by Down, Reg
In a moment a tiny old woman with sparkling eyes came into the room. The children clung to her dress and gaped at Tiptoes.
“Yes, that’s a fairy,” she said. “Doesn’t she look pretty! Why don’t you invite her inside?”
The children stuck their thumbs into their mouths and said nothing.
The old woman laughed and beckoned to Tiptoes. “Come on in, little fairy,” she said. “These are my two grandchildren, Johnny Top and Veronica.”
“And I’m Tiptoes Lightly,” said Tiptoes, introducing herself with a curtsy.
Chapter 35
Surprise!
Tom Nutcracker and June Berry walked back to the cottage with Lucy. They decided to bring the pearls back and wash them. Now that they’d found the chain they could string them together. The clasp was missing, but they’d easily find a way to close the necklace. As they crossed the meadow they saw a new car at the cottage
“Whose car is that?” said Tom.
“I don’t know,” said June Berry. “Let’s see,” and she began to run.
Close to the cottage they heard voices coming out the opened windows.
“Uncle Finn! Aunt Sally!” they cried, charging into the kitchen. “What are you doing here?”
“Surprise!” said Farmer John and Uncle Finn, laughing.
“We’ve come for Thanksgiving,” said Aunt Sally, giving them a hug. Aunt Sally was their mother’s sister.
“Woof, woof,” barked Lucy, wagging his tail and licking everyone he could reach.
Veronica and Johnny Top came into the kitchen. They were jumping up and down.
“Surprise! Surprise!” they cried. “And guess who we brought?”
An old face with twinkling eyes peeked in the door.
“Gramma!” shouted Tom and June, running to her.
“Grandma surprised us too,” said Aunt Sally. “She drove all the way down from the north and turned up out of the blue.”
There were more hugs all around and it wasn’t long before the grown-ups were busy chatting in the kitchen and the children were playing in the living room. June Berry took the pearls and chain out of her coat pocket and showed them to Veronica and Johnny Top.
“Those are gorgeous,” said Veronica. “Where did you get them?”
“In our Treasure Cave,” said June Berry. “They were in the sand.”
“Pretty beads,” said Johnny Top taking one in his chubby hand. He popped it in his mouth.
“Don’t,” giggled June and Veronica, trying to stop him.
“Pfui,” said Johnny Top, spitting it out. “Not sweet—sandy!”
“Let’s wash them,” said Tom. “We have to clean the sand out of the holes.”
They went to the bathroom and rinsed the pearls under the tap until the holes were clean. Then they washed the chain. It sparkled beautifully.
“We need a safety pin,” said June Berry, and ran and got one from Grandma.
They sat on the hearth rug and strung the pearls together. Veronica put the necklace round June Berry’s neck and fastened it with the safety pin.
“There,” she said, “—you look like a sea princess.”
Chapter 36
Lunch and Sails and Sailing
Farmer John had prepared baked vegetables and brown rice for lunch. Tom and June helped to set the table and bring in extra chairs. The kitchen was crowded when everyone finally sat around the table. A high chair had been brought for Johnny Top. He sat in it like a king.
“Foooood!” he said, banging his tray. “Fooodies!” He was hungry.
“First we say grace,” said Aunt Sally, reaching out and holding Johnny Top’s hand. She thought for a moment. “I’ll say my sister’s grace.”
“Roots in earth and leaves in sun,
Through the stem the waters run.
In the warmth the fruits so fair,
Ripen now to food we share.”
This was Tom and June’s mother’s favorite grace. She died in an accident when Tom and June were younger.
Farmer John served the food and everyone settled in to eat.
“I couldn’t work out why you were scrubbing vegetables first thing in the morning,” said Tom.
“Me neither,” said June Berry. “You fooled us!”
“I knew you’d like to see your cousins,” said Farmer John. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“And we get to see Gramma too,” said June Berry, giving her a hug.
After lunch Tom helped Uncle Finn and Aunt Sally unload their car. June Berry and Veronica rummaged through the ragbag. They were searching for a sail to put onto the ship. At the bottom, folded up, they found an old bed sheet.
“This is perfect,” said June Berry. “Just wait till you see our ship!”
