JiaLin's First Tooth
What the parent wrote
“JiaLin just lost her first tooth and she's excited about the tooth fairy. But her dad secretly kept the tooth. I want a story that captures that magic — the tooth fairy, the coin, and why dad keeps tiny treasures.”
Read the Story
JiaLin's tongue found something wiggly at breakfast. Wiggle, wiggle. Something was happening.
"Daddy!" The tooth came out. A little blood, a little sting. JiaLin's eyes filled with tears.
"You're growing up," Dad said softly. "A big-girl tooth is coming." Growing up?
"Growing up!" JiaLin grinned her new gap-tooth grin. Tonight the tooth fairy would come!
Under the pillow went the tiny tooth. JiaLin closed her eyes tight. Tomorrow there would be magic.
Morning light! JiaLin's hand flew under the pillow. A shiny coin! The tooth fairy came!
But wait. At breakfast, Dad was holding something small. Her tooth! "Daddy... how did you get that?"
A sparkle at the window. A shimmer. A tiny figure appeared. "I can explain," said the tooth fairy.
She flew closer. Her wings made a sound like tiny bells. "Hello, JiaLin. I've been waiting to meet you."
"But you took my tooth," JiaLin said. "Why does Daddy have it?"
The fairy smiled. "First teeth are special, JiaLin. Too special to take away."
"So I give them back. To the people who love them most." She winked at Dad. "He'll keep it safe forever."
JiaLin looked at Dad. At the tiny tooth in his big hands. "You wanted to keep it?"
"Every piece of you," Dad said. JiaLin hugged him tight. "I'm glad it's with you."
The fairy waved goodbye and flew into the morning light. JiaLin had a coin. Dad had a treasure. And a big-girl tooth was on its way.
Photo → Storybook Character
