My husband and I head out in our hiking boots when the dawning sky slides from lavender to blue. He treks up the hill ahead of me, and we squint when the sun twinkles through the trees.
“Stop!” I shout, too late.
My husband shrieks and bolts behind me. “What?”
“Oh my God, you stepped on it.” I suck a breath through my teeth.
“On what?” Nature boy peers over my shoulder and then checks the soles of his boots for dog turd or deer duds. But poop isn’t the problem.
I creep forward and squat down for a closer look. The thing is squashed, imprinted with his zig-zag tread, opalescent wings mashed into the pine needles. I poke it to see if it’s alive.
“What is it?” he asks from a safe distance.
I look up at him, the horror of our situation congealing in my chest. “We’re in such big trouble. You stepped on a fairy!”
“A what?” He inches forward as if the fairy’s going to leap up, whip out a wand, and shrink him into a toad. “Is that bad?”
“Of course, that’s bad!” A wing flutters, and we share a glance. “It’s not dead. We have to do something.”
“Throw it in the bushes.”
“No! We have to help it.” I gently scoop the fairy onto a fern, and we head downhill. “We need to call someone for advice.”
“Take it to the vet,” Mr. Helpful suggests.
“The vet?” I shake my head. “I’m calling Colleen Chesebro. She knows about fairies.”
“The swamp-fairy whisperer lady?”
“She doesn’t live by a swamp anymore. I think her fairy knowledge has expanded.” We push through the screen door, and my husband fills a shoebox with toilet paper as if he’s adopting a gerbil.
“Really?” I blink at him. “Toilet paper?”
“It’s soft and fluffy,” he explains.
I rest the fern on the soft, fluffy toilet paper and call Colleen. With the phone on speaker, we chit chat our greetings and get to the issue at hand. “Colleen, my husband crushed a fairy and—”
“He what?”
Hubby jumps in, giving me the skunk eye. “I stepped on it by accident.”
“Anyway,” I say, “It’s still alive, but it’s sort of squashed, and we don’t know what to do.”
“First thing,” Colleen says, “leave it in the woods where you… squashed it.”
The hubby and I wince in unison and look down at the shoe box. “Umm…” I say into the phone.
Colleen sighs. “Okay, scrap that. New first thing, bring it back to where you found it and leave it there.”
I grimace at the phone. “That doesn’t seem very compassionate.”
“Fairies are magical,” Colleen explains. “Trust me.””
“What if the raccoons get it?” my husband asks.
“The raccoons won’t bother it?”
“Cougars?” he asks.
I worry he’s going to list off the entire contents of the animal kingdom, and apparently, Colleen does too because she nips that recitation in the bud. “Animals don’t harm fairies. Nature is symbiotic. You probably have a forest fairy, part of the same ecosystem as the ferns, moss, and trees. The Earth will heal it or transform it.”
“Oh,” I say. “Well, I guess that makes sense. Are you sure?”
“If I’m wrong you’ll only be cursed for life.” She chuckles. “Just kidding.”
Great, a comedian, but I have to ask, “How will we know if you’re right?”
“We won’t be cursed,” my brilliant husband replies.
“You’ll know.” Colleen smiles through the phone line. We give her our thanks and hike back up the hill with the shoebox. The sun shoots spears of warmth through the evergreen, and we gently rest the fairy and her fern a little to the side of the path. The least we can do.
The next morning, coffee in hand, we climb the leafy path to check on our charge. The fairy is gone, but the forest is alive with butterflies.
pixabay images
Thanks to Sue Vincent for her Thursday #Writephoto prompt, and to Colleen for letting me insert her in my story. I hope you enjoyed my fairy tale.
Coming to the aid of a little creature goes beyond humanitarian-to angelic! Nice share!
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Thanks for stopping by to read. It was a fun little story to write and all ended well. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 Have a great week!
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So nicely inspired concept, images and story construction. And I loved the end which was magically punctuated!!💕💕
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neat one!
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Thanks! It was fun. My poor husband really is an inept nature boy. This actually happened with a turtle. 🙂
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lol😊
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What a delightful little story, Diana! I always love reading these little prompt-inspired episodes you dream up! I adore your Romantic view of earth and nature, and the way you find and celebrate the magic in it. Nicely done.
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Thanks, Sean. This was kind of fun to write and based on a true encounter with a turtle. 🙂 No fairies were hurt in the making of this story. Have a great Sunday and Happy Writing!
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A darling story with humor, Diana. Your poor husband, having him stepping on a fairy. That’s a great ending. 😀 — Suzanne
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Thanks for reading, Suzanne. It was a fun one and I enjoyed making fun of the husband. ha ha. Colleen was a great sport too. 🙂 Have a great weekend and watch out for fairies!
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Awesome! I read the story before I looked at the pictures, so I was not expecting that he stepped on a fairy. Love this!
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Thanks. It was just what popped into my head. 😀 And I enjoyed writing in a little humor. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
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This was enchanting, Diana! The way husband handled it was both sensitive and reminiscent of how boys and girls find things in the woods and choose shoebox full of toilet paper or tissues.
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Thanks, Robin. I’m so glad you enjoyed the little adventure into the woods. I remember those days of shoe boxes and toilet paper too. Not many of my rescues survived, unfortunately. Thanks for reading!
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I always enjoy your writing in any form, Diana. It is sometimes not easy due to work and busy times with grandies. I’m amazed you are so productive!
