The New Dentist
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in 5 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Edith is afraid of dentists, but her new dentist turns out to be someone she already knows.
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Edith sits in the waiting room. She holds her bag with two hands. She does not like dentists. Her old dentist moved away. This is her first visit to a new office. Her heart is fast.
The door opens. A woman in a white coat looks at her paper and smiles. "Edith? Please come in."
Edith walks in slowly and sits in the big chair. The lamp is bright. She looks at the ceiling.
"Wait," the dentist says. She looks at Edith's face. "Edith from Room 9? Did you go to school on Pine Street?"
Edith looks at her. "Yes, I did. Are you … Philippa?"
"Yes!" The dentist laughs. "I sat behind you in math class for three years!"
"You always borrowed my pencils," Edith says.
"And you always forgot to take them back," Philippa says. "Ten years ago, I wanted to be a dentist. Now I am one."
They talk about school. They talk about the teacher who lost his glasses every day. They remember the school trip to the farm. A goat ate Philippa's sandwich. Edith laughs so hard that her shoulders move.
Philippa looks in her mouth with a small mirror. She says, "Open wide, please." She works for a while. Edith closes her eyes and thinks about the goat.
"All done," Philippa says.
"Already?" Edith asks.
