The Woes of Losing a Tooth

Neopia was a place of magic and charm. A place where one could escape for relaxation and rehabilitation. This summer was warm and had the potential to be one of the hottest yet. Nesting Pawkeets chattered happily from the tops of trees and a friendly feeling illuminated the evening.

It was dinner time and in a small Neohome on a hill in the countryside of Neopia a baby Uni sat down to dinner across the table from her owner. She wrinkled her nose and looked at her plate. "Apples, again?"

"I thought you loved apples," Indipsi's owner, Charmedhorses replied.

"Well, yeah, but three days in a row? It gets a bit old," Indipsi reasoned.

"Point noted. No more apples," Charmed said.

"Thank you." Indipsi took a bite of the seasoned fruit and chewed it absent-mindedly. As the spices oozed out Indi felt one of her back teeth wiggle a bit.

That's strange, Indipsi thought to herself. When she had finished what she was eating she took another bite. Again, Indipsi felt her tooth jiggle. This time a flicker of concern ignite within her. Why would her tooth be loose?

"Charmed, I think I need to go to the hospital. My tooth is loose. Do you think they could glue it back in place?"

Charmedhoses laughed. "You don't need to go to the hospital and it doesn't need to be glued in place. It'll probably fall out in a day or two."

The Uni looked horrified. "Fall out?"

"Yeah," Charmed said. "It's a natural occurrence. That one will fall out and another will take its place."

"But I like the tooth I have," Indipsi argued. "I don't want a new one."

Charmedhorses smiled sympathetically. "Like it or not that the way things work."

"Did you ever lose your teeth, Charmed?" Indipsi asked, eying her owner's mouth.

"Yes, I did."

"How old were you?"

"Oh, I was probably somewhere around seven."

"Seven? I'm just over a year old!"

"People and Neopets age a little bit differently," Charmedhorses explained.

"Well, maybe you'd better take me to the hospital just to be safe," Indipsi suggested.

"Tell you what. Why don't you sleep on it and we'll see how you feel in the morning. You know, if you do lose a tooth leave it under your pillow and the Tooth Faerie will take the tooth and put some Neopoints in its place," Charmed told her Uni.

"The Tooth Faerie steals your teeth?" Indi exclaimed.

"No, no, no. It's sort of a tradition. In exchange for the tooth the faerie leaves you Neopoints."

Well, I'm not planning on losing my teeth," Indipsi declared stubbornly.

Charmedhorses let it go at that, seeing a reflection of herself in the Uni she loved so much.

From there the conversation moved on to things of lesser importance, but though Indipsi appeared to be over her potentially loose tooth it still remained foremost in her mind.

By bedtime that night Indipsi had wiggled her tooth so many times (just to make sure it wasn't loose), that it was now looser than when she had begun.

When Indi brushed her teeth she was scared to bits that every light stroke would knock her tooth right out of her mouth.

"Good night, Indi," Charmedhorses said, tucking the Uni in and pulling the covers up protectively. "You aren't thinking about our tooth still, are you?" she asked.

"What if all my teeth fall out and I look like an old Uni?" How will I eat?" Indipsi seemed genuinely concerned about the possible outcomes.

"Don't sweat it, sweetie," Charmed comforted. "It's nothing to lose a good night's sleep over. If it's still bothering you in the morning I'll take you in for a check-up. Then if worse comes to worse I think I can splurge on some false teeth."

Of course Charmed was just joking, but considering the situation this was probably not a bright joke to crack right before bedtime. As Indipsi drifted into a not so deep sleep, thoughts of her wobbly tooth haunted her dreams. "It'll probably fall out in a day or two…the Tooth Faerie will take your tooth…I think I can splurge on some false teeth…"

The highlights of Indipsi's conversation with Charmed ran over and over in her head. She could see the tooth letting go and falling to the ground in a rapid, violent movement. Over and over again the scene repeated itself until Indipsi had a vacant mouth, empty of teeth. When this happened Indipsi awoke with a start, bolting upright. Urgently she put a hoof to her mouth and checked to make sure that her teeth were still in place.

It took the baby Uni a moment to recollect her whereabouts and settle her pounding heart, but once she had she trotted into the kitchen, where she got a glass of water. Indipsi slowly sipped the refreshment, calming her nerves.

"Indipsi, is that you?" Charmedhorses asked groggily, switching on a light and rubbing at her tired eyes.

"Yes," Indipsi answered in a weak voice, for she was still frightened from her toothless nightmare.

"What are you doing up so late?"

"Well, I-I had a bad dream."

"Okay," Charmedhorses said patiently. "What about?"

"My t-teeth fell out," Indipsi wavered, desperately trying to keep from reliving her nightmare.

"Oh, no. Was it what I said about splurging on false teeth?" Charmed asked.

The Uni nodded, tears in her eyes.

"Aw, honey, I didn't mean to give you nightmares. I was just kidding around."