Then they searched the laundry room and found a handful of wooden clothespins. When everyone was ready they went to the beach. Tom walked with the men, but June and Veronica ran ahead holding the sheet between them and letting it flap in the wind.
Johnny Top’s eyes opened with delight when he saw the ship. He climbed in and crawled inside the cabin on the deck and started playing. Soon Tom and the girls had the sail pinned to the ropes and they were out sailing the seven seas with two new pirates on board. They sailed to Hawaii and lay in the hot sun. They sailed to Africa and rode on a giraffe. They sailed to China to see the seven-headed dog with two tails and eyes as big as saucers. On the way, Johnny Top went fishing and caught a whale. He almost hauled it aboard but a sword fish came along and cut his fishing line. Then they sailed to Australia and ate the oranges that Gramma brought for a snack.
After that Johnny Top jumped ship and ran down the beach to join Gramma. She’d taken off her shoes and was walking on the wet sand and letting the surf play around her ankles.
“Me too,” said Johnny Top, pulling off his shoes and socks and throwing them away.
Gramma put his shoes and socks neatly on dry sand and helped him roll up his trousers. Then they went walking in the surf. The waves ran up the beach and splashed against Johnny Top’s ankles.
“It’s cold!” he squealed, and ran up the beach.
In a moment he was back with Gramma. He tried to outrun the next wave but he wasn’t fast enough. He did this over and over again. Finally, when his legs were turning blue, Gramma lifted him up and found a sunny spot for him to dig in the sand.
Chapter 37
Stuck on a Stack
Tom left the girls playing in the ship and went down to the two sea stacks. The tide was out, leaving Castle Ragged high and dry. It was higher up the beach and always came out of the water at low tide. Tom had been up it many times. But Castle Jagged was further down the beach and was almost always surrounded by swirling water. Tom had never been on it. He stood as close as he could and watched the surf surge around the rock then pull back again and run rapidly out to sea. Finally, every few waves, a thin strip of sand was left bare for a few seconds. Tom waited for his chance. A few waves later it came. He ran as fast as he could and leaped upon Castle Jagged.
An instant later the water was back again, swirling around the rock. Tom smiled and whooped—he was on an island!
He climbed past the weedy skirt and up the bare rock to the top. This rock was once part of the land, but the sea had worn away the soil around it. A small, bright green ice plant clung to the last patch of dirt. It had one purple flower. Tom wondered how many years the plant had been here all by itself. He climbed down the seaward side. It was steep and he had to be careful. From there he couldn’t see the beach, just the sea stretching on forever. He gazed out and imagined being on an island all by himself with the great sea swirling and crashing around him. That would be an adventure!
Tom heard a flurry of feathers. A jet-black raven settled on a rock a few feet above his head. Tom stayed still. Ravens are shy, cautious birds and he’d never seen one so close. Tom liked them. His dad said they lived for a long time and were very smart. The raven stared at him with a dark glossy eye and cocked his head si
deways. He tipped forward, opened his heavy black beak and croaked: ‘Caw.’ As he cawed Tom saw his beard of feathers standing out below his beak. He was a big bird, much bigger and heavier than a crow. He croaked again, still staring at Tom, as if to say: ‘What are you doing here?’ Twice he bent his knees and lifted his shoulders. Then he jumped into the air and sailed away.
Tom worked his way around the sea stack to the landward side. He climbed down to the water and waited for the waves to pull back and let him run back to the beach—but they never did. They kept rising and Tom had to retreat up the rock. The tide had turned.
“I’m stuck,” thought Tom.
He tried to keep calm. He climbed back to the top of the rock. From there he could look past Castle Ragged and see the ship.
“June Berry! Veronica!” he shouted, waving his arms.
They didn’t hear him. The roar of the surf drowned out his voice. He waved again and again. Finally Veronica saw him. She smiled and waved back. June Berry saw him too and she also smiled and waved. Then they went back to playing.
Tom didn’t know what to do. He climbed back down and looked at the water. It swirled and rushed powerfully. It was too dangerous for him. He went back up. He saw Gramma and Johnny Top, but they didn’t see him. Further down the beach his dad was sitting with Uncle Finn and Aunt Sally. Tom began to panic. He knew the tide was low only twice a day—the next low tide would be early the next morning when it was still dark. The only help Tom could think of was Tiptoes Lightly.
