Divulging Secrets

Madeleine was so excited to find some "tooth fairy" dough under her pillow this morning. Of course, now that's she ten-and-a-half, she no longer believes in a beautiful fairy-woman dressed in white tutus and tights who flies into your house with a wand which trails sparkly fairy dust behind it, steals under your pillow and replaces your fallen bone with cold, hard cash.

But she wasn't so sure about Kathryn.

Ever since Maddie figured out, at age eight, that Santa couldn't possibly exist, she has been extremely mindful of not divulging that information to those poor, misguided children who are still under that mistaken impression (Actually, the truth is that she does find it endearing when children believe. When, after her many prodding questions and voiced nagging doubts and finally, the pointed question, "Mama, is there really a Santa?" I finally came clean to her about him and the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy, I could tell that she felt honored to be in on the secret, and she promised to hold it dear and not to ruin it for anyone else.). So, before we left to pick her friend Kathryn up for school this morning, she wondered aloud how she should tell Kathryn about her haul. Should she say, "Kathryn, look what the tooth fairy left me last night!" or should she say, "Kathryn, look at what my mom gave me for losing my tooth!" We decided it was best to feel out the situation and tread lightly; fifth graders seem to be on the cusp, waffling between these beliefs and the truth.

So, when Kathryn got into the car, Madeleine decided it was best to be direct. She said, "Kathryn, do you still believe in the tooth fairy?"

Well, maybe not anymore.