I feel like it’s my birthday or something! (haha)

The dentist leaned in close.

“Open wide; let’s see what we’ve got here.”

Walter somehow managed to deepen his scowl and comply with the request at the same time. The Dentist, Dr. Brody, poked and prodded at the offending tooth with the very sharp tip of a dental tool. He muttered something, but Walter couldn’t quite hear it.

“You gunna figz it?” Walter couldn’t speak clearly with a mouthful of saliva and dental tools.

“Excuse me?” Dr. Brody drew back slightly.

“You gonna fix it?” Walter repeated, a bit more coherently.

“I’m afraid this cap is damaged beyond repair,” Dr. Brody said. The man smiled brightly as he delivered this news, and Walter tried to sit up – vaguely thinking about strangling the smile off the dentist’s face.

“I have to have it fixed,” he said. “It has to be fixed by tonight. It’s … important.”

“I see,” Dr. Brody replied, putting a finger to his chin and looking perplexed. “I don’t suppose you could tell me why?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Walter said.

He turned away suddenly. His face was a wash of sullen angst. He’d practiced the expression in front of a mirror for hours.

“You never know,” Dr. Brody said. “I might. It’s that important to you?”

Walter nodded without turning back.

“Well then,” Dr. Brody said cheerfully. “I think I can help. By tonight, you say?”

Walter nodded again. He turned, chancing a glance up into Dr. Brody’s face. In that instant, the Dr.’s smile vanished. He opened his own jaws impossibly wide, showing long, needle-pointed fangs. Walter scrabbled back and away, but escape was hampered by the dental chair and equipment.

“Now Walter,” Dr. Brody said, his voice suddenly low and menacing, “hold still. If you want to rise and grow fangs by tonight – you’re going to have to be a little more…cooperative.”