Dentists always ask questions when it is impossible for you to answer. My
dentist had just pulled out one of my teeth and had told me to rest for a
while. I tried to say something, but my mouth was full of cotton wool. He knew
I collected match boxes and asked me whether my collection was growing. He
then asked me how my brother was and whether I liked my new job in London. In
answer to these questions I either nodded or made strange noises. Meanwhile,
my tongue was busy searching out the hole where the tooth had been. I suddenly
felt very worried, but could not say anything. When the dentist at last
removed the cotton wool from my mouth, I was able to tell him that he had
pulled out the wrong tooth.&