Gather my little darlings and let me whisper to you a story, a warning if you will that began as every parent's nightmare ending in indescribable anger and ultimate fear. Hold your smirks and giggles, reserve your eye rolling and "Oh brother"s until you know all...
She was a beautiful queen who naturally had a beautiful son. They were adored in the kingdom by all; except the king. He was a narcissist, an arrogant soul; wanting all things for himself, whether it was love or gold. But the queen and the prince were kind and caring for those less fortunate creating a loving name for themselves across the land. They fed the hungry, gave to the poor all of which infuriated the pompous, greedy lord. And so on the day that the darling prince with the beautiful smile and warm heart wandered off to play in the wood instead of studying his lessons, this wretched king sent his henchman in to destroy the baby royal.
The boy did not join them for tea. Nor did he return to sup. Night fell as did his mother's heart. She begged for help to search for him. Many in her kingdom scoured the forest but to no avail. After several mornings void of the joyful child's giggling, along came a note demanding money for the valuable prince. The queen begged her husband to pay, stating that nothing was worth more than their angelic son's toothy grin. The king nodded, feigned concern and fatherly fear, even declared he would give his last coin but he did nothing. He lied when he said he sent his best men to search near and far. He put back all the money and gold he ostentatiously displayed for payment. Nothing more was heard. After a fortnight, the crumpled body of the lost was found. He was beaten and bloody; his beautiful smile ruined as all his teeth had been harshly yanked. The queen fell into an inconsolable despair. She wandered restlessly day and night, calling out to her angel child. She would stop at cottages, asking if they had seen her son, the prince. One day, she found a small girl sitting by the water's edge. She wept softly to herself. The queen approached and sat next to her.
"Why tears little one?"
"My mouth is broken." she looked up through teary eyes and held out a tiny white pearl; her baby tooth. A small ember glowed inside the Royal's chest as she reached out and touched it.
"May I have it?" she queried.
The baby girl began to close her fist, hesitant to give up something of her own, a part of her, but the queen quickly reached in her purse and pulled out a coin.
"Here. For your trouble." she eagerly rushed quivering at the thought holding the gleaming treasure.
The child glanced at the shiny gold and rejoiced. She snatched it up and curtsied to her queen thanking her. Her majesty plopped it victoriously it in her pocket and hurried back to the castle where she put the ivory gem in a small velvet purse. There was peace in her heart but it was not so easily satisfied. She needed more of them ~ all of them. So began her travels far and wide~ checking with any and all children for loose, lost teeth for which she would gladly pay to restore the smile of her son, bringing him back.
Her husband saw the gold she was taking away and grew furious. He plotted to kill her thinking only of the riches he would preserve. One night, when he could take no more, he demanded she be poisoned; telling the staff to bring it in her drink after her favorite meal had been laid before her. But the servants had seen enough of his cruelty and known too much deceit, choosing instead to give their horrendous lord the deadly drink. He discovered all too late he had been fooled. As he lie dying in his bed with his loving wife soothing him and unaware of all that had taken place around her, he confessed; begging forgiveness and leaving her ears ringing from the life of lies and murder. In a blind rage, she pulled all of his teeth and left him; bleeding and alone, retreating to her private chamber where she fell into madness. She spent the remainder of her days sauntering the land, visiting children and collecting their teeth, dispelling her fortune and searching in vain for her son. Even after her body gave out, she did not cease. She continued on... searching... dubbed the tooth fairy. But this has taken its toll on the once generous and loving queen.
Her soul is restless and her need so great, a despair so immense that her spirit has begun to search not just for the lost and loose. She has begun to peer jealously inside those innocent, dozing mouths where even more teeth hide ~ and if only she could have them, take them, she might have her greatest treasure restored; her son's twinkle. She bitterly questions why these children should be allowed to laugh and grin; to enjoy what her baby could not. Her anger has changed her and changed what those ivory jewels mean. She no longer believes she should pay for what is cast aside and taken for granted~ she thinks she is owed for her suffering and that of her lost boy. She hates you; your pearly barking and polished beaming and she will find you and it is now you who owe ~ for her loss, for her dead son's gaping and bloody mouth and her cheated sad life.
Sleep tight my little darlings.
Happy Halloween. This is for my daughter who gave me the idea. "Write it. I know you can." I hope my little girl gets a squeal of laughter and a shiver from this and you as well. Thanks for coming over. I hope we can do it again soon.
