A Wallflower

       It was very frustrating to see other girls and boys having a wonderful time at social gatherings and not being able to be part of the merriment. I was born with silky jet black hair and a flawless porcelain complexion. I could have been quite attractive if not for my two front teeth. Chipped and jagged due to a fall when I was a little girl, I would not parade them for a million dollars.

      Once I met a good-looking boy on a packed bus. He smiled and asked if I was from the same college. Before I could finish my sentence, he interrupted to ask how I chipped my teeth ! Passengers standing nearby seemed equally curious to have a glimpse of my disfigured teeth. I was most embarrassed. I wished I could have jumped off the bus there and then.

      I disliked face-to-face encounters. To avoid inspection of my unpresentable teeth, I would cover my mouth, look elsewhere and do anything tocamo uflage them. I often wished I was flawlessly beautiful like my cousin, Josephine. At every social occasion, there would always be a crowd of admirers around her.

     Once evening, at Josephine's wedding reception, I was standing as usual in a quiet corner of the banqueting hall watching other people enjoying themselves. when i went to the "Ladies', I was shocked to hear relatives commenting about me. "Stuck-up!" "Peacock!" "Rude!" were some of the harsh words I heard before I dashed out of the room crying.

      Just then, I saw a group of the wedding guests across the hall crowding around a plain looking girl. Suddenly, she caught sight of me. Smiling broadly, she called out. "Mary! It's me, Jane.

      Come. Let me have a closer look at this much talked about pretty cousin of mine." As I  went closer, I noticed that she had a very uneven set of yellow teeth.

      Out of habit, my hand went automatically up to cover my mouth when I greeted Jane whom I had not seen for years. Jane smiled at me warmly and the understanding look in her eyes put me completely at ease. "Care for a walk ? It's pretty stuffy in here," said Jane as she gently led me out of the banqueting hall.

      "Why is a sweet-looking girl like you playing wallflower on such a happy occasion " Don't just stand around. Greet the aunties and uncles. talk to the cousins, and stop letting everyone think you're proud or rude!"

      Jane was right. i had unconsciously offended many people by being too conscious of my  teeth. I also realized that in trying to hide my teeth, I drew more attention to them. I  dawned on me that during our conversation I stopped noticing Jane's teeth. what I saw  was a very pleasant and friendly person.  Acting on Jane's advice, I have learnt to mix more freely on social occasions now. As my  social skills improve I seem to receive more compliments about my hair and my  complexion. It is interesting that people no longer notice my two front teeth. these days, I look forward to social gatherings. I am no longer a wallflower on such occasions any more.

Nurul Akmal