The Wisdom Tooth

Since the day he turned 5 , my little G has been very excited about the idea of losing his teeth , more accurately, trading his little white pearl for a gold coin from the collector fairy. On his 5th birthday morning, the first thing he did was to look at his front row of teeth , hopeful to see a mysterious hole turned up where he imagined the tooth fairy would just have popped away his tooth in exchange for a gold coin.  Ever since that day he has been patiently waiting , while admiring the adventurous stories from his mates, for his turn. By now, he knows that the tooth has to be plucked out when it turns loose. From the stories of his friends, he has devised a few strategies to do it. He would tie the tooth to a door handle and slam the door shut and presto! there it goes .. Or he would just bite an apple and his tooth would get stuck ok the apple.. easy peasy...
And finally that big day arrived. G went wild with excitement. His front tooth is moving.. "This time it is really moving mom".. He came to me. I checked. Yes, it is. "Keep playing with it. We will be able it take it out without much trouble in a week" , I said.

 "I will do it, I got a plan", said G.
"How are we going to take it out?", asked dad, quietly . ""You ask your friends. Book an appointment with the dentist?".

 I had, in fact , talked to my friends. I remember my mom helped me with my first 2 teeth and for the rest of them , I pulled  it out myself when it turned loose enough. Back then , it was a shame if you didn't have the courage to pull  it out yourself. I know the times have changed . We are dealing with a new generation. But as it turned out, not many parents take their kids to the dentist to do this job .

 "I'm not sure.  How will you do it? What if it breaks and leave the half in the gums?". The  logical, technical dad started the research. Yes, the times have definitely changed. The tasks which generations of "illogical' mothers quietly used to do is being researched upon by dads.
"Mom, give me an apple, it's ready", G demanded confidently after a few days.

"Use your front teeth, G.  Bite the apple with that loose front tooth", I said helpfully.

"I'm not used to eating with front teeth. This is how I eat.", G.

 After a few minutes I saw him getting ready for school with his full set of teeth. The half eaten apple was on the bench top.
Evening  scene . "Dad , can you help me with this. ", G went to dad with a long string. I was getting little M  ready for bed, listening to the faint conversation in the backdrop.

Dad, " is this how to do it?".

Son , "yes, Zane told me. That's how his dad got his tooth out " .
"What are you doing, S? ",  I saw dad and son in his room, dad "slamming" the door as gently as he could.

"Shut it hard, dad", G ordered.

"you stop running toward the door when I shut it", said S . "I don't think this is working. I will tie my floss to your tooth and pull it out".

 I took my M to the bed.
Half an hour later, I came back and saw dad and son sitting face to face in 2 chairs. Son in tears. "Have you pulled it out?" I asked hopefully.

 "I'm trying to untie this string from the tooth", said S.

"Where is the tooth?". S glared at me, like he normally does . I looked again. Ok, the floss is hanging out from G's mouth.

 "He's saying he won't go to school with this string hanging out. Help me undo this now". I looked at dad and the son.

" It was his stupid idea. Nghummm... I don't want to go like this " , G is in tears, blaming dad. S looked at me, helpless. I thought about other experienced mom's advises  "it will just fall off. Sometimes you may have to give it a little tug". They sounded it as an easy task. It also sounded like a mom's job. I thought my heart is going a bit fast. May be, I should give it a try. I tried to remember how my mom did it. It was a very vague memory, nothing much. I changed my imagination to - how my mom would have done it.

 "G, come with me. Let's go to the bathroom. I will see if I can I undo the string" . I gestured S to come along.

"Now open you mouth. Is it really loose? Let me check. Do you know what your dad did when Ammamma pulled his teeth out? " , as I began the story I gently played with the loose teeth. I mouthed to S "hold him". My heart beat doubled. Nervous. But I have to do it. All mom's are supposed to do this. S held him tight. I gave it a hard pull outwards. G screamed. Bloody mouth. " Bad amma...Go away.." He yelled .

 "Spit out the blood ,G". I said.

" No, I won't , you are bad", G was still in shock.

"You got it? You hurt him!" , S looked at me  angrily..

I showed him the tiny white piece covered in blood. 

"Is it how you do it? Looks like you haven't got it out fully . See, you haven't . I don't think that's how it looks like. I will have to check".

"Mom, give it to me. Now I need to keep it under my pillow. Only then the tooth fairy will give me the coin."

I washed the tooth and handed it G. While he eagerly took it to his room I asked S, do you have a one dollar coin?".

- S.