by A V Awenna
Chapter 6. Techno-Fairy
A few hours later Demi-Lee phoned Vicky’s mobile. She was so full of news and gossip Vicky could barely get a word in – but that wasn’t unusual. Demi was thrilled to talk to Blackbird, and demanded Vicky take a photo of him and send it to her.
‘No way, Demi, that’s far too risky!’ Vicky said. She was horrified at the idea, but Blackbird’s ego and curiosity were aroused.
‘You can make pictures with that? It’s so small!’ He turned the phone around and spotted the camera lens. Peering into it he asked, ‘Can you see me, Demali?’
‘Not without Skype, and that’s far too risky’ Vicky laughed, ‘Also, you need to speak into the mic down the front.’
‘Hmph, this is no good for fairies!’ he said.
‘Sorry Blackbird, you’re just too small for it. And I really don’t think it’s a good idea to take a photo of you – we need to keep you a secret,’ Vicky said.
‘Come on’, Demi wheedled, ‘I really miss him, it would be great to have a photo. If anyone sees it I’ll just say I got it off the ’net and it’s Photoshopped. Please! Oh go on, Blackbird, I won’t see you for ages.’
‘He’s in no fit state to be photographed now,’ Vicky told her. ‘Maybe tomorrow, when Mum’s out of the house.’
‘What’s wrong with him? Are you okay, Blackbird?’ Demi asked.
‘He got caught in a rainstorm and nearly froze to death. He’s okay now, just looking a bit rough,’ Vicky replied. ‘And he needs some new clothes, but I’ll sort that tomorrow.’
‘If you practice your magic and deep thinking, then we’ll give you a picture,’ Blackbird purred, clinging to Vicky’s hand to speak into the phone.
‘Okay, okay, I get the hint, but it’s not easy when I’ve got normal people around me all the time. I’ve got school and everything, you know,’ Demi said.
‘If it’s important enough, you’ll find a way. If it isn’t, you’ll find an excuse,’ Blackbird said sternly.
‘God, Blackbird, you sound just like Cheeseface!’ Demi said.
‘What’s that?’ the fairy asked, confused.
‘My Welsh teacher, the evil cow,’ Demi explained. ‘She’s always saying things like that. And she’s always on my back, even though I’m making an effort to actually try and learn some Welsh so I can understand Aelwen. I nearly got detention ’cos my mates were winding her up, even though I wasn’t really involved.’
‘You may have to get some new friends, kiddo,’ Vicky said.
‘Don’t tell me that!’ Demi said. ‘I’m stuck at school for years. I can’t fall out with my girls, they might beat me up.’
‘Sorry, Hun,’ Vicky said. ‘Not sure what we can do about that. Just remember, I had eight whole years of people going on at me for being a swot. Good thing I’m good at sport – otherwise I’d have had to hang out with the Chess Club.’
‘Have you heard from Dave?’ Demi asked.
‘Mum was just asking the same thing’, Vicky said. ‘He posted some new photos, and I commented, and he ‘liked’ my comments, but that’s it. How’s that boy you fancy?’
‘Dean Evans? Oh my god, he’s had his hair cut and he looks lush. He’s got to be the cutest boy in the world right now,’ Demi swooned.
‘Have you spoken to him yet?’ Vicky asked.
‘No, Emma fancies him, and she says she’ll slap anyone who talks to him. And Jodie-Marie told him his hair makes him look like an emo, and everybody laughed, and I laughed too, so he probably hates me. But he doesn’t look like an emo, not really. He’s beau-tiii-fulllll.’
Blackbird was rolling his eyes at their gossip, so Vicky returned the phone to him to let him give Demi some more advice.
‘Stand in the moonlight and use its power when you can,’ he told her. ‘Will be new moon soon, so get out while there is still moonlight. Maybe you won’t be able to cast another spell ‘til the next full moon, but you can still practise your deep thinking; learn to put your mind in that place you need to be. And practice your charming – maybe you can use it on your teacher, and that boy you like.’
‘I’ve been practising charming the cat,’ Demi said. ‘She doesn’t stick her claws in when she sits on my lap anymore. And I’m gonna try with the neighbours’ dog – see if I can stop it yapping every time I walk past their gate. Don’t think I’ll ever charm Cheeseface though, she’s the most hard-hearted woman I’ve ever known. You know, there’s a rumour some bloke got her pregnant years ago, when she was still quite young, and he left her, so she gave away the baby and she’s hated everyone ever since.’
‘The poor woman!’ Vicky exclaimed. ‘No wonder she’s gone hard if that happened. You should be nicer to her.’
‘I’m trying, but she hasn’t noticed. She’s such a cow. I kind of think maybe I shouldn’t get too good at magic in case I lose it with her and turn her into a toad. I soooo wanted to put a spell on Jodie-Marie to shut her up, not that I could yet, but I just slapped her instead. She slapped me back, so we’re even, but at least it stopped her going on about Dean being an emo.’
Vicky was enjoying Demi’s second-hand dramas – they never developed into anything serious – but Blackbird was obviously not impressed with Demi’s lack of discipline, so Vicky pulled the conversation back on track, and reminded Demi what she’d promised to practise, before they said their goodbyes.
