Fairies Call.

A thing that did me enthral,
Was an invitation to a Fairy Ball.
Pixies and Gnomes, Fairies and Elves,
All came to the ball dressed as themselves.
An orchestra of Leprechauns played a tune,
This all took place in the month of June.
Some were dancing while others ate a meal
I remember thinking that this was for real.
There was a banquet of delicious berries and fruits,
Served by Trolls dressed up in their very best suits.
To drink there was some Parsley wine,
Served in Golden Beakers that were so fine.
All in all it was a merry sight,
As pretty little Glow Worms lit up the starry night.
Then at the very crack of dawn,
I awoke in my bed with one big yawn.
I was pleased to have been invited to the Fairy Ball,
And I will listen again for the Fairies call.

Golden Bubble.

On one of my long walks somewhere in Great Britain, I will not tell you where. I had the following adventure. With my rucksack on my back and a walking stick in my hand, I was walking along thinking what a grand day it is. The next thing that I knew I was falling through what seemed to be a hole in the middle of a moor. Landing on my two feet I felt my legs to see whether I had perhaps broken a bone. Luckily I was all right. I had landed against a wall of what looked like a large cave. In the middle of the cave a fire was burning on a large flat stone. Over the fire a cauldron is hanging on a tripod. A woman whose face is covered in warts and long black single hairs is busy throwing herbs into the cauldron. A shelf with a large number of stone jars is against the what; I will call the back wall, which is the wall facing me. From these jars the woman took sometimes a handful sometimes just a pinch and threw it into the cauldron a she did so she called out, “appear golden bubble,” I watched the woman for quite some time she had not noticed me standing against the wall. A large black cat came over to where I was standing and rubbed itself against the legs of my trousers.

I watched the woman for what seemed like hours, there was something about her that made me keep very quiet and watch all that she did. From the ceiling hung many different bundles of herbs occasionally she took from the bundles an herb and threw it into the cauldron. Every now again she put a piece of firewood on the fire. I was surprised that she had not noticed me, for each piece of wood that she threw onto the fire, caused a bright shower of sparks that lit up the cave quite well. Soon I noticed that the brew in the cauldron had begun to bubble, the woman began to croon to herself. “Appear, my golden bubble, appear,” this singsong crooning, hurt my ears and I switched off my hearing aids. I could still see the woman’s lips moving and now she took from a box a powder. One handful of this brown powder she threw into the caldron and shouted out, “Appear my golden bubble,” I heard this and watched the cauldron. A large brown bubble something like a soap bubble that one sees when children blow into their bubble pipes slowly rose out of the cauldron.

Then I noticed that all of the herbs and the stone jars were slowly disappearing into the bubble. The women it seemed wanted also to go into the large brown bubble but she remained as if fixed to the floor. Making a big effort she threw herself at the bubble, which threw her back, and then I saw the bubble turning into a bright golden colour the bubble got bigger and bigger and then I felt the pull I too was moving toward the cauldron and the bright golden bubble. Whoosh I vanished into the bubble. I had expected the bubble to be hot, after all the fire had been burning for quite some time. No! I went through the bubble quickly and found myself in a large cave, around me were the herbs and the stone jars, not a jar was broken. Then I recognised the cave it was one of the caves where the little people go in the long winter months. The woman’s cat appeared next and came to me. I think she was frightened and wanted some company. I stroked the cat and at the same time I put out a mental call to her Majesty Queen Feeana. A bright blue flash and her Majesty appeared, she was as lovely to look at as she always was.

Smiling Her Majesty asked me why I had called her. I told Her Majesty about the experience of my falling into the cave and the woman with her cauldron. Taking a small bunch of the herbs Her Majesty placed them on her magic mirror. She saw the pictures of the woman who is now standing in an empty cave. Even the fire on the large flat stone and the cauldron had appeared. Her Majesty was very much concerned that a woman by using magic could send objects through the air to land at the most secret of caves under the Himalayan Mountains. This had never happened before the caves were a secret known only to the little people and to those that read my little stories. A wave of her magic wand and the woman appeared beside the cauldron the fire of which was still burning. “ You want to come to the caves to live,” asked Her Majesty. “Yes came the reply I want to get away from the cold hard world where no one wants an old woman that makes medicines.” “Your wish shall be granted on one condition.” Said Her Majesty. “You will stay in these caves until you find a cure for the common cold that is a plague to the human race.” “Are you agreeable?” “Yes,” said the old woman and she is till in the caves and the only visitors that she gets is when some of the wise old fairies visit her with any newfound herbs. She is to my knowledge still in the caves.

