Huckleberries Online

Top Comment: Tooth Fair Visits

Posted by DFO

March 6, 2009 5:12 p.m. • 33 comments

Slowly lifting one leg over the window sill, he felt his tights stretch out to maximum load. Maybe those last Pilsners hadn’t been a good idea before he took flight. He’d thought he’d been a little weighed down, and that confused him, because his bag was ever lighter. He lifted his other leg through the window and tip-toed over to the bed. Jimmy Smart. The kid was a tooth-giving machine. Larry had been impressed. He’d already been over to Jimmy’s three times that year. Maybe it was time to do a little bit of an investigation, like looking into the alleged misdeeds of an insurance fraudster. Maybe little Jimmy was running a teething Ponzi scheme of his own/Sam. Full comment below.

DFO: I’m going to start fronting the best comment of the day in this spot after HBO’s PM Headlines. Dunno who can argue with Sam’s work here. Major H/T, Sam.

He’d never liked that name, “Tooth Fairy.” Scratching the hair below his navel — he was an inny — Larry thought of a few things he’d rather be called, pulling lint from the cavernous belly button he was spelunking.

Capt. Canines. No: Mr. Munchers. Or RazorGums. He could have been a villain.

But dad had made him keep the family business going. No RazorGums villainy for Larry, who now donned wings three sizes too small and had a closet full of pink T-shirts that fit better on Cupid than the barfly bod that Larry rocked, in his own opinion, thank you very much.

Slowly lifting one leg over the window sill, he felt his tights stretch out to maximum load. Maybe those last Pilsners hadn’t been a good idea before he took flight. He’d thought he’d been a little weighed down, and that confused him, because his bag was ever lighter.

He lifted his other leg through the window and tip-toed over to the bed. Jimmy Smart. The kid was a tooth-giving machine. Larry had been impressed. He’d already been over to Jimmy’s three times that year. Maybe it was time to do a little bit of an investigation, like looking into the alleged misdeeds of an insurance fraudster. Maybe little Jimmy was running a teething Ponzi scheme of his own.

But, with no proof, Larry didn’t have much. He flicked the lint away and reached for the tooth. And then, oh no! Jimmy popped one eye open, then the other.

Larry definitely should have skipped those Pilsners.

“Quiet, kid, don’t say nothin’,” Larry said, jabbing one finger toward Jimmy. “Yer gonna git the money, alright? But don’t go all Little Bo Peep on me. Hand me tha tooth.”

Jimmy hadn’t been this freaked out since the time Mrs. Aloishus got so mad at Dennis Hill that she popped a blood vessel in her eye and for the rest of the day looked like some type of Hell Demon out of “The Adventures of Angel Boy.” Only, Jimmy didn’t remember any type of smell from his third grade teacher like the one coming from this big, hairy guy in pink. Were those wings? And tights? The … tooth fairy?

Slowly reaching underneath his pillow, Jimmy grabbed the tooth and hesitantly handed it over to Larry.

“Thatta boy. Oh, a good one. And call me Larry.”

Larry popped his fresh treasure into the bag. It definitely felt lighter. He reached in, and Jimmy could hear a jingle. It sounded like the coins in a treasurer chest.

The hulk of a fairy pulled out a quarter and flipped it up and over to Jimmy, who caught it in his hands. The boy looked down and as he looked up, he saw that Larry was already out the window, slowly ramping up to get his flight on.

“God, those Pilsners.”

“Hey, Mr!” Jimmy screamed, jumping out of bed and skidding over to the window. “Only a quarter? What is this, 1957?”

“Sorry kid, we’re in a recession, ya know?”

33 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Cindy_H on March 06 at 6:42 p.m.
Omigosh! First MikeK and now Sam.
Great writing mined from HBO’s comments threads.
Happy sigh!
Me on March 06 at 7:49 p.m.
Cindy - I’m sorry to ask because since I am supposedly your biggest fan I should know, but do you have a blog?

Is that you in Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul? It made me cry, as usual.

ps. I am not a stalker

Just your number one fan… (in a non-creepy way)
Cindy_H on March 06 at 8:18 p.m.
Hi Me,
Nope. No blog. Gotta get paid for my words, ya know ;-)
My website is in the works, though.
The Chicken Soup folks have been very good to me. In addition to the Nurses’s Soul, I’ve got stories in; Soup for Mom’s and Sons, New Mom’s Soul, A Tribute for Moms, Family Soul and new this month: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms.
That’s alotta Soup :-)
I also write for the Cup of Comfort series.
Thank you for your support. Though you really should have been at Blogfest!
Me on March 06 at 8:22 p.m.
Cindy,

Thanks - I love your writing soooo much. I understand the getting paid for your words - your words totally deserve it!!!

