I’m getting braces soon and one night I had a dream that I was backing out of getting them.

Then the angel Gabriel came to me and told me that I have to get braces because if I didn’t I couldn’t get into heaven and if my teeth were crooked I would have to go to purgatory and have to earn my straight teeth.

And I was so scared that I would go to hell that I woke up. What does it mean?

--Abby, Age 15, Porterville, CA, USA

Hi Abby -

Do you think straight teeth really are that important? That you wouldn’t be allowed into heaven if you had crooked ones? Hmmmm.... I don’t know about this Gabriel guy...

Actually, your dream probably is more about obeying your parents - and making them happy - than it is about any real life “heaven and hell” decisions. I think you’re nervous about getting your braces, and you’ve been thinking about backing out of it, but you don’t want to disappoint your parents - not after you’ve already seen the orthodontist, had impressions made of your teeth, and had all the preparations done.

What’s the message of this dream? It’s time to “brace yourself” for a shiny pair of “train tracks” lashed across your teeth! A lot of your friends are going to have them too - and when you get done you’ll have a very nice, pretty smile.

But uh.... In case you and Gabriel didn’t finish your conversation - it takes more than a cute smile to get into heaven.

(It has to be attached to a good heart!)