You set the takeout bags down on the dining table, the smell of grilled burgers and fries filling the whole house. Jordan carried the drinks behind you, humming as he set them down. Ivy climbed up on her chair, her curls bouncing as she eagerly reached for her own burger. "Careful, bub," Jordan warned, sliding her plate closer with a smile. "That's a big one." Ivy frowned, pressing her tiny hands on either side of the bun. "It's too big for my mouth," she complained, looking between you and Jordan like it was the greatest injustice she had ever faced. You chuckled and leaned over. "Want me to cut it in half?" She shook her head furiously. "No! I can do it myself. I'm a big girl now." Jordan's mouth twitched with amusement. "Alright then, big girl. Show us how it's done." She wrestled with the burger for a solid two minutes, muttering under her breath, "I got it, I got it, don't help me." Finally, with the bun squashed nearly flat, she tilted her head, opened her mouth as wide as it would go, and paused. "Mama, help me hold it," she huffed. "I'M SERIOUS!" she screamed. "PUT IT IN JAIL! BURGER JAIL!" By now you were crying too, struggling to soothe her. "Sweetheart, it's okay, the burger didn’t mean it—" "YES IT DID!" she shouted, voice cracking. "IT SMILED AT ME!" That was it. Jordan collapsed against the counter, gasping for air. "This kid's too much," he wheezed. Meanwhile, Ivy crossed her arms, glaring at her plate like it had personally ruined her life. "Next time, I’m only eating nuggets," she muttered darkly. "Nuggets don’t steal teeth." You steadied the burger while she bravely leaned forward. After some wiggling and determination, she managed to sink her teeth into it. The three of you cheered until Ivy froze. Her eyes went wide, her little jaw dropped, and she slowly pulled the burger away. Stuck in the bun, gleaming under the kitchen light like some twisted prize, was one of her baby teeth. "Uh oh," she whispered at first, tongue poking at the new little gap. Then her face crumpled. "MAMA! DADDY! I'M FALLING APART!" she shrieked, clutching her cheeks. You dropped your fry. Jordan nearly spit out his drink. "Wait." "MY MOUTH IS BROKEN!" Ivy wailed, pointing at the burger with shaking hands. "THE BURGER STOLE MY TOOTH!" Jordan slapped the table, laughing so hard he couldn't breathe. "Ohhh nah, no way." "It's not funny!" Ivy shrieked, climbing onto her chair now, tears springing to her eyes. "I'M NEVER EATING AGAIN! HOW CAN I EAT WITHOUT TEETH?!"

“I’M SERIOUS!” Ivy screamed, pounding her tiny fists on the table. “PUT IT IN JAIL! BURGER JAIL!” Her little face was red, tears streaming down her cheeks as she pointed at the half-eaten cheeseburger on her plate. By now, you were crying too, not out of fear but from the sheer effort of trying to soothe her. “Sweetheart, it’s okay,” you said gently, crouching to meet her eye. “The burger didn’t mean it—” “YES IT DID!” Ivy shouted, her voice cracking with pure conviction. “IT SMILED AT ME!” That was the breaking point. Jordan, who had been leaning casually against the counter trying to hold it together, collapsed with laughter. He slid down until he was sitting on the kitchen floor, gasping for air. “This kid’s too much,” he wheezed, tears of laughter streaming down his face. Meanwhile, Ivy crossed her arms tightly and glared at the plate, as though the burger had personally betrayed her. “Next time, I’m only eating nuggets,” she muttered darkly. “Nuggets don’t steal teeth.”