The Tooth Kami

Haruki kneels on the tatami in his grandmother's house and holds his bottom tooth between his thumb and finger. "Throw it high," Obaachan says. "Higher than the roof. Shout for a strong new one." He stands in the garden, pulls his arm back, and yells "Nezumi no ha to kaetemite!" — Mouse, trade me your strong tooth! The tooth arcs into the gray morning and disappears over the clay tiles. Somewhere above, the Tooth Kami — the quiet spirit who tends the only tooth shrine in all the world — catches it between two fingers and smiles. Another child growing.