Monday, July 18, 2011

THE LITTLE TOOTHBRUSH NAMED LITTLE LOUIE


MORAL OF THE LITTLE TOOTHBRUSH NAMED LITTLE LOUIE
Sometimes in our lives, we cannot control what is around us, but we can control what is inside us. Choose wisely, be brave. Don’t forget who you are and what you want to become. ALTHOUGH Things change daily, keep hope and love strong and shining in your hearts and you will succeed and will win!
THE  LITTLE
TOOTHBRUSH                                                                                                                                                                                        NAMED
  LITTLE  LOUIE



By  Dulce  Martins





CHAPTER ONE
The Factory and
The Future Mission of Little Louie
CHAPTER TWO
The Unexpected Experience
CHAPTER THREE
Little Louie Makes New Friends
CHAPTER FOUR
The  Mission that Almost Failed
CHAPTER FIVE
The Noble Mission is Finally Accomplished



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CHAPTER ONE
The Factory and
The Future Mission of Little Louie­


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ONCE UPON A TIME , there was a cute and enchanting little toothbrush named Little Louie.
When Little Louie came out of the manufacturing line at the factory on a comfortable conveyor belt, he was ready to be packed up and possibly sold to a family where he would be useful to some special child in this world.
Little Louie was quite thrilled about his upcoming future. While he was still on the assembly line, he received instructions from the TMT (Toothbrush Management Team) as to how he should behave and do a good work in order to benefit the lives of human children.

They instructed him concerning the main reason for which he and other little toothbrushes had been created, that is, to keep children’s teeth clean and healthy!

Little Louie learned that children, unlike their parents, have teeth that are smaller, softer, and a little different from the teeth of adults, called milk teeth.

          Toothbrushes do not need money, food or luxury.  They only need to be treated well, with some good care and hygiene.  They like to be placed inside a tall cup or hung on a clean holder inside the bathroom cabinet. 

Most importantly, toothbrushes only need to be kept clean and dry.  They need to be protected from insects and humid areas that create bacteria, which cause gum and mouth disease.

While he was still in the packing department, Little Louie met several other little toothbrushes.  He easily made friends with them all.

          All of the other toothbrushes were also excited about the great expectations ahead.

          One toothbrush Little Louie made friends with was called Little Billy.  His color was shiny green.  He also had sparkling dots, just like Little Louie.

          Little Billy was very happy.  He told Little Louie how he imagined his new life would be: ‘Little Louie, you know, I’m going to live in a fabulous bathroom!’

‘Well, Little Billy.  How do you know what a bathroom really looks like? And what does ‘fabulous’ mean to you?  As far as I’m concerned, you’ve never been to a bathroom at all!’
         
‘You’re right.  I’ve never been to one of them, but I’ve been told a lot about them. And “fabulous” means wonderful, marvelous and extraordinary.’

‘Who told you all that?’ Little Louie wanted to know.

‘Don’t you know?’ Asked Little Billy.  Then explained: ‘When I got off the conveyor belt, I met some toothbrushes that had participated on a TV commercial for our manufacturer. Perhaps you are going to meet them, too.’

‘Meet them?’  Little Louie asked.

‘Yes, Little Louie.  They are going to share their experience with all of us. 

They visited the bathroom of a family and said that it was very beautiful, clean, and cozy, with a lovely fragrance.  They said they tried some toothpaste and found their taste to be delicious.  During that commercial for television, they were asked to help show how tooth brushing should be done: from top to bottom, and from bottom up, without pressing too much on the gums.  Not with quick and crazy movements, but with soft, gentle, circular ones.’


Little Louie heard all of that and was quite fascinated.  In a way, he became very anxious to meet those other toothbrushes and wanted to learn more about their experiences.

The end of the conveyor belt was approaching.  He and Little Billy only had time to say goodbye and wished each other good luck.

Sometime later our friend Little Louie and the others were packed in a package with the front of plastic, and this was a tremendous feast because everyone found it funny to have their faces looking different. They even made faces and everybody thought it was funny to have their faces modified behind that plastic. Then they were placed inside a big cardboard box together with a lot of other little toothbrushes.  There was a hurly-burly, merrymaking all around!