“Tiptoes! Tiptoes!’ Tom cried out, hoping she’d hear.
In a moment she was there.
“You’re stuck,” she said.
“I’m stuck,” he agreed with a rueful grin.
“Wait,” said Tiptoes, “and whatever you do, do not go into the water,” and she flew away so quickly that Tom thought she’d vanished.
A moment later June Berry stood up and looked towards Tom. She raced down the beach to their dad. In a minute he came running with Uncle Finn and Aunt Sally.
“Looks like you’re stuck,” shouted Farmer John over the waves.
Tom nodded. He was afraid and felt like crying, but tried not to show it.
Farmer John and Uncle Finn took off their jackets. They waded into the swirling water, holding on to each other to keep themselves steady. The surf pushed and pulled them from side to side. Soon they were up to their waists.
“Jump,” said Farmer John when they were close enough and Tom jumped. Farmer John caught him and he clung to his dad’s back as they made their way back to shore. Tom was never so glad to be on dry land.
Farmer John laughed and ruffled Tom’s hair. “You’ve had an adventure,” he said, wagging his finger, “and a lesson. Don’t forget it,” and they all went back to the cottage so the men could change.
Chapter 38
Gramma’s Tale of the Fire Fairies
Johnny Top was three years old. Next year he’d be going to preschool. He had sandy brown hair and three freckles on his nose. He had to go to bed earlier than the other children, and his mom gave him a bath, brushed his teeth and put him in pjs. He came into the living room with his hair combed and his thumb in his mouth. He went to Gramma sitting in an armchair by the fire and climbed onto her lap.
“Story,” he said, and snuggled up.
Gramma leaned back in the chair and a faraway look came into her eyes.
“Wait,” cried June Berry, and she went and sat at Gramma’s feet. So did Tom and Veronica. Lucy came too. He flopped down and put his nose on Gramma’s toes.
“Where’s the little fairy we met earlier?” asked Gramma. “Doesn’t she like stories?”
“Oh yes, she does,” said June Berry, and called out:
“Tiptoes Lightly,
Small as a sprite,
Won’t you come back
From the sea tonight?”
“Here I am,” said Tiptoes. “How did you know I was by the sea?”
“I guessed,” said June. “Gramma’s telling us a story.”
“Oh, goody,” said Tiptoes, and she flew to Gramma’s shoulder. She whispered in her ear.
Gramma nodded and smiled, then she began her tale.
“Once there were two fire fairies called Flicker and Flash. They lived high above the earth where the air is warm and makes a blanket for the world. One day Flicker and Flash were dancing about when they saw two sunbeams coming from the sun.
‘Oh look, two sunbeams,’ said Flicker. ‘They’re so pretty. Let’s ask who they are and where they’re going.’
So Flash called out: ‘Pretty sunbeams! Pretty sunbeams! What are your names and where are you going?’
And the sunbeams replied: ‘Our names are Shiny and Bright. We are on our way to the Ten Tall Trees. Do you want to come?’
‘Yes, please,’ cried Flicker and Flash, and they hopped on the backs of Shiny and Bright and off they flew faster than galloping horses. Down they whizzed through the air to the Ten Tall Trees and landed on their leaves as lightly as a feather.
‘Knock-knock!’ cried Shiny and Bright, and all the leaves on the Ten Tall Trees opened their doors and they went inside. Through the greeny leaves they traveled, through the greeny-brown stems and into the brown branches and trunk—even into the roots.
“That’s where they stayed,” said Gramma. “The two fire fairies and the two sunbeams closed their wings and stayed inside the Ten Tall Trees.
One day, two men came walking through the Ten Tall Trees. They were looking for firewood. Quick as a wink, Flicker and Flash and the two pretty sunbeams ran to a dead branch just as it broke from one of the Ten Tall Trees. The branch fell at the feet of the two men with a CRASH!.
‘Yikes!’ cried the men, jumping back.
