"Uncle Steven," Kristen spoke while playing with a loose tooth, which was just hanging on, "why does the toothfaerie want my teeth?" She paused, but before I could respond. "I mean, it's nice that the toothfaerie leaves me money, but what's so important about babyteeth?"
"Well, this looks like a job for milk and cookies." I stated after a moment's thought.
"Don't you know? You always know everything." replied the tiny, little girl with a very dismayed expression.
"Of course, I know, sweetheart. But it will take a few minutes to explain. So we might as well be comfortable." I countered.
"Okay." Kristen finally agreed, and headed for the kitchen.
"First, " I began after setting the table, "the toothfaeries use the teeth to make their very famous 'faerie dust'. But, they are required by the laws of magicfolk to use only material that is freely given. That's why they don't just sneak in, in the middle of the night, and pull out your teeth. Without paying.
"The other law is they cannot be seen by children, like you. Because little kids used to try to catch them. And the successful ones would keep faeries in bottles. So they devised this method a very long time ago. You leave the tooth under your pillow. Then when the toothfaerie is sure you are asleep, it snatches the tooth, and leaves the money. You have given the tooth, freely, and they have rewarded you for not trying to catch them."
"Why do you say 'it' and 'them'?" Kristen inquired. "And, if kids aren't supposed to see them, can grownups?" she added.
"Well, there are both boy and girl faeries. And since I don't know who has this district, I'm just being prudent. In case, anyone's listening." I replied, pretending to look for prying eyes. "They know you are about to lose that one. As to grownups seeing faeries. We both know that grownups don't believe in faeries. And people never can see what they don't believe in."
"Then, why under my pillow? If they want not to get caught, why not leave the tooth on my dresser, or a table?" Her small voice vibrated with practicality.
"That's for your own protection." I answered, and paused. I watched her think about it. "It keeps your little brother from getting the money, and then blaming the faeries for cheating. It has happened before."
"Why only babyteeth? There's a lot more grownup teeth." She continued her challenges. She was going to machine-gun me with questions.
"Because babyteeth are so rare. They only last a few years, and are very special. They are magical in just teaching children, like you, how to eat hard food, and how to speak clearly. And, how to care for your adult teeth, when they do come in. Because your adult teeth are supposed to last a lifetime." I raised my hand towards Kristen's oncoming assault. "I know, I know. What do the faeries use the teeth for?" I asked before she could.
"As I said before, the faeries grind the teeth into a powder called, faerie dust. This powder helps the faeries and their cousins, the Pixies, to fly and cast their magic spells. Only a very little powder is needed and can last a long time. Which helps when the necessary babyteeth don't fall out, that often."
"Where does the toothfaery get the money to give little kids?" Kristen posed this question in a voice that showed she was challenging me. "Do they steal it?" she offered.
"I'm very glad you asked. No, they don't steal it. If they did, then their magic wouldn't work. Instead, the faeries have one very special customer who buys some of the dust from them. Additionally, this customer is the one who sets the price you get for your teeth. It's not based on how much he buys, or what he pays for it. But, how much you get is based on your own good behavior. For this particular customer is very well acquainted with you, and how you behave." I paused and watched her very confused expression.
"Who is it? Mommy, or Daddy?" She decided to inquire.
"No." I responded. "You see, this very special customer is Saint Nick." And, believe me, nothing would ever be worth more than the look of surprise on her 6 year-old face.
"Why does Santa buy the powder?" She asked the question, then exclaimed, "It makes the reindeer fly!" working it out in her own mind.
"Yes, ma'am." I calmly replied, trying to show her that working something out for yourself is natural when someone is growing up. "You can see, now, that sometimes lots of little things which apparently seem totally unrelated are, in fact, closely dependent upon each other."
"I can see that." Kristen said. "But, where does Santa get so much money?" Sounding very suspicious, again. "I thought he didn't need any money, since he has his own toy factory?"
The shock was perfect, and before she could recover. "Didn't you ever wonder how come Santa's toys and store toys were sometimes the same?" I paused to let her think about it.
"Well, grown ups are very jealous, aren't we? And, we get real upset when Santa is the only one who can give 'neat gifts' to you little rugrats, and, we can only give pajamas and school supplies. So, to keep the peace, and give needed money to the faeries, Santa sells some of his ideas to the big toy companies. So we can feel very important by making and buying and giving our own 'neat gifts' on those special occasions you love so much, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, your birthday, and graduations.
"Santa doesn't use the money for anything but to trade with the faeries. Since the faeries need a lot to give you kids, Santa makes really big deals with dumb grown ups. Then, kids get their money, the faeries get their dust, Santa's reindeer can fly, and grown ups can feel real important."
"Yeah. Grown ups are so childish." Kristen proclaimed in agreement.
***
A few years later, I told the same story to Kristen's own little charge, a 5 year-old boy from down the street. She had been baby-sitting Jason for a few months, everyday after school. Kristen listened, too, then waited for Jason to go into the other room to play.
"Steve, how come you make those stories sound so real? I tried to tell him, but it didn't work." She explained to me.
"Because, my love... I believe." I replied quite calmly.
"But it's not true." She observed. "And, you're the one who always taught me the truth was most important. How then can you believe?" Her voice crackled, reflecting the depth of her own confusion.
"You see, I know all the physical facts and the scientific realities. And, I taught you to search for the truth. But, there's no reason to believe in that, if you don't understand the magic of it. First, you have to learn to believe in something. Science has magic, but that's too hard to understand when you're little. Once you can believe in any magic, then you can believe in all magic. Life is nothing if it lacks magic.
"I teach the truth, the scientific fact, and the real world reality. But, I also taught you to feel the wonder, the romance, and the amazement in the world. When you reached the age you could understand I taught you the wonders of science, the romance of reality, and even the magic in the truth. But, at that age, that's all just a lot of confusion. Let him just enjoy the wonder and excitement of learning first. And, has he grows up we'll teach him many new magicks to enjoy.
"No matter whatever happens in your life, and in this world, never give up believing in magic. If you need a statement that explains it, mine is “Science is the magic of Man’s outer nature, and Magic is the science of Man’s inner nature.” If you believe, you will find magic everywhere. And, if you will believe, they will always believe." I concluded with a wink.
These Things Never End.
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