Chattery Teeth (short story)
Encyclopedia
Chattery Teeth is a short story
by American writer Stephen King
. It was published in his collection Nightmares & Dreamscapes
.
" (odd due to their unusually large size and the fact that they are made of metal) in a convenience store
display. The clerk ends up giving Hogan the teeth, claiming they had been dropped and no longer work.
Hogan reluctantly (having been robbed by a hitchhiker
once before) gives a ride to a hitchhiker outside the convenience store; his fears prove prophetic when the hitchhiker tries to carjack
him and then kill him. During the struggle, Hogan wrecks the van, and before the hitchhiker can recover and kill him, the teeth come to life and gruesomely dispatch the criminal. Hogan passes out to the vision of the Chattery Teeth dragging the hitchhiker's body off into the desert.
Nine months later, Hogan stops again at the same convenience store, where he is unexpectedly reunited with the "broken" teeth again. He decides to buy the teeth again, realizing that instead of trying to kill him, the teeth want to protect him. His theory is proved correct when a dog snarls at him as he leaves and the teeth stir in his pocket, ready to attack anything that means him harm. He says also that he will give the teeth to his son, so his son is always protected.
.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by American writer Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
. It was published in his collection Nightmares & Dreamscapes
Nightmares & Dreamscapes
Nightmares & Dreamscapes is a short story collection by Stephen King published in 1993.-Stories:-Adaptations:"The Night Flier" and "Dolan's Cadillac" were both adapted to films of the same respective names. "Chattery Teeth"' was adapted into a segment of the film Quicksilver Highway...
.
Plot summary
In the story, salesman Bill Hogan notices an odd pair of walking "Chattery TeethChattery Teeth
Chattery Teeth are a children's wind-up toy designed by Eddy Goldfarb for design company Marvin Glass and Associates. Originally called "Yakkity Yak Talking Teeth" upon release in 1949 by novelty company H. Fishlove & Co., a pair of mechanized teeth are wound up at the back, and the teeth clatter...
" (odd due to their unusually large size and the fact that they are made of metal) in a convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
display. The clerk ends up giving Hogan the teeth, claiming they had been dropped and no longer work.
Hogan reluctantly (having been robbed by a hitchhiker
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is a means of transportation that is gained by asking people, usually strangers, for a ride in their automobile or other road vehicle to travel a distance that may either be short or long...
once before) gives a ride to a hitchhiker outside the convenience store; his fears prove prophetic when the hitchhiker tries to carjack
Carjacking
Carjacking is a form of hijacking, where the crime is of stealing a motor vehicle and so also armed assault when the vehicle is occupied. Historically, such as in the rash of semi-trailer truck hijackings during the 1960s, the general term hijacking was used for that type of vehicle abduction,...
him and then kill him. During the struggle, Hogan wrecks the van, and before the hitchhiker can recover and kill him, the teeth come to life and gruesomely dispatch the criminal. Hogan passes out to the vision of the Chattery Teeth dragging the hitchhiker's body off into the desert.
Nine months later, Hogan stops again at the same convenience store, where he is unexpectedly reunited with the "broken" teeth again. He decides to buy the teeth again, realizing that instead of trying to kill him, the teeth want to protect him. His theory is proved correct when a dog snarls at him as he leaves and the teeth stir in his pocket, ready to attack anything that means him harm. He says also that he will give the teeth to his son, so his son is always protected.
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
The short story was turned into a short film in the television movie Quicksilver HighwayQuicksilver Highway
Quicksilver Highway is a 1997 horror film directed by Mick Garris. It is based on Clive Barker's short story The Body Politic and Stephen King's short story Chattery Teeth...
.