Spring Shine Sparkles

by Jennifer Castle

  Addie grabbed Clara’s arm and whispered her idea.

  “Know what? You’re smart,” said Clara, taking off her backpack. She slid the camera keychain off one of the zippers and held it up to Shimmer Leaf. “Oh, Shimmer! Do you think this will help Spring Shine see what her wings really look like?”

  Shimmer tilted her head as she regarded the keychain, then her eyes lit up. “I get it! Yup, it sure will!”

  Clara placed the keychain on a rock and stepped back. Shimmer Leaf zoomed into the air, then flew in a circle around the little camera. She left a trail of sparkling purple, peach, and mint-green stripes behind her. Another circle, and then a third. The stripes hung in the air for a few moments, sparkling like glitter. When everything faded, the keychain was gone. In its place was a real, shiny silver digital camera.

  “Yay!” said Clara, clapping her hands. “Thank you, Shimmer!”

  Shimmer Leaf landed on Clara’s shoulder and dipped her head in a humble butterfly curtsy.

  Clara gave the camera to Addie. “You’re better at taking pictures than I am,” she said.

  Addie turned the camera on and held it up. “Okay, Spring Shine. We’re going to take a photo of you. That way, you’ll have proof of what your wings really look like. Can you open them as wide as you can?”

  Spring Shine wiped her tears with two of her left legs, then nodded. She spread her wings out straight. A light breeze ruffled them a bit, reminding Addie of a colorful sailboat.

  She raised the camera and took a few pictures, zooming in to make sure it was an up-close shot. Addie checked the screen. There was Spring Shine in all her rainbow glory. Addie thought, Nice! I do take good photos!

  “Come take a look!” said Sky Dance to Spring Shine. Spring Shine flew over and landed on Addie’s shoulder. Addie pointed to the image on the screen.

  “See!” she said.

  Spring Shine stared at the picture for several very long moments.

  Then she started crying again. “You guys are so mean!”

  “Mean?” echoed Addie. She couldn’t contain her shock. Nobody had ever called her “mean” before. Well, Clara had, but sisters don’t count.

  “What are you talking about?” Sky Dance asked. She sounded just as shocked as Addie.

  “All I see is white wings!” exclaimed Spring Shine. “My plain, boring, unmagical white wings!”

  She flew over to a nearby moss patch and started sobbing again.

  Sky Dance sighed in Addie’s ear. “This is the dark enchantment, for sure, making Spring Shine think she’s already lost her magic!”

  Clara touched Addie’s arm, then tapped her watch. “Hey, it’s getting close to noon. Remember what Mom said?”

  “Oh, right!” said Addie. She turned to Spring Shine, resisting the urge to reach out and stroke the butterfly. Addie hated seeing any creature so sad. “Spring Shine, would you come back to Brook Forest with us? We can help you find a kid who needs a wish.”

  “Save yourself the trouble!” said Spring Shine in between sobs. “It’s too late for me to earn my magic.”

  Addie turned to Sky Dance and Shimmer Leaf. “We have to go home right now or we’ll get in trouble with our mom. Will you talk to Spring Shine and convince her to come to Brook Forest? Maybe she’ll listen to you.”

  “We’ll do our best,” said Shimmer Leaf, but she didn’t sound at all confident.

  “Send us thought messages when you have some news,” added Clara.

  They waved goodbye to their butterfly friends and rushed off toward home. A surprise waited for them on the other side of the woods.

  CHAPTER THREE

  “I bet it’s a trampoline!” shouted Clara as they ran through the woods. The girls knew the way home by heart at this point. There were familiar trees and bushes to use as landmarks, not to mention some funny-shaped rocks. Addie’s favorite was the one that looked like a baby elephant snuggling with its mother.

  “A trampoline? After cousin Alexis broke her arm on one?” Addie replied. “Uh, I don’t think so.”

  “So what do you think the surprise is?”

  Addie opened her mouth to say she was absolutely positive the surprise was a swingset. But just as they were about to pass between two thin birch trees, something stopped her:

  A giant spiderweb.

