Bared teeth.
Saturday market. Sweat on my neck. Tomato seller: “Last price, 2000 naira.”
I smiled. Polite. Then I bared my teeth.
Not my Pepsodent morning smile. Not clean teeth for fruit salad. This was different. This was survival teeth. Market teeth.
“Abeg make we talk truth,” I said, teeth showing. “Sunday stew must enter my pot.”
He bared his teeth back. Laughed. The whole market did it - buyers, sellers, children. Teeth as weapons. Teeth as shields.
Morning I brushed them. Now I’m using them to bargain.
Bared teeth = anger. Laughter. Hunger. “Don’t cheat me.”
5 minutes later: 1500 naira tomatoes and a lesson. Sometimes you must bare your teeth to win. But wash them after 😂
I’m 
so,What does “bared teeth” mean to you? Anger, smile, or survival? 👇