Unrelentless Childhood...

By: Lisa Eberhardt

The Tooth Fairies Apprentice Once upon a time there was a little girl who lost her first tooth. The loss overcame her, and she started to cry tears of pain and sadness. The tears rolled down her cheek and landed on her pillow, her hand still holding the precious memento she had lost. She soon fell asleep. The dry puddle that was full of tears was beginning to glow. The bright light soon turned into a small figure. The tiny girl was no bigger than a grown mans thumb, and a pretty little sight. She had golden hair tucked into a neat little bun with a pink ribbon tied around. She wore a baby pink dress,pink little slippers; slung over her shoulder was a pouch. She had pink translucent wings stemming from her back. This was the tooth fairy. The little girl snored and she jolted upright from the fetal position. At first a look of puzzlement came over her, but then a sudden confidence washed over her as she floated upward. She looked around the small room, and ducked straight under the little girls pillow. She opened the small fist that held the prize. The tooth fairy snatched the tooth. She thought for a few seconds. Finally, she thought to leave a reward as substitute for the possession she had stolen. She squirmed her way out of the crack between the window and windowsill. After a minute or so, she returned with a dollar she had stolen from the house next door. She neatly folded it into an intricate animal and stuffed it into the tiny girls fist. In the morning the little girl was so overcome with joy from the gift that she had found, that she had forgotten about her loss. This was the story that was told to me when I was six and lost my right incisor after biting into a juicy granny smith apple. My mom wanted to try to fill me with fairy-tales, literally, but I wasnt stupid. I never believed in such stories like Santa Claus or The Easter Bunny. Why should I believe that a thumb sized miniature person is able to sneak in my room, steal my tooth, and leave a coin or dollar bill? Although I was quite confident in my skepticism, my mothers confidence in this little creature was unsettling. I decided that I would stay up that night and finally put this stupid myth to rest.

Later that night, after brushing my teeth and snuggling into my power puff girl footy pajamas, I snuggled into bed, dead set on catching my mother in a lie. I placed my tooth under my pillow, and lay straight on my back, eyes wide open. After what seemed like forever, my eyes started to droop. I was falling under the black rippling tide of unconsciousness. it was rolling toward me, getting closer and closer. It touched my toes and subsided, then coming up again to my waist only to then swallow me whole, I was in a deep slumber within seconds. When I awoke it was still dark. I glanced at my clock on the dresser ahead. It was 12:30 pm. I felt under my pillow for my tooth, it was still there. I pinched myself multiple times, until I was sure I would have a bruise or two. I was wide awake now, pumped with adrenaline. It wasnt long until I hear strange scraping noises. My ears perked up as I searched my room for any sign of my mother trying to creep in. There was nothing out of the ordinary. I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. I felt a breeze touch my face. My eyes flew open and straight to my window, it was cracked open. How was this possible? I felt underneath me... Nothing. I got up and looked under my bed... Nothing. When my head came back up, I came face to face with my greatest fear. The tooth fairy! A strange scratchy noise escaped my throat as I fell back onto my butt. This was impossible. There was no way. I was delusional. I was dreaming. The sad truth is, I was wide awake. We were both frozen in place. I looked at every inch of her at the same time, which was easy to do. She was not what my mother described, not at all. She looked almost like a normal person, excluding the wings, short stature, and floating. She wore a nude skin tight dress, black tights,black boots, and a black leather pouch slung over her shoulder. Her blonde hair was held back in a neat french braid at the nape of her neck. The biggest distinction was her eyes. Her eyes were sapphires. Even in the dim darkness of my room, her eyes were vibrant yet as hard as granite. Her upper lip twitched. I watched as her expressions changed from frightened to serene to anxious. I moved my hair out of my face and she zoomed away. However she was not fast enough. I jumped and clasped my hands around the little ball of light. I smirked. So my mom was right, but I have the prize. The sharp stab of pressure in my palm made me wince in pain. I knocked over the glass of water that was sitting on my nightstand behind me. I glanced down at the glass and decided to shove my little tooth thief into it. She found my face in the pale moonlight that slowly gleamed in through my window. Her eyes were hard and not friendly, but something about her vicious expression portrayed some hidden fear. Let me go this instant! she shrieked. Which wasnt loud enough for my parents to hear yet as sharp as a dog whistle. I felt bad for holding her as hostage, but I needed answers. I was not ready to go the rest of my life without this mystery solved, and a small part of me didnt want to see her leave. This was surreal. I spoke the truth. After you give me answers.