Bogies.

The smell was getting more and more intense. Apart from the bad smell, ones nose was irritated and started to run as if one had a bad cold. I Looked everywhere in the house but neither upstairs nor downstairs was any thing to be found that might be the cause of the smell. What is more it seemed to be getting worse by the hour. I have opened all of the doors and windows but the smell persists. I went for a long walk to clear my head. The clean fresh air was wonderful and cleared my nose. Here outdoors the air was fresh with the smells of flowers.

This I thought to myself is silly there must be something causing my house to smell so badly. I slowly made my way home and as I entered the back door there was no smell at all to be smelt just the ordinary smell of polish and soaps that I use to clean the house. This is indeed a mystery. I went once again all over the house looking and smelling for something bad. There was nothing behind the cupboards, nothing under the stairs, in fact nothing out of the ordinary in the whole house.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully and I went back to my normal routine. I made my dinner looking carefully in the larder and the refrigerator to see if something or another had gone bad. There was nothing in the house to cause a bad smell. I even went to my toilets and made sure they were extra clean by disinfecting them. I usually disinfect the toilets twice a week but could find nothing out of the ordinary.

The day went round as it always does, I made and eat my tea and for supper I had a cup of cocoa and after washing the dishes I went up to my bed. The next morning I awoke to an even worse smell. I got out of my bed and threw the windows open wide. All of the upstairs windows and doors I opened, then I went down stairs and opened all the downstairs windows and doors. I then pulled on my jacket and went down into town to have some breakfast at a small cafe. I could not stay and eat in the smell in my own house.

I went back home after eating a meal in another restaurant, I was not very hungry but it was now midday and I had to eat something. When I arrived back home, all was well there was nothing to be smelt except for the polish and soaps and disinfectant that I use. I decided to go to Her Majesty Queen Feeana and get her advice. My house as I have told you in one of my previous stories is protected by magic against attack from Wizards and Witches. It was time I thought to see what Her Majesty could do in the way of help; I could not get up everyday and have to escape the smells not in my own house.

Going into the woods I asked an Owl to take a message to Her Majesty for me. He was to say it was urgent. I did not want to wake up to another smelly house it was terrible. Her Majesty came in her usual way, a blue flash, a puff of smoke and she stood before me in all of her loveliness. “ You are terribly worried about something,” were her first words. I told Her Majesty about the terrible smells coming from my house in the morning when I awoke from my sleep.

Her Majesty Queen Feeana looked in her famous magic mirror but there was nothing to be seen. No Witches, No Wizards, no one. “This is strange,” said Her Majesty. There is only one thing to do and that is for me to stay the night at your house and see for myself what is the cause of the smells. Taking my hand we both landed in my back kitchen. Her Majesty smelled and sniffed the air but there was nothing but the ordinary smells of a house that is lived in.

I made tea and a small meal and we went into the parlour to eat. After all I could not expect Her Majesty to eat in my kitchen, clean as it always is. After our meal I washed the dishes and put them away and Her Majesty and I made ourselves comfortable in the parlour. It was exactly four o’clock when I smelt the first smells coming. Her Majesty was wide-awake and had too noticed the smells and that something was not in order.

Taking out her Magic Wand Her Majesty spoke a few words in the Fairy language and then they appeared. About a hundred small beings that her Majesty said were Bogies appeared they were in every room and each had a small pot that was steaming over and from the pots came the smells. Another wave of the wand and all of the bogies stood still. The pots they were carrying stopped steaming and the smells quickly vanished. One of the Bogies Her Majesty released from his spell and he quickly told us this story.

An Author that too wrote about Fairies was jealous of my abilities to write down that which I saw and lived through. He had for years kept Bogies more or less as slaves and he made them do all kinds of things against anyone that he did not like. Her Majesty then freed all of the Bogies and told them to go and find themselves a new home. Nothing would happen to them. Soon all of the Bogies had disappeared and the Author that is jealous of my Fairy stories now has writers block and cannot write a thing and will not be able to until a whole year has gone past.

My house is now once again liveable and what is more I have Bogie protection. One of the Bogies has come to live in my house and appears and disappears whenever he feels like it. What is more the Bogie likes cleaning and now my house is extra clean and tidy. No bad smells for over a year now so all is well in the house of Shaw.

Children.

Twenty children at my feet,

I had arranged that we meet.

I told them of the Fairy Queen,

And all the fairy things I'd seen.