They took the branch back to their cottage where one grandmother and four children were staying. They cut it up and put the pieces into the fire. And there it is burning in the fireplace,” said Gramma, nodding towards the fire. “If you look carefully you can see Shiny and Bright. They are shining into your eyes and letting you see. And if you put out your hands you can feel Flicker and Flash making them warm and warming your face too.”
Johnny Top put out his hands and nodded. So did the other children.
“I am going to clap my hands,” said Gramma. “And when I clap, Flicker and Flash will jump out of the fire.”
“Clap-clap!” Gramma clapped, and out of the fire sprang two fire fairies.
“Yea!” cried Johnny Top, as Flicker and Flash flew about the room like yellow, red and orange.
“I’m getting too hot,” said Tom, taking off his sweater.
“Me too,” said June Berry and Veronica, fanning their faces.
“Why is it so hot in here,” said Farmer John looking in from the kitchen. “It suddenly got warm.”
Gramma clapped her hands again, and cried: “Into the oven Flicker and Flash,” and in an instant they flew into the kitchen oven.
“They’ll roast the Thanksgiving turkey for us tomorrow,” said Gramma. “Then they’ll go into our tummies and warm us up all over again.”
Gramma stood up with Johnny Top cradled in her arms. “Now it’s time for this sleepy head to go to bed,” she said, and carried him to the bedroom.
Chapter 39
Three nodding Heads
After Johnny Top was in bed the grown-ups sat with Tom and June and Veronica around the fire. Aunt Sally leaned forward and looked at June Berry’s necklace.
“Those are beautiful beads,” she said, touching them. “I was admiring them at supper. They look like pearls.”
“They are,” said June Berry. “Tiptoes said so.”
“Who’s Tiptoes?” asked Aunt Sally.
“She’s a fairy,” said June Berry. “We found them down by the beach, in our Treasure Cave.”
Uncle Finn laughed. “They are pretty,” he said, “but they can’t be pearls—they’re much too big. They’re plastic, for sure. Pearls that size would be worth a fortune.”
Aunt S
ally gave Uncle Finn a warning look. “They’re pearls,” she said. “If their Tiptoes fairy says so, then they are.”
“Tiptoes has been telling us a story in the evenings,” said Tom.
“We met her this afternoon too,” said Veronica. “Didn’t we, Gramma?”
Gramma nodded.
“But my dad keeps missing the story,” said June Berry. “Every time Tiptoes starts to tell one his head nods and he falls asleep.”
“I’ll stay awake this time,” said Farmer John, yawning. “Promise.”
So the children turned towards the fire. It was crackling merrily and Tiptoes sat on the edge of the hearth rug. Everyone was quiet and the sound of the waves on the shore wrapped around the house. It came in through the windows and walls and roof—hush, hush, hush, the wave-sound said—hush, hush.
“But where’s this Tiptoes?” asked Uncle Finn, frowning and looking about.
“Right there!” said all the children together, pointing at her.
“Uh, okay,” said Uncle Finn, looking confused, and he settled back into the sofa and pretended he saw her—but he didn’t.
“Before I start,” said Tiptoes, “I’ll tell Veronica and Gramma a bit about our story. It happened long ago when the sun sent Asherah the Earth Mother her newest and youngest children, the human beings.”
Tiptoes grinned and looked at the grown-ups.
Veronica turned around. “They’ve gone to sleep!” she exclaimed.
“Everyone except Gramma,” said Tom. He was grinning too.
Gramma sat in her armchair. She was wide awake and had a thousand twinkles in her eyes. “Those sleepy heads will wake up when the story is over,” she said. “Go on, Tiptoes.”
So Tiptoes continued.
“Sister Vive cast seeds from the Tree of Life on the sun down to the earth. They were bright and hung in the sky and floated day and night. Some sun-seeds were properly ripe—these were the first human beings. They didn’t look at all like people do now because they were so new to the earth. Each seed had only warmth from Kalor the Hot One, light from Vallor the Bright One, and life from Sister Vive. That is why they floated; there was nothing inside them to weigh them down. And they were all different: bigger and smaller, brighter and dimmer. Some were hotter than the others—they were like Kalor and breathed fire. Others were filled with light like Vallor—they were more like great birds of light. And others still had life abundant like Sister Vive—many of these were like children, but some grew to be giants.”