What!? No, I owe nothing to you! she scoffed. This was amusing, she was playing along. Well, you seemed to have taken my tooth and I dont see any change, so talk! I mused. I couldnt retain the smile that was starting to form on my face. I watched as she assessed my expression, she must have put together that a 60 lb child versus a 6 oz creature wasnt a fair match, and sadly she would lose. Oh, alright... she sighed as she sank to her knees and sat cross legged, hands under her chin; full pout. What do you want to know? Whats your name? I pressed. Name? I dont have one. she said expressionlessly. What do you mean you dont have a name? You have a title, why not a name? I was never assigned one. she looked away as she twiddled with a strand of my hair that was lying on the ground. Thats so sad... So assigned? Like, you have a boss or something? I asked skeptical. Who knew the teeth thieving business was so official and complex? Listen, Im going to give this to you straight so excuse me if I come across a little too blunt. I can get into a lot of trouble if I say any more to you. There are other toothless children out there who need my services. I need to deliver these teeth! I cant afford this hold-up so if you could let me go it would be deeply appreciated! she said running out of breath. You deliver teeth? To who? My mom never told me that! Ugh! Ive said too much! TELL ME! I growled, sounding way too out of character. Okay, cool it! I take the teeth you dont need anymore and deliver them to people in need of teeth. What? Like old people or something? Sometimes, other children in third world countries too. Its quite tiring, and Im losing time rapidly! The Sandman doesnt wait for just anyone you know!

Sandman? Thats true too? Youd be amazed at how little is actually false young one. Now sleep. I have your dollar right here. She said this as she dug into her pouch and retrieved an origami folded dollar and unfolded it. I dont care about money! I made clear with my voice steady.

I didnt want to have to do this, but youve left me no choice. Ive never had to do this in my whole 200 years. Pull a code red... How absurd! she said disapprovingly. Before I could respond she folded her hands into a cup in front of her. I watched as shimmering pink light formed within the cup of her hands. It shot straight out, through the cup and onto my ceiling. She darted through the the hole this made in the cup and flew around me. A faint golden dust surrounded me. Who is she Tinkerbell? I waved my hands around, trying to catch her, but my movements grew slower and slower. Soon, I realized I was falling, or floating downward onto my bed. She watched as my head hit the pillow. She smiled, blew me a kiss, and with a blink of an eye she was gone. I was paralyzed. My eyes were open, but I could not see. My limbs lay limp at my side. The blanket wrapped around me. It was like this for an hour or so. Then the wave came over me. Washed over me. I fought the dark treacherous waters as much as I could, but the fatigue overpowered my six year old strength and I succumbed to the cold waters of unconsciousness. I woke up to the familiar light coming in waves through my curtains. I sat up. My limbs were sore. My gums ached, and my eyes felt dry. I quickly scanned the room looking for remnants of my night. A glittery powder substance, I could only explain as fairy dust. The broken glass, a pouch, anything at all. I uselessly felt under my pillow, and to my surprise I felt a piece of paper. I quickly retrieved it, and found in my palm the origami swan dollar; my tooth fairy friend had left me. This was the sign. She did exist. I did not dream that occurrence last night. The insignificant dollar spoke volumes. Mom was right. However she was blindly stuck in the dark, and I knew more than her. I heard my door open. Did the tooth fairy stop by? My mom said as she poked her head in. Dont be silly mom, the tooth fairy doesnt exist. I said trying to sound as mature as possible. My bad, wash your hands and get ready for breakfast, Sweet Pea. Ill see you in a bit.