Indipsi nodded again, understanding that this had not been her owner's intention.

"Come on, let's go back to bed," Charmed said. "We can figure this all out tomorrow morning."

Indipsi reluctantly retreated back to her bedroom, where she lay rigid in bed, frightened of the dreams that threatened to invade her sleep.

By the time Indipsi finally fell back asleep she remained restless, tossing and turning until morning.

"How do you feel?" Charmedhorses asked the young Uni when Indipsi walked wearily into the kitchen the next morning. "Ooh, you don't look too good," she observed at the sight of Indipsi's glazed eyes and droopy expression.

"Why ? Am I missing my teeth? They were there just a minute ago," Indipsi rushed.

"Woah, there. Calm down. You still have your teeth," Charmed confirmed.

The baby Uni heaved a sigh of relief. "Don't scare me like that."

"Okay. I don't understand all this. Why are you so scared of loosing a tooth? You're at the age where it's perfectly natural. Besides, you'll get another."

"Doesn't it hurt?" Indipsi questioned. "And what if the one tooth starts a chain reaction and they all fall out?"

Charmed was unsure of how to settle her Uni's concern. "It shouldn't hurt and I've never heard of a chain reaction."

"I want to see a doctor," Indipsi announced. "I think this is a serious situation."

"But, Indi," Charmed began.

Indipsi shook her head. "You said we'd see about it in the morning and I don't feel any better so if you won't take me to the hospital I want to see a doctor."

Charmedhorses was not one to go back on her word and so she gave in despite her disagreement on the matter.

Once Charmed was fit to go out and Indipsi had cleaned up a bit, the pair left their Neohome and began the trip into town.

The trek was relatively long and though Indipsi was already feeling slightly better about her loose tooth she couldn't help thinking that it was even looser this morning. The Uni shook her head violently, convincing herself that everything would be better when she got to the doctor's. After all, he must have some magic cure.

The doctor's office itself was filled with hurt and dehydrated Neopets seated in the lobby. Upon arriving Charmedhorses immediately felt guilty about bothering the busy doctor.

"I'm so sorry to disturb you, but my Uni's a little frightened and I was hoping the doctor could help her out," Charmed explained to the secretary at a desk in the front of the room. "It won't take very long. In fact, it's rather silly really."

The Zafara smiled in understanding. "That'll be no problem at all. If you would just wait a moment I'll call you when he's available. What's your Uni's name?" Charmed told her and it was scribbled on the secretary's clipboard.

As they waited Indipsi sat beside a Kacheek with a scraped knee. "What're you in for?" he asked.

"My teeth are all going to fall out," Indipsi told him.

"Cool!" the Kacheek exclaimed. "You'll be rich!"

Indipsi gave him a funny look, wondering why in Neopia someone would want to lose a tooth.

After a half hour of waiting the Zafara called Indipsi in and escorted her, along with Charmed, into the doctor's examining room.

"Hi there. I'm Doctor Tef," a white Gelert in an equally white coat introduced himself.

Indipsi wasn't sure what to do and so Charmed took it upon herself to say, "I'm Charmedhorses and this is Indipsi." She nudged the Uni forward.

"Nice to meet you two. Now what's the problem?" he asked.

Charmed left that to Indipsi, who mumbled, "I have a loose tooth."

"Well, that's great!" Doctor Tef said. "Congratulations! But what do you need my help for?"

"I want you to keep it from falling out."

The doctor looked confused. "But it's supposed to fall out. And besides, I'm not a dentist, you know."

"You must be able to do something," Indipsi argued.

"Hmmm," Doctor Tef considered this. "What if I could prove to you that losing a tooth doesn't hurt?"

"I guess that would be okay," Indipsi agreed.

"Alright, then. Open wide."

Indipsi opened her mouth obediently for the doctor to observe.

Doctor Tef tapped on the tooth in question, wiggled it from side to side a bit and then showed Indipsi the product of his efforts. In his paw he held the Uni's tooth."

"But I didn't even feel it," Indipsi said in amazement. "That's all it took?"

"Yup," the doctor said.

"See, that wasn't so bad," Charmed added.

"Wow, thank you Doctor," Indi exclaimed.

"You're welcome," Doctor Tef said, patting her on the back. "Losing a tooth is nothing to worry about."

"Don't forget to put your tooth under your pillow tonight," Charmedhorses reminded Indipsi before bed that night.

"You know, I don't think I want the Tooth Faerie to take it," Indipsi said thoughtfully. "I'd rather have my tooth as a souvenir instead of some extra Neopoints."

"That sounds reasonable," Charmed said, smiling.

"Besides, this way if I don't get my new tooth I'll still have the old one to put back in."

"It doesn't really work that way," Charmed began.

"Oh, Charmed, can't you take a joke?" Indipsi asked, a grin on her face.

Charmedhorses returned her smile, happy to see the Uni's cheerful disposition had returned.

THE END

Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this! Feel free to send me any comments you may have!