Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“We have to go,” said Queen Titania quickly. She, Paige, and the king stepped onto the end of the rainbow.
“Merry Christmas, girls, and thank you!” Paige cried, blowing kisses to them.
“And there’s one more Christmas surprise waiting for you!” the king added as the rainbow whisked them away.
“Good-bye….”
Rachel opened the door and couldn’t believe her eyes. Her mom and dad were standing outside with Kirsty’s parents!
“We saw the show!” Mrs. Walker announced, beaming at Rachel and Kirsty.
“You were both wonderful!” Mrs. Tate said.
“Great job,” added Mr. Walker, and Kirsty’s dad nodded. All four of them looked very proud!
“But the show was sold out,” Kirsty said, looking confused. “How did you get tickets?” “Well, it was strange,” said Mr. Walker with a frown. “We both had Christmas cards pushed under our doors this afternoon. The cards weren’t signed, but there were tickets to the play inside them!”
“So we rushed over to Tippington, met up with Rachel’s parents, and got here just before the show started!” explained Mr. Tate.
“We’ll wait outside while you get changed,” Mrs. Tate said. Then she winked. “And bundle up, girls, it’s snowing outside!” she added.
Rachel couldn’t help giggling as she shut the door. “Well, I think I know where those tickets came from.”
“Yes, from our fairy friends!” Kirsty said with a grin. “And now we can really enjoy Christmas, knowing that Jack Frost and his goblins can’t ruin it for everyone. It’s going to be a merry Christmas after all!”
Mrs. Tate popped her head around the door. “Are you ready, girls?” she asked. “It’s time to leave for the Christmas Fair.”
“Coming, Mom,” Kirsty said, jumping up.
“I’m really glad I could come and visit,” said Rachel Walker, as she followed her best friend into the hall to get their coats. Rachel was visiting over Christmas break. Her parents were picking her up on Christmas Eve.
“Me, too,” Kirsty replied. “You’re going to love the fair. And who knows … we might even see a Christmas fairy!”
Rachel and Kirsty thought they were the luckiest girls in the world, because they had become friends with the fairies! Whenever the fairies were in trouble, they asked the girls for help. Usually cold Jack Frost was causing magical mayhem with the help of his nasty goblins.
“I forgot to tell you!” Kirsty said, pulling on her boots. “Every year, someone from my school is chosen to be the fair’s Christmas King or Queen. This year, it’s my friend Molly.”
“Wow! I bet she’s really excited,” said Rachel, smiling. “I’d love to be the Christmas Queen!”
Kirsty nodded as her parents joined them.
“Everybody ready?” Mrs. Tate said. “Then let’s go!”
“Did someone turn off the Christmas tree lights?” Mr. Tate asked. “They were on a few minutes ago, but now they’re not.”
Everyone shook their heads. Kirsty peeked into the living room, where the tree stood. “The switch is still on,” she pointed out.
“The lights must be broken,” Mr. Tate decided. “Never mind, I’ll fix them when we get back.”
“Yes, it’s time to go,” Kirsty’s mom agreed. “The parade starts soon!”
Quickly, they all left the house and walked up Twisty Lane toward High Street and Wetherbury Market Square.
“I can hear music,” Rachel said, clapping her hands excitedly.
Even though it was a cold, frosty night, the square was packed with people! They bustled around stalls selling brightly-painted tree decorations, Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, and gifts. There was even a merry tune playing on an old organ.
“Isn’t it great?” Kirsty said, her eyes shining. She pointed at a raised platform in the middle of the square. The mayor of Wetherbury was standing there next to a large switch. “It’ll be even better when the Christmas Queen turns on the lights,” Kirsty added.
Rachel glanced around. She could see dark shapes made out of unlit lightbulbs above their heads, but it was hard to figure out what the shapes were. She was looking forward to seeing them all lit up.
“Ooh, I can’t wait to see Molly!” Kirsty exclaimed, as the parade began.
The first float that rumbled into the square was decorated like Santa’s workshop. Elves were making toys, and Santa sat on a golden sleigh!
“Oh, look!” Rachel gasped, as another float came into view. It carried a huge dollop of papier-mâché fruitcake with a sprig of holly on top. More floats followed, all looking colorful and Christmassy!
“Here’s Molly,” Kirsty said to Rachel as the final float appeared. “Doesn’t she look pretty?”
Kirsty’s friend was dressed in white and silver. Her dress had a long full skirt, scattered here and there with sparkling snowflakes. She wore a glittering silver tiara on her head and sat on a jeweled throne, waving at the crowd. Behind her was an ice palace, decorated with gleaming icicles.
Rachel nudged Kirsty. “The Christmas Queen’s palace is much prettier than Jack Frost’s gloomy ice castle!” she whispered. Kirsty nodded eagerly.
The float stopped next to the platform. The mayor helped Molly up the steps as the crowd clapped.
“I would like to wish everyone in Wetherbury a very merry Christmas!” Molly announced. Then she pulled the light switch with a flourish.
The square lit up in a blaze of color as the lightbulbs sprang to life. Everyone oohed and aahed as they gazed around.
“This is amazing!” Kirsty breathed.
“It’s beautiful,” Rachel agreed.
There were hundreds of snowflakes in different sizes strung on wires overhead, and they all glittered with rainbow-colored lights.
The Christmas Queen had come down from the platform now and was waving at the two girls.
“Hi, there!” Molly called, her face glowing with excitement. “Did you like my float?”
“It was beautiful!” Kirsty replied. “Molly, this is my friend Rachel.”
“Hi, Molly,” said Rachel, admiring Molly’s sparkling dress. “You look so pretty!”
“And these are definitely the best lights Wetherbury has ever had!” Kirsty added.
But just then, one of the snowflakes above their heads began to flicker. As the girls glanced upward, every single one of the beautiful snowflake lights suddenly went out!
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Rainbow Magic Limited c/o HIT Entertainment, 830 South Greenville Avenue, Allen, TX 75002-3320.
e-ISBN 978-0-545-54926-4
Copyright © 2006 by Rainbow Magic Limited.
Illustrations copyright © 2006 by Georgie Ripper.
Previously published as Paige the Pantomime Fairy by Orchard U.K. in 2009.
All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, by arrangement with Rainbow Magic Limited.
SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc. RAINBOW MAGIC is a trademark of Rainbow Magic Limited Re. U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and other countries. HIT and the HIT logo are trademarks of HIT Entertainment Limited.
First Scholastic printing, September 2010
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Paige the Christmas Play Fairy Page 4