Twink dropped the petal and shot from the stump. Maybe she had only just missed them! If she hurried –
The field stretched around her, snowy and silent. Twink spun in midair, scanning it wildly. ‘Mum, Dad!’ she called, cupping her hands around her mouth. ‘Teena! Where are you?’
But there was nothing, not even a bird.
After a while Twink stopped shouting, and hovered forlornly. Oh, it was hopeless! That note had probably been written days ago. She’d just have to wait, even though the ache to see her family again felt like agony.
Her spirits heavy, Twink turned to go back inside . . . and then she saw something out of the corner of her eye.
‘Oh!’ she gasped in delight. There was a hawk flying across the frozen stream, with a group of fairies riding on its back! The fairies hadn’t spotted her yet, and their wings looked weary and defeated.
‘Mum, Dad!’ she screamed. She flew towards the hawk as fast as she could, her pink hair whistling behind her. ‘I’m here!’ she shouted. ‘I’m here!’
The fairies looked up. It was her parents and Teena! And Bimi and her parents were alongside them! Her heart singing, Twink put on an extra burst of speed. Her parents leapt off the hawk’s back and flew towards her, calling her name.
And then all at once she was there with them, scooped up in their arms. ‘Mum, Dad!’ she sobbed. ‘I’m so glad to see you!’
‘Oh, Twink, you’re safe!’ cried her mother.
‘Don’t ever go missing again, Twinkster,’ whispered her father raggedly. ‘I don’t think we could take the strain!’
That night the tree stump rang with laughter as the fairies sat up talking, overjoyed at being reunited. Twink sat nestled between her parents, munching a slice of her mum’s delicious honey cake – which Mum had insisted on baking the moment they got inside! – and feeling happier than she’d ever been.
Bimi had got Twink’s message, as it turned out. ‘I was so relieved!’ she said, her blue eyes wide with the memory. ‘None of us knew what had happened to you. I tried and tried to respond, but I suppose you didn’t hear me.’
Twink shook her head. ‘I thought you hadn’t heard me,’ she said sheepishly.
Bimi explained that she’d returned to her own home the day after Twink had disappeared – but her parents had brought her straight back to Twink’s when she told them about the message.
‘We knew it was important the moment Bimi told us,’ said Twink’s mother, giving Bimi a warm smile. ‘So we asked her and her parents to come with us while we looked for you, in case you contacted her again with more details.’
‘We didn’t realise that you were so far away,’ added Twink’s father. ‘We’ve been searching nearby neighbourhoods and villages for days, casting every spell we could think of to try and find you!’
‘I’m glad I didn’t know,’ said Twink’s mum with a shudder. ‘Fifty miles! I would have been even more worried than I already was.’
Twink’s cheeks grew hot. ‘I – I’m sorry, Mum,’ she said guiltily. ‘I should have listened to you about the tree.’
‘Never mind, Twinkster,’ said her dad, ruffling her hair. ‘Maybe you disobeyed, but we’re proud of you for trying to do the right thing. You and Bimi are both pretty amazing girls, you know!’ Bimi and Twink grinned across the room at each other in relief.
‘But Twink, tell us about being in the human house!’ said Teena, her violet eyes wide. ‘Weren’t you scared?’
‘At first,’ said Twink. As her family and friends listened, Twink shared her adventures, and told about her friendship with Lindsay – and attempted to describe Christmas, though it was difficult to put into words the magic she had felt.
‘Why, it sounds lovely,’ said Mrs Bluebell in surprise. ‘Who would have thought that the humans would have such a tradition?’
‘Maybe they’re not so different from us after all,’ said Twink’s mother thoughtfully.
Twink’s story of Santa Claus was met with even more astonishment. ‘What a powerful spirit!’ exclaimed Bimi’s father. ‘I can’t imagine why we’ve never heard of him.’
Twink’s own father nodded as he sipped his cup of hot nectar. ‘We’ll have to inform Queen Mab of this,’ he said gravely. ‘I’m sure she’ll want to make contact with him.’
Twink felt a solemn thrill as she remembered her dream. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the fairies and Santa could work together, somehow? Why, perhaps they could even go riding in his magical sleigh!
‘It’s all so strange,’ breathed Bimi, curled up beside her own parents. ‘But Twink, I still don’t understand why the humans cut trees down, just to water and decorate them. It doesn’t make any sense.’ She and the others had listened open-mouthed as Twink described the Christmas tree in all its sparkling finery.
‘I know,’ said Twink slowly. ‘I don’t understand it either, except . . . except I think they do love nature in their way, and magic, too. Why, they call the sparkling lights “fairy lights”, and there was even a fairy decoration on the tree!’
There were murmurs of amazement. Twink went on, struggling to find the words. ‘I think . . . I think maybe Christmas trees are a way for humans to have a bit of magic in their lives. They’re so cut off from everything in their houses. It’s like they’re longing for something, but don’t even realise it . . .’ She trailed off in confusion, realising that the stump had gone quiet.
