Have you ever gotten stressed about something? Sometimes we work ourselves up over nothing. We can get so worked up. Usually, it starts with something small like at the doctor's, a test, a tryout for a sport, going on the stage, or having to go to the dentist. This reminds me of one time I had to go to the dentist.

       I couldn't sit still. I was yearning to leave. The nurse stepped in and inquired, ¨Could Joe come back with me?¨ I was ready to screech. He isn't going, we are both leaving. I was astonished that I was able to keep myself in my seat. I waited in my seat, fiddling with my fingers, so I tried to think about what I was going to do to get out of this situation!

       It seemed to get even worse the longer I slouched unconformably in the chair. I tried to think of a reason to leave. Nothing came into my head; it was a void of nothingness. Then the most inferior thing happened. My dad strolled out of the hallway, and behind him was the nurse. “Can Amelia come back with me?¨ she summoned. 

       I wasn’t ready. I tried to procrastinate, but I said nothing. I stood in front of the seat. I wobbled nervously to the nurse. “Okay, follow me.¨ She joyfully swiveled around and started the hike into my room. I wanted to say, you have the wrong person, but I couldn’t lie. I followed her even though it was against what I wanted. The hallway was somber, and it felt like the hallway was endless. It was like someone was messing with me. We finally got to our destination. My stomach groaned, not like I was hungry but like it was whining to go home. 

       We strolled into the room. I threw myself into the pale chair. The nurse clipped the gray paper sheet around my neck. I was ready to leave. My hand shook vigorously out of nervousness. Questions filled my head: What is going to happen? Are they going to know? Did I forget to brush my teeth last night, or floss? I heard the snap of the gloves hitting the nurse's palms. They got shiny tools out of a bag. I could hear drills around me. The light antagonized me as the nurse moved it.  

       “Open wide,” they announced. I opened my mouth as wide as possible. I heard metal clinging like they were trying to make music. They'd said something, but I didn’t hear; it was like I had escaped reality.  “What flavor would you like? There's strawberry shortcake, chocolate cake, and mint.” I stared mysteriously at her. I had no idea which one I wanted. I only wanted to go home.

       “Mint,” I blurted out. Why did I say that? I thought. They scraped out the mint toothpaste from the container and wiped it all over the electric brush. They spread it all over my teeth. After that I just sat there looking off at space.

       I finally strolled out of the hallway that used to be frightening, but now it was an ordinary hallway. “ So how did it go?” my father asked.

       ¨It went well I think. No cavities,¨ I answered.

       ¨See, you got worked up for nothing,¨ he replied. 

       That day, I learned a lot about not working myself up. I had wasted so much time on nothing. It didn't change my fate in any case. Now, I can take this lesson and apply it to other things in my life. For example, I used to also get worked up and anxious before performing in pageants, but after this experience I was able to keep my cool during a speech in front of a lot of people. Getting yourself worked up over small things wastes your time, and if you focus too much on the small stuff you´ll miss out on all the big stuff in life.

-Amelia K.