By coincidence, Little Billy was in that same box with Little Louie.  Would they also be together on the same shelf of a drugstore, department store, or even in the same bathroom? Both of them wondered about these possibilities.

There were so much noise and excitement inside the box.  They were already on the truck and how come the driver couldn’t hear them?

The noise continued: ‘My name is Little Angel Face.’  ‘Mine is Little Whity .’  ‘Mine is Baby Blue.’ ‘Your color looks different! What’s your name?’  ‘What do you suppose our lives will be like?  So much chatter, but to sum it all, these naïve or innocent little toothbrushes knew nothing about real life.  The fact is that the lives of these inexperienced toothbrushes seem to be a lot like the lives of us real people.

We are born in this world, grow up, and little by little begin to understand life and the purpose of our being here: what is good and evil, what is right and wrong, and what we need to learn and choose in order to do our best.

Those innocent toothbrushes were to enter the world to become part of it.  The pure desires of their hearts were to do their work well and to help the world become a better place to live in.

          The duties of both people and toothbrushes are very similar and important; and, if done well, will bring happiness and a strong feeling of achievement and success.













CHAPTER TWO
The Unexpected Experience


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Little Louie and his toothbrush friends traveled a long distance away from the factory.  As time went by, the talk began  to drop off, and they all fell asleep, except Little Louie.

          He was too excited to fall asleep.  He was also too agitated in his thinking.  Now he had a physical body and form.  Before that, he was just raw material or matter.  He knew nothing about his future.  Then men’s hands took hold of some special raw materials and changed him into a beautiful little toothbrush – with the sacred mission of keeping children’s mouths clean and healthy.  How very special he felt!

          Suddenly and unexpectedly, something strange happened to the truck that was carrying them.  Little Louie and the others felt a strong bump.  The truck began to swerve, shake, tremble, and flip-flop to and fro.

          All the toothbrushes woke up when the truck started rolling down the hill.

          Inside the cardboard boxes, the toothbrushes started screaming out: ‘What’s happening?’  ‘What’s this noise?’  ‘What’s this shaking?’

          Little Louie was scared to death.  His mind was confused.  He didn’t have the slightest idea about what was going on.

          At last, after many shakes, rattles, rolls, bumps, and blows, the truck came to a halt on the road below.  At that point, the back doors of the truck broke open and most of the boxes fell out, landing close to the truck, except for the box containing Little Louie and his friends, which was thrown a little further down near a narrow valley. 

While the box rolled down the ravine, you could still hear shouts and cries of despair: ‘Get me out of here, someone!’  ‘Somebody, take me back to the factory, please!!!

Among the toothbrushes, no one knew exactly what had happened.  They just knew the situation was not good at all.

          Soon the news spread: ‘A truck went off the road and rolled down the hill, because the driver dozed off, and caused such an accident.’ Someone said: ‘I leave her my protest: Men should not drive if they are very tired; it is as if they were drunk and they could kill themselves and their family. Therefore they should not drive under this condition!’ (We will see that because of this accident, Little Louie’s life was totally affected).

          As soon as the people found out about the accident, it was not dawn yet, and they all rushed to the scene. After helping the driver, they all grabbed the boxes that had fallen off the truck and gotten spread out on the road and put it back on the truck. When help came, everything was almost under control.  What an example to be followed!

Despite the seriousness of the accident, the driver didn’t get hurt badly. 
          Now, remember the box where Little Louie and his friend Little Billy and the others were?   That box continued rolling farther down until it finally fell in front of the door of an old shack at the bottom of the cliff. Inside that box, conversation still went on and there so many questions without answers.

          Tim, a boy who knew nothing about the accident, wondered: ‘Why would someone leave this box at my doorstep? Who gave it to me? Someone that wanted to remain anonymous’

He thought, ‘I’ll take it inside the house and get something to open it with.’ 

          Inside the box, the toothbrushes were asking: ‘Where on earth are they taking us now?  What’s really happening to us?  Is this going to be our ending destination, after all?’  Still so many unanswered questions!

