I am an ordinary boy, I love computer games, I love playing football with my friends⚽️, I love going fishing with my dad. But what I absolutely hate is brushing my teeth, and twice a day at that—Mum always scolds me for it, and I keep telling her it's pointless work that just wastes time! 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 on a meadow next to a snow-white castle. Of course, I didn't understand anything, but there was nothing to do but head along the path to the castle. No one stopped me at the door, I went in, and suddenly the door behind me slammed shut, and right in front of me appeared a terrifying little, all crooked dwarf, dressed entirely in black.
I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping it would all disappear and I'd be home, but then the dwarf spoke. His voice was so disgusting, buzzing, 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'll have to help this monster!"
Actually, I really want to go home. Can I help you a bit, and then you'll 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 told me that I would need to secretly take toothbrushes from ten of my best friends 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 very pleased, because the work really wasn't difficult, and it was even interesting and magical. I quickly recalled the addresses of my friends in my head so I could start work straight away. And the first brush I brought was mine, and for that I honestly ate two sweets.
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 became confused and went to look for him. I wandered from room to room thinking: "Strange, everything here is so beautiful, white, clean, yet such an ugly monster lives here!"
And suddenly, I came upon one room whose door was locked. I peeped through the keyhole and saw a little fairy. I immediately knew 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 named Caries has locked me here. He seized my castle and started living in it. And who are you? How did you get here?
I'm Kolia. 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 friends to awful toothache, which Caries will inflict 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 have to experience toothache and find out what caries is.
All right, all right, just don't cry. What should I do? How can I help my friends and free you from captivity? If any of the children can return their toothbrush 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 my legs could carry me. And I was lucky! In a large room, in plain sight, lay all the brushes I'd brought. I found mine without difficulty 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, it's 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 understand that 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 Caries looks like!
