Diane moved the flashlight close to her face. The fire crackled, and the orange light pulsed and framed the faces sitting around the glowing embers. Diane looked at the wide eyes, the attentive stares of her fellow campers… “His teeth were yellow, and he breathed slowly like he couldn’t remember how to die” she said in a low gravely tone. The other kids didn’t say a word although the little girl with the blond curly hair gasped as though she couldn’t breath. Diane slowly looked at each of her friends and moved the flashlight closer to her face accentuating the shadows of her expression. Her eyes narrowed and she looked at each of the other children one at a time. She continued, “Slowly, he picked up the pliers… he smiled as if he knew how much she would suffer”! The red haired boy turned white as a ghost, and the freckles that appeared to be so prominent were not visible for a second while the chill ran up his back. Diane smiled, not a happy smile but a knowing, wicked, smile. Diane whispered, “The little girl couldn’t move, she tried but it was no use… she couldn’t feel her arms”. The fire crackled as sap exploded from a pine log and everyone jumped.
Diane turned the light off and slowly backed away from the glow of the fire, her face barely visible. “He took the pliers and slowly walked to the helpless girl”, she was now barely whispering and the other children were leaning in trying to hear. “He looked into her eyes, and told her not to cry” she said in a shaky voice, slightly louder. The kids sat around the fire with uncomfortable looks and wide eyes. “He took the pliers”… she paused and looked at each of them once again… “And pulled her front tooth right out of her head”! A mix of shrieks and laughter loudly filled the quiet campsite. The red hair boy grimaced, but tried to put on a brave face “I hate going to the Dentist” he blurted out… “OK, my turn” he stammered. Diane handed him the flashlight.