Tears over a tooth turn to cold, hard cash
Coco woke up a few days ago in tears. She’d lost her tooth and couldn’t find it. She feared she swallowed it or lost it. I told her we’d just have to look.
Loosing teeth is such an intense experience for kids. It’s funny I don’t remember that. I do remember avoiding my father if he saw one he thought we yank. He wasn’t exactly the cuddliest. Coco doesn’t like to put her teeth under her pillow and give it to the tooth rat. That’s right, rat and/or mouse depending on who tells the story. (For a wrap up of the legend, read here.)
We found the tooth right in the middle of the bed. She gleamed with relief.
“I’m going to put this one under my pillow.”
“Are you sure.”
She nodded and I took it to soak it in hydrogen peroxide to get off the little bit of remaining blood. I set the tooth in a little dish next to the sink and said a quick prayer that I wouldn’t chuck it down the sink, which I’ve done in the past. And….I crossed my fingers that I would remember to put the money under the pillow. I’m not too fond of this custom because it’s too much pressure to remember. The only other tooth Coco put on her pillow I forgot TWO nights in a row to put some cash in place of the tooth.
Around 10 p.m., I crept Coco’s room. An odd light was shining in the corner, and I thought for sure she was being visited by something not of this earth. Was it the tooth fairy? Did the fairy seek out all United State citizens where ever they lived? No. It was the reflection of the street light through her curtains onto the new shelf I’d stuck in the corner.
Once I got past that, I pawed for the plastic baggie with the tooth in it. I stood over her bed crinkling the bag like a little old lady in the theater opening a cough drop. Coco woke up. Busted again! Just like I was when I tried hiding the Easter basket one year. Luckily, she was so drowsy, I just re-kissed her goodnight and she fell back asleep.
The next morning she beamed at the 800 colones she’d found. I suggested maybe it was because she’d just turned eight. She cupped the money in her fist.
Awfully smart mouse, I said.
You’re funny, mommy.
Yup. I’m a riot.
Arp on 29 Oct 2008 at 3:51 pm #
We had our first encounter with the tooth fairy the other night. Trish managed to exchange a tooth for a metal slinky. Our only regret is that we live in a one-story house.
Others tend to grossly overdo it - we have a relative who slipped a $100 bill for a tooth. I frankly don’t know what positive the kid could possibly have gotten out of that. I’m sure his dad gave himself a few pats on the back.
Trish on 29 Oct 2008 at 4:57 pm #
We had our first tooth a few nights ago, and I was filled with fear over properly dealing with it. We don’t use baggies in our family, so I was mostly scared I would either A) Not find the darn thing, or B) wake M up while leaving the gift. Luckily, he still sleeps with me, so putting the item under the pillow could be accomplished when I was darn sure he was asleep. Thank goodness he sleeps very solidly. We left a slinky under the pillow, and it was a wonder he could sleep with that thing under there. But luckily, the whole operation was successful!
Trish on 29 Oct 2008 at 4:58 pm #
Just realized Arp beat me to the reply punch!
Susan on 30 Oct 2008 at 8:31 am #
Isn’t it funny how we all manage this thing and stumble through it, ending up with very hilarious stories!
Tamara on 04 Nov 2008 at 4:16 am #
I remember the days of the tooth mouse! I had left a plum next to my bed, which my mother assumed was for the mouse. She took a big bite out of it. A big human-sized bite. Well, that was the end of that