Ok. I watched after her until I couldnt hear her slippers on the hardwood. Then I burst into a fit of hysterics. For the next four years I stayed up late every night waiting to see my friend. She always stopped by on her way to her rounds. Sometimes I helped polish teeth. Others we just talked. It didnt matter what we did. I just loved to see her. Then I stopped losing teeth, and adolescence hit. I started going out on dates or out with friends. Then she stopped coming altogether. But every now and then I wake up in the middle of the night and I feel like someone was watching me and then Ill hear a tinkling laugh. I knew that when I would have kids I will instill in them an unrelentless childhood, and tell them of the days when I was the tooth fairies apprentice. I am now 87 years old and I still have not told a soul.

Oranges My Mom is like an orange. Shes rough around the edges. Shes sweet sometimes and sour others. You have to peel away her layers inch by inch in order to savor her true colors. She is charismatic like the bold orange color of the fruit. But shes not any orange. Shes ripe, and sometimes she feels like pulp. Shes my mother what else can I say? Young Ina was born in 1968 in Phoenix Arizona. Her father Eddie was a hardworking man, who owned a nice big house and two horses. Her mother Candy was a stay at home Wife and Mother. At the age of Six Ina had two other siblings. The first to join was Denise, known as the beauty of the family, the third Donny, the brain. Ina was merely the oldest, or that was how she saw herself. She wasnt super smart, wasnt extremely beautiful, she had no talents, unless you counted the ability to use sarcasm with anything a talent. Ina and her father were always extremely close. Eddie and the kids would always make an outing of going to the dump just outside of Phoenix. This was a long ride. They would all pile in the front seat of Eddies Ford pickup and drive down to a local liquor store for some pop. Denise and Donny only liked cola or grape. However, Eddie and Ina both loved orange soda, so they would get one and share while they sang along to the radio on the way to the dump.Even though her dad backwashed all of the time, that it still is one of her best memories and made her feel special. Ina and her mother on the other hand were a different story. To say that they didnt get along would be an understatement. Candy would often make a point to pick Denise and Donny for activities that excluded Ina. Such as going to the zoo or going shopping. Ina had no idea why this was. She soon grew resentful of her mother's rejection and made no effort to hide her distaste. Although, Ina did not get along with her mother she had a fairly nice setup at home. Eddie worked with buying, selling, and exchanging arcade machines. This meant that there was always a jukebox, arcade game or vending machine present in the house. Sometimes all at once. Ina took out some of her resentment out on her siblings. Once when Donny was five, Denise was seven, and Ina was eleven; Ina and Denise tackled Donny and dressed him into girls clothes. They sat on him and pulled his hair till he cried Mercy. If it wasnt one then it was the other. Their family was not wealthy, in fact they were quite poor. Ina and all three of her siblings shared a queen size bed for a very long while. Ina would end up kicking one, the other, or both out at times; but it was still all their own. One time when Ina and her sibling were young,

