Alex was worried. Wouldn’t his loose front tooth ever fall out? For days it had wiggled. For days it had wobbled.

But it was still there. It was there when he looked in the mirror. It was there when his tongue searched for it.

“Hasn’t your loose tooth fallen out yet, Alex?” asked Christopher.

“Not yet,” said Alex. “It wiggles, it wobbles, but it’s still there.”

“Take a bite out of a big red apple,” said Christopher. “That should help.”

“Thanks,” said Alex, “but I think I’ll let it wiggle and wobble a little bit longer.”

“Hasn’t your loose tooth fallen out yet, Alex?” asked Sandy.

“Not yet,” said Alex. “It wiggles, it wobbles, but it’s still there.”

“Tie a piece of string around it. And pull hard. That should do it.”

“Thanks,” said Alex, “but I think I’ll let it wiggle and wobble a little bit longer.”

“Hasn’t your loose tooth fallen out yet, Alex?” asked Danny.

“Not yet,” said Alex. “It wiggles, it wobbles, but it’s still there.”

“Have a wrestling match with Tim. He accidentally knocked out my front tooth last week, and it wasn’t even loose!”

“Thanks,” said Alex, “but I think I’ll let it wiggle and wobble a little bit longer.”

That night, Alex asked his mom and dad, “When will my loose tooth fall out?”

“When it is ready, Alex,” came the reply.

The next day, Alex’s loose tooth did fall out.

It wasn’t because Alex did anything to it. Alex’s tooth fell out—just because it was ready.