by Linda Dawley
“Are you saying we only think we have choices? Our life goes the way it wants to anyway?”
Molly was sitting on the edge of her chair, her eyes fastened on The Gnome.
“You’re a clever thing, aren’t you?” The Gnome’s eyes rested on Molly for a moment. “Yes, that is what I am saying. Life is a cosmic joke. You can choose to laugh or cry. It doesn’t matter. Things happen the way they are meant to.”
“But if that’s so why do we have to make decisions?” Annabelle’s face was lined with frowns as she looked at The Gnome, wringing her hands. “And why do I always seem to end up in a pickle?”
“Well, someone has to stir the pot, dear girl. Why not you?”
Their jaws dropped. All three of them stared at The Gnome. This was not at all what any of them were expecting.
Shifting his bulk and stroking his full, long beard, The Gnome of the Forest said, “Now then. What can we do about all this?”
Time-worn eyes looked at each of them in turn.
“Sara, you know your role in life and that is to help. One of your best points is you never help unless you are asked. That’s the kind of help we all need. The other kind, butting in when someone is dithering, is help we can all do without.”
“Excuse me,” said Molly, jumping up, “you know you talk in riddles, don’t you?”
Sighing, The Gnome shifted his eyes to the side in order to see Molly.
“Were you spoken to, little girl?”
“No, but you don’t make any sense. Why didn’t you move your head when you wanted to look at me?”
“At least you are observant. I didn’t move my head because, like other muscles in the body, eye muscles need to be exercised. Therefore, I move my eyes, not my head, when I can. The next thing is, I don’t talk in riddles. You need to listen to what I say then understanding will follow.”
He changed his position on the chair and stroked his beard.
“Sara is a healer and she knows that to heal it is necessary to process events. To do that, one has to know when to ask for help. That is an individual task. If she helps before time, the individual cannot learn what they need to from the experience. Get it?”
“Yes, thank you.” Molly sat down on the rocking chair and wriggling, pressed her back against the back of the chair.
“Hmmph, argh, aargh.” The Gnome regarded Annabelle. “You, Annabelle, have a lot to learn yet. Why do you think the entire future of the Tooth Gathering Industry rests on your shoulders?”
“Because I am the TIC. It’s my responsibility.”
“Tooth Fairy In Charge, mmmm. Yes. Only for this millennium. Not forever. Relax, child. Your biggest problem is you take everything so seriously. Have a little fun.”
He shifted his body, as if scratching his back on the chair.
“Remember that child who wanted more money, so bartered with the neighbourhood children for their teeth?”
He chuckled into his beard.
“That showed great initiative. It shouldn’t happen of course, but nevertheless he is pretty clever. A reward of Easy Dust would’ve come in handy for the teenage years. Helpful to him and his poor parents. You were horrified he could be so callous.”
He sighed and smiled at her.
“People are a work in progress. You have to give them credit and some help along the way.”
“Oh,” said Annabelle, sinking further into the hammock. “Forgot about the people, I guess.”
“Very good insight, my dear.”
He smiled at Annabelle.
They all stared as he began to glow from within until he was shimmering, emitting a golden sphere of light about three metres around his entire body.
Molly gulped. “Do you know you are spewing light?”
He moved his eyes in her direction.
“Yes, child, I know. When I am pleased all my cells light up with hopefulness, which spills out. It happens with humans too. Sadly, not often. And not many people are observant enough to see it when it does.”
In a few minutes, his light faded to a soft glow.
He was the same wizened old person they had first met, but now with a gentler look about him.
“Annabelle,” the Gnome began. “Not all is lost, you know. Remember, every decision we have ever made brought us to this moment. Regardless, we would have arrived here sooner or later. We don’t have a map through existence; we feel our way by the mistakes we make. That is what mistakes are for, learning.”
He sighed. “You didn’t think this through. True enough, but you did have an internal knowing that allowed you to bring Molly here. She’s not just any human child, you know.”
“See, I told you.” Molly slid off the chair again and strutted in front of Annabelle. “I can help you. You have to let me.”
“Child! No one has to let you do anything.” The Gnome’s eyes flashed and bits of flint sparked off his words. “They can however choose to involve you. They are not compelled to do so.”
His eyes, like granite marbles, were pinned on Molly’s face. “Please sit down until I speak to you again.”
Molly, surprised, plopped onto the seat of the rocking chair. She listened.
The warm glow had unequivocally disappeared from the area around The Gnome of the Forest, replaced by an icy chill. The environment wasn’t so pleasant when he was unhappy with someone. Maybe the stories were true and he had eaten an elf who displeased him long ago.
He took a deep breath and began, “This child has changed herself to fairy proportions,” he said. He was quiet as he considered his next words. “Do you know why Fairyland is thought to be magic?”
“Umm, not really,” answered Annabelle.
The icy atmosphere had thawed somewhat but she was careful to be respectful with her tone of voice, and choice of words.
“Because it is magic and this is how magic works. Not only that, Molly has an affinity for this kind of work. She could see you and hear you the first time you visited. So why does she have this special talent?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, that might not be important. It could come out in the wash, so to speak. It’s not my business. Regardless, she has some fairy background, so she will change to whichever land she is in.”