Candy thought that they were eating too much, so she put a padlock on the refrigerator. The children did not like this, they often felt neglected when Candy would forget to unlock it for lunch. Eddie soon got laid off. Thats when the family moved to Stockton. Ina moved to Stockton at a fairly young age where the rest of her cousins also lived. They lived a few blocks away from Victory Park, where they would run barefoot to in the summer for a nice jump in the pool. Very late in the night the lamps at the park would go out. This is when the neighborhood kids, including Ina and her cousins, would sneak out to go play Blind Hide and Seek. It was nearly pitch black as children ran to go hide behind giant trees. When Ina turned thirteen and started middle school at Marshall, things got different. She wanted the boys to think she was pretty, she wanted to stand out. The last day of Summer Ina did something drastic. She shaved her arms and legs, which was strictly forbidden from her mother; and smeared red lipstick all over her face. She wanted to wake up with a rosy cheeks, and a nice fair complexion. This was something she envied about her sister. Both her sister and her brother were fair skinned with beautiful blue eyes. Ina on the other hand was olive skinned and had hazel eyes. In the morning Ina woke up and looked like her skin had been burned. Her pillows were covered in red muck, and had breakouts from the lipstick. When her mother caught sight of her, Ina got the worst beating she had ever received. My mom has always told me embarrassing stories of how poor she was, broken hearts, mean kids, and the fun experiences she has gained over the years. She has had much shock in her life. The one thing I never did understand was why every resolution to every story ended with My mom going home and digging into a nice and juicy orange. I finally asked one day, and she told me a story I would never forget. My mothers fourteenth christmas was one that she would never forget. If you stepped foot into their house, you would never know it was the holiday season. No lights, No stockings, No decorations, and most importantly, No tree. My mom and her brother and sister for that matter knew they werent getting anything. They were naive but not stupid. So they went outside into the cold and cluttered backyard. My mom being the tallest broke a big branch and brought it inside to set down in the living room. They set a candle by the branch for light, they hung any trinket they could find on the small protruding branches for decoration, and had themselves a makeshift tree. Their mom was at the bar, and their dad was working till midnight. They were alone. Donny ran away with an excited grin. When he came back he had three of dads huge socks. Denise understood, she was way ahead of him. They pinned the socks to the mantel. These were their makeshift stockings. Diana felt bad for her little brother and sister. Christmas had warmed the grinch's heart. She left to her room in search of the lipstick her sister had always

wanted that my mother had bought for herself that year. Then she rifled through her closet until she found a batman wristband that she had worn when she was younger for her brother Donny. She came back and filled their stockings. When she looked in her own she found two bulbous oranges. This was her christmas feast. They fell asleep with each other. Although it was the most poverty stricken christmas they ever celebrated, it was the most meaningful. I now knew why my mother had loved oranges so much. First, they were the chosen snack that she and her siblings had as children. This was because the fridge was locked so they stole them from the neighbors tree. Second, It was a symbol of love from her brothers and sisters.They knew her enough to get her oranges which touched her heart. Third, it was the flavor of soda that brought her an her father closer. My mother was an orange. Not for everyone, bitter and sweet, but tough skinned and long lasting.

The Wheels on the Bus My mom had always told me to be grateful for what we had. I would whine because I didnt want to eat the stale leftovers that crowded the small refrigerator in our musty kitchen. These are the times she would sit me down and reminisce about how life was for her and her siblings when she was my age. Hungry? You just ate! I would be lucky enough to have an orange and some toast all day and you're complaining? That would be a frequent line, or the story about how her own mother put a lock on the refrigerator so the only time they could eat was at supper time, if they didnt miss curfew. I grew bored with these stories and aggravated with my mom at the same time. I was stubborn, I couldnt help it. I was very small when this happened. So young in fact that much of it is just a blur. Anyways, when I was around three or four years old my mom, her boyfriend, and I lived in a small trailer. The trailer was behind her boyfriends fathers Car shop. As a little girl, I wasnt aware enough to be embarrassed of where I lived or what I wore or the toys I played with. I was content with my tiny beat up Elmo doll, and the expanse of grass that set up around me. The shop was located on the outskirts of Stockton right in front of a levee. I remember catching pollywogs, and salamanders in the creek, and playing with the wild cats that strayed around. At night I would hold onto my mom or her boyfriend for dear life while one of them revved the engine of a three wheeler. Or sometimes Mom and I would go digging on the levee. One time I found a cloth napkin full of necklaces and rings, and shiny rocks. I went home beaming. It was later on in life when I found out that my mom had planted it there to begin with trying to boost my morale considering I never found not one bottle, or trinket. These were the good times. The times when nothing else mattered, because my youth blocked out any worries I could fathom. Then I got older. When we moved out of the shop and into a duplex just down the street I was enrolled into kindergarten. On my first day of school I was ready and excited. I could already read, and count to 50. Learning was something I was good at. Hearing my mom fill my head with rumors of free snacks, breaks to play on a jungle gym, ride tricycles, paint, play house, Barbies, watch movies, read as many books as I want, and get rewarded for counting to 50? It sounded like heaven. When I got there it was even better. Make sure you save your lunch and snacks in your backpack for later, and be good, she said as she kissed me goodbye and fixed the bow in my hair. She looked me over. I still remember what I was wearing. White tights, navy blue jumper, long sleeve white undershirt, Barbie light up sneakers, pink bow in my waist length hair, all complete with a big Barbie backpack almost as big as I was. She left me then as I sat at a table in the cafeteria. I looked at the food that was placed in front of me. A carton of chocolate milk, cocoa puffs, an apple, and a

