Daria Goes to the Dentist

"Daria!" called her mother from the bottom of the stairs. "Daria! Where are you?" Not a peep was heard from Daria. This was rather unusual. Daria was usually quite a chatterbox. "Daria, it's time to go!"

Daria's sister, Kate, came down the stairs with her heels clicking noisily on the floor. "Do you have to make all that racket?" asked their mother who by now was stressed out and angry. "Where is your sister? We are going to be late!"

Kate shrugged and slipped her arms into her blue jean jacket that was hanging over the railing of the stairs. Mommy sighed and rushed back up the stairs still calling for Daria. She hurried into Daria's room and looked around.  There was no sign of Daria. She was just about to leave the room when she spied a pair of pink fuzzy socks peeking out from behind the door. She swung the door open so quickly that Daria practically fell on the floor. "Daria!" exclaimed her mother angrily. "I have been calling you and calling you. Where have you been? It's time to go. Put your shoes on."

Daria sat down on her bed and stared at the floor. "I'm not going." she said calmly without looking at her mother.

"What do you mean, you're not going?" her mother replied trying to remain calm as well.

"My teeth are good. I don't need to go to the dentist." insisted Daria.

"I'm sure you're teeth are good. You still need to have them checked." replied her mother equally as insistently.

Daria looked up at her mother. She  looked scared. She looked as though she were about too cry. Her mother scooped her up in her arms and kissed her. "Don't worry. It's going to be fine." she promised. She helped Daria put her sneakers and on and carried her down the stairs where she helped her put her favorite purple jacket on. Daria was so nervous that she didn't even mind that her mother was carrying her around like a baby.

They  got in the car. Daria would usually be chattering away throughout the ride. Instead she was unusually quiet. "What's the matter with you, squirt?" asked Kate. Daria ignored her and stared out the window.

"Let it go, Kate." warned their mother. Kate shrugged, put her i-pod ear buds in, and began softly singing to the music in her ears.

Soon they arrived at the dentist. Daria shivered with fear. She gripped the door handle, but did  not open it. Mommy opened the door. Daria would not let go. Mommy gently pried her hands off the handle and helped her out of the car. She hurried a still frightened Daria into the waiting room of the dentist's office and led her to a chair. "Sit." she ordered. Daria  sat quickly and quietly even though what she really wanted to do was run out the door. She kept looking at the door and wishing she was anywhere but where she was at that moment.

All too quickly, the grey haired nurse, was calling Daria's name. Daria did not budge. She was too scared to move. Maybe, she had heard wrong she hoped and they weren't calling her at all.

"Daria Popov." repeated the nurse impatiently as though Daria was wasting her time which she pretty much was. Daria's mother pulled her out of her chair and led her into the other room after the nurse. The nurse pointed to a big blue leather dental chair. Daria didn't move, but her mother gently ushered her into the chair.

"I'll be right here with you." her mother promised slipping to the back of the room as the dentist entered.

The dentist was tall and had short brown hair and sparkly eyes. He reminded Daria of her Uncle Ben. Daria loved her Uncle Ben. He always brought her Mrs. Field's cookies and told the funniest jokes. Somebody who looked just like Uncle Ben couldn't be all bad, could they? Daria still didn't feel comforted though. After all, Uncle Ben never tried poking around in her mouth like the dentist was about to do.

"Hi, Daria." the dentist greeted her cheerfully. "I'm Dr. Dixon. I'm going to examine your teeth." His voice sounded warm and friendly, and made him remind her of her uncle even more, but still she was not sure. Dr. Dixon told her to open her mouth. Daria didn't really want to, but she figured the sooner she did what she was told the sooner she could get out of there so she opened. Dr. Dixon checked her teeth. So far it didn't hurt at all. Daria was relieved. "Was that all? Can I go home now?" she asked eagerly finally finding her voice.

Dr Dixon smiled and his eyes sparkled. "I just have to clean your teeth." he replied.

Daria's heart sank. This was  it she thought. This was where he got out the drills and the pain began. However much to her surprise all he got out was some kind of funny looking electric brush and some funny looking pasty stuff. The brush turned out to be a toothbrush and the paste turned out to be toothpaste. Dr. Dixon put some toothpaste on the brush and began brushing her teeth. It didn't hurt at all. In fact, it kind of tickled. She even liked the pepperminty tasty of the toothpaste.

Before she knew it, Daria's teeth were all cleaned and Dr. Dixon was ushering her out of the chair. "We'll see you in six months." he said handing her chart to the nurse. Daria and her mother followed the nurse back into the other room where the nurse put Daria's chart on the counter. The woman behind the counter took the chart. Then, she showed Daria a treasure chest and let her pick out a little toy. Daria selected an elephant finger puppet.

"Well, Daria that wasn't so bad. Was it? "asked her mother while they waited for Kate to finish her dental appointment.

"Can we go to the dentist every day?" asked Daria smiling while holding up her new finger puppet  and admiring it as she ran her tongue over her really fresh and clean feeling teeth. Her mother laughed and hugged  her.

Iggie's Imagination

 Today's Story is by Melia

 Iggie  was  a  little   two   year   old   girl.  She  had   a  wild   imagination.  One   minute  she was   a   firefighter,  the  next   a  princess.  One  morning   when  Iggie  came  downstairs  for  breakfast  mommy    asked, "Who   are   you    today?"

" Iggie.,"she    replied.   Normally  she    would  say   something    like   Barney, or   Big  bird     or  a  dog, but   today   she  just  glumly  replied   with  who  she  really   was.  And    mommy  got   very   worried, Iggie   had   never    sounded  so   unhappy   before.