Guess what? I actually started a blog! OMG - can’t believe it!

I promise I will be at blogfest next year.

http://me-is-it-me.blogspot.com/

This is a HUGE step for me - but it felt good already. And Jbelle - It’s Just Me!!!
MamaJD on March 06 at 8:32 p.m.
Sam, you are like a pent up teenager who just got back together with his girlfriend. It is good to have you back. You have been missed.
Cindy_H on March 06 at 8:44 p.m.
OMG! ME!! You did it! Good for you!
We’ll get DFO to add you to the blogroll and we can all keep up with youir blog.
Now, if I could only figure out how to comment on it…
Man, that JBelle is inspiring. I need her to kickstart my website or something;-)
Me on March 06 at 8:50 p.m.
Thanks Cindy - it feels strange. I’m an IT person and blogging has fascinated me for a long time.

I have met DFO and DogWalkMusings because of my fascination with Blogs and Huckleberries in particular.

I just never thought I would have anything to post or any reason to.

Hanging out here the last year or so has finally shown me the way.
Sam on March 06 at 9:26 p.m.
“Sam, you are like a pent up teenager who just got back together with his girlfriend. It is good to have you back. You have been missed.” — MamaJD

Can’t a guy just tell a story about a fairy without being linked to pubescent wantings?
Me on March 06 at 10:47 p.m.
I cannot believe it, but I’m on the HBO Blogosphere!!! I was looking at it seeing where I’d be if DFO added me and I was there!!!!

I am SO hooked already - I have put up 3 posts already. I’m thinking it won’t last, but I didn’t think I had 1 post in me and I’ve already done 3???

Thanks all!!!

I have links to my favorite blogs too. You all inspired me!!!

Thanks so much DFO. I was attracted to this place for a reason and I think that getting my own blog was really the purpose!!!
DFO on March 06 at 11:07 p.m.
Welcome, Me; you join the long list of classy gals who make this place something better than the cyber slum it would be, if it relied only on the guys to carry it. The rest of you should check out “It’s Just Me” on the HBO Blogosphere blogroll.
Me on March 06 at 11:15 p.m.
Oh my gosh - I am so humbled. I have been SUCH a blurker. But over time I have felt more and more welcome. And as I say on my blog (I have one!!!) my husband wanted to know what finally got me to do it because he thought I should have done it forever ago! It was all of you!!! I have NEVER been a writer and thougt you just HAD TO BE TO BLOG. I think now I can do it with my photos and just my thoughts!!!
DFO on March 06 at 11:36 p.m.
Me; with your permission, I’d like to post a photo or two of yours out front in the coming days to point people to your blog. I’m always looking for good local art to go out front.
Me on March 06 at 11:41 p.m.
Oh my Gosh - you are really taking this all to my head, but yes you can!
marmitetoasty on March 07 at 1:54 a.m.
*DFO on March 06 at 11:07 p.m.

Welcome, Me; you join the long list of classy gals who make this place something better than the cyber slum it would be, if it relied only on the guys to carry it*

Wondering if I come into the ‘classy gals’ list LOL

x
brandxranch on March 07 at 6:38 a.m.
Marmie; you are one of the classiest!! I still think we need to float you across the pond for a summertime mini=blogfest!

Me. Welcome! I know just how you feel! I am also humbled to be a part of this grand adventure called HBO…. I don’t think DFO realizes what a thrill it is for those of us who are new at blogging to be recognized here.

Sam; That was fabulous!!
Sam on March 07 at 10:08 a.m.
Me, welcome to the HBO blogosphere. Congrats on the first step. It can be hard to stick with it, but I believe in you.

Brand X, thanks for the kudos. Apparently I was bored after work yesterday.
JeanieSpokane on March 07 at 10:25 a.m.
Welcome, Me - I love your pictures AND your writing! Blogging is so addictive. Pretty soon, hubby is going to have to fix dinner, and eventually he’ll have to remind you to eat, and get out of your jammies. If you have a day job, you will find subtle ways of blogging while appearing to be working on a spreadsheet. And you will take granola bars with you so you don’t have to leave for lunch. There are many of us in this same boat. We would attend our Bloggers Anonymous meetings but we can’t tear ourselves away. It is hopeless. :)

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About this blog

D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.