He also showed her a ring of mushrooms in a small clearing where they had fairy parties now and then.
Being an honorary fairy herself, she was welcome to come when they had festivals.
Their next one would be the summer solstice, Colin said. They’d have games and music, and all sorts of food.
With a playful grin, Colin promised that he might even be able to find a couple of beetles, just for her.
Felicity brightened at that.
Being an honorary fairy sure had its perks!
~ ~ ~
Felicity and Colin emerged from the Wildwood to a deep orange sunset fading in the west, and fireflies winking in the twilight. With her friend beside her, she fluttered to a branch and looked over the wide black road the featherless— the persons had made. (If the fairies had made her an honorary fairy it wouldn’t hurt to think like one.)
A whir of air increased in sound and a pair of giant bright eyes came around a bend. A person’s cart drew near, rumbled by, and then continued down the road, leaving them in quiet darkness.
And there, on the other side of the road, waited her own tree! The welcoming lights of fireflies twinkled among the branches.
It had only been two days, but it seemed like it had been seasons since she left home with Colin on her back.
The road was quiet as they flew across it. Still, Felicity cast a nervous glance upward. It was too dark for hawks, but owls might be out.
“I wouldn’t worry about that.” Colin said, guessing her thoughts. He chuckled and added, “Word has gotten around that you practically beat the feathers off of Grak. I don’t think you— or we— will get much trouble from any large birds from now on.”
They made their way into the tangle of leaves, past the twigs where Colin’s poor shins had banged pretty hard, and landed on the branch outside of Felicity’s door.
“Well, I’ll see you later.” Colin reached out a hand like he had when they’d first introduced themselves. “Promise you’ll come to the summer solstice in the fairy ring?”
“You bet,” Felicity returned. She held out her wing. He grasped the end of it, giving it a good shake.
“I’ll see you there!” He lifted off the branch.
Felicity hopped a little after him and watched as Colin wove his way out of the tree and flew across the road.
Once he reached the edge of the Wildwood, he perched on the branch of a tree and turned back, lifting his hand once more. She waved a wing.
Then Colin rose off the branch and darted away into the shadows.
Sighing, Felicity turned and hopped into her home. She paused in the doorway and looked around.
With the fireflies outside, plenty of light filled the room, illuminating her books, her nest, the icebox. Everything looked just as it had before—
Wait just a minute!—
On the bottom of the framed picture of the two ivory-billed woodpeckers, a small white flower rested. It lay there so carefully it couldn’t have just blown in through the door.
And there— on the edge of her nest, sat a scrap of paper. With— writing on it!
Hopping to it, she read the words:
“Ohh!” Felicity chirped and hopped to the icebox, opening the door. As promised, five fat beetles, still wiggling, lay on a little leaf on the middle shelf.
“Yummy!”
She plucked out the fattest one in her beak and turned back to the letter, munching the bug down as she read.
“A. I. W.?” she asked herself.
Had Augustus been here while she was gone? This looked like his writing. And she didn’t know anyone else with the initials A. I. W. Especially not someone who could write or who would be so generous as to leave five fat beetles in her icebox!
She’d have to show the letter to Colin and his folks the next time she saw them.
But for now—
Felicity turned toward her bookshelf, remembering the story she’d been reading when she first met Colin. She hadn’t finished it yet!
She fluttered to the shelf, found the book, and pulled it from between the others.
With a contented breath, she hopped into her nest and opened her book to the page where she’d left off.
Snuggling down, Felicity began to read.
In Loving Memory—
Alvin E. Salima
1964-2014
One of the greatest souls I have ever had the privilege of meeting.
~ ~ ~
Valerie Anne Pohaiamepumehanaakealoha Akau Meli
1969-2014
Felicity was fortunate to have such a great teacher as Augustus.
And I was fortunate to have such a great senpai as you. Thanks for all that you taught me.
About the Author
Some of Loralee Evans’ earliest memories are of sitting with her mom or dad while they read her stories like The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, or Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. These memories, along with many great teachers who got her excited about reading, are what helped her develop a love of books, and of writing. She has lived in Missouri, Texas, and Utah, and even spent a year and a half in Japan. Some of her favorite authors are James Dashner, Harper Lee, C.S. Lewis, Heather B. Moore, Rachel Ann Nunes, Candace Salima, J. Scott Savage, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Julie Wright.
Felicity~ A Sparrow’s Tale is her fourth book.
Read more about Loralee’s books on her website
https://www.loraleeevans.com
Or visit her blog
loraleeevansauthor.blogspot.com
You can also follow her on Twitter: @EvansLoralee
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