We’ve all heard the tale about the Tooth Fairy. She is a folkloric figure during childhood in the United States and some Western-influenced countries. Many other countries have their own fun customs and traditions.
When my grandchildren lose a tooth, they tuck it under their pillow with the expectation that money will magically appear by morning. The older kids have all lost baby teeth, and their younger siblings are well-versed in how the process works. Sometimes the littles are a bit overeager to participate in the moneymaking venture and start wiggling firmly rooted baby teeth that weren’t scheduled to fall out for several years. Other times, accidents occur, and baby teeth are knocked out prematurely, leaving the child looking like a toothless jack-o-lantern until the replacement tooth arrives. Sometimes a child inadvertently swallows the tiny tooth, and meltdown ensues when the child realizes the valuable treasure is gone and fears the money is lost. An explanatory letter must be written to the mythical Tooth Fairy (akin to those sent to the North Pole). The Tooth Fairy is legendary.
But has anyone heard of the Wart Fairy? I have to admit, it was a new one for me. I chatted with a young mother of three small children. The older boys had lost a few teeth, and their little sister was familiar with the excitement surrounding a visitation by the Tooth Fairy. The little one had a wart on her finger, and her mother affixed a medicated bandage to remove it. One day, the wart fell off. She told her father, and he replied (in jest) that if she put the wart under her pillow, the Wart Fairy would leave a pink band-aid in its’ place. Everyone laughed and dismissed the outrageous tale…everyone, except her. The next morning, the mother went into her daughter’s bedroom and found the little girl frantically searching the space underneath her pillow. The little girl turned to her mom with wide eyes and sadly said, “I put my wart under my pillow, but the Wart Fairy didn’t come!” Her mom made a quick trip to Target.
