Work carried out as part of Workshop 62: getting into the skin of an object, here a tube of toothpaste and a toothbrush. Telling their love at first sight and their story.

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Do you remember my beautiful from the first time we met? Julie had locked us both in the bathroom and you had quickly dared to touch me with delicacy. It was right up against the edge of the sink. Do you still remember it, as I do, with an emotion as lively as she still brings tears to my eyes? What a fascinating encounter all the same. It was love at first sight from the very first minute. We were made for each other without a doubt.

Julie then dropped us off together in a pretty pottery she had brought back from Essaouira. She liked to decorate her house with pottery brought back from her trips to India or Morocco. For both of us, she had chosen a small pot in blue tones, which suited us perfectly. It suited you perfectly and highlighted your finery, you who were all dressed in blue. You drove me crazy, especially since she allowed you to come and tickle me with your soft little hairs.

Some mornings you rubbed me a little too hard. That happened on the days when Julie would get up late. I didn’t like that too much. You rubbed me with a vigor that made me spread myself everywhere. What a waste! But most of the time, I must confess, you were very delicate towards me. I looked forward to all our appointments with great impatience and I am still moved when I think about it.

During the day, Julie took you most of the time with her. She’d slip you into her big navy blue leather handbag she bought at a market in Florence. She’d usually drop you off right after we had sex. You would then find yourself in the dark, you would slowly come to your senses and I would devote all my energy to thinking about you. What were you doing alone at the bottom of that big bag? I was afraid that she would make you meet another hit than me during the day and it made me mad to wait for you like that all day long.

Sometimes Julie would forget you in the back of the bag when she came home at night. This happened on the nights she went out for drinks with her friends. If you knew how much I hated those nights… I was also angry at her friends for not seeing each other for more than 24 hours. I would stay up most of the time just in case… and then secretly hope that we could still get together for one of our passionate hugs.

JI liked it when I could crawl along your delicate little hairs. I also liked it when, united, we would set out together to conquer the invaders that had to be chased out of her mouth. We were then strong, fighting and Julie could really count on us to restore all the splendour to her beautiful teeth. We were an expert and inseparable duo.

Sometimes you’d come in all wet and it wasn’t easy for me to hold on to you. I was afraid I’d miss my entrance and you’d bring me down.

The worst moment I remember was when Julie came home from the dentist. The idiot recommended that she use a soft bristle brush. I felt like I was being unfaithful to you and there was never any complicity between me and this new brush. You and I always remained close in our little potty but there had been no contact between us for at least fifteen long days. I thought I was going to die.

And then came the time of old age. I could feel the life rushing through me every time Julie pressed me against you. I wasn’t so vigorous anymore, I was twisting and turning, draining my strength. You were losing your hair, and it was becoming more and more scattered. They were also much less brave. Every morning and evening I saw us disappear into the sink drain. One morning, when I could feel your hair weakening, I was afraid that Julie would replace you before me. So I decided to get it over with and quickly spread out, hoping to get it over with as soon as possible. That’s how we had managed the great feat of ending our lives simultaneously. What could one hope for more beautiful for a tube of toothpaste and a toothbrush? Unfortunately, Julie, with her mania for sorting everything, had left us in two separate garbage cans for eternity.

Par Nathalie

Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)