The Tooth Fairy is Dead

Well, that's it. The end of my son's childhood has officially started.

Today while he was having an ice cream in the park cafe one of his teeth fell out, his eighth one. He gave it to me for safe keeping so he could leave it under his pillow for the tooth fairy tonight.

I was putting him to bed and put the tooth on his bedside table. He said he had to make an envelope for his tooth otherwise the tooth fairy wouldn't be able to find it. So we folded up some paper, put the tooth in it and he put it under his pillow. I said my 'goodnights' and 'I love yous' and 'Goodnight. See you in the mornings.'... then as I was closing the door he said, 'Mum...'
Me: 'Yes (slightly exasperated because he does the delaying thing *every* night)'
Him: 'Just admit it.'
Me: 'Admit what?'
Him: 'You put the money under my pillow, don't you?'
Me: 'When? (play dumb, always works with men)
Him: 'Just admit it! You put the money under my pillow.'
Me: 'Instead of the tooth fairy?'
Him: 'Yes. You do it, right?'
Me: (delaying) 'Who told you that?'
Him: 'No one. I just thought about it. Fairies aren't real, are they?'
Me: 'Well, no.'
Him: 'So it must be you. Admit it.'
Me: 'Uh...'
Him: 'Admit it. I won't be mad.'
Me: 'Well, OK. Yea. It was me.'
Him: 'Was it?!'
Me: 'Yea.'
Him: 'Every time?'
Me: 'Yea. Except the times when you were at dad's and granny and grandpa's.'
Him: 'Really??!! (smiling)'
Me: 'Yea...'
Him: 'That's so funny! (laughing)'
Me: 'But you can't tell anyone else. You're in the "Adult Club" now. You've got to keep the secret.'
Him: 'Well Conrad doesn't believe in fairies so I can tell him, right?'
Me: 'Well... you need to find out if he believes in the tooth fairy though first. You've got to keep the secret. You're in the Club now.'
Him: 'OK...'
Me: 'Let me show you something.'

I took a little box down from the top shelf of the bookshelves.

Me: 'Look. I saved all your teeth.'
Him: 'Really?! (laughing) You're mad.'
Me: 'I think they're lovely.'
Him: 'Why do you waste your money like that?'
Me: 'By giving it to you? Well, it's not a waste. I like it. And so do you, right?'
Him: 'Yea...'
Me: 'OK, darling, it's bedtime. I'll see you in the morning, new Club member.'
Him: 'OK. Nite.'

I go to close the door.

Him: 'Mum.'
Me: 'Yes?'
Him: 'Can you give me the money now then, please? I can't wait til morning.'