Darn these dimples!

Dear Mr. Alice:

I have dimples and I want to know what they are. Where do they come from?

-- Christopher, age 8, San Diego

Tired of all those adults pinching your cheeks and cooing over how cute you are? I'll bet. Afraid there isn't much we can do about them (the adults or the dimples). You've got your cheek dents because in those spots your skin is connected to some muscles in your face. When you muscles move, most usually when you smile, they pull on your skin in those spots and out come those darn dimples. Relax the muscles and the dimples disappear. As usual, your parents are responsible. You inherited them, like your eye color or the shape of your nose. Wait about ten years and you may be glad you have them.