          Tim lived in that poor little hut alongside that mountain.  He sold coconut candies to the drivers who stopped by the waterspout pipe, at the side of the road. The water came cold from inside the mountain.

Tim was very excited and curious to find out what was inside the box.  After dragging it inside the house, he opened it. He was astonished to see so many beautiful, sparkling little toothbrushes.

          ‘Little toothbrushes!’  He exclaimed and continued, ‘Oh, boy, this is so nice! My toothbrush is already expiring!’

          Then he took them all out of the box.  He thought that they were amazingly beautiful, of every glittering color.

          The first one he grabbed was Little Louie, whose color was light blue.
          Little Louie was amazed at the sight of that little boy’s face.  Was that the so-called child he had heard so much about at the factory and on the truck?

          Tim headed for his bathroom with Little Louie in his hand. He thought about the other little toothbrushes… ‘Maybe I would like a different one better.’

          He curiously stared at Little Louie and Little Louie stared back at him. 

Then Little Louie looked around the house and said to himself, ‘Ah, there’s the bathroom!  Is that the place where I’ll stay? Where will I sleep? But most important of all, when will I start my job?’

Tim took all the toothbrushes out of the box again.  He put Little Louie down near Little Billy and the others.

          He then picked Little Billy up and said, ‘I think I like this
green one better.  ‘Ah, it’s written here that it is named Little
Billy. I liked it. This toothbrush is just as beautiful and shiny
as the blue one!’

          Tim then placed all the toothbrushes back in the box, including Little Louie. 

He stood up, holding Little Billy in his hand, saving it for himself.

          ‘I’m going to sell all the at the water sprout, and besides, those who eat candies have more need of brushing the teeth more often. This one, however, I’ll keep for myself,’ Tim decided.
         
          Little Billy was upset at the thought of being away from his friends.  However, he was happy he could soon start working.

Later on, as usual, Tim was at the waterspout pipe and started offering the toothbrushes to the clients that stopped over to buy the coconut candies and drink water. 

Also, Tim’s teeth sure looked great.  They were shiny!  It was obvious that Little Billy had done his first good job.
       
‘Want to buy this little toothbrush, ma’am?’

‘Mom, please buy me this one.  I need a new toothbrush.’

‘No, you do not.  Your toothbrush is still brand new and it is very good.’

‘Oh, it’s getting old already and I love this one.  Please, mom…’ Said Bobby to his mother as he grabbed Little Louie.

‘It’s not that expensive, ma’am,’  Tim added.

‘All right.  We’ll take it.’  The woman agreed and paid for it.

Now in the hands of that new child, Little Louie followed his unknown fate.

Inside the car, the boy soon took him out of the comfortable and protected, transparent plastic wrapping, and ran his nails through Little Louie’s bristles.

‘Hey, stop it!  You’re giving me the creeps!’ Little Louie complained. However, the boy couldn’t hear him.

Bob’s mother rebuked the kid and he stopped doing that for only a moment; but as soon as the mother was no longer paying attention, he rubbed Little Louie’s bristles on the seat fabric.

Little Louie shouted, ‘Please, stop it!  That hurts.  Besides, this is not the job I’m supposed to be doing!  I wasn’t made for this.  You’re spoiling and contaminating my bristles!’



So the trip was disgusting for Little Louie.  He was tired, worried and aching all over.

‘What a naughty little kid!’ He thought.






CHAPTER THREE
Little Louie Makes New Friends


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As soon as Bobby and his family arrived home, the mother instructed: ‘Bobby, put your new toothbrush away in the bathroom cabinet right now and get ready to eat.’

When Little Louie heard that, he thought, ‘Wow! Now I’m going to see what a bathroom actually looks like!’

Bobby quickly climbed the stairs, entered the bathroom.

Little Louis, however, was quick to notice that the bathroom was actually a very luxurious one: tiles up to the ceiling, a beautiful, shiny tub, soft mats, etc.  A real child’s bathroom, made out of several different colors and good taste.  The cabinet had specific places for everything: colognes, shampoos, hairbrushes, combs, toothpaste tubes, and toothbrushes. 

