5. The Fairy

5 The Fairy That night we had festivities. Festivities is when my grampa and grandma come over. And all of us eat cake. Grandma Helen Miller made the cake herself. She put a big smiley face on the top. Only that is not all. 'Cause the smiley face had a tooth missing! Just like me! I laughed and laughed at that silly thing. Then I reached in my pocket. And I got my tooth. And I passed it all around the table.

"Oh, that's a beaut, Junie B.," said Grandma Miller. "I know it, Grandma. I know it is a beaut," I said real proud. "I can't wait to take it to school for Show-and-Tell. The children are going to love this thing." Daddy looked strange at me. "Oh, gee… I don't know, honey," he said. "I'm not really sure you should take your tooth to school." Mother shook her head. "No, Junie B. That's definitely not a good idea," she said. "And besides, you won't even have your tooth on Monday, remember? You have to leave it for the tooth fairy tonight." Just then, my skin got chill bumps again. And the flutterflies came back in my stomach. 'Cause I know stuff about the fairy, that's

why. My voice felt kind of shaky. "Yeah, only what if I don't want to leave my tooth for the fairy, Mother?" I said. "What if I just want to take it to Show-and- Tell, and that's all?" Mother shook her head again. "No, Junie B. No Show-and-Tell," she said. "Taking a tooth to Show-and-Tell is just… well, it's just—" "Disgusting," said Daddy. "Yes," said Mother. "Disgusting." I whined at those two. "No, it isn't," I said. "Lots of kids bring teeth to school. 'Cause one time Roger brought a shark's tooth. And he even let me and Herb put it right in our mouths. And then we looked like sharks, too." I thought some more.

"Plus another time, Shirley brought her grandmother's dentures. And lots of us put those in our mouths, too." Grandma Miller did a little gag. Only I don't actually know why. My grampa patted her hand. "Just be glad she doesn't want to take the spit cup," he whispered. Just then, my whole face lighted up. 'Cause I have ears like a hawk, of course! "The spit cup! The spit cup! I will take the spit cup!" I hollered. I jumped down from my chair. And I zoomed to the bathroom. Then I got the spit cup out of the trash. And I dusted it off real good. "Good news, people!" I shouted real loud. "There's still some blood around the edges!" I quick ran back to show them.

Grandma Miller closed her eyes at that sight. Then Mother put her head on the table and hid her face in her arms. The festivities were over, I believe. After Grandma and Grampa Miller left, Mother took me into the bathroom. And we brushed my teeth real careful. Then I took my loose tooth out of my pocket. And I brushed that guy, too. I held it up to the light. "Look," I said. "Look how shiny I made it. I really wish I could take this tooth to school, Mother. I really, really wish that with all my might." Mother gave me a hug. "I know you do, Junie B.," she said. "But it's still going to be fun to put it under your pillow tonight, isn't it?" She smiled. "I remember when I was a

little girl. I couldn't wait to wake up in the morning and find out how much money the tooth fairy had left me." My skin got prickly at that name again. Also, sweaty came on my head. I thought and thought about what to do. Then finally, I stood on my tiptoes. And I whispered in Mother's ear. "Yeah, only I know stuff about the fairy, Mother," I said. "I know the truth.'" Mother looked shocked at me. "The truth?" she said. "You know the truth?" "Yes," I whispered again. "I know the exact truth, Mother. 'Cause last year Paulie Allen Puffer told me the whole entire story." I took another big breath. Then I cupped my hands around her ear. And I talked even quieter.