The story so far ... Just when the family seems to have lost interest in the false teeth, Belle discovers the denture is missing. Everyone starts looking. It turns out that Jordan has it in his backpack. He'd taken it to school to show his friends, who began tossing it around at recess until the teacher made them go back inside. She used the chance to teach the class some facts about false teeth.





By Saturday, we had lost all hope of ever finding the owner. Not one person had answered our ad. And although all four dentists called back, none had a patient missing their teeth.

I was eating cereal across from Mom who was paying bills online. "I just can't figure it out," I said. "Someone is missing their teeth and is probably upset. You'd think there was a way that we could find this person before she has to go and have a new plate made. It would be such a waste of money!"

Mom looked over at me and took a sip of her coffee. "I agree with you. But I don't know what else to do. We asked the neighbors, put an ad in the paper and checked with all the dentists. It's not like we haven't tried."

"But if the person doesn't get the paper ... or goes to the dentist in a different town ... or lives somewhere else ... " I finished my cereal and drank the last of the milk out of the bowl.

"Stop drinking out of the bowl!" Mom frowned at me. "There's all kinds of what ifs. But the reality is we're probably not going to ever find the owner."

I shook my head. "It's just too bad. I feel sorry for the person, whoever it is. If he's an old guy ... or girl, she probably can't afford another set of teeth. And imagine going out without teeth. It would be so embarrassing!"

"Let's quit talking about it." Mom stood up. "I have to run to the grocery store over in Marysville. You want to come along and pick out a treat for dessert?"

"Sure." I went and got my jacket. It had snowed last night and felt cold.

She grabbed her purse from the counter. "Oh no!" Holding up a cell phone, she added, "Once again, your dad forgot his phone. I guess it doesn't matter. He's at soccer practice with the boys. We should be home before they get back."

Of course, it didn't turn out so simple. On the way to Marysville, Mom hit a deep pothole, and the car jumped down and then up. I felt my stomach flip flop too. The car started to drive bumpy. "What's going on?" I asked.

"I'm not sure." She slowed down, but the bumping continued. "Oh no, I bet it's a flat tire!" Mom pulled over to the shoulder. We were out in the country with no houses in sight, still five miles from town. "Wouldn't you know, the one time we decide to get groceries in Marysville, this happens." She got out and I did the same. It had turned colder and I zipped up my jacket. Sure enough, the front left tire was flat as a pancake.

"And Dad forgot his phone! I can't call him to come and help us." She sighed. The cold wind ran his fingers through my hair, and I hurried back to the car. Mom followed me and got in behind the wheel. Looking up and down the road, she said reluctantly, "Guess I'll have to look up a tire place and hope I can find someone who'll come out here and help us." She pulled out her phone.

Just then, someone tapped on my window. I jumped. A man in a blue wool hat low on his head was leaning down with his face to the glass. He had black stubble and red cheeks. I leaned away from him, thinking he looked like a bad guy. Mom rolled down my window.

"Hey, I see you have a flat. I could help you with that. You got a spare?"

"I think so. In the trunk." She opened her door.

I grabbed her arm. "He looks dangerous," I whispered.

"Don't be silly. He's nice enough to stop and offer to help."

He was walking to the back of our Corolla. "I can get it, if you open the trunk." Mom pulled the trunk lever and then got out to investigate. She buttoned up her coat.

I felt the car clunking as the stranger began to work on the tire. I got out to watch what he was doing, since I'd never before seen a tire changed. He was quick and efficient. In no time, he took off the bad tire, put on the spare and tightened the bolts. He lowered the car and then put the jack and the flat tire in the trunk.

The man turned to my mom as he put on his gloves. "I'd recommend you go to a tire place soon and get a real tire. This spare is not much of a tire, just a temporary." Pulling his hat down, he turned to leave.

"Wait!" Mom said, opening her purse. "I want to pay you for doing this." She took out several bills.

He motioned her to put her money away. "Naw. No problem. I was driving behind you and saw it happen."

"Please ... what is your name?" She held out the bills.

"Dan." He grinned friendly-like. He looked at the money and shook his head. "No thanks." He turned to leave. "I have to hustle and pick up my dad for his dentist appointment. Lost his teeth, if you can believe it." Waving, he added, "Have a good day."

He raced back to his gray pickup. Mom smiled, as she stuffed her money back into her purse and opened the car door. "Thanks again," she called back to him. He passed us and began to drive off.

She started the car. "Well, we were lucky that someone so nice helped us. It could've been a mess. Now let's get to the grocery store. We didn't lose that much time."

"Mom!" I yelled, turning to look at her. "Did you hear what he said? His dad lost his teeth. Doesn't that mean dentures?"

"Oh my gosh!" Mom exclaimed as the light bulb went off in her head. She jumped out of the car. "Hey wait!" she yelled, waving her arms. But the truck grew smaller and disappeared around the bend.