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I take mini-breaks!
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Super story Diana. You grabbed my attention right from the start.
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Thanks, Denzil. It was a fun one to write. I like creating from prompts and this one jumped out at me. 🙂 Have a great week and Happy Writing!
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Love, love, love this, Diana. What a magical story. If it’s a true story, then I hope you’re both safe. I’m sure you will be. After all, it wasn’t an evil fairy you squashed, was it? 🤔
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I’m hoping the fairy recovered, Hugh. I’m a believer that intent is super important, and our intent wasn’t to harm the fairy. Colleen was a wonderful sport about playing along. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, my friend. ❤
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What a wonderful and funny story, Diana! “Throw it in the bushes” totally cracked me up! 😄 And I’m so glad the fairy survived – in a way. Transforming it seems so naturally magical – great idea! 😊💜
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That is so typical of my husband. He’s like a kid who hides his mess-ups and pretends innocence hoping no one will notice. I’m so glad you got a laugh out of the story. Thanks for reading and Happy Sunday!
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I can very much relate to his behavior! 😉 Though I have to admit that I never get away with it! 😀
Have a great week, Diana! ❤
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Loved this!
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Thanks so much for reading. I enjoy writing from prompts. They’re always inspiring. Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Reading!
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loved the husband.
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Thanks, Jina. He’s a little like that 😀 This is based on an encounter with a turtle where he actually shrieked and ran away. Ha ha. Glad you enjoyed it. Have a wonderful Friday!
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oh my god. i wonder if your husband reads your blog? or does he run a blog where he talks about you?
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He doesn’t read my blog, but I’ve told the turtle story so many times, I don’t think he’d be surprised. I have lots of stories about Nature Boy. 😀
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Nature boy, huh? i’d love to meet him someday. As that is probably something that will never happen, i’d love to read more embarrassing stories about him – i love embarrassing stories!
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Here’s one if you are inclined, that mentions some of his nature anxiety: https://mythsofthemirror.com/2017/05/26/living-with-nature-snakes/
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This delightful story will help me be careful where I step. But if I should ever have an accident, It’s comforting to know the Earth will heal or transform.
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I think this was an aberration. Usually fairies are aware of us hulking humans and get out of the way. 😀 But yes, the Earth will heal or transform. It always does. Thanks for stopping by Joanna! Have a wonderful weekend.
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Good! You too!
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I really like this, and I was really worried there for a minute!
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Ha ha. No fairies were harmed in the writing of this story. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I had a blast writing it. 🙂 Happy Friday!
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Surely wonderful 🌸
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Loved this, Diana! Such a great magical realism shot ❤️ I’ve begun to enjoy the genre so this was absolutely delightful. I adore faeries and the humor in this!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed the humor. It was supposed to be a bit on the silly side. 🙂 And I’m glad you’re enjoying a bit of fantasy! Happy Friday, my friend.
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I had to read it again – I felt this is one of your stories that really happened – and, yes I do believe fairies exist. Love your writing as always 😊
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It’s based on a read encounter with a turtle, Bel, including Nature Boy’s shriek! Ha ha. I’m glad I sucked you into the story. Happy Friday!
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I knew it!!! Lol! You always make me laugh…Happy Friday 😊
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This was fun, Diana – “Take it to the vet’. Lol.
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Thanks, Teri. This is pretty true to how my husband would handle the situation. Fortunately we haven’t squashed any fairies in our back yard. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and Have a Happy Friday!
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Wow, love it! What a delightful write. It helped put a smile on my face after such an exhausting day; battling snowstorm and traffic jams. Thank you. 🙂
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Sorry to hear about the traffic jams and snow storms. I guess I shouldn’t complain about the gray skies and rain here. Have a wonderful evening ❤
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Magical! Had me smiling throughout and left me feeling.. well, magical!
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I’m glad I got a smile out of you. That was the point. Thanks for the visit and lovely comment. Have a wonderful day. 🙂
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Just letting you know that I’ve nominated you for a Sunshine Bloggers award because you’re so wonderful!! Fee free to check it out!
https://thebookwormdrinketh.com/2018/02/01/sunshine-blogger-award/
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Awww. Thank you! I wish it was sunny over here! I’m honored. 😀
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OMG, love this, Diana! I’ll be sure to watch carefully for fairies the next time I take a walk in the woods 😀
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Thanks, Julie. It’s a bit on the silly side and my poor husband took the brunt of it, but when I saw the prompt the story just had to be told. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it. Hope your writing is going well!
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Ahh, I love your fairy tale ❤ Have a wonderful day Diana 🙂 .
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Thanks, Lynne. It just popped into my head with the prompt. My husband took some ribbing, but he and the fairy (hopefully) survived. Have a wonderful day, my friend. 🙂
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What a great read. A true fairy tale.
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Thanks for visiting, Otto. I’m glad you enjoyed the story. My husband had a rough start with the fairy folk, but it turned out fine in the end. 🙂 Have a magical day.
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I believe every word of this story. Delightful!
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Thanks, Pam. No fairies were hurt in the writing of this story. Ha ha. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Happy Writing, my friend!
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At first I was reminded of the fairies in the movie “Labyrinth.” I love the bit about the butterflies at the end.
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Thanks, Chelsea. No actual fairies were harmed in the inspiration for this post. 😀 I’m glad you enjoyed the story. Happy Writing!
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