pack of celery stick equipped with a side of dipping peanut butter. I put all this into my backpack and waited for the bell to ring. I went through the motions slowly, taking everything in. I was two weeks late to start school and everyone else had friends. It was lonely, but the teacher favored me so I clung to her like an alphabet magnet on a fridge. She liked that I could already read and had me help some of the other kids. I was comfortable and it was easy. When school ended I found my bus thanks to the yard duty. She looked like a school bus herself. Not in a mean way, but in the fact that her presence was enormous, she wore a bright yellow vest that was covered with buttons and pins, and cherry red lipstick. She smelled like strawberries. She would become my friend and stay my friend up until sixth grade. When I boarded the bus I sat next to an older girl named Holly.That was my first mistake.I put my backpack down and sat on the seat. Mistake number two. Thats when it happened. In the 15 seconds it took to walk to my seat and sit down I had changed my life forever. Holly looked up from her magazine, and gawked at where I was sitting then looked down at herself. I had sat down on my bag and crushed all the food inside. The milk covered my backside and now the right leg of Holly. She turned beet red. What the hell did you do you little bitch? she screamed. I stared wide eyed at the potty mouth girl that stood in front of me, and the closed my mouth and looked down as my own face turned a bright shade of scarlet. She stood up then and grabbed my backpack, and looked inside. What do we have here? Some food? Awe... Are you too poor to afford to eat at your own house? Is that why you're a little thief who steals school food? she crooned. She said this one octave too high. Everyone else turned to face us. The tears came before I knew it. Covering my face as I sat in a puddle of chocolate milk. Thats when people started to point out things I had never noticed before. Like how my sneakers were at the point of talking, or that my backpack was old and faded. I never noticed, I was just happy when my mom brought it home. After all it was new to me. Then the girl sitting in front of us offered me change. This wouldnt have been so bad if she didnt actually mean it, but she did. The look on her face was genuine concern for my well being, and that hit home as I took in her appearance. Nice clothes, a rolling backpack (which was all the rage in my day) and a lot of nice shiny bracelets and stylish hair. The bus driver ended up calming Holly, and the rest of the bullies down and helped clean me up. Then she sat me in the very front seat of the bus alone. I wasnt just embarrassed, I was mortified. That experience may as well have been the most scarring. The strangest thing about it is that I am thankful for the experience. It changed me dramatically. Of course there have been other instances in my childhood that have maybe overexposed the life of poverty I lived in for quite a while, but none of them were as impacting. Whether or not that was an effect of growing

thicker skin, my becoming numb to the ridicule, or because they werent as bad altogether I do not know. One thing I do know is that now I live in a more stable household, and am not considered poor. Really, that doesnt matter at all. That experience has made me grateful for all the things I have now, and makes me work harder for the things I want to gain. It also taught me an important lesson on how to deal with people who give you a hard time. You can ignore them, retaliate, act smarter and try to win a game of wits, or simply prove you are the bigger person and walk away. Overall, life isnt based on the materialistic things you can hold in your hand. Those do not last. Its about the experiences you gain, that is something you can take with you for the rest of your life.