Christmas Fairy Magic

by Margaret McNamara

  Queen Mab flew over to see what was upsetting the Fairy Bell sisters. “What is it, fairies?” she asked. “It’s not at all like you to be sad at Christmastime.”

  Lady Courtney told her what Tink had done. “Which is why they got twelve stones between them,” she concluded. “In fact, I think Tink has already sent the leftover stones to the poor fairies on the mainland. There was a note in the bottom of the treasure chest about it.”

  Now the Fairy Bell sisters felt really bad. They had so wanted the stones for themselves. But now Tink had sent the leftover stones to the poor fairies who needed them so much more than they did.

  “Fairy Bells,” said Queen Mab, “Tink is asking much of you. Possibly too much. I can fetch more tourmaline from my treasure chamber. Shall I?”

  Clara looked at her sisters. All of them were so sad, especially poor Goldie, who adored shopping.

  Sylva spoke at last. “Can we get through this . . . together?” she asked. “For Tink?”

  Goldie blinked her eyes. Hard. “Maybe,” she said in a small voice.

  “I think we can,” said Clara. “We only wanted to get a few small trinkets for one another to put under the tree—”

  “Which we don’t have,” added Goldie.

  “Three stones is still a lot,” said Sylva. “Pretty much, anyway.”

  “You can’t get much with three stones,” said Goldie, “even if they are polished.”

  “Let’s go back and see what we can find,” said Clara. She wanted to be brave for her sisters, but she thought it was very hard on them, very hard indeed. “Come on, sisters. The spirit of the season isn’t really about presents, anyway, is it?”

  Goldie nodded, but she wasn’t so sure.

  “Let’s sing a song to help us through,” said Rosy.

  “That’s a good idea, Rosy. I think if you start a Christmas carol, all the fairies might join in,” said Queen Mab. “It would be just the right thing for the Christmas Fair. And perhaps, to cheer up some fairy sisters who don’t deserve to be sad.”

  It wasn’t easy to sing with such heavy hearts. “What shall we sing?” asked Clara.

  “Something festive,” said Queen Mab. “I think it will cheer us all up.”

  The Fairy Bell sisters gathered close, and wrapping their arms around one another, they began to sing. They faltered a little at first, finding the note, but soon their voices joined together, strong and true:

  Deck the fairy halls with holly,

  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

  ’Tis the season to be jolly,

  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

  Spread our wings in fair apparel,

  Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.

  Trill the ancient island carol,

  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

  By the time they had sung the first verse, they felt a bit better. The nice thing was that all the other fairies stopped their Christmas shopping and joined in on the next two verses. So, by the time they reached the last verse, there was a great chorus of voices making a joyful noise, and the Fairy Bell sisters’ spirits lifted high:

  Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

  eleven

  Everything would have gone pretty well after that, if it hadn’t been for Sylva.

  Sylva was following Goldie down the aisles of the Christmas Fair to try to get an idea of what her sister would really like for Christmas. Sylva could think of a hundred things for Goldie—she liked so much!—but with only three stones to use, she didn’t want to waste a single one. Maybe she’d get three pairs of lacy socks from the Cobweb sisters, or a bracelet from the Gemstone sisters (if she could afford it), or—

  Just then, Sylva saw Goldie holding up a green-and-orange bandanna.

  “This would be perfect!” she said to Avery. They were both giggling. Does Goldie really want that old bandanna for a Christmas present? Sylva thought. Then she heard Goldie say, “It goes with everything. Too bad I don’t have any stones left to buy it for myself.”

  That was all Sylva needed. She swooped down to the table as soon as Goldie turned the corner and picked up the bandanna Goldie had just been holding.

  “How much for this?” she asked Fern Stitch.

  Fern checked her price list. “That’s three stones,” she said. “It used to be four, but since the fair is almost over . . .”

  Sylva couldn’t really believe she’d have to pay her only three stones for this not-very-nice bandanna, but . . . “This is what Goldie wants,” she said. “And since Goldie’s the only one I’m buying a present for—”

  “The only one?” said Fern. “Why aren’t you getting presents for your other sisters? Did you have a fight? That doesn’t sound like you!”