Large open eyes followed my every word,

for I spoke of fairy things unheard.

Like the dragon fly with silvery wings,

and the stardust that the fairy brings.

Leprechauns that hide their gold,

In pots that are ever so old.

Winged horses that fly so high,

How the Fairies painted the butterfly,

Of fairy homes in the woods,

magic wands that produced the goods.

Names of the little people from over the sea,

Yes all of these things they heard from me.

Twenty happy children at my feet,

I am so glad that we did meet.

Now the children know of fairy things,

and all of the magic that a fairy brings.

Discipline.

Long ago in Fairyland there was a fairy that would not behave her self. Whatever she was asked to do, she refused and went off to play or what is worse to do some damage. The wise old fairies had warned her many times but she ignored all of their warnings and misbehaved and was in fact a general nuisance. This would not have been so bad but she talked other fairies into doing what ever she did wrong. The Fairy Queen of that time decided to talk to the fairy to see whether she could get her to change her ways. Even the Queen could not make her see the senselessness of her doings. The fairy whose name is never spoken in Fairyland told Her Majesty that she would do exactly as she pleased it was none of Her Majesties business. No one had ever spoken to the Queen in this way before and Her Majesty decided to teach the fairy a lesson. Pointing her magic wand at the fairy she spoke in the old language and the fairies wings melted away. Then the fairy grew to be the size of a human being. “You will never be allowed to enjoy all the rights and privileges of the fairies anymore. Go out into the world of the humans you are no longer welcome in Fairyland.” The change in the fairy was so great that she could hardly walk, her first steps as a human made her look ridiculous. Without her wings she had no sense of balance and not one of the fairies offered to help her. Off she went never to be seen again.

Some thirty years later a woman appeared in Fairyland, she was harmless and collected herbs and berries, nuts and mushrooms. The fairies on seeing the woman felt sorry for her and often showed the woman where the best berries and nuts and herbs were to be found. They even showed her where to dig for the roots that she needed to make her lotions and potions. One day one of the fairies became very ill. The fairy had a very high temperature and the wise old fairies came and gave her different herbal mixtures but the fever just would not go away. Each night the fairies took it in turn to watch by her bed, one day after another went by and the fairy became worse and lost weight. The wise old fairies did not know what to try next and one of the younger fairies made the suggestion that the woman that collected herbs and other growing things in the woods should be asked whether she could help.

The fairies looked for the woman then they found her sitting under an old oak tree. Telling the woman about the very ill fairy she asked if she could see her and perhaps be of help in making the fairy well again. The fairies took the woman in their midst and off they went to the fairy hospital where the fairy lay very ill in bed. The woman examined the fairy looking very carefully at her tongue and in her mouth. Taking a glass bottle from her bag she poured a few drops of the liquid onto the fairies tongue. “Now we can only wait,” she said. Slowly the fairy that was so ill opened her eyes and asked where she was. The woman gave her some more drops in her mouth and told the wise old fairies to feed her with plenty of honey. The women went away and the fairies told Her Majesty the Queen about the woman’s help. The fairy is now up and going about her little duties in the woods. Her Majesty said that she would like to see the woman that had been so kind as to help a fairy. Out swarmed all of the fairies looking for the woman. They finally found her sitting again under the old oak tree, which seemed to be one of her favourite places. Taking the woman by the hand the fairies took her to see Her Majesty the Queen.

Her Majesty on seeing the woman smiled and said these words. “I see that you have learned very much since I turned you into a human, now you have helped a fairy without any wanting of reward.” “ I will turn you back into the fairy that you once were, the only difference will be that you will keep your knowledge and your wanting to help.” With a wave of her wand and a few words in the old fairy language and the woman turned into a fairy again. Her wings grew and with a thank you to Her Majesty she flew high up into the air and landed gracefully on her feet. She with her vast amount of healing knowledge is now one of the wise old fairies. All is well in Fairyland as I write this little story.

How I found the Fairies.

In the woods at the back of my old house,

Fairies abound say my large family Mouse.

I somehow did not think that this was true.

But one of the Fairies was dressed all in blue.

Early in the morning by the first light of day,

To the green woods we were all on our way.

I saw the Fairies painting some flowers.

There appeared one of April’s showers.

The Fairies did not get wet at all you know.

They turned the raindrops into white snow.

Toadstools they painted and mushrooms.

They sloshed on paint with backyard brooms.

Then the Fairies saw all my mice and me.

They quickly vanished behind a large tree.

My mice and I we all remained quite still.

