The Lost And Found False Teeth

Dorothy Goodyear

Dorothy Goodyear of Grand Falls worked all her life in a caring profession. She worked as a nurse and nursing administrator. She is well known in her community for writing many stories about her life.

IN THE FALL OF 1939, I was home from St. John's for Christmas, with my mother and brother, in our little village in Notre Dame Bay. It hadn't improved much since I left because there was not much work, or money on the go.

It was what was referred to as the Dirty Thirties. But we young people didn't seem to mind. Everyone in our little place seemed to have plenty for the winter and was happy enough. Now we all skylarked with our old school chums, just like we did when we were youngsters. For fun, I'll call one of them "G."

He was a young man about my own age. He was in our house every day and night, singing and playing.

This evening, he ran in on his way home, out of the woods, to see if my brother and I were going to the concert that night in the Orange Lodge. It was getting dark. John, my brother, was feeding the animals and mother was gone to the harbour to visit her brothers. When G. was on the platform, leaving, I pushed him for fun and he grabbed me around the neck.

I said, "Oh my. My false teeth is knocked out."

We put down our hands on the step as we thought to pick them up, but they were not there. Now, we were afraid to walk, for fear of treading on them. Well, we looked every inch over, and over again, but still no teeth.