  “Of course we didn’t have a fight. It’s just that—well, Tinker Bell kind of changed the rules this Christmas.”

  At the sound of Tink’s name, several fairies stopped to hear the news from Neverland.

  “Tink changed the rules? What do you mean? Is she hoping to get here this year?”

  “Hoping! She didn’t say hoping,” said Sylva. She didn’t want the other fairies thinking that Tink would leave them hanging. “Tink says she’s coming on the morning of Christmas Eve with our tree and our decorations and all our presents.” By this time Sylva was grinning wide. She remembered how fantastic Christmas was going to be once Tink arrived. “She’s been away so long, and now she’s coming home.”

  “Oh, we can’t wait to meet her!” said Fern. Many of the fairies on Sheepskerry had only heard of Tinker Bell in books. They gathered around now.

  “You can all meet her,” said Sylva. “You can all come over when she arrives. We’ll have a huge surprise party for her!”

  “Sylva, what are you talking about?” said Clara, who had flown by to see why the crowd was forming around her little sister. “We’re not having—”

  “Oh yes we are,” said Sylva. “We’re having a huge surprise party at four o’clock on Christmas Eve.” She grinned at the fairies around her. “You’re all invited! And Tink will be the guest of honor.”

  twelve

  I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that Sylva had acted a little too quickly. She got an earful from Clara about remembering to check with her sisters before she did something like that again. But Clara couldn’t be upset with Sylva for long. Sylva was so excited about Tink’s arrival that adding another ten or twelve fairies to the mix didn’t seem such a bad idea.

  As Rosy had said, “This is turning out to be such a topsy-turvy Christmas, I won’t be surprised, no matter what happens.”

  So on the morning before Christmas, the great room at the Fairy Bell sisters’ house looked far from forlorn, even though there was no tree in the bay window and no wreath on the door. The presents the sisters had made for Tink and bought for one another at the Christmas Fair were wrapped in cheery paper and set out on the windowsill. Poppy came over that morning to help Sylva gather holly boughs to place in the rafters. “Tink won’t mind that,” said Poppy.

  “Tink won’t mind anything!” said Sylva. “She’ll be so surprised when she gets here and finds so many fairy friends. She’ll make the party such a magical event!”

  “I’m sure it will be lovely whether Tink is here or not,” said Poppy. “You sisters have done so much already.”

  “Oh, but Tink will put the magical touches on it all,” said Sylva. “Without her it’s just an ordinary tea party, but with her—it’s completely special.”

  Sylva and Poppy cut as many holly branches as they could manage without getting too scratched by the pointy leaves. They flew back to the Fairy Bell sisters’ fairy house with some difficulty. Not only were the boughs heavy in their arms, but the wind was blowing quite fiercely.

  “That wind is really kicking up again,” said Poppy. “I hope it won’t blow Tink off course.”

  “Tink is so close to Sheepskerry by now that a little wind won’t hurt,” said Sylva, even as she and her best friend had to fight the gusts. “She’ll be here in lots
of time for the party. You wait and see.”

  Wait and see. Sylva wished she had never said those words. Because waiting and waiting and waiting and not seeing was exactly what she and Poppy did that day. It wasn’t so bad at breakfast time, as they knew Tinker Bell would not arrive in time for an early meal. But Tink had said the morning of Christmas Eve, and as the clock got closer and closer to noon, Sylva’s heart sank.

  “The other fairies will be coming for our Welcome Home Tink party so soon!” Sylva cried as the clock struck three. “She hasn’t even arrived yet. We won’t get to see her for more than a few minutes before everybody else arrives. It’s not fair!”

  “We might not get to see her at all at this rate,” said Goldie. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she just forgot—”

  “Don’t say such a thing, Goldie,” said Rosy, who was almost never cross. But between all this waiting for Tinker Bell, and Squeakie’s fussing, and Sylva’s chatter, even Rosy’s nerves were frayed.