Twink’s father squeezed her shoulder. ‘Maybe so,’ he said gently. ‘But you’re not allowed to go chasing after any more trees to find out!’
Later, as the fairies munched the last of the honey cake, Twink’s plastic comb was passed about and exclaimed over. ‘How glimmery!’ giggled Teena, pulling it through her own shining hair. ‘Can I borrow it sometimes, Twink?’
All at once Twink remembered Lindsay’s other present. ‘Oh, I almost forgot!’ she gasped. Grabbing it from the table, she excitedly tore off the red wrapping as the others crowded around her.
‘What is it?’ cried Bimi, craning to see.
For a moment Twink stared . . . and then she burst out laughing. ‘It’s a piece of chocolate,’ she grinned, holding it up. ‘You’re all going to love this – it’s even better than honey cake!’
The chocolate was duly shared out. ‘Delicious!’ pronounced Twink’s father, licking his fingers. ‘I think my whole opinion of humans is changing.’
‘Mum, can I have some more?’ begged Teena, fluttering her wings.
‘No, that’s all there is,’ laughed Twink’s mother, guiding her younger daughter from the room. ‘Besides, it’s your bedtime!’
As the adults chatted, Twink and Bimi smiled at each other. There were no words needed. Twink was the luckiest fairy in the world, and she knew it. She was home again, back with her family where she belonged. And in just a few days she and Bimi would return to Glitterwings Academy, where she’d have so many adventures to tell.
But best of all, she had a new friend: a little girl named Lindsay, who knew now that fairies were real . . . and who had taught Twink about the magic of Christmas.
Twink smiled, picturing Lindsay in her pink and white bedroom. Oh, she hoped that she’d get to see her again some day.
Merry Christmas, Lindsay, thought Twink, meaning the words with all her heart. And thank you!
READ ON FOR SOME
GLIMMERY
FAIRY ACTIVITIES!
Twink’s Top Tips for a
Recycled Christmas
1. I noticed these things called Christmas cards when I was in Lindsay’s house . . . and they’re so pretty that I wondered why you humans don’t save them to use as Christmas tree decorations. Why not ask your parents if they have any old cards from last year that they don’t want any more? If they do, maybe they’ll let you cut out nice designs from them – like Santa, or Christmas trees, or robins. You can decorate these even more with sparkly glitter or sequins if you like. Then just glue a ribbon to the back, and hey presto – home-made tree decorations!
> 2. One thing that Lindsay’s mum was always getting cross about was the number of advertising leaflets that came through their door every day. (When I found out that the paper in them comes from trees, it made me cross as well!) But the colours in them are usually really pretty . . . so why not make them into paper chains for your tree? Cut them into strips, get out the glue or sticky tape and put the chains together. Loads of fun, and eco-friendly, too.
3. Finally . . . why not think about having a Christmas tree with a root ball so that you can plant it outside after the holidays, instead of one that’s been chopped down? We fairies will thank you for it!
Merry Christmas!
Twink’s Tracing Challenge
Place a thin piece of paper over the picture of me below. Hold the paper in place and carefully draw around me. Remove the paper from the page and have fun decorating my outfit.
You could try:
• colouring me with pencils, crayons or paint
• sticking pieces of material, coloured paper or foil to my dress
• adding glitter to my wings to make them really twinkle!
Twink’s Festive Treats
After tasting chocolate for the first time, I came up with the idea of mixing it with some of my favourite fairy food ingredients, like scrummy oats and honey. Here’s my recipe for Festive Treats so you, your friends and family can enjoy them too. Yum!
You will need a responsible adult to help you make these!
You’ll also need a large saucepan, a cake tin 20 cm x 30 cm, a smaller pan and a glass bowl to fit snugly on top, a wooden spoon, a metal spoon and measuring scales to weigh out the ingredients (g = grams)
1. Set the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4.
2. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a very low heat.
3. Add the demerara sugar, honey and mixed spice and mix well using the wooden spoon.
4. Mix together the sultanas and oats and stir them into the melted butter mixture. You’ll find it easier adding a little at a time. Make sure all the oats are covered in the mixture.
5. Mash the banana to a liquid pulp and mix into the oats mixture. Make sure the oats, banana and sultanas are well mixed together.
6. Rub a little butter around the cake tin and spoon in the mixture. Press down with the back of a spoon, ensuring it is evenly spread and about 4 cm deep.
7. Place on to the middle shelf of the oven and bake for 15–18 minutes, until the edges are just turning golden brown.
8. Take out and set to one side to cool.
If you want to make a chocolate topping, break the chocolate into chunks and carefully melt it in the glass bowl over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the bowl does not touch the water. Keep stirring the chocolate until it is fully melted. Then spread the melted chocolate over the cooled oats mixture, using the back of the metal spoon to make it nice and even.
Leave the Festive Treats to cool for half an hour, then cut into slices and share with your best friend!
Christmas Fairy Page 6
