The fairy at the top of the tree squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Not again.
How many more Christmases would she suffer the indignity? It had been too many already, from the first Christmas when it was only them, giggling after too much champagne, her wobbling on the ladder, him holding her legs and making lascivious smacking noises with his lips, while the fairy held her breath hoping for a secure fastening at this dizzying height under such uncertain circumstances … to now, the three kids in bed, having hung their own handmade jolly Santas and cross-eyed Rudolphs to the lower boughs, leaving the fairy in the not-so-capable hands of the adults.
But there. She was up, tied tightly at the top with silver ribbon. She breathed more freely.
Over the years less champagne had been drunk on the occasion of Fixing the Fairy, as it was now known, and the smacking noises had softened into appreciative murmurs despite the plumper bottom the owner of the lips had to support these days. But then, he was no slim young thing anymore either.
The fairy peered down, reluctant, waiting. Yes, they were at it again.
She closed her eyes, tightly, not wanting to watch the way they tucked into mince pies and gulped mulled wine (a new departure from champagne), while she had to look on, wondering – as ever – what these goodies might feel like on her own tongue. If she had one.
AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS ALL!
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THE FAIRY AT THE TOP OF THE TREE SQUEEZED HER EYES TIGHT SHUT
The fairy at the top of the tree squeezed her eyes tight shut. She could hear Santa Claus coming down the chimney and had no wish to talk to him.
Every year he would greet her with the same words.
“Ho! Ho! Wondrous fairy and how goes it this year.”
She was heartily tired of hearing the greeting and each time trying to think up a different response.
So, she kept her eyes tight shut. Silence. What no words of greeting? Very strange.
Unable to resist the urge to look any longer, she slowly opened one eye ever so slightly.
Santa was peering intently at her, only inches from her face, sack slung over his shoulder.
“I knew you weren’t asleep,” he chortled. “Ho! Ho! How goes it wondrous fairy?”
Anger rose instantly in her throat.
“You want to know how it goes? Disastrous that’s how!!”
“What do you mean?” Santa was taken aback, looking totally flustered at this sudden outburst.
“The children are a menace. And that dog. Good grief. It was running amok. Almost knocked the Christmas tree over. I was in fear for my very life!!”
“But I’ve got them marked down as ‘nice’ on this year’s list,” Santa said.
“Nice…nice. They are anything but…” the fairy retorted.
“Well, what do you want me to do about it?’
“Not leave them any presents,” the fairy responded. “That’ll teach ‘em.”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that,” said Santa. “That’s not the sort of thing I would ever do. After all, my primary reason for being here is to bring joy and peace to the entire world.”
“Well, this lot don’t deserve any joy or peace,” the fairy was really into it now, the words gushing from her mouth. “All they deserve is to be taught a good lesson!”
Santa tried more soothing words before finally making her an offer.
“Why don’t you come with me and check on the children?” he said.
“But they are all asleep,” the fairy replied.
“I know that. The perfect opportunity for you to sprinkle some fairy dust. Always does wonders with naughty children, you know.”
The fairy had been so cross in the past few days, she had never thought of that.
“Yes, yes of course it does.”
And without another word, she accompanied Santa upstairs to the children’s bedrooms spreading fairy dust everywhere as she went – with a double dose thrown over the dog for good measure.
All three children were fast asleep, angelic looks on their little faces. The fairy hovered over each one in turn and gently sprinkled her ‘feel good’ magic on their faces.
When she was done, she went back downstairs and resumed her position at the top of the tree.
“Now,” said Santa. “All you have to do is wait until morning and I’m sure you’ll notice a big improvement.”
“Yes, I’m sure I will,” the fairy responded. “Thanks Santa, have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
And as Santa climbed back up the chimney, the fairy shut her eyes once more to wait patiently for the morning sun to rise and the patter of little feet on the stairs.
I think this is your best yet – a lovely story, one kids would enjoy. Preface it by showing the kids and the dog running amok and the fairy terrified, and you have a great tale for next Christmas. Know any illustrators?
Don’t know any off hand but I’m sure I can find one through my friends/contacts. Unless you can suggest someone😀
No, sorry, we do our own and not kids’ ones!
Very funny. Especially the assumption of a tongue less fairy. Love it.
But she had eyes she could squeeze shut!