          It was really nice and pleasing.  Every corner was clean and dry.  Everything was exactly like Little Billy had described to him.

Little Louie thought, ‘This is paradise!  I just need to start doing my work now!’

Little Louie was placed between two other toothbrushes.  One was navy blue and the other one was kind of pinkish.  He noticed that they were somewhat new.

This was Little Louie’s new home.  He was a little scared, though, because Bobby suddenly slammed the cabinet door and left.

Well, this was not quite what Little Louie had expected from his first experience in the new world, but despite all this, he still liked his new environment.

As soon as he made himself at home, the pinkish little toothbrush on his left side asked him.
 ‘What is your name?’ the pinkish toothbrush asked.
‘Little Louie, and yours?’

‘Sweet Caroline.  You know, the young girl who owns me

loves candies very much.’

‘Indeed, a really sweet name!’  Said Little Louie while
blushing.

‘Thank you.  Yours is very charming, too.’

The navy blue toothbrush with wavy bristles that was
on his right side interrupted: ‘Hey, and my name? Aren’t you going to ask?’

‘Oh, sure! What is your name?’  Little Louie asked.

‘Wavy, the great!’ (Some people call me Davy due to the similarity of sound.)

‘The great? Aren’t we all the same size?’  Little Louie
demanded an answer.

‘Haven’t you noticed my wavy bristles and that my color
is as strong as the ocean?  In a certain way that makes me quite masculine!’

‘My dear friend, I am light blue as the sky, and just as
masculine as you are.’  Affirmed Little Louie, twisting his nose.

 ‘Don’t take it as an offense!  I was just kidding.  I like to
tease people.  I was doing this because it’s kind of boring in here.’  Wavy said this and smiled in a smart way. 

Caroline also smiled, but as she was sweet, she did it in a
discreet way.

Little Louie wanted to know more about his new home and asked, ‘Are there any more kids around the house?  Two boys and one girl, I suppose?’

‘No, no.  Just one boy and one girl, Bobby and Talita.’ 
Wavy advanced and answered.

‘And she’s such a cute girl!’  Caroline added.

‘But we are three little toothbrushes!’    Little Louie
continued.

‘Oh, now I remember Bobby and his mother’s
conversation about this when I was being sold to them.’  Little Louie went on and asked, ‘But why does he need two toothbrushes?’

‘I have no idea!’  Wavy answered.  ‘He doesn’t use my
brushing expertise very often, anyway, and every day there’s a lot of hustle and bustle around here. Bobby’s mother opens the cabinet, puts a whole lot of toothpaste all over me, and forces me inside his mouth.  I slip like a tornado along his teeth and
then it’s over.  I feel like I’m going to choke and drown.’

Little Louie became sad and uttered, ‘Oh, then I’m not going to be of much help around here.  This isn’t quite what I had expected!’

When evening came, it happened just as Wavy had described: Mother opened the cabinet and among various lectures of good behavior, she grabbed Wavy, the navy toothbrush, filled him up with toothpaste, and ‘vapt!  vupt! It was over and done with quickly.  She washed and rinsed his mouth and then mopped it with a towel, and then she put Wavy, under the faucet, dried it and then put it away back in the cabinet.

When Wavy was put back in his place, he was out of breath and somewhat dizzy.  ‘Boy, that was madness, wasn’t it?’ Wavy said, staring at Little Louie, and waited for his reaction.

Little Louie could hardly believe what he had seen. He said, ‘Bobby’s mother didn’t even notice I was in here.  A brand new, glittering, light blue toothbrush!  But to brush teeth like that!  No way!  We were not meant for that.  Our mission is much more special!’

Many days went by and poor Little Louie was never called to work.  He spent hours figuring out when his turn to start working would come . . .

What kind of conversation was Little Louie hearing now?

‘I’ll give you my new little toothbrush called Little Louie if you help me do my homework.’

‘Is it really new? And you’ve never used it?’

‘That’s right, Mike.  I only use Wavy Blue, my dark blue
toothbrush.  I’m used to it, and I think I like its color better.’