  “Yes, please, Goldie,” said Clara. “Things are difficult enough today, now that Sylva has invited a dozen fairies to a magical tea.”

  “Now it’s turned into twenty fairies, and I’ll say what I want,” said Goldie. “And it will probably turn out to be thirty fairies or more. All our fairy friends are bringing their fairy friends. We have about enough sandwiches and cakes for ten. Tink had better get here and get here fast.” And she flew up to her bedroom and slammed the door.

  “I’m not feeling very Christmassy,” said Sylva.

  “No lolo,” said Squeak.

  “That’s about the first thing she’s said that I’ve really understood this whole week,” said Rosy. “What do you suppose is going on with her?”

  “Can you please stop talking about Squeak when I’m the one who needs love and care?” said Sylva. “No one is paying attention to me!” And she flew up to her room.

  “We can’t pay attention to you and take care of Squeak and make a party for twenty—”

  “Thirty!” Sylva shouted.

  “—thirty fairies at the same time!” said Clara. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get down here and help.”

  If you have a brother or sister or know someone who does, you’ll understand exactly what was going on at the Fairy Bell sisters’ house just then. Sylva was bitterly disappointed that Tink had not yet arrived. Goldie was still unhappy about not getting that skirt at the Christmas Fair. Rosy was preoccupied with Squeakie, and Clara was suddenly in charge of a party she did not want to give. In short, all the Fairy Bell sisters were upset and even a little bit angry, and they were pretty much taking it out on one another.

  Ding-dong! the doorbell of the fairy house rang out.

  “I’ll get it!” said Poppy, glad to have something to do.

  “If that is the Jellicoe sisters, I will just about have a fit,” said Clara. “They always come early.”

  The front door opened, and in flew Judy and Julia Jellicoe. “We’re here!” cried Judy.

  “We were going to bring some jelly beans for the tea, but Sylva said not to bring a thing.”

  “Of course you’re not to bring a thing,” said Clara smoothly. “We have everything just about prepared. Why don’t you take off your coats and hats while I get the party food from the kitchen?”

  “You are ready for us, aren’t you?” asked Julia. “I know we’re a little bit on the early side, but I have to say it looks like—”

  “It looks like we are absolutely ready,” said Sylva, flying down from her room with her eyes only slightly red. Goldie and Rosy followed right behind her. When anyone else made them feel bad, the Fairy Bell sisters always rallied around one another, which was exactly what they were doing now.

  “Welcome!” said Goldie.

  “We’re so pleased to have you,” said Rosy.

  “Bo-bo!” said Squeak.

  The doorbell rang again (and again), and lots more fairies showed up.

  “Where’s Tinker Bell?”

  “Is she visiting Queen Mab?”

  “What did she bring you from Neverland?”

  “Where’s that tree with crystal branches?”

  “I heard they were emerald.”

  Clara, Rosy, Goldie, and Sylva fended off the questions as best they could. To tell the truth, having so many fairies there, all needing another glass of blackberry punch or a new plate of pumpkin butter sandwiches, made the time pass much faster than it had all week. “Tink must get here soon,” said Iris Flower, checking the clock on the mantelpiece. “Christmas Eve will be over before you know it.”

  Indeed the clock was striking the hour of six, when the fairies usually would go home to be at their own fairy houses and prepare for Christmas morning. But they stayed just a little longer, in case Tink arrived at the last minute.

  But she did not.

  “We’ve waited long enough, I think,” said Stemmy Stitch as the last chime of seven o’clock died away. “I’m so sorry Tink didn’t manage to come to her own party.”

  “She’s coming!” said Sylva fiercely. “She’s just not here yet. You would have trouble flying from Neverland in this kind of weather, too!”

  No one wanted to stay much longer after that outburst. Soon the last of the fairy guests drifted away until it was just the Fairy Bell sisters and their very best friends.

  “I’m sure she’ll be here very soon,” said Avery as she hugged Goldie tight.

  “I don’t know if I even care anymore,” said Goldie.

