Gabe smiled at me, “Just open your mouth enough for me to see them teeth.”
No one except my mother had ever seen me open my mouth more than enough to speak. Not since mother told me how dangerous it was to talk about or show off my teeth, or talk about my sleep milk. You’re different and people are crude and mean to anything different. You have to hide who you are until someone proves themselves to be understanding.
Gabe had welcomed me, Gabe showed me his trick, his deformity. I felt compelled to do what he asked, but only for a moment. I opened my mouth wide until the smoke from the fire hit me and made me cough and choke.
“Jesus!” Jean yelled the name and that made me wince and regret my decision but Gabe was quick to shut him up once again.
Gabe lashed out and slapped Jean on the knee. “Nothing out of ya, dammit!”
The old man looked at me with that same sense of knowing me and that same openness and compassion. “I thought so. I’m sorry to say kid but I think I knew yer momma on the circuit. In fact, I’m sure of it.”