The morning song circle is very loud today. All her friends clap and sing along. Pearly presses her lips tightly together.
She hides her mouth behind a yellow classroom cushion. Pearly rubs her jaw and taps a finger against her unbrushed teeth. "I don't want to smile today," she mumbles into the soft fabric.
Leo balances three wooden blocks on his head. He wobbles across the alphabet rug. He wants to make her laugh.
The blocks clatter to the floor with a loud smack! Pearly clamps both hands over her mouth. She looks at the scattered blocks and scoots backward against the wall.
Maya pops up wearing a shiny red clown nose. She honks it with a loud squeak right in Pearly's face.
Pearly giggles, opening her mouth wide. Then she covers it quickly. "I didn't brush, and my teeth hurt!" she whispers.
The bustling classroom stops completely. Pearly stays very still. She watches Maya run straight across the room to the dress-up bin.
Maya marches back holding a giant, fuzzy blue pretend toothbrush. She hands Pearly a real green one. "Up, down, brush the sugar bugs away!" Maya chants.
Pearly takes the green toothbrush and marches to the classroom sink. She scrubs up and down. Minty white bubbles dot her chin until the tap water runs clear.
Pearly turns around and lowers her towel. She flashes a giant, sparkling smile at the whole class. "Let's build a block tower!" she shouts.
