New Voices by Donna Jo Napoli

Author:Donna Jo Napoli
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

The Tiger Tongue

TJ took the bus home. The whole way she held the tongue jar safe inside her backpack perched on her lap, where no one would see it and ask what it was.

As soon as she got in the front door, she ran to her bedroom and held the jar up to the light. She examined the tongue from every direction. It was large and thick and rough and dark. And somehow it was mysterious.

Something tickled the hairs inside TJ’s ears. It was almost as though there were the tiniest little whispery noises. She flicked at her ears. But the noises didn’t stop. Maybe she was getting the same illness Mrs. Collo had.

“TJ?” TJ’s father rapped his knuckles on TJ’s door. “Hurry up. You have a dentist appointment. Did you forget?”

TJ opened the door. “Hiss.” She jumped. That sound came out of her mouth.

TJ’s father looked at her. Then he shook his head and picked up the car keys. “Come on. Your mother’s at toddler swim with Annie. I promised her I’d get you to the dentist on time.”

TJ wanted to lock herself in the bathroom and try to figure out what the hiss was all about. But Daddy was in too much of a rush. She ran out to the car.

The dentist was downtown, but fortunately TJ’s father found a parking place right away.

TJ ran ahead of Daddy into the dentist’s office.

The receptionist smiled at her. “Just a little late. That’s okay, though, because the doctor is running behind. Let’s set you up in the chair.”

TJ followed the receptionist into the examination room. She settled herself in the chair. The receptionist clipped a bib around her neck and gave her a cup of water to rinse with.

TJ rinsed and waited.

Dr. Bacon came in. “Hello, TJ. How about you open that mouth wide?”

TJ opened her mouth. “Grrr.”

“Ahh!” Dr. Bacon dropped his metal tooth probe. “What did you say?”

“Grrrr,” said TJ. Oh, no!

“Stay right there.” Dr. Bacon left the room.

TJ tried to call him back. But all that came out of her mouth was snarls.

Dr. Bacon came back in with Daddy.

“What’s going on, TJ?” asked Daddy.

“Grrrr.” TJ pleaded with her eyes.

“Stop that.”

TJ sat silent.

“Why are you making those noises?”

“Hiss,” said TJ.

“I told you to stop it.” Daddy turned to Dr. Bacon. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her. She’s usually a cooperative kid.”

“That doesn’t sound like cooperation to me,” said Dr. Bacon.

TJ grabbed Dr. Bacon’s hand and squeezed. The dentist had to understand that it wasn’t her fault.

Dr. Bacon looked alarmed. “Don’t get upset now. Let me see inside that mouth again.”

TJ opened her mouth. A snarl escaped. She pointed frantically at her tongue.

Dr. Bacon’s hand shook, but he shined his little flashlight all around inside TJ’s mouth. “Well, I can’t really see anything strange, but she seems to be indicating that her tongue has problems, and perhaps it does look a little odd.”

“What do you mean?” Daddy came forward. “Let me see, TJ.”

TJ opened her mouth again. “Grrr.” She stuck out her tongue.

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