The Delinquent Tooth Fairy

Twice now the tooth fairy has not shown up.  She comes late.  Two weeks ago she came while Mary was eating breakfast, and she didn't leave an actual photo of herself, as requested in the little girl's note left under her pillow.  The first time Mary asked for a picture of her, the fairy left a self portrait in crayon, which Mary thought looked suspiciously like a Christmas angel.  Hmmm.  I guess leaving an actual photo is against fairy policy.

Last night I had choir practice and Bill put Mary to bed with the sacred front tooth under her pillow and there must have been so many little first graders needing visits that the tooth fairy didn't even get here until after Mary got her hair combed and the remaining teeth brushed before school.  What can you do?  

I know the tooth fairy doesn't come to everyone's house, but I really enjoy her visits.  Especially when she remembers. . .

Sometimes she scatters fairy dust on the clean dresser.  Today she left a sparkly "kiss print" on a post it note--again by request in Mary's first grade handwriting.  Apparently she, the tooth fairy, had left a kiss on a paper for Mary's friend Miranda.  Nothing but the best for our schmoo. . .

The going rate at the Kotrba house is one $2 bill per tooth. The bills are given in order by their serial numbers and heaven help the fairy when the child loses a tooth out of state. This morning the tiny winged creature left an additional $1 as an interest payment for coming so late.

Next time, I'm leaving my own note for the tooth fairy, I'm going to put it right on my bathroom counter where she will surely see it.  Perhaps then she will not be late.