the bank of the Tooth Fairy. . .

He has been carrying around the tooth fairy's six quarters for days now. . . And, as all little things do these days, they end up in his mouth (ugh!).

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The Mama in me screams and faints dead away at seeing this (she's stuck in the Victorian days, what can I say). . . Calmly: Jack, please take the money out of your mouth.

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Why?

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Because it's money. It's dirty! [All right, now I'm beginning to visibly shudder.]

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But the Tooth Fairy brought it.

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Yes. . .but it's still money, and it's still dirty.

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But the Tooth Fairy made it. So, it's clean.

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[Stymied. . .] Well, actually, the Tooth Fairy doesn't make money. If she did, she would be a counterfeiter and she would be in jail.

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Why?

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Because it's illegal to make money.

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Why? Why can't you make money? Why can't you make dollars and coins.

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And the logical person in me says, because you just can't. . .

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Because the Tooth Fairy is not allowed to make the money. . . And I knew that they questions would follow of exactly where did the money come from. . . Is there some kind of government funding for the Tooth Fairy? A Tooth Fairy tax? Does she withdraw these quarters from the bank? . . . .

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And it just doesn't seem enough. . . And, of course, it's not enough. He always wants to know exactly why. . . And I always feel like my explanations fall short. . . So I quickly change the subject to Legos, and I'm off the hook. . . for now. . .