‘All right, then.  Now show Little Louie to me.  Where is it?

‘In the cabinet.’

Little Louie frowned when he heard that.

‘I’ll help you do your homework, but you’ll have to give it
to me right now.’

‘O.K., Mike.  It’s a deal!  You can have it now, but first let
me ask for my mother’s approval to give it to you, O.K.?

Bobby’s mother thought it was very nice of him and agreed.

After that, Bobby suddenly opened the cabinet and swiftly grabbed Little Louie.

Little Louie was abruptly pulled out of his ‘so called’ home, and was going to be passed on to a different owner, without having fulfilled his duty, and leaving no time for goodbyes.

Mike was only ten years old, but he knew how to behave.  He was well disciplined and accompanied his mother whenever she visited Bobby’s mother.

Little Louie was placed inside the pocket of Mike’s jacket and was taken back and forth at Bobby’s house.

Little Louie began to understand a little about the world surrounding him.  Mike’s mother had a peaceful countenance and her way of talking was very gentle and kind.  She worked for Bobby’s mother doing the laundry.

          Little Louie thought about his friend Little Billy.  He also thought about his experience he just had in Bobby’s fascinating bathroom.  These thoughts did not bring him much satisfaction, especially because he hadn’t done any work there. 

Little Louie arrived at the following conclusion: “It’s not enough to have a beautiful and comfortable place to live in.  The good things we can accomplish in this life are the things that really matter!’
CHAPTER FOUR
The Mission that Almost Failed


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          When Little Louie was taken over to Mike’s house, he got to know a different cabinet. 

The bathroom was modest; not so fabulous as Bobby’s, but it was quite clean and smelled good. 

          Inside the cabinet there were two toothbrushes, one for an adult and another for a child.  Both were beginning to be a little worn out.

          Little Louie was somewhat happy at last: ‘This time, I believe I’m going to end up doing some work in this place, somehow!’

As soon as he made himself comfortable, he wanted to get to know his new friends.

          The red toothbrush for adults was starting to be visibly exhausted.  Her bristles were beginning smash up.

          The little toothbrush, whose color was yellowish, seemed quite tired.

          Little Louie started the conversation: ‘My name is Little Louie.’
             
‘Hi, my name is Bendy.  I have this name because I am very flexible.  I find it very good that you’ve come here to replace me, I suppose.  In fact, I was waiting for someone to come along so I could rest.’

The red toothbrush smiled and introduced herself, ‘My name is Bristly.  You see, although they’re a little smashed now, I have a lot of bristles.  My name comes from there.  Welcome to your new home, Little Louie!  I believe you’re going to like it here, except for one little thing… ‘

‘One little thing?  What thing?’

‘Well, there is a man… a big one.  He’s Mike’s uncle.  He
travels all over the country.   When he comes here he insists on sharing me with Mike’s mother, without her knowledge.  Worst of all, he has such an offensive breath because of his drinking problem.  I get so dizzy each time I have to brush his teeth.  Most of my aging is due to this unpleasant situation.  On the other hand, Shirlene, Mike’s mother, is so delicate!  She knows how to use me very well, but that man…  O my! He is so rude, sometimes.

Little Louie was very sympathetic and said, ‘I’m so sorry, Bristly!  I’m happy to be a little toothbrush just for kids.  I don’t think I’d be able to put up with that.’

When evening came, Mike and his mother came to the bathroom sink to brush their teeth.
         
Little Louie was anxiously waiting to do his first job and thought: ‘This time I’m going to be useful, at last!’


Yet, it did not seem to be his turn.  Mike decided to keep Little Louie for special occasions only.  Again, Little Louie was disappointed!

          Next morning came and Mike still didn’t touch Little Louie.

          The cabinet was continuously opened and closed, but it was never for him.  Little Louie was totally frustrated and in great despair.

          One night, Little Louie heard a different voice in the house.  It sounded like a worn-out cassette tape.  It was the voice of Mike’s uncle.  Unfortunately, he was drunk and like almost any drunkard, he behaved very badly and one very uncomfortable scene was developed.   

          Little Louie, however, knew nothing about this kind of behavior. 

