just_writing | Day Two: The Tooth Fairy

I was seven years old when I found out the truth about Father Christmas. No longer did I believe that he struggled down the chimney. He did not leave the stocking hanging over the end of my bed, all the presents beneath the shining tree, or take time to sup the whiskey mum and dad made me leave out for him, eat the mince pie or even let rudolph nibble at the carrot that was there too.

It was an accident I found out at all really; a school project about mythology and a simple question of my mum. I had asked her what myths there were and we had spoken of the greek heroes and the knights of Arthur. And then she said the fateful words, "and there are the obvious ones, like Father Christmas." To this day I would swear that she thought I no longer believed such things, I always was a pretentious child and questioned everything, but I did.

A horror emerged in me and for a few seconds I could not speak. She says that the colour drained out of my cheeks and I failed to catch my breath. In my mind thoughts raced along, such as what had left the teeth marks in the carrot then? What did his elves do without him and how did everyone get christmas presents if there was no Santa? Mum tried her best to placate me once I was drawing air again. She explained that it was her and dad that bought and wrapped the presents and that I was not to tell my little sister. Gradually I remember calming down and saying okay to her and that I was not upset. She seemed very worried that I might cry.

Eventually she was happy to let me go and as I turned away to go upstairs a thought leapt to the front of my mind. With my lip quivering I turned back to face her and asked accusingly, "what about the tooth fairy?"