Get your teeth into a lost cause

One Sunday, the usual lunch had been enjoyed by our guests and resulted in the normal afternoon naps to revitalise digestive systems in readiness for high tea.

At last, 5.30pm arrived and the guests, with renewed vigour, took their places for cold meats, salads and other delectable titbits. One gentleman was particularly eager, but all of a sudden a look of panic came over his face. No teeth!

An enquiry into the missing dentures was launched. He had eaten his lunch, therefore it was assumed the munchers must have been in place - perhaps he had removed them to sip his coffee, wrapped them in a paper napkin and left them on the dining table? If so, the waitress must have inadvertently thrown them out.

The rubbish bins were up-ended and we poked around their contents - to no avail. No gnashers.

Breakfast for the gentleman the next morning was a soft-boiled egg and buttered bread. A contrast to his usual full English breakfast with toast.

By this time, his wife had become anxious. "Do you think we had better take him to hospital for an X-ray?" she asked. "Maybe he swallowed the dentures during his afternoon nap?"

I asked if their room had been searched, knowing from past experience that so-called missing articles often mysteriously reappeared in obvious places.

"Do you mind if I search your room for my own peace of mind?" I asked, after being assured that the room had been properly investigated. Ten minutes later I returned to the lounge, feeling self-satisfied.

"Here they are," I exclaimed, explaining that I had found them tucked away in the bed clothes. It seemed that in the course of snoring during his afternoon nap, they had flipped out!