Me and Erin were playing handball in the covered play court at recess when Hannah and Abby ran up to us all out of breath.
“Is your aunt really a witch?” asked Hannah.
“And does she really have a spooky, witch cat?” asked Abby.
“What are you talking about?” I said.
“Rosemary T. is telling everyone that your aunt is scary and weird,” said Hannah. “So scary and weird that she might go home sick after recess just so she doesn’t have to be here when your aunt visits.”
I could not believe my ears at all.
“She says your aunt has a wart on her nose like a witch and does spells and fortunes,” said Abby.
Right then and there I saw red-red-red! I knew for positive certain that I was pushed too far. “Where is Rosemary T.?”
“She’s over by the basketball courts,” said Hannah.
I marched out to find her, and Hannah ran ahead. Erin and Abby walked with me, but we didn’t talk at all. I was too busy trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to say in my what’s what with Rosemary T.
A bunch of kids were standing together under a basketball hoop, and the Rosemarys were right in the middle.
“Rosemary T.!” I yelled. “I need to talk to you!”
I walked up close to Rosemary T., and the rest of the third grade crowded in around us.
“You need to stop telling lies about my aunt this very minute!” I yelled right to her face.
Rosemary T. stared at me with big, open eyes and a big, open mouth.
Brrrrrrring! The end-of-recess bell rang, and kids started running from everywhere to get in their lines. Everyone except me and Rosemary T.
“You have pushed too far,” I said. “And I need—”
But Rosemary T. turned around and headed for our class line.
“I am not finished!” I yelled after her.
She ignored me and hurried to catch up with Rosemary W.
“Well, fine!” I yelled. “Then meet me here at lunch.”
I stomped over and got in at the end of the line and stomped right into class.
“Cinderella,” Mr. Harrison said when we got inside.
My heart went down to my stomach. I thought for sure I was about to get in trouble for yelling and stomping and not getting into line right away.
“Why don’t you tell us a little bit about your aunt while we wait for her?” is all he said.
“Sure!” I jumped up out of my seat, I was so relieved. “My aunt’s name is Flora McGee. She’s my mom’s sister, and she works in a dentist office. She’s taking care of me and Tess while our parents are away, and her cat is staying with us too.” Then all of a sudden I had a huge AHA!
This was a vexylent chance to set the record straight.
“Her cat’s name is Miss Purvis,” I said. “She’s mostly all white and is not at all spooky.”
“Except she is pretty loud,” said Charlie.
“I guess so,” I said. “But it’s just because she wants to go outside. Back to my aunt, she is not weird or scary at all. Everything about her is very, extremely regular and everyday.”
“Her car isn’t regular and everyday!” said Mr. Harrison.
“I guess not.” I did a big sigh on account of all these interruptions. “But everything else about her is very normal. She’s just a regular, old dental hygienist.”
And right then the classroom door flew open and in came Aunt Flora. She had a crown on her head and was holding a wand in one hand and a big sack with a picture of a tooth on it in the other. “Hello, everyone!”
My heart went down to my stomach all over again. Aunt Flora was not helping me convince everyone that she was regular and normal at all.
“Cinderella calls me a dental hygienist, but I prefer the title Tooth Fairy.” She did a little spin on her toes, and the golden strappy sandals she had on her feet sparkled a little bit.
I plunked down into my chair and put my head in my hands.
“Hey!” said Jack. “I know you. You clean my teeth.”
I looked up. Jack didn’t look too surprised by my aunt.
“Do I do a good job?” asked Aunt Flora.
“I don’t know,” said Jack.
“Do you have any cavities?” she asked.
“No,” he said.
“Then I do,” she said. “And so do you. You get a prize!” She reached into the bag she’d brought and handed Jack a little tube of toothpaste.
“Awesome!” he said. “Thanks!”
“You clean my teeth too,” said Erin. “And you do a very good job.”
“Thank you, Erin.” Aunt Flora gave her a toothbrush.
“Mine too,” said Charlie.
“Here you go, Charlie.” Aunt Flora tossed him some floss.
“I wish you cleaned my teeth,” said Trevor.
Aunt Flora smiled and sent a little tube of toothpaste his way. She waved her magic wand around a few times, and her bracelets jangled. “How often should you brush?”
“After every meal,” the class called out.
Aunt Flora tossed out a handful of toothbrushes.
“Who here has lost a tooth?” she asked.
Hands went up everywhere, and little tubes of toothpastes and flosses went flying. Kids scrambled around picking them up like it was an egg hunt.
“I brush my dog’s teeth,” said Abby. “And you aren’t scary at all, by the way.”
Aunt Flora looked a little confused. “Thank you, I think.” She reached deep in her bag and threw a package of little pink pills to her. “Those are disclosing tablets. After you brush and floss, chew one of them up. The dye turns any plaque left on your teeth pink so you can see where you need to brush better.”
“Ooh,” said Hannah. “I want some of those.”
“Do you brush and floss?” Aunt Flora asked.
“Regularly,” said Hannah.
“Bravo!” Aunt Flora threw some disclosing tablets to her too.
I looked over at Abby and Hannah. They smiled big at me, and I smiled big right back.
Aunt Flora kept asking questions and giving out teeth stuff. She was very, extremely fair; and by the end everyone had at least one thing.
“What a vexylent visitor!” said Mr. Harrison. “Not only did we learn what a dentist does, we also learned about taking care of our teeth.”
“And it was fun too!” said Zachary, not so quiet after all.
A lot of kids agreed and I smiled, glad my aunt wasn’t just plain regular and normal.
Aunt Flora got permission to stay for lunch, and she was popular like you wouldn’t believe. Our lunch table was jam-packed with kids wanting to sit by us.
After we ate, Erin and I gave Aunt Flora a tour of the school and introduced her to important people like the school secretary and the librarian. The only awshucksible thing about Aunt Flora being there was that I couldn’t have my what’s what with Rosemary T. Now that I’d started, I sort of wanted to finish.
