Alma jumped on the trampoline with her younger brother, Zack. Zack tried to get his little, blond-haired sister to hit the net around the giant, black toy.
“I’m going to show you!” Zack said.
“Well, guess what?” Alma said. “Girls rule and boys drool.”
“I do not drool,” Zack said with his young, 9-year-old emotions.
“I’m sorry, Zack, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,’ Alma said.
“I think both boys and girls drool.” Alma sat down while her brother jumped a bit and then joined her.
Alma drooled out of the corners of her mouth. Zack, thinking it was all fun and games, did, too. They started to spit on each other and onto the trampoline. Their hands went into the slime and they covered each other in it.
Zack jumped up quickly to scare his sister, but the physics ruling the day caused Alma to fling forward.
Both of them screamed as they collided, knocking teeth out of both of them.
“KIDS?!” Their mother, Sue, came running. She saw the blood and spit.
She unzipped the netting and grabbed Alma first.
“We knocked our teeth out,” Zack said, blood pouring out. “This isn’t fun spit.”
“What did I tell you about horsing around? I’m taking the trampoline down.”
“NO!” The kids said. Sadly, desire doesn’t overrule a parent.
After a few hours at the dentist, the situation ended happily.
“Did you know that you two are going to be rich tonight?” The doctor said, a slight question.
“Nah,” said Zack.
“You lost two, Zack, and Alma lost four. The Tooth Fairy will come and visit you and pay for your teeth.” The doctor’s perfect smile widened unnaturally.
“That stuff is for kids to believe in,” said Alma.
“The Tooth Fairy and I are brothers. I give him so many, from adults’ too, and in turn, he helps keep the lights on in the place and mother happy. Plus, I’m wanting to go to Mexico to visit some friends with him.”
The situation made Alma feel uneasy with her strong intuition.
Later that night, the two went to bed and put their teeth under the pillow. Their mother and father didn’t know, and believed that the dentist had merely thrown them away.
At midnight, the clock boasted, both Alma and Zack heard a knocking at the window. Outside, a short man with wild red hair stood, looking at them. He held up a sign that said, “Teeth for Cold Cash.”
“Should we?” Alma asked Zack.
“I don’t think so.”
“I want a Barbie Doll,” Alma said.
“I don’t want cash from him, looks shady.”
Alma went back to her bed and grabbed the tiny, white teeth. Her blond hair was accented by the flashes of lightning outside.
“You don’t have to, but Pretty Princess in Pink is mine.” Alma opened the window, each drop of water could tell on her.
“Okay, sir, what are we talking for these here teeth?” Alma asked.
“Why, that is worth twenty dollars, my friend.”
Alma gave the teeth to him. The tooth fairy grabbed them greedily. An old man, perhaps a midget but a wee scary, glowing purple eyes.
Alma took the money and saw Zack. He’d gone back to his bed and grabbed his teeth.
“Ah, and ten for you, mister,” the Tooth Fairy said.
As Alma started to shut the window, the Tooth Fairy put his hand in the way.
“Mr. Tooth Fairy, you have to go now. I don’t have any more teeth ready to give you.”
“Oh, I know, but my brother needs a small favor. You see, he’s run out of teeth to give to mother, and she’s dreadfully hungry.”
“We gave you our teeth, now scram.”
“That’s no way to speak to the Tooth Fairy. BROTHER!”
The closet door shook and a light outlined the door. An old man stepped out. It was. It was.
THE BOOGEYMAN!
“These greedy children are so rude, brother, and, and, they have cavities. They don’t listen to their parents like good little boys and girls.”
“Ah, they don’t deserve to have their teeth, though mother does tell me the
strawberries go well with cavities, and the gums are usually sweeter.
Both Zack and Alma tried to scream as their teeth were pulled out. Pluck, Pluck, Pluck.
I love you, mommy! The boogeyman thought. She couldn’t wait to give her such a wonderful treat.
“We’ll take your tongues, too, so that you don’t cry out anymore, spoiled brats. Uncle Bigfoot loves tongues, and he has such a nice family.”
Both Alma and Zack were rushed to the emergency room and taken back immediately for surgery, tears running down their faces as the anesthetic caused them to fall into an unconscious state.
When they woke up, all they could do was cry.
