"It just...POPPED OUT!"

He ran down the school steps with his backpack over his right shoulder and a ziploc bag in his left hand, and I knew.

He lost it not long after I'd dropped him off this morning.  He was waiting in the hallway with the other kids, waiting for the bell to ring, waiting to go to his classroom.  He sat there absently pushing the tooth with his tongue.  Back and forth.  Back and forth.  And then "All of a sudden it just POPPED OUT!"  He told me this as we walked past the hopscotch outline on the blacktop.  I swung his hand back and forth, fast, and we hurried to the car.

Laughter and joy bubbled up inside of me and I felt nearly giddy.

I don't know why. 

It's just a tooth.