Mama wasn't expecting any visitors, much less a chicken. After all, I had a dentist appointment. Nevertheless, who should come to the door—right as we were leaving—but Gertrude McCluck herself, accompanied by Ester Bunny!

We tried to explain to them that it was not a good visiting time, as I had a dentist appointment. But all the while, Ester grinned broadly and nodded emphatically, as if she knew and understood exactly what we were talking about. I knew she didn't, because the broader her smile, the more numerous the teeth showed, and though I was not a trained dentist, I could tell immediately that these teeth had never seen a dentist. Ever.

There is a time for persistence and a time for surrender. Mama and I chose the latter. As Mama called to cancel with the dentist, Gertrude took a seat on our fireplace, Ester took one giant leap and landed on our sofa, and I tried to make conversation with them.

"Do you know how to read?" I asked.

Gertrude and Ester exchanged glances. I heard them whisper something about "Gabby" and "chicken scratch," and then Gertrude announced that they did not.

"I will teach you," I said. "This is A. When you see it, say AAH."

Ester began to hop up and down on the sofa.

"Now, what does this say?" I asked, holding up A.

She stopped bouncing and stared at me.

"It has a mouth?" she asked, surprised.

"No. Letters don't have mouths. The next letter is B. B says BUH."

"Does it sting?" Gertrude cried, squirming away from me.

"No," I replied. "It isn't that kind of bee. This one is perfectly harmless. Let's see... our next letter is..." I paused as I fumbled for C.

"C."

"See what?" they both asked, scanning the parlor with a puzzled expression.

"C."

"See what?" Gertrude began to advance suspiciously toward me and I was afraid she would peck me.

"See this card. The letter on it is called C. It says SSS or KUH."

"Oh," she said, nodding her head wisely.

I continued throughout the alphabet.

"This is W," I said. "Say WUHH when you see it."

"Why WUH?" Ester asked. "If it's double-U, it would be UH-UH."

We continued with X and Y. Then I held up Z.

"This is Z," I said. "Say ZZZZ."

"Wake up," said Gertrude.

Just then Mama came in.

"Your dentist appointment has been rescheduled for tomorrow," she said wearily.

The next day, just as we opened the front door to go to my appointment, who should greet us but... Gertrude McCluck and Chick-a-dee!

"Chick-a-dee wants to learn to read," Gertrude announced. "Babs wanted to come, but I told her she would have to wait until tomorrow."

Would I ever get my teeth cleaned?