  It stretched from one of the trees to the other, right at eye level. Another step, and Addie would have walked right into it. She held out her arm to stop Clara.

  “Watch the web!” she warned her sister.

  “Weird,” said Clara. “That wasn’t here a little while ago. Spiders work fast, I guess.”

  The girls ducked under the web. A few steps later, Addie looked up to see a familiar oak tree . . . and another spiderweb spun between the trunk of the tree and a big rock on the ground nearby. There was no way to crawl under or over it.

  “Okay,” said Clara as she and Addie stepped around the rock. “That’s weird and annoying.”

  The girls paused. They’d gotten a bit turned around, and Addie wasn’t sure which direction their next landmark might be.

  “It’s this way,” said Clara, pointing.

  “Are you sure?” Addie asked.

  “Yes! Hurry, we’re going to be late!”

  They found three more brand-new webs before they reached their own backyard, each one slowing them down or tripping up their sense of direction. Once they’d stepped onto the back deck, they took a half-second to brush the dirt and leaves off their clothes, then walked into the kitchen.

  Mom was still on her computer. She glanced up at the girls, then at her wristwatch.

  “Eleven fifty-nine,” she said. “Talk about cutting it close. But thank you for listening and being back when I asked.”

  “So what’s the surprise?” asked Clara eagerly.

  “I can’t tell you yet,” Mom teased with a smile. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

  “Is it a package that’s being delivered?” asked Addie. “Maybe a huge package?”

  Mom grinned wider, her eyes twinkling. “In a sense, yes.”

  Clara looked at Addie and mouthed the word TRAMPOLINE! Mom laughed. She was enjoying this a little too much.

  “Thanks a lot, Mom,” said Clara. “We rushed home and now we have to wait around?”

  Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

  “Addie, I’d like you to go answer that,” said Mom. Now she was biting her lip, trying to hide her smile, but not really succeeding.

  Addie walked down the hallway to the front door, her mother and Clara in tow. Why was she being asked to open it? Mom knew she felt shy about that kind of thing.

  She took a deep breath, turned the knob, and flung the door open.

  Then Addie gasped.

  For a moment, she saw fireworks in her eyes, like when the Wishing Wings turned her into a butterfly. But no magic was happening here. At least, she didn’t think so.

  “Hi, you!” said the girl on their porch.

  It was Violet!

  Addie squealed. The next thing she knew, she and Violet were hugging and jumping up and down at the same time. They stopped for a second to bring Clara into the jumping-hug.

  When they finally calmed down and stepped apart, Addie saw Violet’s parents standing nearby on the porch steps.

  It hadn’t been that long since Addie and Violet had seen each other, but it felt like years. Addie’s life was already so different. Plus, Violet looked different. Her dark-brown hair was much shorter, and now that they’d stopped laughing and screaming, there was something a little sad and quiet about her expression.

  “I can’t believe this!” said Clara. “What are you doing here?”

  “We were on a camping trip up north,” replied Violet, “and my parents arranged a little detour on our way home so we could see you.”

  Addie turned to Violet’s parents and said, “Thank you!” Then she gave her mom a hug. “Best surprise ever, Mom.”

  “I had a feeling it might be,” she said. “Come insi
de, everyone. Let’s give you the grand tour!”

  After they had shown Violet and her parents the entire house, and everyone had marveled over Squish’s cuteness, Addie and Clara brought Violet outside to the backyard.

  “Whoa,” said Violet as she gazed at the woods. “That’s a lot of nature.”

  “I wasn’t too thrilled at first,” Addie said. “But now we love it.”

  “And we have cool new neighbor friends,” said Clara, pointing to both sides of their backyard. “Over there is Oliver, and over here is Morgan. She’s awesome. She’s, like, Addie’s new best friend.”

  “Clara!” scolded Addie. She looked at Violet, and saw the look of deep hurt on Violet’s face. “She’ll never be my best best friend,” Addie told her. “That will always be you.”

  Addie held up the bracelet Sky Dance had made for her with magic and showed Violet the locket with their photo inside.

