Snippet 23

W:
Sorry to bring this up, but do you think you might have gum disease?

Me:
Does it look that way?

W:
It smells that way.

Me:
What does gum disease smell like?

W:
Kinda like bad breath.

Me:
Then how do you know it's not just bad breath?

W:
There's a distinct difference.

Me:
How so?

W:
I can't quantitatively define it.

Me:
How about qualitatively?

W:
No, I can't.

Me:
So you just know.

W:
It's the smell of decay in both cases. But I can tell.