The Guest Toothbrush

     Maybe the cold water got to my head a little bit. Maybe it made me go a little bit nutty, (see the home page story I just posted). Maybe it is just the silly part of me coming through. Whatever it is, I want you to know it is just a joke. It is not actually something we give to people when they come. It is a family joke, and though not everyone appreciates it, we do get them to crack a little smile afterwards. What am I talking about you ask? Well, I am talking about our guest toothbrush, of course! Doesn't every family have one for their visitors when they stay over? Someone always forgets to bring their own brush to clean their teeth, so we have one put away in storage. Yes, I said one. One that all of our special guests are invited to use should they need it. It even has the words, 'Guest Toothbrush' written right on the handle. I can remember the day Joe's nephew came to stay one night. As we were getting ready for bed he came up to me and asked if we had an extra toothbrush. 
"Oh, sure!" I replied. "I have one you can use!" I pulled it out and handed the brush to him. He took one look at the dirty, black head with bristles worn down to the nubs and frowned. 
"What is this?" he asked. 
"It is our guest toothbrush! Isn't it great?" I said. Well, obviously by his reaction he did not think it was great. In fact, he really, REALLY did not appreciate the joke. Maybe he was somewhat overtired or something that night. I know I get that way when I am extra tired. He handed the horrid thing back to me and I put it back into its storage bag and set it on the shelf. It had to be ready for its next vict...I mean guest. 
Honestly though, I do have a supply of new toothbrushes that I give to our guests should they absolutely detest the one we have to offer first. Sometimes they just want a brand new one right out of the package. Most people are like that, you know.
I do not want you to think that we are evil hosts or anything. I certainly do not want to turn you against staying over should you ever need a place to stay. I think it is just a bit of Joe starting to rub off on me after sixteen years of marriage. Or maybe it is the fact that hidden deep inside of me there is a bit of mischief that comes creeping out at times. Whatever it is, it is all in fun and know that I would never, never make you actually use it. At least I do not think I would...��