One of Its Kind

by Tabatha Jean D'Agata

For Gram

It was raining.

Miss Duncan clapped her hands. "Boys and girls, all eyes on me," she said. "Tomorrow we're having show-and-tell. I want each of you to bring in an odd item. Something that's one of its kind."

Instantly, Kirby Newton pictured the perfect thing to share. "I'm sure my odd thing will amaze my class," Kirby thought. "But I'll have to wait until after midnight to snatch it."

Later that night, as careful as a mouse robbing cheese from a set trap, Kirby tiptoed down to the first floor of the two-story house. He opened Grammy's apartment door and tiptoed inside, easing his way to her bathroom. On the sink, smiling out from a clear glass, were Grammy's teeth. Kirby snatched the teeth and scrambled back upstairs without making a peep.

At school, Kirby grinned as he waited to share the treasure from Grammy's mouth. He watched his classmates show their odd items. He saw a cat's fur ball, a fruit pit that looked like President Bush, and even an unidentified toenail.

"I'm sure I have the best show-and-tell thing in a zillion years," Kirby thought to himself.

When the teacher called on Kirby, he carried his backpack to the front of the class. "What I'm about to show you will amaze you," he said as he shoved his hand into the bag and pulled out the teeth. "Wa-lah!" He raised his prize in the air.

The room fell silent.

Kirby gazed at the bunch of puzzled faces staring at him.

"What's so odd about teeth?" Joey Turner asked. "Most of us have them."

"My Grammy says these teeth are like stars because they only come out at night," he replied.

"Big deal!" Joey said. "My Grandfather's hair does that too."

"Kirby, please put your Grandmother's teeth back in your bag," Miss Duncan said firmly.

Kirby's excitement deflated. He tugged open his backpack and was about to tuck the teeth safely away, but they flipped from his hand and smacked the floor. Grammy's top middle tooth spun off and slid under a desk!

"ARGH!" Kirby dove to fetch the tooth. He looked up at Miss Duncan. She was busy writing on the board and hadn't noticed the airborne chompers. Kirby picked up the tooth and rushed to his seat.

"You're a goner," said Joey.

"All I need is some glue," Kirby replied.

"Stick them under your pillow," Anne said. "The tooth-fairy will fix them."

"I have an idea," Kirby said. He grabbed a stick of gum from his desk. He chewed and chewed until the gum was gooey. Then he plopped the glob in the empty gap and pressed the tooth back in place. It worked! The tooth stayed stuck.

A clanking knock at the door stirred the class.

Miss Duncan opened it.

Grammy's head quickly popped around the door as if she had a rubber neck, her eyes scanning the rows of desks for Kirby!

Fear crept across Kirby's face. He slipped the teeth deep in his desk. "Joey was right. I am a goner!" he mumbled.

"Kirby," Miss Duncan called, "your Grammy is waiting for you in the hall."

Kirby snailed out the door. "Oh, hi, Grammy," he said. He tried to stay calm. "Here for a surprise visit?"

Grammy's nose twitched. "I came to get something," she said. "Have any idea what that something is?"

"I'm full of ideas today," he said. "I bet you're here to see the fruit pit that looks like President Bush."

"Try again," she said, her lips tightly puckered.

"Okay." He wiped his brow and took a deep breath. "You're here for the teeth."

"Bingo!" she said. "Why don't you go get them for me?"

Kirby gulped. "There's been an accident."

Grammy's eyes bulged. "An accident?"

"When Miss Duncan asked me to put the teeth away, they jumped from my hand," he said. "You lost your front tooth when they smacked the floor."

"I lost a tooth!"

"Don't worry," he replied. "I fixed it with gum. They're as good as new."

Grammy shook her head and grunted.

Kirby's shoulders drooped, along with his face. "I know I was wrong. I only took them because I wanted to amaze the class."

"Well, were they amazed?" she asked.

"They liked the fruit pit of President Bush more," he said. "I promise that next time I'll show my own stuff. Taking something without asking wasn't worth the trouble."

"That's being wise," said Grammy.

"I have a chewed gum collection in my closet," he said. "It's as big as a soccer ball now. Maybe I should have shaped that to look like Mrs. Bush."

Grammy laughed. "You'll amaze the class next time. Now let's go get my teeth."

Kirby smiled and held Grammy's hand. "I know I will! Next time I'm bringing you because you're a 'one of its kind' Grammy."

The End

TABATHA JEAN D'AGATA was born and educated in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Tabatha loves writing stories for children and publishing her Internet magazine, The Savvy Click. She lives in Hooksett, New Hampshire, with her husband and their son and daughter. Tabatha is also Project Manager and Senior Editorial Assistant for ChildrenzBooks.Com "100 Books For Emergent Readers" book project. To learn more about Tabatha and her books, visit her website http://www.thesavvyclick.com/TJean.htm

Top of Page