BRACES is a 6 letter word for torture

Braces... one word that sends me running in terror. My parents want me to get it but even me- at my very vain-est - can't really bring myself to seriously consider getting those torture devices of doom.

Yes, I chicken out at the (perceived) pain, the fact that I'm going to be 23 (who wears braces at 23??) and this:

Pic: http://www.yummycorner.com/2005/10/14/low-yau-kee-porridge/

Now, I'm not saying the porridge here isn't good (you learn things like this when your pay comes from the media industry), and I've personally never tried it.

It's just that I detest watery porridge. Very much. I rather eat plain rice. And I've been fed horror stories of how I'll be on a "porridge diet" for the 1-2 weeks right after getting braces.

*shudder*

No, absolutely no. I'll live with self deprecating jokes about my gap teeth and imperfect set of not-so-pearly whites.