Bangs and Bright Lights

Phoenix still looked hot at night.

Dr. Skull clicked off the dental lamp and stared at his reflection in the dark window. His hair hung to his back, heavy and straight, hiding one eye like a curtain. He tugged a skull hair pin tighter.

His phone buzzed. “New patients tomorrow: Collin, Brandon, Will, Brooke.”

“Overbite Squad,” Dr. Mikey said, rolling in on a squeaky chair. “Word is, they hate dentists.”

Dr. Hearts set a paper cup of water on the counter. “We can handle scared kids. We just talk. Slow.”

Dr. Pinkie leaned close, eyes bright. “But can we handle you?”

He showed one small fang. “I am fine.”

Dr. Pinkie slapped a flyer on his desk: SUNNY CLIP SALON. “Dare. One visit. No running.”

Dr. Skull’s bat wings twitched. He folded the flyer and slid it into his pocket

Buzz and Bangs

Dr. Skull shoved the salon flyer deeper into his pocket as the morning sun hit the strip-mall windows.

Dr. Pinkie, a tooth-fairy dentist with bubblegum-pink hair and tiny wings, held up her phone.

“Watch. Sunny Clip. Five seconds.”

On the screen, clippers buzzed like an angry bee.

Dr. Skull’s bat wings stiffened. “No.”

Dr. Mikey spun on his squeaky chair. “We have scared kids in ten minutes. Be scary later.”

The lights blinked.

The dental tools on the counter chirped and went dark. The tiny suction hose made a sad wheeze.

Dr. Hearts, a tooth-fairy dentist with red curls, tapped her tablet. “Uh… emergency text from the building manager.”

A loud splash sounded outside the door.

Water pushed under the hallway crack and made a shiny puddle.

“Great,” Dr. Mikey said. “We cannot drill with no power.”

Dr. Skull yanked the door open.

Collin, Brandon, Will, and Brooke stood there, shoes wet, mouths tense. Collin lifted his phone.

Dr. Skull spoke without thinking. “Back up.”

His fang flashed.

Brooke squeaked. “See? Vampire dentist!”