My Childhood: Tooth Fairy

Sometime during the first couple of years in our new house, my baby teeth started to fall out, and my permanent teeth started to grow in. The whole process fascinated me, and I was constantly wiggling teeth to see which would be the next one to come out.

It was also more than a little painful, as the new tooth grows in directly under the existing baby tooth. As it grows, it shoves on the existing baby tooth, first making it loose. Finally, the baby tooth simply falls out.

After my first baby tooth fell out, my mother explained the tooth fairy to me. The tooth fairy, she said, was a wonderful being that came around to young children’s homes each night, rewarding each child who grew a new tooth the day before.

In order to receive our rewards, it was necessary to place the old tooth under the pillow. When we woke up in the morning, my mother explained, a small gift, usually a quarter, would have replaced the tooth.

My mother did a great thing by telling me this story. Now, instead of being anxious and worried about the pain and suffering caused by the new teeth, I was happy and excited about the prospect of getting a quarter from the tooth fairy. It was a small, painless and wonderful way to ease what might have been a childhood trauma.

One night I decided to catch the tooth fairy in the act. My tooth had fallen out that day, and I showed the thing to my mother. She gravely told me to be sure to place it under my pillow, so I could collect my reward.

I tied a string to the tooth. The other end was tied to my wrist. Clinched in one hand was my dart gun, and in the other was a coil of rope. I thought I was prepared for anything. The plan was to remain awake, all night if necessary, and catch the tooth fairy in the act. I’d grab her, and hold her captive with my rope and dart gun.

Of course I fell asleep. When I woke up, the tooth was gone, and a shiny new quarter was under the pillow. Without any effort at all, this supernatural creature had outsmarted me!

After all of my new teeth had come in, I lost interest catching in the tooth fairy. I was now concerned with much bigger game. I wanted to catch the Easter Bunny in the act.