Packing Away Her Wings.

Sydney lost yanked out a tooth at school the other day.  It is probably one of her last. 

She still believes in the tooth fairy.  Or so I thought. 

Just before bed she came to me and announced that she was not going to put the tooth under her pillow.  No.  Not this time.  She had labeled this one a keeper.  “Fine” I say.  “I’m sure if you change your mind in a couple of days the tooth fairy will be happy to make a U-turn.” 

“Are you sure the tooth fairy is real mom?  Tell me the truth.  I reeeaalllyyy want to know.  The boys at school keep saying the tooth fairy is your dad but there is no way “she” could be my dad.  He is sooo loud I would have heard him.  So tell me.  Is the tooth fairy real?  I really want to know.” 

I stared into her eyes for a long moment both sad that we have reached this point in her life and trying to decide whether she really wants me to tell her.   She was eager and happy.  Begging, at this point, for me to tell her the truth.

“No.” I say. 

“She’s not real?  So it’s been dad all along?”  she asks.

"Ah….probably not your father.  Of this I am certain.”  I explain.

“Then who?” she asks  and I think, is it really that inconceivable that I could be the tooth fairy.  “Me!” was all I could say.

(with a snort and a laugh) “You?  You are the tooth fairy?”

“Yes.”  I say.

Her shoulders slumped, her eyes dropped with disappointment and suddenly the smile was long gone.  I misjudged this moment.  She was not ready for the truth.  Or was she just disappointed that it was me rather than her dad?

“Are you suuuuure?” 

“Yes.” I say.

“So you are the tooth fairy?” she asks incredulously.  “You put on a fairy outfit with wings, sneak into my room while I’m asleep, take my tooth and put money under my pillow?”  She was serious now.

“Errr….umm…ya, something like that.” I say

With renewed excitement she asks to see my costume and announces that she is going to search the whole house for it and when she finds it she is going to bring it to school to show her friends as “proof” that the tooth fairy is not real!!

“Sure.”  I say.  “You do that.  I’ve packed my wings away reeeallly good; in a secret place.  Let me know when you find them.  Oh, and make sure you give them back.  Your brother will be losing teeth soon.”

And with that the tooth fairy met her demise. 

RIP tooth fairy.  RIP.