This Tooth Fairy Thing Is Complicated!

(He was having a hard time keeping his tongue in his mouth while posing for the "lost tooth" picture)!

Austin lost his very first tooth after school last Tuesday. He was so excited, and so was I telling him, "Now the tooth fairy will visit you tonight!" We put the tooth in a plastic baggie, and I put it up to keep it in a safe place. Well, he wanted to put it under his pillow right away. I said, "Maybe we should keep it in a safe place, and you can put it under your pillow right before you go to bed tonight." No, he wanted it under his pillow right NOW. I decided not to choose this battle, and he put it under his pillow. So, a few hours later, we're getting ready for bed, and this is how it goes:

Austin, holding up an empty plastic baggie: "Mom!! My tooth is gone!"
Me: "Well, that's why I wanted you to keep it in a safe place."
Austin: "You're right, mom." Yeah, right! In my fantasy world! No it was more like wailing and gnashing of teeth, "Where is it?!!"
Me: "All right, calm down. Let's looks for it," all the while trying to think what I'm going to tell him if the tooth isn't found. After searching his room, I say, "You know what? I bet she already came and got it!"
Austin: "Yeah! She probably did!
Me, in my head: Phew.
Austin: "But where's my money?"
Me, in my head: Crap, then: "Well, maybe she had to leave real quick, because she was afraid she was going to get caught. She'll come back tonight and leave your money. She only leaves the money when you're fast asleep though, so you'd better get in bed."

Austin happily got ready for bed, and tried really hard to go to sleep. He kept coming downstairs saying he can't go to sleep. After a few times, he got really frustrated and says, "I am NOT going to sleep until that Tooth Fairy comes!" At this point it's going on 9 p.m., and I know this kid has got to get to sleep or he's going to be a beast tomorrow, and I'll never be able to get him out of bed for school. So, I sneak away and write this note:


I'm also digging in my wallet for any spare change I have. I end up raiding Anne Elyse's piggy bank, and come up with 7 dimes.

Then, I go upstairs, pretending to start a load of laundry. I start the washing machine, then making sure the coast is clear, I dash into Austin's room and put the loot under his pillow. Then I casually go downstairs, and say sternly, "Austin, go get in bed." Again, he says, "I am NOT going to bed until she comes!" I march him upstairs, and of course he checks under his pillow and...Viola!"

Austin: "Mom, she came!"

It was kind of cute to see how happy he was to get the note and dimes, but then he goes, "How come she didn't leave me any CASH?" Then it was a barrage of questions:

"How'd she get in my room?"
"How big is she?"
"What does she wear?"
"Where does she live?"
And my favorite, after sniffing the note (Austin has a super-sniffer), "Did she use crayon to write this note? What kind of crayon does she use?"
Me: "Fairy crayons! Now go to sleep!"

When Keith got home from work about a half hour later, he says, "Now what are you going to tell him if he finds the tooth?" Let's just say, the next day I vacuumed Austin's room really good!