“In the forest stood an enormous tree”. I would say “it is a big tree but then I am only 3 inches tall.”
“Your Grandma may have told you stories about us. They call us fairies. Those pretty sparkly things that fly around the bottom of your garden.”
“But I don’t sparkle because I cannot fly.”
“It would be easier to just tell you my story.”
“We are born with wings and learn to fly as soon as we can crawl. Flying is special to fairies. They can visit anywhere and they can fly through the sparkly dust. This makes them sparkly and magical but you can only get the sparkly dust if you can fly.”
“I was born with wings just like other fairies. My name is Avia. While other fairies learnt to fly as easily as they learnt to walk. For some reason I found it a lot harder.”
“I would start to flap my wings and lift off the ground but then I would get dizzy. I crashed into everything. But still I kept trying. Trying and trying until “THAT DAY”.”
“THAT DAY”
“I had tossed and turned all night. For the next morning I was determined to fly. I was now 5 years old. All the other fairies had been flying for years. They came back from their flights with wonderful stories. I really wanted to be just like them.”
“I got up very early that morning before anyone else. I went out to the area where I practiced my attempts at flying. Some nice open ground, with not too many things to crash into.”
“ I started flapping my wings until I started to lift off the ground. Then I closed my eyes. I kept flapping and flying but since I couldn’t see where I was going I had to open my eyes.”
“Oh Dear! I got very dizzy. Started spiralling and dipping everywhere. Then a technicolour yawn. Oops! Sorry. I mean I vomited. Now it is very hard to fly and upchuck, I mean vomit and spiral and dip. I crashed.”
“I thumped then bumped and had the wind knocked out of me. When I felt a bit better I tried to stand up. Not so good as I felt quite sick and lopsided.”
“ By this time some of the other fairies had heard all the ruckus. They came out to see what was happening.”
“It seems that I had broken my wing. This crashing and hurting oneself had never happened before to a fairy. It was decided I should wait a month and see how things were with my wings and bruises by then.”
“The month passed and my wing didn’t heal properly. I tried to fly a couple of times but couldn’t get off the ground.
“My friends made a basket in a sling so they could carry me. I could ride in this while they flew. This seemed to be a good idea. But when we tried it I got sick and dizzy all over again. Not a pretty sight having a fairy hanging over the sides of a basket upchucking on all and sundry.”
“ So I am now a walking fairy. We decided that this was a lot safer for all involved especially me. My friends now bring me back stories and sparkly dust.”
“But a fairy who cannot fly, I just don’t know………..”
“I think I might just make myself a scooter…………..”
“Come back again and visit and when you see me walking on the ground you will know who it will be.”
“By the time you come again I should have my scooter going just think of all the tails I could tell. Bye I will see you later. I am going to find the things for my scooter……….”
TERRY “LEIGH” 02/10/04.