Just to show the Fairies our good will.

Shyly they came and spoke to the Mice.

My Mice told them that I was quite nice.

The Fairies asked me to stay for the day.

I said I would if I wasn’t in their way.

The Fairies all painted right up until noon.

Then off they went to paint the new moon.

They took me with them I was so pleased.

All went well until I accidentally sneezed.

The Fairies and my Mice are all gone.

On my white pillow the Sun just shone.

I was so upset I stayed in my bed all of the day.

Hoping that the Fairies would again come my way.

Dragon’s Tears.

As I am writing this short story the first snow of winter is falling. The ground is covered in white and I am looking at the falling snowflakes from the comfort of my old arm-chair before a fire of logs that give off a crackling sound as they slowly burn to a bright red ash. Occasionally I place another log onto the fire and look out of my window pleased that I do not have to go out into the snow. The flakes are now more intense and the snow has covered the garden all in white even the bushes have a white overcoat. The most important thing is the silence; it is as if all sounds that one normally hears are gone. I remember wondering what happened to the roar of traffic that one hears from the not too distant motorway.

The last thing I remember is the crackle of a burning log. Dropping off into a doze I found myself in a far distant land. Here there was no snow just thick lush grass waiting to be cut for the winters hay. Peeping through the grass were numerous flowers. I remember thinking that they would make a good bouquet for my dining table. Trees filled with ripening fruits were all around the hay field these seemed to be basking in the afternoon sun. I heard the voices coming as if from far away. At first I did not think that they were voices but part of the afternoon sounds that one hears in the countryside.

The sounds continued. It was the Fairies and a Dragon. The Fairies were carefully collecting the teardrops that were running down the Dragons face. Dragon’s tears are very important for the casting of certain spells. To get the tears the Fairies have to tell the Dragon some very sad stories. Sometimes even these sad stories do not always work. It is very difficult to get Dragons tears and the Fairies use a trick they get the Dragon to peel onions, many onions this always works and the Fairies too, cry for there is nothing like peeling onions to make the eye’s water.

One small bucket after another was slowly filled with Dragon’s tears and these the Fairies poured into special bottle as each bottle was filled it was sent by means of the Fairies magic wands to the place where the wise old Fairies looked after all of the herbs and magic things that were stored there ready for use when needed. As the Dragon saw me it cried even more. This delighted the Fairies that were collecting the teardrops and they asked me to tell the Dragon a sad story. I agreed and told the Dragon this, my following little story.

A long, long time ago when there were many Dragons in this world, a young Knight in shining armour killed a Dragon. No not a full-grown Dragon just a young baby, one might say. The Parents of this baby Dragon swore revenge on this young Knight that had killed their only child. They followed the Knight, day after day, always one day behind him. The knight became very famous as a slayer of Dragons. As I told the Dragon my story the tears rolled down from his eyes onto its cheeks and then into the Fairies buckets.

The name of the young Knight was Mortimore. Mortimore the Brave he was called by all of the people he killed one Dragon nearly every day. My Dragon cried and cried. The Fairies then told me that they had enough Dragons tear drops for the wise old Fairies and that I could now end my story. I told the Dragon that at last the parents of the baby Dragon caught up with Mortimore the Knight and attacked him from both front and back. Mortimore had no chance and the two angry Dragons killed him and left him there for all to see. The once proud Mortimore that had killed hundreds of Dragons was now dead killed by the parents of the baby Dragon that he had first killed.

On hearing this, my Dragon stopped crying and started to boast about how good Dragons were and how bad the knights were. I then told the Dragon that I had made the story up for him so that the Fairies could get more of his teardrops, which were more famous than the Dragons that had killed Mortimore. With the teardrops one could make medicines or make magic spells that were very useful for all on this earth whether they be animal or human or Fairies. It was better to shed a few tears to do some good than to kill someone for revenge no matter what they have done on this earth.

The Fairies sent the Dragon to China where it still lives in a very remote valley to this very day. It does not cry any more but sometimes sighs as he remembers how he gave the Fairies his tears for medicine and magic. This always cheers him up and he walks the valley with his head held up on high.

I woke about five o'clock in time to place more logs on to the fire then to boil the kettle for my evening tea. I happened to look into the mirror and what do you know my eyes were very red rimmed as if I had been crying. I put it down to the logs that I had been burning perhaps they gave off some smoke that got into my eyes or indeed was I perhaps that Dragon that had given off so many tears for the Fairies. I do not know dreams are funny things to try and take apart.

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