How Martin Lost his Two Front Teeth

How Martin Lost His Two Front Teeth

Revised based on the reviews received. Thank you to all my reviewers!

Niagara Falls took Martin’s breath away. He was very impressed by the majestic waterfalls and by the thunderous sound of water falling so powerfully that droplets reached his suntanned face. He couldn't help thinking this would be the best vacation he ever had.

Five-year-old Martin and his family were spending two weeks at a campground nearby. After strolling by the Falls the whole morning, it felt good to be back to the camper and relax for a while.

Martin and his mother nearly ate a whole basket of peaches. They couldn’t stop biting into these sweet, juicy, sunset-colored fruits.

“Martin,” Jacob said, “stop eating all these peaches. You’ll get sick!”

Jacob sounded a bit jealous that his younger brother shared the same taste as his mother. He ate only one peach, and it was enough for him.

Martin just smiled and took another bite of his fourth peach. Juice dripped down his cheek. His mother winked at him, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

“Who’s coming for a bike ride?” Dad called from outside. He had installed a child seat for Martin on his big bicycle. The two brothers rushed out of the camper.

Martin was having a wonderful time riding bare foot behind his dad, with his short, blond hair in the wind, yelling, “Faster, Daddy, faster!” He was ahead of Jacob, for once. Dad went a bit faster, being careful to keep pace with the rest of the family, as he exited the campground and turned into a local street.

Jacob followed close behind, proudly riding the fire red bicycle he got on his eighth birthday the month before. The reflectors shined in the sun, matching Jacob’s toothy grin.

Last in line was their mom, taking her time. She was still trying to figure out how to change gear on her almost-never-used ten-speed bicycle.

As they went down a small hill, Martin’s foot got stuck in the wheel. The bicycle crashed to the ground. Martin wailed so loud that a neighbor came out of his house to see what was happening.

“Are you hurt, young man?” he said, squatting beside Martin. He examined the injured foot carefully.

Martin winced, but stopped crying. He wondered if Jacob ever cried in front of a stranger.

“You’re not from this area, are you?” the man asked Martin’s dad. “I can take you to the hospital where I work. Let me just make a quick phone call to tell them we’re on our way. By the way, I’m Doctor Smith.” He shook hands with Martin’s surprised dad.

“Well, we’re lucky in our bad luck!” Dad said to Martin, as the doctor went back in the house. “How did we manage to crash right next to a doctor’s driveway?” He ruffled his son’s hair.

As Martin tried to smile, something felt different. His mouth was swollen, and his two front teeth were loose.

“Jacob, I have two loose teeth!” he exclaimed.

“So what?” Jacob replied. "It will only make you look like a freak when they fall out. What’s so good about that?”

Wiggling his teeth with his tongue made him cringe. He couldn’t wait to lose his first tooth, but he never imagined it would happen in such a painful way.

Doctor Smith came back holding his keys and his wallet. He helped Martin get in his black Hummer. Martin’s dad sat beside him.

“I’ll see you in a little while,” Mom said to Martin, kissing his forehead through the open window. She wiped a tear and waved them goodbye.

At the hospital, Doctor Smith cleaned Martin’s foot, took x-rays, and wrapped the swollen foot in a very tight bandage.

A little while later, Martin’s mom and Jacob arrived to pick him up. Jacob handed Martin a postcard of the waterfalls. “Here, Bro,” he said. “I hope this makes you feel better.”

The picture showed night lights reflecting in the waterfalls, making the mist look like a rainbow. Martin took the postcard and looked at his brother. He smiled, showing his two loose teeth. “Thanks, Jake!” he said simply, too moved to say more.

All he could eat now was mashed potatoes and apple sauce. He also had to drink with a straw. It made him smile each time to hear his brother ask for a straw too. Soon after, Martin’s teeth fell out. He came back from camping with no front teeth, but with a postcard from his big brother.

Now he knew for sure that Jacob cared about him.