. Nervous about looking her in the eye, he fixed his gaze on the intricate diagrams displayed on the wall-mounted screen.
"Yeah," he mumbled. "Just wanted to know what it's all about."
Dr. Sasooli gestured towards the screen.
"Essentially, this treatment uses a localized injection of a bio-engineered protein. The protein acts as a signaling molecule, which stimulates dormant stem cells in your jawbone. These stem cells are even present in older adults. Once stimulated, they can be differentiated into the various tissues which make up a tooth — enamel, dentin, and pulp."
She paused and looked at Caleb. She gave him a lot of information and it was clear that he didn't quite understand.
"So it's like growing a new tooth from scratch?"
"Think of it like jump-starting a dormant engine. The protein provides the spark, and your body does the rest. The process mimics natural tooth development, so there's a seamless integration with the rest of your mouth. And there's minimal risk for rejection, since it's your own stem cells.
She displayed a series of before-and-after images on the screen, showing remarkable results from case studies.
"The injection itself is relatively painless," she explained. "The regeneration process typically takes a few weeks. During that time, you'll experience some mild discomfort kind of like when you were a kid. But if you have serious pain, you can manage it with over-the-counter pain relievers."
Caleb’s eyes were fixed on the images and felt a newfound hope.
"And it really works?" he whispered.
"The clinical trials have been overwhelmingly successful," the doctor smiled. "We're confident in this treatment."
Caleb sat in silence for a moment. He thought of the shame he'd carried for so long. He thought of the hesitant smiles and the avoided social gatherings. He thought of the dance flyer and the young man with the motorbike.
He looked up at Dr. Sasooli with a newfound resolve.
"Alright," he said firmly. "Let's do it."
Over the following months, Caleb’s reflection became a daily progress report. The change wasn't sudden. At first, he spotted just a faint ridge of white peeking through the gum line. It was a hint of what was to come. He caught glimpses of it in the bathroom mirror and a hesitant smile would briefly appear on his face.
Then, the ridges grew and solidified into the familiar shape of teeth. Now, as he ran his tongue across his mouth, he could feel the emerging surfaces. He felt a strange mix of anticipation and disbelief. His gaps were slowly filling in.
One morning, Caleb found himself lingering in front of the mirror. A genuine smile formed. He wasn't consciously trying to smile, it just happened. He saw a man he hadn't seen in years, one with a full, uninhibited grin.
He examined his teeth closely. They weren't perfect, gleaming pearly whites from a toothpaste commercial. But they were his teeth, with their own unique shape and character.
He tilted his head to get a better look and saw the way the light caught the enamel. He liked the way his smile transformed his face, softening the lines of worry and making him look younger.
He felt a surge of something not quite pride, but closer to gratitude. He had been given a second chance.
The "Solar Rhythms" dance was alright in full swing when Caleb arrived. The community hall was alive with the pulse of music and the soft glow of solar-powered lanterns overhead. He had dressed in his best suit and polished his shoes. He stood near the edge of the dance floor and smoothed down his silver hair. There was a nervous anticipation in his eyes. Most importantly, he allowed himself a genuine, uninhibited smile.
He scanned the crowd and his gaze landed on a woman near his age. She stood with a group of friends. Her laughter echoed through a hall, a warm, inviting sound. There was a spark of life in her eyes that drew Caleb in.
He took a deep breath and approached. As he got closer, he noticed the fine lines around her eyes. They crinkled when she smiled. She was beautiful, in a real, lived-in way.
"Excuse me," Caleb said, his voice sounding hoarse. "I couldn't help but notice your laugh. It's infectious."
The woman turned and her smile widened.
"Well thank you," she replied, her eyes meeting his. "And I couldn't help but notice your smile. It looks so genuine."
Caleb felt a warmth spread through him and he blushed.
"It's new," he admitted. "Been a while since I had a reason to smile like this."
"Well, you seem like you're doing a fine job of it. I'm Jackie by the way."
"Caleb," he replied, extending his hand.
"Caleb," Jackie repeated, her smile softening. "It's nice to meet you. Care to dance?"