Sunday, December 18, 2011

The Tooth Fairy, Redux


In what may have been an attempt to implement Margot's theory of how to increase income, Claire recently accumulated a collection of three lost teeth.  She left them all for the Tooth Fairy the other night, commenting that she hoped the Tooth Fairy would both leave her some money and let her retain the teeth.  I followed up the next day:

Me:  "Claire, did the Tooth Fairy come?"
Claire: "Yes, and she left me three gold coins!"
Me:  "That makes sense - didn't you leave three teeth?"
Claire:  "Yes, but she had already paid me for one of those teeth - you'd think she would have known that.  I guess I need to leave her a refund.  AND, she let me keep the teeth!!"
Me:  "Great - didn't you say last night that you hoped she'd let you keep them?"
Claire (giving meaning-laden look):  "Mommy.  I know how this works. You emailed her and asked her to let me keep them."
Me: [silence]
Claire:  "And, Mom?  Thanks for doing that.  I'm really glad I got to keep them."