  Violet’s eyes teared up. She swallowed hard. “Same here,” she said.

  Then she sat down on the grass and started crying.

  “Oh my gosh,” said Addie, kneeling beside her friend. “What’s wrong?”

  Violet sniffled. “I—I miss you so much, Addie. What’s school going to be like without you there?”

  “You have all our other friends,” said Addie.

  “But they aren’t you!” Violet hung her head, then ran her fingers through her hair. “Also, I hate this haircut. It’s too short!”

  “I like it,” said Clara, kneeling on the other side of Violet. “It makes you look more grown-up.”

  “Really?” sniffled Violet. “I keep thinking it makes me look like I’m five. Because this is the haircut I had when I was five!” She let out a few more sobs. “Although I guess it helps that I have a PIMPLE on my chin! That also helps me look older!”

  Violet began to cry again, and Addie let her. She knew from experience that when her friend was sad, it was best to wait a few minutes before trying to cheer her up. Clara caught Addie’s glance and started making weird hand gestures. She was pointing to Violet, then pretending she was flapping her wings, then catching an invisible something in her hands.

  Addie stood up, grabbed her sister’s hand, and pulled her away.

  “What on earth are you trying to say?” asked Addie.

  “Duh,” said Clara in frustration. “Violet is the perfect person to catch and release Spring Shine! Obviously, she needs a wish!”

  “Oh my gosh,” exclaimed Addie. “You’re right!”

  “What is she right about?” asked Violet.

  Addie paused. Was it safe to tell Violet about the Wishing Wings? She didn’t live in Brook Forest, so maybe it would be okay. It would definitely make things easier if Violet knew how to help Spring Shine earn her magic.

  Clara gave Addie a nod, and Addie took a deep breath.

  “Violet,” she began. “We have something incredible to tell you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone else.”

  “Okay,” said Violet, looking curious, but also a little worried.

  Addie bit her lip. Where should she even start?

  ADDIE!

  The sudden voice in Addie’s head sounded full of panic.

  SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAS HAPPENED!

  It was Sky Dance sending a thought message. Addie saw Clara freeze and knew that she must be hearing from Shimmer Leaf, too.

  Spring Shine has disappeared! continued Sky Dance’s message. Madame Furia saw her leaving the grove with a group of purple spiders. Spring Shine told her that the spiders were helping her find the other white butterflies in the woods so she can live with them.

  Madame Furia was a caterpillar who’d been forbidden to turn into a butterfly when she was younger. It was her punishment for becoming jealous of another caterpillar and trying to frame her for a crime she didn’t commit. But now Furia was kind and helpful, a good friend to Sky Dance and Shimmer Leaf’s mother, Queen Rose Glow.

  “This is bad!” said Clara.

  “What’s bad?” asked a confused Violet.

  We’re coming to you, came the next message from Sky Dance. Together we’ll figure out what to do next.

  “Looks like we have to find some purple spiders,” said Addie to Clara.

  “Purple spiders?” asked Violet. “I’ve never heard of those.”

  Addie sat back down next to Violet.

  “I’ll explain everything,” Addie told her. “Are you ready for the best secret ever?”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “Magic,” said Violet, her voice flat. “Butterflies,” she added, even flatter.

  “Yes!” Addie insisted as excitedly as she could. “Magic butterflies!”

  “Who grant wishes!” chimed in Clara. “And talk! And are basically awesome!”

  Violet gave Addie and Clara a dirty look and drew in a deep, irritated breath. “I came all the way here to surprise you, and now you guys are messing with me for fun? That is so not okay.”

  “I would never in a million years mess with you!” cried Addie. “Violet, you have to believe us!”

  Addie felt Clara whispering in her ear. “We don’t have time to convince her. Sky Dance and Shimmer Leaf will show her the magic when they get here.”

  “That’s true,” Addie whispered back. “Okay, let’s focus on the purple spiders. I wonder if they come into Brook Forest or only live in the woods?”

  “That would be a good first thing to figure out,” Clara replied. “Let’s find a spider and ask.”