"Iggie   are    you      feeling  okay?"mommy  asked    worriedly.

" Yes" replied   unhappy  Iggie.

'My   poor  baby ' thought  mommy.    Later    that    day, around    noon,  Iggie's    sister, June    came   in  the living   room   where   mommy    and   Iggie   were     reading   their   books.

"Mom,    who's     Iggie   being? I  need   to    say  hello." June    remarked.

"Iggie.,"  the  little    two   year    old replied.
"
Oh   hi  Iggie.,"   June    said  surprised,  feeling   the   little  one's   head  to  make   sure   she   was  alright.

At    dinner  when  daddy  came  home  from   work  he   said,"How's     my  little________?"

Normally    Iggie    would  jump  out    and   excitedly   shout    out   what  she    was  that   day.    today  she    walked    over   and   said ,  "Iggie."   Daddy    was  shocked.   Mommy    and   June   just  shrugged, the   two  of  them  had  sang  songs, and  told  jokes    all   day   to    try    and   cheer    up    Iggie,  but  unfortunately   nothing  worked.

That    night   when     Iggie    was  all   ready    for    bed,  in  her    Elmo    footy   pajamas,   mommy,  daddy   and  June   all    walked    her  to  her    room    and  sat  down    on   her    bed  beside   her."All   right  kid,   spill    your   guts.   What's   wrong?"  daddy   asked eager   to  solve   his   daughter's   problem.

"No   wong.  Day  I  tend   I   sad.," Iggie   said   in    her  sweet   little    voice.   Her  mother   hugged    her,  and  everyone   breathed  a  sigh  of   relief.   Iggie   started  laughing.   Soon  so  did    mommy,  daddy,  and  June.   They  all  kissed   her    goodnight   and    she    soon   fell    fast   asleep. 

Mommy's Birthday Surprise

"Do you know what tomorrow is?" asked Daddy one morning as Becky was eating her breakfast.

Becky shook her head and mumbled "No." as she swallowed a spoonful of eggs.

"Tomorrow Mommy is coming back from Grandma's and it is also Mommy's birthday. I thought we could do something nice for her." explained Daddy. Becky nodded and jumped out of her seat so excitedly that she almost knocked over her milk. Luckily, Daddy grabbed her glass just before it tipped over. "I thought we'd make her a nice dinner." continued Daddy.

"I want to get her present. Will you take me, Daddy?" asked Becky.

Daddy nodded. "As soon as we clean up."  Becky cleared the table and Daddy washed the dishes. Becky ran off to her bedroom to get her little pink purse, and they went to the store.

At the store, Becky quickly opened her purse and counted her money. She only had $2.00. She frowned and bit her lip disappointedly. What was she going to be able to buy with only $2.00? She and Daddy walked through the aisles of the store.

"How pretty!" exclaimed Becky picking up a pretty purple scarf. She turned it over and look at the price tag. It was $5.00. Becky frowned and put it back on the shelf.

They kept walking. Becky found a white leather purse and excitedly grabbed it off the shelf. "Mommy will love this!" She glanced at the price tag and her smile instantly turned to a frown. It was $10.00. She put it back on the shelf too and kept walking but not as happily as before.

Daddy hated to see Becky so sad. "I could give you some money." he offered.

Becky shook her head. "No, thank you, Daddy." she said. "Then, it wouldn't really be from me. I want to do something for Mommy myself."

"Are you sure, princess? Because I'd be glad to help." Daddy offered again. Becky shook her head and continued walking down the aisles.

They walked slowly through the store. Aisle after aisle she found beautiful bracelets, pretty pocketbooks, and fabulous frames. All of them were perfect for Mommy. All of them too much money. Becky sadly left the store without finding anything she could afford to get for Mommy for her birthday. Becky didn't know what she was going to do. She only knew she didn't have a lot of time. Mommy's birthday was tomorrow.

On the way, home Becky got an idea. It wasn't a great idea, but at least it was something. She could make Mommy a picture. As soon as they got home, she locked herself in her room with her paper and crayons. She worked all day. She only came out for lunch and dinner.

The next day was Mommy's birthday. Becky helped Daddy make Mommy's favorite dinner, spaghetti and meatballs. She helped him set the table with the good dishes and the cloth napkins, after all, it was a special occasion.

They heard the squeak of Mommy's car tires pulling up in the driveway just as they finished getting ready. Becky ran to the door. "Oh, baby. I've missed you." said Mommy gently kissing Becky's check as Becky hurried her into the kitchen.

"Is this all for me?" asked Mommy as she saw the beautifully set table with the delicious food spread out on it.

Becky nodded exitedly. "Happy Birthday, Mommy!" she called out.

Daddy handed Mommy a colorfully wrapped package. "Thanks it's beautiful." she said to Daddy as she unwrapped it and pulled out a pretty gold bracelet.  She kissed Daddy.

"Happy Birthday, babe." said Daddy kissing her back. He helped her put the bracelet around her wrist.

Becky ran up to her room. "Becky," Mommy called after her, "Where are you going? Aren't you going to share my birthday dinner."

"I'll be right back, Mommy." replied Becky. She ran to her room and got the picture she made for Mommy. She came back and handed it to Mommy. "Here." she said. "I wanted to get you something really special." she explained, "but, I didn't have enough money so I made you a picture. It's a picture of you and me and Daddy."

Mommy took the picture and looked at  it. She smiled her brightest smile of the night so far. "It's beautiful, but you're wrong about one thing."

Becky looked puzzled. "What's that?" she asked.

"It is special." said Mommy. "It's the most special present I ever got. Thank you." She gave Becky a big hug and a kiss. "I love you, sweetie."

"I love you too, Mommy." replied Becky.