The Golden Tooth

I was six years old.  My father was about to remove a tooth from my mouth. I was scared, and he knew how to calm me down.

"Joshua, I have a secret to tell you. It's the reason why I'm right: pulling a tooth is no big deal."

I knew he had secrets. I knew he was not going to tell me any of them. My heart jumped into my throat at the prospect of Norman unfolding some of this arcane wisdom I knew he possessed.

"Are you going to tell me?" I asked.

"Not until the tooth is in my hand," he replied.

I submitted. He put his big hand in my mouth and yanked out that loose tooth. It hurt, but I did not cry. I wanted to know the secret.

He had already forgotten the method he had used to pacify me. I stood there in silence, as he preferred. Waiting...

He just looked at me.

"What do you want?" He asked.

"Are you going to tell me the secret or not?"  I replied.

He laughed, with deep satisfaction. 

"Oh yes, the secret. The secret, Joshua, is that if you never place your tongue in the hole that was left by your tooth, a Golden tooth Will grow in its place," he said.

"Really? Are you sure?" I asked.

He was hurt that I didn't believe him. I was ashamed.  

"Have a look for yourself," he said.

He opened his mouth, and let me see The Golden teeth near the back on the bottom row. I was convinced.  

"Do you think I can do it? Are you sure it's possible?" I asked.

"You saw my golden teeth, didn't you?"  He answered.

I nodded, then hung my head. I walked away. Within a few minutes I was in tears. My tongue had violated the hole from which my father had yanked it. I didn't have the courage to tell him, but he saw me moping. He called me over.

"Joshua, what are you sniveling about?" He asked.

I couldn't tell him.

"Did you put your tongue in the hole? Is that what's wrong?" He asked. I cried harder and nodded yes. I had finally reached his limit, and gained admittance to his secret.

"Joshua, don't worry.  It is impossible for your tongue to avoid going back to the place where your tooth once was," he said.

"So, is the golden tooth true or not?" I asked.

"Joshua, it's just a story my father told me for the same reason: to calm me down when he had to pull a tooth from my mouth," he said. "One day, when you have a son of your own, you can use it for the same purpose," he said.

"Now, quit sniveling and go play.."

I was left to wonder where he got those gold teeth...