What's Under Your Pillow?

Nick has become aware that children in his class at school have begin to loose teeth. He mentioned this at dinner the other night.

"You'll probably get a loose tooth soon, Nick," Steve said. "In some houses, that means you get a visit from The Tooth Fairy."

The boys nodded and noisily voiced approval of The Tooth Fairy.

"Lucky for us," Steve went on," I installed a special Tooth Fairy Barrier around the whole house so The Tooth Fairy won't be able to get in."

Nick and Nate sat, faces blank.

Steve said, "It wasn't that expensive. Now the one we got for Santa? That one cost a bundle."

"Sure," I said. "And the one for the Easter Bunny probably cost right in between those two."

By this time, Nate had returned to eating his dinner, but Nick still stared at us. And Steve kept going.

"I did manage to get some of that special Lamb's Blood for Passover, though. You should be happy about that one, Nick."

Nick raised his eyebrows.

"Yes," I said, stupidly pushing onward, and trying to remember the details. "See, God was going to send a plague down on the Egyptians, and he told his followers to put a mark on their door. But if you didn't put the mark on your door, God would kill the firstborn son. That's the oldest boy, and I think that's you, Nick."

This is when I realized the expression on Nick's face could be described as fearful, or alarmed.

"It's just a story," I said. "A story from the bible."

Nick nodded, and looked a little relieved. "Yeah," he said. "Because the Tooth Fairy is NICE."

Oh, the things he will tell his therapist.