The Death of the Tooth Fairy
I feel like the worlds biggest rat-mom-from-hell.
Lucifer lost another tooth two days ago.
"Dave, what does the toothfairy DO with all these
"Well... she cleans them all up, and then gives them to new
He nods, rinses and spits. He places the tooth in
Lucifer runs into my room, a little annoyed the next
"The tooth fairy didn't show up!" He waves the envelope
"Your tooth just came out moments before bedtime, maybe
He furrows his brows, nodding and put it back under his
I was sick the next day. Head cold. And didn't get out
This morning he storms into the kitchen with his envelope.
"Well Dave? She forgot again. Something's up with the
I sat down, and held him on my lap. I figured this is as
I smoothed his hair and kissed his forehead.
"I think I better tell you something"
"Yeah Dave?"
"Well... you see... remember last time when you lost your
"Yeah"
"Well, the reason the tooth fairy didn't come that night, was
He looks up at me and blinks.
"YOU'RE the tooth fairy?"
I nod.
He stands up in front of me with his hands on his hips.
"You can't fly"
Well he had me there. I certainly cannot fly.
"No baby, I can't fly. But I'm still the tooth fairy. I put those
He looks at me thoughtfully.
"Yeah but how do you know when everyone else loses
I shift in my chair.
"No... I'm not *everyone's* tooth fairy. Just yours and
He just keeps looking at me, nodding as he slowly begins
"Are you upset?" I ask him pensively.
"No. But why didn't you tell me before?"
ARGH!
"All little kids believe in the toothfairy, it's a fun thing to
I'm cringing bigtime, thinking if he asks me about Santa
I hug him really tight and close, slipping a two dollar coin
He hugs me back, drinks his juice and looks up at me again.
"Dave, does Joey know about the tooth fairy? Cuz I
I bite down on my lip hard, the look on his face has me
"I think he knows, baby"
Lucifer leans closer to me and whispers.
Lucifer goes down the stairs, and I strain to listen.
"Do you believe in the tooth fairy?"
Damian coughs. He knows all about it, but has always
"Sure I do! How else to you think you get paid for
I lean my forehead against the wall.
"Yeah, but listen to this! DAVE is the tooth fairy!" Lucifer
"No she's not!" Damian cries out. Not knowing that I've told
He stands in front of me looking pretty ticked.
I call Damian upstairs.
"Ok. Your brother is just being sweet and didn't want to
I look at Lucifer. He's nodding his head.
"Ok. Then where are all our old teeth?"
I take them both into my room, and show them the collection
Damian wrinkles his nose.
We walk back into the kitchen.
"So, is everything ok then? You understand about the
Damian nods, smiling.
Damian says...
Oy. Talk about cringing.
Lucifer looks up at me with huge blue eyes.
I look at Damian, I can tell by his face that he wants a big
Damian turns to his brother.
"Santa doesn't really make all the toys, he sometimes
I finally breathe again.
Lucifer looks up at his brother.
Damian nods.
The two of them walk off together, still talking, getting their
It was hard enough when Damian realized all this on his own.
But for BOTH of them to know, I just couldn't take that yet.
Besides, I still believe in Santa.
Why shouldn't THEY!
~~~~~~~~Dave 2000~~~~~~~~~~
As he sat in the bathroom, carefully yanking it out,
he asked me...
teeth she scams from little kids?"
babies that are just getting teeth for the first time. Sort of
recycling."
a little envelope under his pillow, smiles and closes
his eyes.. anticipating his payment in the morning.
morning.
at me. I wince visibly.
she doesn't quite know about it yet. Maybe she was
off duty. I think last time you lost a tooth, there was a bit
of a wait wasn't there? I think it's a 24 hour waiting period."
pillow.
of bed almost all day. Therefore, I again forgot.
tooth fairy. I don't think she's every going to show up.
Is she for real?"
good a time as any to let the truth be known. I mean, I
don't know if his best friends still believe in the tooth fairy,
and I didn't want him storming around school telling everyone
what a rip-off she is.
tooth?"
because I wasn't here. You see... I'm the tooth fairy"
shiny new two dollar coins under your pillow when you
leave envelopes. But I've been sick and I'm sorry, I forgot."
teeth? Did you put money under Emily's pillow last week?
How come she gets $5 and she's not even your kid?" He
demands.
your brother. All parents are the tooth fairy." I try to smile.
to understand.
pretend so kids aren't so afraid of losing teeth, because they
know they're going to get something neat for it"
Claus, I'm going to cry.
in his hand, and apologize again.
really think we better tell him."
between laughter and tears. He is *so* serious.
"I better make sure. If he doesn't know, he might get sad"
I hear Lucifer approach his brother.
played along for the sake of his little brother.
losing teeth!"
states.
the truth about the blasted fairy to Lucifer.
I hear the thump of Lucifer coming back up the stairs.
"He says there IS a toothfairy, Dave"
tell you. He's known for a while. But honestly, I'm the tooth
fairy."
of tooth carcasses that (for some God unknown reason) I
saved.
"That's pretty gross, Dave"
I smile at both boys.
tooth fairy now?"
Lucifer nods, smiling.
"Did you tell him about Santa too?"
"What ABOUT Santa!?!?!" he cries.
hole to swallow him up.
I get ready to step in.
Damian looks at me, then back to his brother.
has to buy them at Wallmart cuz they don't got Pokemon
making elves" He smiles, satisfied with his answer.
"So that's why there are price tags on some of
our presents then huh?" (Oh brother, I didn't even know
he NOTICED those blunders!)
coats and boots on for school. While I sit at the table with
my head in my hands thinking I almost saw Lucifer's entire
childhood flash before my eyes.
They're growing up too fast for my liking!
Take me home!
Main Dave's Chronicles