  Clara walked away and started wandering around the backyard, scanning it for spiderwebs. Addie turned to Violet, who was hugging her legs to her chest, looking confused and annoyed. Great, thought Addie, Violet is going to spend this whole visit mad at me! How could she make things right?

  “Violet,” said Addie, standing up and reaching out her hand to her friend. “You don’t have to believe us. Hopefully you will soon. In the meantime, can we show you the woods?”

  Violet’s eyes lit up now. Back in the city, Addie had steered clear of anything having to do with nature, but Violet was the opposite. She loved collecting rocks wherever she went, and digging in the mud after a rainstorm. Magic or no magic, Addie knew Violet would love to do some exploring.

  Violet smiled, grabbed Addie’s hand, and let Addie pull her up. Together, they walked between two of the trees that bordered the backyard.

  “Here’s a web!” called Clara, who was standing next to a thorny bush. When the other girls reached her, Clara bent down to the web.

  “Hello!” called Clara. “Anyone home?”

  Violet rolled her eyes. “If you’re going to keep playing the magic-bug game,” she said, “I’m going to see what I can find in the dirt over there.” Addie watched as Violet picked up a large stick and started poking around the roots of a large oak. Sky Dance and Shimmer Leaf better get here soon! she thought.

  “Let’s look over that way,” suggested Clara to Addie, pulling her toward a large, fallen branch lying on the ground. Sure enough, there was a web strung in the “Y” of the branch. A small brown spider was busy working there. It didn’t look at all magical.

  “Pardon me,” said Clara extra-politely to the spider. “Can I ask you a few questions?”

  No answer. The spider kept spinning its web.

  “This could take forever,” said Addie with a sigh. But then something caught her eye up ahead. There was an old tree stump that seemed to be twinkling in the sunlight. She drew closer. Clara followed.

  It was another web, stretched from the top of the tree stump to a rock on the ground. The strands looked thicker than other webs. When the light hit them, they shone like silver. Addie saw flecks of color in there too.

  “Purple!” she burst out. “It’s purple!”

  “Bingo!” exclaimed Clara, then went back into her polite mode. “Ahem. Madam Spider? Or Mister Spider?”

  Suddenly, a deep, rough voice came from inside the stump.

  “I prefer Sir Spider, thank you very much. Why are you bothering me
?”

  The sisters exchanged an excited look.

  “We need some help, Sir Spider,” said Addie, trying to sound as grown-up as possible. “Would you speak with us for a few moments?”

  There was a long silence while Addie crossed all her fingers and toes. Please please please! she thought. Finally, a tiny purple leg poked out of a crack in the tree stump. Followed by another, and another, and then the rest of the spider. Sir Spider was very big and very, very purple.

  He looked at Addie and Clara and said grumpily, “Okay, then. I’m here. What do you want?”

  When the light hit the spider’s back, it lit up in sparkles. The sparkles didn’t match his crankiness at all.

  “We’re looking for purple spiders who might know something about a Wishing Wing,” said Clara.

  Sir Spider waved two of his legs dismissively. “Eh, I don’t get involved in spider drama. Check with the spider next door.” He pointed both legs toward Morgan’s backyard.

  The girls thanked him and went over to Violet, who was holding an earthworm she’d pulled out of the ground.

  “Want to come meet my neighbor?” asked Addie.

  Violet looked toward Morgan’s yard and a shadow of jealousy crossed her face. “Okay,” she said, but didn’t sound at all excited about it.

  Once they stepped into the yard, they followed voices to Morgan’s playhouse. Through the playhouse window, Addie could see Morgan and Oliver. They were sweeping and dusting, getting the playhouse ready to be used again after months of neglect.

  “It’s so cool that they’re friends again!” Addie muttered to Clara, and Clara nodded in agreement. That had been the happiest result of their adventure with Blue Rain.

  “Hey, guys!” said Morgan as she and Oliver came out to meet them.

  “Morgan, Oliver, this is Violet, our friend from the city,” said Addie.

  Violet glanced at Addie, looking even more bummed out than before (if that was possible).

  “That’s all I am now?” asked Violet. “Your friend from the city?”