“What! I’m a fairy? A real fairy? And a human?” Molly squealed.
“We could do with less of the human element for the moment, child. Please be quiet.”
The Gnome rearranged himself. Looking at Annabelle and Sara he said, “We really need to educate her in fairy ways.”
“But how can she be both an elemental and a human?”
Sara was puzzled by this idea. As a Healer, she knew there were more mysteries than certainties, but she had never heard of a part-fairy, part-human mixture. Yet new and exciting discoveries were emerging almost daily, so perhaps there was something to learn about here.
The Gnome’s rheumy gaze moved to Sara.
“Your family have done some work in this area, Sara. I suggest you talk to your Great-aunt Genevieve. She spent a thousand years on this topic alone.” He went on, “Ahh, hmm, to get back to now. What do you want from me?”
Sara and Annabelle looked at each other.
“You go ahead, Annabelle.”
“Well, ah, I ah...” Annabelle coughed and started again, “Ah I, ah, well...” She broke off, wiggling in her hammock, trying to sit up straight and look dignified. “I don’t know what to do with her,” she blurted out. “How do I fix this mess?”
“Why do you think I should give you the answers to that?”
They all stared at him, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Annabelle recovered enough to say, “But that’s why we came. You are The Gnome of the Forest, the Last Resort consultant. We are at the point of Last Resort. At least I am.”
“Exactly how is that my problem?”
“We thought you were the one to help.” She glanced at Sara, then back to The Gnome. “Don’t you help when there are major problems?”
“Have bee
n known to, but that isn’t my main purpose in life, you know. Helping twits who get themselves in tizzies.”
“What am I to do?”
Tears flooded Annabelle’s eyes.
“Do what you think you should. Did I say earlier what mistakes are for? To learn from. Remember it. Be brave. Take a chance. Make a decision and live with it.”
The Gnome shuffled forward on the chair and stood up. His gaze ran over his three visitors.
“Can’t give you any more time today, ladies.”
As soon as the words left his mouth the hammock, basket swing, and rocking chair vanished as if they had never been, dumping them on the ground.
“You will find your way out, I presume, since you found your way in. In any case, I will send one of my tree friends with you to get you started.”
He brushed at his clothes to straighten them. “Remember, think before you act. Act with love and you can’t go too far wrong.”
The Gnome of the Forest inched around his chair and disappeared inside the huge oak tree.
The three of them stood up brushing leaves, twigs and bits of the forest floor off themselves. They looked at each other.
“Guess that’s the end of that,” said Molly.
“Oh, Molly, you do have a gift for stating the obvious,” replied Annabelle.
“Come on, it wasn’t that bad,” said Sara. “In fact it was pretty good. He’s quite a likeable old thing, isn’t he?”
Following the tree floating ahead of them, they made their way to the edge of the forest. At the clearing, after bowing low, the tree straightened and waved good-bye. He turned and disappeared, blending into the dark green woods.
CHAPTER 10
Sara’s pace picked up once they were out of the shaded woods. She smiled at everything around them.
Molly skipped and twirled, her insides jumping and tickling her tummy. Part-fairy and part-human. Could it be true? What would her friends say? This is going to be so fun, she thought. She hugged herself and twirled around.
Annabelle couldn’t decide if she should laugh or cry. Was anything resolved, solved or even somewhat clearer?
“Now what?”
Her brow was creased and frown lines stood like beacons on her forehead.
“Stop screwing your face up or it won’t go back to normal. I’ve told you that before,” said Sara. “I think we got on very well in the forest.”
“But what did we accomplish? We still have the child with us, who is now fairy-size and sprouting wings.”
“Wings? Really, wings? Is that what is making my back feel so funny?”
Molly tried to twist in order to see her back. She raced to the edge of the river where she attempted to use it as a mirror. Unsuccessful, she ran back to Annabelle and Sara.
“I think The Gnome was really nice. We should visit him more often. Like maybe once a week.”
Molly was dancing on the dense, bouncy grass. She skipped and pirouetted around the other two as they sprawled on the ground.
“Oh, for pity sake. You are so impossible. We can’t do that, but we do have to do something about you.”
“I guess we should see what the Grand Fairy and the Council have come up with,” said Sara. “They should have met by now.”
“You’re right, Sara,” Annabelle sighed. “What they will say to me doesn’t bear thinking of.”
“Annabelle, I really despair of you sometimes. Don’t you think that they will have some understanding of your situation? After all, they represent millions and millions of years of knowledge and experience. Someone on the council will have heard of compassion if not experienced it themselves.”
Sara smiled at Annabelle. “Give them a chance.”
“You’re right. Guess I’m just being a bit wimpy.”
“Well, duh.” Molly interjected twirling past them. “Do ya think?”
“Oh, for Heaven’s sake. How in the universe could anyone be expected to work with that child?” Annabelle almost stamped her foot. “She would try the patience of the kindest soul. Let’s go.”
