Toothpick.

I have had many jobs over the years.

I made cowboys seem cool and cleaned teeth. Ubiquitous in streetfood places basically anywhere you can imagine. I should be out of fashion but I can’t seem to be replaced. Have you ever bought one of me or any of my comrades? I guessed so. Let me tell you why.

You see, we are an army. Our barracks are plastic containers and wrappers. We are never alone, our forces stretch all over the globe. Who needs an army this big and covert you might ask. We are basically policing and making sure that everything stays as it should be and you left it before closing your eyes.

Have you ever wondered why so many animals living in your close proximity are cautious of their movements, hiding and scheming? In their elitist mindset humans think it is because they are scared. They are not. Humans are lazy and slow. They are dangerous through their tools only. Without them, they are just stumbling across the globe on two legs. So who keeps the animals in line? Who is making sure that doors are locked when they should be? Who can pierce and block, who can form a bridge, work as a single elite soldiers as well as in a massive formation?

It’s us. We don’t just pick teeth. We pick locks, we block, we lift. We also pierce, as a last resort. You see, you have deemed us as your tool. But who puts us down in strategic locations, together as a bundle of 50 or even 100 soldiers? It is the human. And we thank you, that is why we return.

So put a little effort into appreciating the toothpick. We will take care of the rest. Just think about what is picking your teeth and on which mission that pick might have been last night. If your lucky, they were off duty.