The Brevity Bell

Tooth Fairy

Billy stayed in touch with his Son, Junior by telephone. Junior lived in another state and he would call his Son every Sunday night using the house phone.

There were times when Billy would tell his Son a story about something that happened when Junior was little and he would give a good laugh.

If the story was a repeat that Billy had told many times the laughter would rate a little chuckle.

During one phone call, Billy told Junior a story that got a big laugh.

"Junior, do you remember when you were around 5 years old and you lost your first baby tooth?

"No."

"We told you to put it underneath your pillow and said the Tooth Fairy would stop by and leave you a dollar bill during the night and take the tooth."

"Well Dad, it's not a clear memory, I think I kinda remember."

"Well, after you fell asleep, we got the tooth and left a dollar bill."

At breakfast the next morning you said, "Guess what Dad The tooth fairy left me a dollar."

I said, "That was nice of the tooth fairy. You need to put that in your little bank and save it up."

A few months later your new puppy dog Jelly Bean lost a tooth and you told me that you wanted to keep it. I told you to go tell your Mom.

You went and told Mom that you wanted to keep it.

Mom said, "If you want to keep it let me wash it again to make sure there are no germs on it."

It did not occur to me that you would be putting Jelly Bean's tooth under your pillow.

The next morning at breakfast you said, "Dad guess what?"

"What?"

"You can't fool the tooth fairy."

"Really?"

"Ya, I put Jelly Bean's tooth under my pillow and the tooth fairy never left any money."

"Right, you can't fool the tooth fairy."

I am glad that we didn't know what you were doing.

"Hey Dad, guess what?

"What?"

I remember finding a little white box full of teeth. I thought I was going to get lots of money. I put them all under my pillow."

"When I woke up, I had a bunch of teeth stuck to my back."

"I put them all back in the box and put the box back where I found it."

Waiting for Santa

Hey Junior, I remember when you were four. I came home after work and saw a bunch of presents lined up in the living room next to the Christmas tree.

I asked your Mom about it and she said, "He is getting everything lined up so he can open them." During supper I asked, "Junior, are you ready for Santa's visit.

"Ya, I'm gonna stay up so I can say HI to him."

"Well Junior, Santa likes everybody sleeping so he can do his work without being bothered.

"OK Dad, I won't bother him, I just want to say HI to Santa."

"We'll see."

"Dad, how come you always say we'll see."

"Because, it is easier than saying no"

Christmas Eve finaly arrived and there you were sitting in a chair facing the front door. You started getting sleepy and your head was nodding trying to keep awake. You finally fell asleep.

I came over and tried to wake you up and told you it was time to go to bed. You started squirming around and said, "No, I want to stay up and see Santa Clause.

I went back to watching TV and waited for you to fall asleep. When you did, I grabbed one of your presents that you had lined up and put it outside near the front door.

I came back in and woke you up. I said, "Hey Junior, Hey Junior." You woke up looking confused. I said, "I think that Santa left a gift by the front door." You said, "I thought I saw him."

I went out to get it and pretended that it was real heavy. As I was half dragging and half lifting, I heard you say very slowly "Holy ----." Trying to keep a straight face and to keep from laughing I said, "Well, if you start talking like that, Santa won't be stopping by next year."

Then your Mom responded, as she often does, "It's your fault, he is just repeating what you say all the time."

"Hey, I don't say it all the time. Only when something important is going wrong."

"For you it seems to be every other day."

I took a deep breath and said, "Yes dear, remember it is Christmas Eve."