CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Beatrice Floss from The Retired Tooth Fairy

Tell me a little about yourself (where you live, who you are, what you look like, what you hope to achieve, etc.)

My name is Beatrice Floss, and I am a retired tooth fairy. When I was younger, I had long, wavy purple hair. But now that I am older, my hair is mostly white with streaks of purple running through it. It is actually quite pretty! I also wear my favorite pair of glasses. They are a modernized twist of the cat’s-eye glasses from the 1950s. They are lovely! I never leave the retirement center without my favorite blue shawl. I have three silver tooth-shaped buttons down the front that symbolize the first teeth I ever collected as a newly graduated tooth fairy. Oh, those were the days! 

What was the other part of the question? Oh, more about me…okay…

I used to be the Head Fairy. I was the one who helped direct the business side of our jobs. Not only was I in charge of keeping track of tooth collecting, but I also made sure all of the other duties were well-managed and taken care of. It was a very busy job, and I am happy that my daughter, Gabriella Floss, has filled my shoes! Our world is in very good hands.

I live in a vast universe beyond the rainbow that lies to the right of your sun. There are many lands featuring amazing magical beings, some of which your human world has never even heard of. I come from a tiny village of fairies. Our town is similar to yours because we share the same basic necessities of life, like food and shelter. We have fairies who cook, some that build, and lots that take care of others. It is a glorious community!

Oh geez, what was the question again? Hmmmm. Oh I remember what I was saying. Oh dear, how forgetful of me!

Right now, I live in Pearly White Retirement Home! All of my friends from high school live with me. We have a riot of a time! Sure, our bodies don’t work the same as they used to, but that is why we will sneak some magic dust in and disappear for the day. Oh, if only Youthful Dust was permanent—sigh.

My goals for the future are to relax, have fun, and help out my daughter every once in a while. Since she is new at her job, sometimes she doesn't plan things correctly. Which is funny because she is a bit of a perfectionist! So, when she gets overwhelmed, I come and help her collect the adult teeth. I am a Mom, so naturally I do things for her that I really shouldn't be doing!

Did I answer the all the questions in this question? I did. Oh thanks. May I ask for a glass of water please? Dry mouth really gets to me some times.

(Kathryn hands her a cold thimble of water)

Oh thank you very much dear! You are so sweet and lovely!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Well, other than volunteering my services to collect those crazy adult teeth, I would say that I love…and I do mean love…Bingo! We have regular Bingo nights—which was inspired by a visit to a human senior community to pick up a broken pair of dentures—and our prizes include tubes of waxed floss, fresh cloth dental bibs, and dental mirrors. But my favorite is the tubes of floss. I love to make blankets and scarves and hats, and lots of things! I give them to everyone who will take them…and I do mean I will literally chase my fairy friends down the street to make sure they have one!

What is your favorite color and why?

White! Well—more of a shimmery, sparkly white—just like the teeth I collect. Well, sometimes like the teeth I collect. Some of them are nasty little critters full of gunk of many shades of green, yellow, brown, and black. Ick! I don’t understand why children sometimes take better care of their teeth than their parents! You wouldn't believe the condition of some teeth I collect! I once collected a tooth of a very famous actress. Of course I cannot say her name for confidentiality reasons, but let’s just say her hair was either blonde or brown and she may or may not have had six toes. What was I saying?

Oh yes! Her teeth looked as white as fresh snow on a splendid winter day. But appearances are just that! Her teeth were rotten to the core! But at least she hid it well. You would have never known by looking at her that her teeth were black and brown with many holes or as you call them—cavities!

What is your favorite food? Why is it your favorite?

I really shouldn't share this, but I love chocolate! I can eat it all day long if I could. Wait, is this being recorded? Umm….I mean….I love all fruits and veggies. Yes, carrots, broccoli, strawberries, and apples. They help make my teeth and body strong. Was that a good save, Kathryn?

(Great save... :)

What would you say is your biggest quirk?

I have conversations with myself. And I am not talking about the usual, “Where did I put my keys?” Nope, it’s the “How is everything going today, me? Oh, it is going great. I played Bingo twice. Did I win? Yes I did! I won three things of cotton balls. How wonderful, me! You are so lucky.” Then everyone stares at me like I have lost my marbles. Then again, maybe I have?! Oh dear!

What is it about your antagonist that irks you the most, and why?

You know how when you get older and your body starts cracking and popping, but inside your head you’re like, “Oh I feel like a teenager!” Then suddenly, you realize tomorrow is your 500,000 birthday party. Well, that is my antagonist. My bones ache, my joints make these horrible creaking sounds, and I can’t remember the little things.  I swear though, I still feel like a kid. I try to do the things I used to do, like collecting teeth, and just run into many age-related issues. For instance, I lost my glasses during a pick-up. When I returned home, I found out this lovely tooth I had collected was really a rock! Golly!

What or who means the most to you in your life? What, if anything, would you do to keep him/her/it in your life?

Well, I am a Mom and Grandma! So, of course, they mean the world to me. I have four children and sixteen grandchildren. I would do anything and everything to keep them in my life. They light up my life in ways only children can. And I love to squish their adorable cheeks!

What one thing would you like readers to know about you that may not be spelled out in the book in which you inhabit?

Oh Geez, there is a lot about me that this book doesn't cover. For instance, I am a very skilled and talented tooth fairy. I have done things other fairies would have never dared to do. I guess you can say that I was a rebel in my younger days. But I like to call myself a “Visionary”! Unfortunately, my risk taking is very problematic now that I am older. I couldn't tell you how many times my “Big Ideas” have turned into something crazy…often times disastrous. It is a good thing we have the Sprites. They are always fixing my magical mistakes as of late. I am sure Denticia can tell you plenty of things about me.

If you could tell your writer (creator) anything about yourself that might turn the direction of the plot, what would it be?

As much as I love my writer (she is a retired tooth fairy too, but in a different way), she has no idea how magical teeth really are. Fairy Dust is created by shaving some of the enamel and dentin off of a tooth. We mix them together with a few drops of water from a special flower’s petal. Then--- Presto! We have the base for our magic. Add in a few more ingredients, and we can make dust that does various things. I could have made some temporary Youthful Dust to get me home. Well, that is if I was able to get to my magic pack.

Ask me any question. I've always wanted to know what a character thinks about writers like myself.

Kathryn, I remember you from when you were a sweet little child. It is great to see the person you have become today. I guess my only question would be is if you had your own satchel of fairy dust, what would it be called and what would the magic do? For example—a satchel of Permeable Dust helps us fairies pass through solid objects.

Wow. What a question. My satchel of fairy dust would be Glowing Embers. The embers would make me brave enough to conquer whatever dwarfs or dragons faced me. 

Thank you for the lovely chat! We should do this again sometime.

You're welcome, Beatrice! Happy tooth collecting!

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