For the past few weeks a common sight in Chateau Lawrence has been one of Trixie involved in intensive bouts of tooth wiggling. She was over-joyed when she first discovered that she had a wobbly front tooth and made sure that she told everyone who she thought would be as excited as she was about the ever more precarious gnasher. She was not satisfied with letting nature take its course and so took every opportunity to develop the most speedy and efficient exit strategy for the wobbly front number.
Mid-morning on Sunday came and the four other Lawrence Clan members were greeted with cries of “It’s come out and there’s blood.” A quick wad of tissue paper and the blood was stopped and then there was detailed examination of the tooth by all. It was a mighty fine tooth and was sure to be something that The Tooth Fairy would be very pleased to collect. Complete with happy grin Trixie continued with her day, as did the rest of us.
When bedtime came she carefully placed her tooth under her pillow, said goodnight, enjoyed a story and then it was time for lights out. Both Lexi and I reminded ourselves of the importance of making sure that The Tooth Fairy arrived as we left Trixie's room and that was that.
All teachers know about the dreaded Sunday evening routine of lesson planning, diary checking and marking and this particular Sunday was no different. Lexi and I went to bed, as usual, later than hoped for or planned.
As is the Lawrence Clan routine the morning alarm went off at 5.30am and we set about our ablutions, dressing, and waking up of children. Trixie was unusually quick to wake when I put her light on and dived under her pillow at lightning speed. Her speed was much faster than my brain, which put two and two together seconds after she fell into angered and disappointed tears announcing that the tooth fairy HAD NOT BEEN! She had very definitely forgotten and Trixie was not amused. She remained not amused for the rest of breakfast time, bag-packing time and, appropriately during teeth cleaning time.
Her annoyance had subsided a little during the drive to school, and she seemed to calm down a little bit more as I helped shift the blame for such an oversight to the Tooth fairy herself and tried to claim that she had simply got lost, or may have been delayed in the terrible KL traffic. But nothing really seemed to cure Trixie’s crossness.
Getting out of the car we saw Trixie’s teacher walking with his family towards school at the same Monday morning pace as we were. Trixie had to show her teacher her new gap before announcing the non-arrival of the Tooth Fairy. Quick as a flash her teacher proved that your primary teacher always knows more than your Mum and Dad.
“When did the tooth come out, Trixie?” He asked.
“Yesterday, and she didn’t come,” Trixie helpfully reminded everyone.
“Ah well that’s because she doesn’t work on Sundays,” came THE ANSWER from the sainted Mr C.
Immediately Trixie was satisfied and contented with that answer and her Monday could begin properly. Needless to say The Tooth Fairy really did arrive on Monday evening, rested and recovered from her day off.