  “Of course you do,” said Avery. “And she will be here.” She flew toward the door. “Faith and I will come over tomorrow morning to celebrate Christmas with you. We’ll see you and your famous sister then.”

  “I hope so,” said Goldie.

  After Poppy and Sylva finally said their very long good-byes, there was nothing left but to clean up and go to bed, which is exactly what Sylva and Goldie did.

  “I don’t know if I can face these dishes,” said Clara. “I thought all this would be done by magic. I thought for once that Tink would—” She dropped a plate on the floor, and it broke with a sharp crack.

  “Oh, Clara. Don’t say it,” said Rosy, and she picked up the pieces. “Don’t lose faith in Tinker Bell. She would be here if she could.”

  “Then why isn’t she?” asked Clara. “Why hasn’t she come, Rosy? Why did she have to ruin our Christmas just so she could be the star?”

  “That’s who she is, Clara. And we love so much about her—we have to love that too.” Rosy put the dustpan and broom away in the cupboard. Then she hugged her sister tight. “Let’s just leave the dishes for once and go to bed. Maybe Tink will come tomorrow, on Christmas Day.”

  “And if she doesn’t?”

  For a moment, Rosy was tempted to say that Clara was right: If Tink didn’t arrive, Christmas would be ruined. But then she thought of the way Goldie was trying so hard to make do with just a few presents, and how Squeakie was struggling to be understood, and how Sylva had been so brave when the guest of honor did not arrive at her own surprise party, and of course the way Clara held them all together.

  “If she doesn’t come,” said Rosy, “we’ll make it the best Christmas we can.”

  “You know what?” said Clara, taking off her apron. “Let’s start right now.”

  thirteen

  “Sylva! Goldie!” Clara’s voice was brimming with mischief. “Come down here right now.”

  “What is it, Clara?” asked Rosy.

  “You’ll see,” said Clara.

  Sylva and Goldie came down to the great room in their pajamas, while Squeakie slept soundly in her crib.

  “Tink’s not here, is she?” asked Sylva.

  “Nope, not yet, and let’s stop talking about when she’ll come and what she’ll bring. Let’s celebrate being here together with one another. If she arrives tomorrow, it will be lovely to see her. And if she doesn’t—”

  “If she doesn’t?” said Sylva, her face falling.

  “If she doesn’t,” said Clara f
irmly, “then we will send her our love and promise to come visit her in Neverland next year.”

  “We’d go to Neverland?” said Rosy.

  “Why not?” said Goldie. “I wonder what exactly those Lost Boys are like.”

  “We’ll go together, and see Tink next year, and bring Christmas to her,” Clara said. “By next year I should have just about enough magic to get us there.”

  “Maybe Queen Mab will send us in her Royal Balloon!” said Sylva.

  “You’re right!” said Clara. “But why are we talking about next Christmas, when it’s practically Christmas right now? We’ve got some presents to open!”

  “Are you sure Tink won’t mind?” asked Sylva.

  “I’m very sure,” said Clara. “Tink may get distracted and not do everything quite as she hopes to, but I know for a fact she would not want Christmas to be spoiled for us.”

  “Let’s take a vote. All in favor of opening our presents right now, say aye!” Goldie declared.

  “Aye!” said Rosy, Clara, and Sylva.

  “All opposed, say nay!” said Goldie.

  No one said nay, but Ginger said Mow, which made them all laugh.

  “Then let’s begin!” said Goldie.

  They gathered their small pile of presents around them. In the light of the fire, it looked like a treasure.

  “Let’s go oldest to youngest this time,” said Sylva. “I want to save mine for last.”

  Rosy handed Clara a package. “I was your Secret Christmas Fairy,” she said. “I wrapped it in a tea towel, see?”

  “Ooh, I love it, Rosy,” said Clara.

  “It’s part of your present,” said Rosy.

  Clara secretly hoped that Rosy’s entire Secret Christmas Fairy gift was not going to be about drying dishes, but she didn’t say anything in case that’s what Rosy had chosen for her.

  When she opened up the tea towel, she could hardly believe her eyes.