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Just then, my whole face lighted up. ’Cause I have ears like a hawk, of course!

“The spit cup! The spit cup! I will take the spit cup!” I hollered.

I jumped down from my chair. And I zoomed to the bathroom.

Then I got the spit cup out of the trash. And I dusted it off real good.

“Good news, people!” I shouted real loud. “There's still some blood around the edges!”

I quick ran back to show them.

Grandma Miller closed her eyes at that sight.

Then Mother put her head on the table and hid her face in her arms.

The festivities were over, I believe.

After Grandma and Grampa Miller left, Mother took me into the bathroom. And we brushed my teeth real careful.

Then I took my loose tooth out of my pocket. And I brushed that guy, too.

I held it up to the light. “Look,” I said. “Look how shiny I made it. I really wish I could take this tooth to school, Mother. I really, really wish that with all my might.”

Mother gave me a hug. “I know you do, Junie B.,” she said. “But it's still going to be fun to put it under your pillow tonight, isn't it?”

She smiled. “I remember when I was a little girl. I couldn't wait to wake up in the morning and find out how much money the tooth fairy had left me.”

My skin got prickly at that name again.

Also, sweaty came on my head.

I thought and thought about what to do.

Then finally, I stood on my tiptoes. And I whispered in Mother's ear.

“Yeah, only I know stuff about the fairy, Mother,” I said. “I know the truth.'”

Mother looked shocked at me.

“The truth?” she said. “You know the truth?”

“Yes,” I whispered again. “I know the exact truth, Mother. ’Cause last year Paulie Allen Puffer told me the whole entire story.”

I took another big breath. Then I cupped my hands around her ear. And I talked even quieter.

“The fairy isn't real,” I said. “The tooth fairy is just pretend”

Mother's eyes got big and wide at me.

“No!” she said.

“Yes,” I whispered back. “Paulie Allen learned it from his big brother. The tooth fairy isn't a fairy at all. She's actually a teensy little tooth witch.”

Mother's mouth came all the way open. “A tooth witch?”

“Shh!” I said. “We have to talk soft, Mother. If the tooth witch hears anyone telling her secret, she flies into their room at night. And she pinches their cheeks.”

Mother covered her face with her hands.

She was in shock, I believe.

“Paulie Allen's brother even saw the tooth witch,” I said. “’Cause one night he put a tooth under his pillow. And then he stayed awake all night. And he saw the tooth witch fly into his room on a teensy little toothbrush.”

“Oh, my,” said Mother.

“I know it is oh, my,” I said. “And that is not even the worstest part. ’Cause the witch walked right under his pillow. And she carried out his tooth. And then she chomped a big bite out of it. Just like it was a little tooth apple.”

Mother made a noise behind her hands.

I patted her very nice. “I know how you feel,” I said. “This is very hard to hear.”

Finally, Mother took her hands away.

“But it doesn't really make sense, Junie B.,” she said. “I mean, why would a mean little witch leave money under the pillow? A witch would never do something that nice, would she?”

I rolled my eyes way up to the ceiling. ’Cause sometimes I have to explain everything to that woman.

“Of course she would, Mother. Don't you get it? The witch leaves money so that children think she's really a fairy. ’Cause if children don't think there's a fairy, they won't leave their teeth. Right? And if they don't leave their teeth, the witch won't get any tooth apples.”

Mother closed her eyes very tight.

Then, all of a sudden, she opened up the bathroom door.

And she ran right out of the room.

She was taking it harder than I thought.

That night, Daddy tucked me into bed.

He said that Paulie Allen Puffer's brother is full of soup.

“There's no such thing as a tooth witch, Junie B.,” he said. “I promise you there isn't. Paulie Allen Puffer's brother just made that up to scare Paulie Allen. And then Paulie Allen said