Savannah lay in her bed and plucked fitfully at her sheets. Dalmatian puppies with lolling tongues and smiling eyes ran over the mountain of her bent knees. She probed at the cavity in her mouth where her tooth had been just that morning. Now it was tucked under her pillow, patiently waiting to be exchanged for a quarter when the Tooth Fairy chose to make her presence known. Savannah smiled at the thought of a whole quarter for her. Candy, a ride on the drugstore pony, or the gum machines with their endless variety of stained glass bouncy balls, adjustable rings, and other things to catch a little girls fancy.

The soothing glow of her nightlight filled the room, dispelling shadows in some places and causing them to pool in others. The stuffed bunny that Aunt Shari had gotten her for Easter lay beside her, guarding her, and the rest of her stuffed animals lay at the foot of the bed in a plush pile of faces and furry bodies who jumbled together to become a multi-hued beastie with multiple shiny glass eyes. Her crayons and coloring books lay on the bookshelf, along with the Little Golden books where all the animals and trains and cars romped in a happy circle on the back. Mommy had read the story about the Pokey Little Puppy tonight before she left for work, it was Savannahs favorite. The shiny balloon with the rose on it hung on the wall over her nightlight. Mommy had given it to her on her fifth birthday, just last month, tied to the brightly wrapped box that had "The Fox and the Hound" wrapped in a T-shirt with Jasmines picture on it. Mommy said the balloon had "I Love You" written on it and that it was to remind her of Mommy when she had to be gone at night.

Savannahs birthday had been a good day. Mommy and Aunt Shari had baked a chocolate cake with chocolate icing, sweet and gooey as a candy bar left in the car on a hot day. Grandma had come and rocked in the big wicker rocking chair and held Savannah close for a long time. The gentle drum of Grandmas heart under her ear had sent Savannah into a trance, cuddled up, safe and secure, loved. The memory of that warmth caused Savannahs eyelids to flutter closed. Her breathing became shallow and even as she danced with the borderguards of the Land of Nod.

A creak caused her eyes to fly open. The noise came again, closer to her bedroom door this time. Savannah lowered her eyelids until only a small blurry slit remained. Maybe the Tooth Fairy was coming! Her heart beat faster with excitement. She slipped a hand under the pillow. Yes, the tiny hard lump of her tooth was still there. She closed her eyes and feigned sleep, everyone knows the Tooth Fairy would flee if you showed any sign of being awake. The bedroom door shushed over the carpet as it was opened. Savannah held her body still, almost trembling with the effort.

Then, the entire room filled with the smell of cheap whiskey as Daddy whispered in his rotgut voice "Wake up, little girl, its time to play our secret game again."

THE END

Dainty feet trip

The path between light and dark

Sun above

Moon below

Celestial bodies surround

Autumn rain chills

The skyclad body

Warmed by inner fires

She dances on.