I am an ordinary boy, I love computer games, I love playing football with my mates ⚽️, I love going fishing with my dad. But what I absolutely hate is brushing my teeth, and twice a day at that—Mum always tells me off about it, and I keep telling her it's a waste of time and pointless! My teeth are white, healthy, and don't need brushing! And then one day…
I wake up in the morning as usual, but for some reason I'm not in bed—I'm in a clearing next to a snow-white castle. Of course, I didn't understand what was happening, but I had no choice but to head down the path towards the castle. No one stopped me at the door, I went in, and suddenly the door slammed shut behind me, and right in front of me appeared a terrifying little dwarf, all crooked, dressed entirely in black.
I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping it would all disappear and I'd be back home, but then the dwarf spoke. His voice was so revolting, buzzing and shrill, like Dad's drill when he's drilling something:
Well, hello there. I'm glad to see you! Finally, I have an assistant!
And I thought: 'Oh no, I'm going to have to help this monster!'
Actually, I really want to go home. Can I help you a bit, and then you let me go home?
Of course, my young friend, it won't take you long—just three days, and I think you'll enjoy the work!
And the dwarf explained that I would need to secretly take toothbrushes from ten of my best mates and leave two chocolate sweets in exchange. I would move from flat to flat using a magic hat that could read minds and would transport me to the exact address.
At first, I was delighted because the work really wasn't difficult, and it was even interesting and magical. I quickly recalled the addresses of my mates in my head so I could start straight away. And the first brush I brought was mine, and I honestly ate two sweets for that..
I brought the first five brushes quickly, and the dwarf met me at the door each time and laughed very loudly and unpleasantly. But then, suddenly, he didn't meet me. I got confused and went looking for him. I wandered from room to room thinking: 'Strange, everything here is so beautiful, white and clean, yet such an ugly monster lives here!'
And suddenly, I came across a room with a locked door. I peeped through the keyhole and saw a little fairy. I knew straight away it was a fairy because she had little wings on her back and a crown on her head. She heard my footsteps and came to the door.
Who are you?
I asked.
I'm the Tooth Fairy. I live in a wonderful country called Hygiene, but an evil dwarf called Decay has locked me in here. He's taken over my castle and is living in it. Who are you, and how did you get here?
I'm Koly. I don't know how I got here, but this dwarf promised to let me go if I bring him ten toothbrushes.
And the fairy suddenly burst into tears.
How terrible! You've doomed your best mates to awful toothache, which Decay will bring upon them.
And only then did I remember Mum's words about how if I don't brush my teeth every day and eat lots of sweets, I'll get toothache and find out what decay is.
Alright, alright, just don't cry. What should I do? How can I help my mates and free you from this spell? If any of the children can get their toothbrush back and touch it to my door, the spell will break and I…
I didn't listen to the rest. I remembered my brush, which I'd brought first, and ran off as fast as I could. And I was lucky! In a large room, all the brushes I'd brought were lying in plain sight. I found mine easily and rushed back. As soon as I touched the brush to the door, there was a crack and a bright light, so bright I had to squeeze my eyes shut…
And suddenly something jingled near my ear, and I heard Mum's voice:
Wake up, you sleepyhead, time to brush your teeth!
I jumped up, hardly believing my eyes, and rushed to the bathroom. As always, my toothbrush was standing in my cup in its usual place. And only then did I realise it had all been just a dream!
Now I brush my teeth very thoroughly, and always twice a day, because I know first-hand what Decay looks like!
