A tiny whisper in my face woke me from a dead sleep. The only thing more frantic than my eyes trying to find the numbers glowing in the dark room, was my stomach. The pit began to swell as I realized that I had fallen asleep.
I missed her again. For every single tooth but one, I've been 'simpatico' with Ms. Tooth herself, but this time...I dropped the ball...well...the tooth.
"What time is it Buddy? It's still dark outside."
"I don't know, but I looked everywhere and she didn't come."
Being able to focus now on the clock, 5:02 glared its ugly stare.
"Baby, it's not even time to get up yet. Go back to sleep and she'll still make it."
Feeling relief, I hoped that at least an hour or two of borrowed time had been found.
"I CAN'T Mom! My tooth isn't THERE anymore!"
(What?)
Rolling out of bed, I followed our son as he guided me through the dark hall. "Don't wake up your brothers or sister."
It was too late. The other two boys had already snuck in with their covert operation to try to find the goods.
Turning on the light, they quickly turned. "Mom?"
"Hi boys. What's going on?"
"Uhhhhhh, we're just, uhhhhh...seeing if she came yet."
Getting ready to put them all back to sleep, I worried that now they were too awake to summon the Tooth Fairy for her visit. I went to feel under the pillow and he was right, it was gone.
Suddenly, little Preston yelled, "HEY! I FOUND IT!"
From under the side of the bed, he held up a note in the shape of a tooth while Christian and Ethan's faces were as surprised as mine.
"What?" The boys ran over.
(WHAT?) I couldn't believe it myself.
"What does it say guys?"
"What a wonderful, pleasant surprise to visit you tonight! Thank you for leaving such a beautiful tooth. You have given me quite a collection. Have a wonderful time this summer. See you soon! Love, The Tooth Fairy"
(Wonderful, pleasant surprise indeed)
The boys crawled back in their beds with gaping smiles as I went to collapse into ours. Feeling Adam's scratchy face, he smiled and whispered, "You were sound asleep."
Trying not to laugh too loudly, I whispered back, "That Tooth Fairy sure is something isn't she? She really knows how to come through in a pinch."
"That she does. That she does."