My Tooth Loosened Everything

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Every word, start to finish. The pictures come next — painted around your child, from one photo.

1. For Maeve, and for the gate.

   For Ezra, and for the gate.

   For Sana, and for the gate.

   Dedication

2. It moved. Only a bit, and only when Maeve pushed it, but it moved, the way a fence post moves the year before it gives up. Teeth are not supposed to move at all. Teeth are furniture.

   It moved. Only a bit, and only when Ezra pushed it, but it moved, the way a fence post moves the year before it gives up. Teeth are not supposed to move at all. Teeth are furniture.

   It moved. Only a bit, and only when Sana pushed it, but it moved, the way a fence post moves the year before it gives up. Teeth are not supposed to move at all. Teeth are furniture.

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3. By dinnertime the drawer handle came away in her hand. Maeve put it on the counter and did not mention it.

   By dinnertime the drawer handle came away in his hand. Ezra put it on the counter and did not mention it.

   By dinnertime the drawer handle came away in her hand. Sana put it on the counter and did not mention it.

   2 of 12

4. The rule was simple, and Maeve made it herself, at the bathroom sink, looking herself in the eye. Hold the tooth still with a thumb, and touch nothing else all day. Nothing. Not even doorknobs.

   The rule was simple, and Ezra made it himself, at the bathroom sink, looking himself in the eye. Hold the tooth still with a thumb, and touch nothing else all day. Nothing. Not even doorknobs.

   The rule was simple, and Sana made it herself, at the bathroom sink, looking herself in the eye. Hold the tooth still with a thumb, and touch nothing else all day. Nothing. Not even doorknobs.

   3 of 12

5. She did not touch the banister. She only looked at it. It came out of the wall anyway.

   He did not touch the banister. He only looked at it. It came out of the wall anyway.

   She did not touch the banister. She only looked at it. It came out of the wall anyway.

   4 of 12

6. So Maeve fixed the house instead. Tape on the hinges. String around the faucets. A chair against the bookcase, and a screwdriver she was not allowed, used only slightly.

   So Ezra fixed the house instead. Tape on the hinges. String around the faucets. A chair against the bookcase, and a screwdriver he was not allowed, used only slightly.

   So Sana fixed the house instead. Tape on the hinges. String around the faucets. A chair against the bookcase, and a screwdriver she was not allowed, used only slightly.

   5 of 12

7. The tape held. The tooth did not. On the way to school the gate came off in the street.

   The tape held. The tooth did not. On the way to school the gate came off in the street.

   The tape held. The tooth did not. On the way to school the gate came off in the street.

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8. So Maeve sat on her hands and touched nothing whatsoever. The room came loose around her anyway, very politely.

   So Ezra sat on his hands and touched nothing whatsoever. The room came loose around him anyway, very politely.

   So Sana sat on her hands and touched nothing whatsoever. The room came loose around her anyway, very politely.

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9. Nothing in the house was loose. One tooth was, and it had been ready since Tuesday. Only Maeve was holding on.

   Nothing in the house was loose. One tooth was, and it had been ready since Tuesday. Only Ezra was holding on.

   Nothing in the house was loose. One tooth was, and it had been ready since Tuesday. Only Sana was holding on.

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10. Maeve took the apple in both hands, the big green one, the one from the bottom of the bowl, and bit down before she could think about it. There was a small, important click.

    Ezra took the apple in both hands, the big green one, the one from the bottom of the bowl, and bit down before he could think about it. There was a small, important click.

    Sana took the apple in both hands, the big green one, the one from the bottom of the bowl, and bit down before she could think about it. There was a small, important click.

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11. Everything clicked. The banister went back. Out in the street, the gate stopped swinging and hung there, straight.

    Everything clicked. The banister went back. Out in the street, the gate stopped swinging and hung there, straight.

    Everything clicked. The banister went back. Out in the street, the gate stopped swinging and hung there, straight.

    10 of 12

12. In the mirror the gap whistled when she breathed. And somewhere at the back, very quietly, a second one began.

    In the mirror the gap whistled when he breathed. And somewhere at the back, very quietly, a second one began.

    In the mirror the gap whistled when she breathed. And somewhere at the back, very quietly, a second one began.

    11 of 12

13. Maeve put the first one in a cup on the sill. Then she went out to check the gate again.

    Ezra put the first one in a cup on the sill. Then he went out to check the gate again.

    Sana put the first one in a cup on the sill. Then she went out to check the gate again.

    12 of 12