Thumb Sucker
Age 3
Shifting around, Don found that he couldn't sleep. Master Splinter was asleep on the mat across the room, but...Don just couldn't bring himself to wake him. Of course his father would have helped him, but he knew Master Splinter would have needed sleep too. The toddler turtle pondered. What could he do to get to sleep?
'I've got it!' he thought 'I'll think of something that made me happy during the day!' The olive green turtle went through the day's events. He'd played with Mikey, but he couldn't get up and play with his toys now. He had liked the story Master Splinter had told them, but he couldn't reenact the story and if he tried to tell himself the story then he'd be up all night. Was there nothing to help him!
The he remembered the lollipop. Juicy and red, Donnie had savored the taste of cherry. It was one of the most delicious things he had ever tasted. Master Splinter had come upon the rare treat and given the turtles one each. Stickiness had never tasted so good and red circle just about melted in his mouth. Thinking about the sugary candy that made him happy, put Donnie at peace. Slowly, without realizing it, his thumb slipped into his mouth to remind him of the lollipop. With that peace and comfortable feeling, Donnie slowly drifted asleep.
Age 5
"Ow! It hurts!" cried Donnie.
"I know, my son, but unfortunately this iodine is the only way to stop your cut from getting infected," said Master Splinter as he carefully dabbed the wound with wet cotton ball. "Perhaps you could do something that makes you happy." Instantly, Donatello's thumb went to his mouth. He sighed contently and from then only had minor winces when the iodine was placed on his cut. Soon, it was over and Master Splinter sent him to go play with his brothers.
Master Splinter was a little worried though. For two years, Donatello had sucked his thumb and although his teeth were fine now, there was no telling what could happen in the future. If any of his sons had tooth problems, there would be no way to fix them. They had no money and no way to be accepted into any dentist's office. He certainly hoped Donatello would loose interest in his thumb soon or he would have to talk to him.
Age 6
Yes, Master Splinter had talked to him, but she just couldn't stop. Sucking his thumb made him feel better. It helped him sleep, too. His thumb had become a comfort he needed and couldn't let go. But now he was being punished for it. Now that they were older there were things that they had begun to consider childish. And Donnie had become a prime target for Raph's teasing because of his habit.
"Thumb sucker! Thumb sucker! Donnie is a thumb sucker!" Raph sang in a teasing tone.
"Stop it, Raph! Leave me alone!" shouted Donnie.
"Is the wittle baby, a thumb sucka, d'aww. Isn't dat cute?" Raph baby talked him then snorted and walked away.
'Who cares what Raph thinks? I sure don't,' thought Donnie. But, still, he had been hurt and he placed his thumb in his mouth to comfort himself.
Age 8
Somethings are a habit, but somethings are addiction. And sometimes it's both. Unfortunately, Don's thumb sucking had fallen into the third category. His hand slowly inched toward his face. He took his other hand and slapped it away. Using his sucking hand, he picked up his spoon to eat his breakfast. Don bit down on crunchy cereal with no milk. Milk was something he never put in his cereal, he thought it made it too soggy.
The purple masked turtle put the spoon down. His sucking thumb was placed in a thumbs up position on the table. His left hand, the one with the thumb he didn't suck, was placed over his right wrist to make sure he knew when he lifted to put it down. Donatello had no clue what to do about his thumb sucking problem. All he knew was that he had to stop or it could lead to tooth problems. His front two bottom teeth were a little crossed and he was lucky it wasn't worse. Man, he was worried about this.
Absent mindedly, he lifted his thumb to his mouth. But instead of the usual absence of flavor that was skin he was met with a spicy burning taste.
"Yow!" he shouted. His eyes suddenly met Raph who was standing like a deer in headlights holding a spice bottle full of hot chili pepper seasoning. With realization, Don smiled and said "Thank-you, Raph! I'll never be able to put my thumb in my mouth again!" He quickly gave his red masked brother a hug and ran to go wash his hands.
Age 15
"Hey, Don. I'm having a sidewalk sale. Anything you want to sell?" asked April coming into Donnie's lab. Without realizing, Don put his thumb in a thumbs up position on his mouth and made clicking with the back of his tongue. After a moment he spoke.
"Yes, I have an old chem set and a few old board games," he said getting up and going to the back of his lab.
"Why do you do that?" asked April.
"What?" said Donnie handing April the chem set and then went in search of the board games.
"You put your thumb in a thumbs up position on your lips and make a clicking noise," said April "Like this." Don turned to watch April's demonstration.
"Oh," he said grabbing the board games "Just an old habit."
He walked over to his desk and pulled two things out of a cylinder container next to his computer. Holding the board games in one arm he held out one of the things to April.
"Lollipop?"
End of Chapter...
Kai: I own nothing, but the plot!