Smiling to herself, Sara agreed with Molly. She thought that this child could be good for the Tooth Fairy. Help her grow a backbone. Annabelle herself could try the patience of a saint. As much as she loved her friend, Annabelle could be tedious with her constant complaints.
Molly skipped behind them as they headed toward the Hall of Information to find the Grand Fairy.
As they entered the Hall, Annabelle’s eyes went to the desk of the Presiding Elf. To her relief, he was not there. A door opened on the left side of the desk and the Grand Fairy stepped into the foyer.
“Ah, ladies. Please come in. We have much to discuss.”
“Ma’am, I am so sorry for what I have done. I would do anything to undo it.”
“Annabelle, when will you learn that apologizing for everything all the time gets tiring? Now, before you churn your stomach into a knot that can never be undone, listen to me.”
High back leather chairs surrounded the table and the Grand Fairy waved them to be seated.
“Annabelle, I have to commend you on knowing that you chose the exact person for our needs.”
A choking sound escaped from Annabelle’s throat. She ground her toes into the floor to prevent herself falling off the chair. She opened her mouth but no sound came out.
“I knew it.” Molly, preening with excitement slid off the chair and was bouncing on her toes, “I belong here, don’t I? The Gnome really is a Wise Man.”
She stared at the Grand Fairy, demanding an answer.
“Yes, child, in a way you do belong here. However, I must say you need to learn the ways of Fairyland or you will have everything topsy-turvy. All this blurting things out must stop.”
Dragging in a lungful of air, Annabelle said, “What do you mean, ‘brought the right person’? I shouldn’t have brought anyone. She could see me. She shouldn’t have been able to.”
“Annabelle, my darling you are such a good Tooth Fairy, perhaps the best we have ever had. But you still have much to learn.”
The Grand Fairy paused and took a deep breath before she continued.
“Molly could see you because she has fairy-features, which allow her to become fairy-sized here, grow wings, and become one of our community.”
The Grand Fairy paused and looked at Molly. “When she is on the other side, she becomes a normal child-size person with human views and actions.” She smiled. “Molly won’t have an easy path, but it will be enormously interesting.”
“What do you mean, I have fairy features?”
“Molly, fairy features are what humans would call ‘genes’. That is what makes your eyes and hair colour and all the things that make you, who you are.”
“But how can she have fairy features? She can’t without being part of this world originally. That is...” Annabelle’s voice dropped lower, “unless there was a mistake and she got the wrong teeth as a baby.”
Molly sat back on the chair. She was excited, but finally getting the message that sometimes being quiet yields more information.
Smiling at Annabelle, the Grand Fairy nodded her head.
“Yes, a mistake was made. No one knew until Molly came here with you. Then someone on the Council remembered the incident.”
“That means someone in my family made the mistake.”
Annabelle’s head was spinning. Secrets! And in her family! And such an enormous secret. A mistake of this magnitude could have far-reaching repercussions. It did! Wasn’t Molly living proof of that?
Annabelle could hardly hear what the Grand Fairy was saying. Her mind was whirling with questions about this mistake. When? How? Who?
“Yes, Annabelle. And you were the one to find it and know that the help you need is right here in this fairy-child.”
“So how is this going to work, Your Grandness?” Molly was bouncing again. “Do I get paid? And how much? Is fairy gold good currency for me? Where do you get your gold, anyway? Do I have to leave my pay here, or can
I take it home? Is this going to be my home? Do I get my own apartment?”
“Molly, I appreciate you have many questions, but they will have to wait for now. We have to deal with this situation a little at a time. We are all learning as we go. Right now, Annabelle’s main task is to complete her rounds. We do not want you to have problems moving between worlds, so we have to check on that. Plus you will have to have Triple C classes—there is a great deal to arrange.”
“Okay, I can hang with the elves, they are fun to be with and I can help them make more chocolate. Is the chocolate here different? It tastes so much better than the stuff we get.”
Annabelle held her head in her hands. Molly’s non-stop voice was fading in and out. All those questions and such bounciness! It was too much to take in.
Molly stood up and went to the door.
“I’ll wait for you in the glade Annabelle. We have lots to talk about now.”
She opened the door and with a final smile at Annabelle and the Grand Fairy, she walked though it.
She closed the door behind her.
CHAPTER 11
The next few weeks passed quickly. The Grand Fairy had decided that Molly would be taught the basics by Great-Grandmother Gibby. She was the logical choice. She had trained Annabelle and was finding retirement hard to handle. She was tired of her Fairy Floss classes and grumbling about improper sugar, making the classes harder than they needed to be.
Triple C would be intensified and hopefully Molly would earn her TGP quickly. Triple C focused on learning to collect, carry and catalogue teeth. The lessons didn’t include flying, which was a disappointment to Molly. She meant to keep her eyes open on the next flight but didn’t yet know when that would be.
Annabelle was uncertain if Molly would ever earn her Tooth Gathering Proficiency certificate, and found that worrying. Molly had been spending a lot of time with Eddie and, knowing Eddie, he still wanted to help Annabelle. That was not such a good idea. Eddie got into more trouble than all the other elves.
Because he liked to help.
