The Part-Time Job
After a busy day, there is nothing quite like sitting back in a comfy chair with a mug of hot chocolate and a biscuit. The chances of Jenny getting to do this were remote. Right in front of her stood the Fairy Queen, looking about as friendly as she had last time.
'And what do you want, Ma'am?'
The Queen sighed. 'You have all the charm of your mother. Where is she?'
'Mother and I see right through you and will call you out on it. You're the super-duper magical being. You should know where she is.'
Jenny finished the last of her orange hot chocolate. 'Oh and if you think I'm coming back to your poisonous world, forget it. Eddie's run me ragged today.'
'He's teething. Once the tooth's through he'll be much easier to handle. It's due to teeth we're here at all. Every one of my tooth fairies has come down with wing blight and can't fly for 24 hours. There's a huge round of visits tonight and...'
'You were thinking of asking Mother to stand in? Are you mad? She's got the sympathetic attitude of a bear with earache at the best of times. That's fine when you want some foul fiend killed but not for this.'
The Queen just looked at Jenny.
Jenny sighed. 'Oh all right, I'll get my wand.'
***
Two women watched Jenny diligently carry out the tooth fairy's duties.
One said, 'Pay up then, Eileen. Told you she'd do it. And she's right about you being like a bear with earache!'
A Summer Retirement, Maybe
When a witch decides to hang up her broom, it is best she does so quietly and disappears. Else she will find she is disappeared and her broom stolen. And nobody was doing that to Griselda. She knew the horror stories.
And she'd sent those two brats packing with as much sweet stuff as the greedy pair could handle. There was no way Griselda was being shoved in an oven for anyone. Besides, she’d never seen the point of gingerbread houses. That sensible one from the three little pigs had got it right when he used bricks but no, she was told, it was traditional. A witch always lives in a gingerbread house.
Not any more, Griselda thought. Not now those greedy kids had carried everything away. Goodness knew where they’ve stored it all. But that’s not my problem. Not now.
Besides it would help her good friend, Labelle the Tooth Fairy. Her rounds had been quiet of late. Hansel and Gretel would soon put that right if Griselda was any judge. And if she wasn't anymore, maybe it was time to go after all. She wasn’t a fool. It was time to face up to being in the autumn of her life with a chilly winter just around the corner.
But she would exit in a way she thought fitting. Reports of a dragon sighting were all over the news and as Griselda checked her monster slaying kit (every good witch had one), she realised, for the first time ever, she had nothing to lose.
Beat the beast and she'd still be useful and prove those who scoffed at her age wrong. She might still be in the summer of her life after all, though she conceded to herself it would be an extended summer. While even she knew she could only extend things for so long maybe, just maybe, she would have a late final flourish, just like her roses had last year. She liked the thought of that. She could be every bit as prickly when she chose. That beast would regret crossing her.
Lose and she'd die quickly and be remembered for a heroic though tragic failure but her exit would be remembered. It would be an honourable way out. It would be quick too.
She slipped on her cloak and pointed hat. It was time to go and find out if summer or winter awaited her then.
The Balcony Seen
I felt their love pour into my soul. A trumpet could’ve sounded near the two youngsters and they wouldn’t have noticed. But on seeing the young man talking up to his girl on the balcony, I made myself stop and hide behind the roses climbing upon the wall of the girl’s home.
I envied her. When had someone last spoken words of love to me, yet alone words that almost seemed musical? But the love kicked out my envy and I just hoped things would work out for these two. Oh I knew who they were.
Some would say I should have spoken to the parents and stopped this. No! I hoped the love here could stop the stupid fighting. And as I listened on, I recalled my darling as he tried wooing me all those years ago. He was nowhere near as eloquent as young Romeo but my love’s words were for me alone. I treasured them then, I treasure them now. He was taken from me five years ago now - and all I know of love now is the pain and emptiness when it has gone.
I looked at Romeo and Juliet. I wanted to cry out to them. Make the most of this. Make the most of NOW. None of us knows how long we have here…
But they wouldn’t have heard me, even if I had.
As for what happened later, I will always wonder if I did the right thing…
Restless
'Restless, you are, Wilma, that's what you are - always have been, always will be.'
'Restless, surely not, I just can't get comfortable that's all. Some sympathy and understanding would be nice, Fred. Nobody sets out to be restless, you know.’
'Restless, I said, and restless I meant. Why has it always taken you so long to settle anywhere?’
'Restless, that's the last thing I should be in here; I always thought I'd have some peace here.'
'Restless spirit, restless grave, Wilma. I did think I'd have a break from your fidgeting when I joined you in here!’
About the author
Allison Symes, who loves quirky fiction, is published by Chapeltown Books, CafeLit, and Bridge House Publishing. She writes for Chandler’s Ford Today and Writers’ Narrative.
Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee? Half of what you pay goes to the writers and half towards supporting the project (web site maintenance, preparing the next Best of book etc.)
Support Me on Ko-fi
No comments:
Post a Comment