          All of a sudden, the cabinet door was opened.  It was time for Little Louie to frown again!

          The man grabbed the toothbrush named Bristly.  Mike, as usual, caught his old toothbrush name Bendy.

          When the man was about to put toothpaste on Bendy, the toothbrush, he noticed Little Louie there, the new, light blue, glittering toothbrush.

‘Oh, what is this?’ The man asked. 

Little Louie felt sick at his breath.

Mike reacted immediately: ‘Give me my little toothbrush.   It
was a gift from my friend Bobby.’ 

‘Gift? That’s a joke.  You must be lying.’

‘Please give it back to me. You know very well that I
don’t lie.’

‘Beat it!  I want to use this little toothbrush now.’

‘No!’ The boy yelled: ‘You can’t.  It’s brand new and it’s
mine.’

The man raised Little Louie up to his mouth.  As he did this,
Little Louie cried out for help.  He wanted someone to hear him and save him from that man’s nauseous breath.

          Luckily, Little Louie didn’t enter the man’s mouth because he used that same hand to push Mike away.

          Then Mike’s uncle stepped outside of the bathroom with Little Louie still in his hand. 

He was very angry because Mike was grabbing his hands and clothes, trying to get his little toothbrush back.

          The man reached the back door of the house, and mercilessly threw Little Louie away toward the stream that flowed nearby.



















CHAPTER FIVE
The Noble Mission is Finally Accomplished

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          Luckily, Mike’s mother was outside the house and was able to jump in the air and catch Little Louie who was going to end up drowned in the rapids of the stream that passed nearby.  Mike could hardly believe his eyes!  His mother was being a super hero!

His mother was amazing and awesome.  She caught Little Louie and gave him back to Mike. She was very upset at his uncle and firmly told him to leave immediately and return only when he was sober.  He apologized and left.

Little Louie hadn’t brushed a single tooth since he was made in the factory.   He thought he had such an important mission to fulfill!  However, without even having the hope of accomplishing one single good task, he had thought he was going to have the same fate as most retired toothbrushes.

          There were moments of absolute sadness; he had imagined he would have to spend the remaining days of his life soaked deep in brown or black shoe polish.  He was upset at the idea that he would be spreading shoe polish on shoes, rather than cleaning, and making healthy and white the most innocent teeth in the world!

Little Louie was part of a special limited edition, made of special raw material and bristles that had a very pleasant flavor.
 
Little Louie felt so good with his new owner.  After all that happened to him, Little Louie was almost sure that he would finally fulfill his mission this time.

          He found out that Mike’s father and mother had taught him a lot about the importance of brushing teeth regularly and correctly.

          Little Louie visualized he would be used several times a day.  Mike had been instructed that the movements should be from top to bottom, and from bottom up; with soft and circular
movements.  Of course, there were some other minor details he had learned from his parents, grandparents, teachers and the dentists he visited as well.

          Mike had also been taught that toothbrushes should always be kept clean and dry, in an appropriate and protected place.

          We all know that our friend Little Louie would do his very best to keep any child’s gum and teeth clean, healthy and free from decay, bacteria, or undesired diseases.

          Mike showed up in the bathroom, grabbed Little Louie, gazed happily at that beautiful little toothbrush, spread some toothpaste on it and began to use the toothbrush according to all he had learned from his family.

          Now Little Louie could say he was the happiest of all toothbrushes!  He knows that he and most other little toothbrushes anywhere else are perform a great service
to all children. He knows that all toothbrushes around the world want to accomplish the work and mission for which they were created.

                                      FINAL NOTES

        Little Louie is now sure that everybody is aware that awesome toothbrushes can provide a beneficial job to all people around the whole world, and even to their loved pets IF THEY SO DESIRE!







D   E   D   I   C   A   T   I   O   N
      
I dedicate this book to all children of the world, as well as my own children and grandchildren…

               

                ============================================================



















              I give special thanks to my husband Joseph for his love, companionship, and support regarding this and other books I have written and will still write!




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(Other books will soon be available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French. and other languages…)


In the meantime, please use google to translate to any language for free…

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