def slice_ends(word, count=1):
    """Slice letters off each side, in a symmetric fashion.

    The idea is to find interesting substring word combinations.

    :param word (string): the word to modify.
    :param count (int, optional): The number of letters to chop off each end.
    :rtype string: The modified string.

    >>> slice_ends('potatoes', count=2)
    >>> 'tato'
    """
    if any([not count, count is None]):
        return word
    return word[count:len(word) - count]