The New Year Fairy…and Steve 5

“The food will be here in forty-five minutes.  Is there anything I can do?” asked Joey.

Lin shook her head.  She still didn’t trust herself to speak.

He took the silverware from her hands and put it in place on the kitchen table. “I can see that you’ve been through a lot,” he said, softly.  “Let me help.”

He didn’t realize he was making things worse, by being nice.  She was barely holding herself together and all his kindness was pushing her over the top. She smiled at him and touched his arm.  Midnight was circling her ankles and she picked him up.

“The animals are all healthy and fine,” he said, happily.

“I don’t know why she got so many,” said the Fairy.  “That’s a lot to take care of, when you’re falling apart.”

Lin filled two glasses with ice and poured water into them.  She drank one, filled it agin and put them on the table.

“Wheres mine?” asked Drew.  “Or do you two want to be alone?”

“We do,” said Joey.  “Thank you for understanding.”

“That was pretty smooth,” sighed the Fairy.  “Save me a slice?”

“We will,” he said.

He put his hands on Lin’s shoulders and led her to the chair.  Then nudged her to sit down.  She felt that if she tried to say something, anything, she’d explode, so she just sat there.

“Look, it seems as if you’ve had a lot to deal with, all at once..  There’s nothing wrong with you, you’re just in the place people go to before they come down.  It’s going to be okay.  I promise.”

She looked at him.  “How do you know?” she whispered.

“I just know.  Trust me, I’m a veterinarian,” he said, smiling.

For some reason, she started laughing.  “I’m so sorry about all of this.  I’m actually a stable adult.  I know you won’t believe that, but it’s true.”

“I do believe that.  You’ve been dealing with fairies and that’s a…”

“Wait, you knew about the fairies?”

“I’ve heard stories, but I thought that’s all they were.  I never met one.  At least not until today.”

Both cats jumped onto the small table and curled up.   Lin started to pet them and her breathing slowed to normal.  She bent over, kissed Snowflake and listened to her purr.

“I feel better,” she said.

“I’m glad.  It’s usually not a good thing to lay on the kitchen floor for any length of time.”

“It’s actually kind of nice down there,” she said, grinning. “Gives you a whole new perspective, when you look up.”

“I never thought about it that way,” he said.  So, what about us being made for each other?”

“That’s what Drew said.  She did know your name and she did stop my car from getting run over by a garbage truck.”

“No kidding.”

“She did.  And you’re as cute as she said you would be,” said Lin.  “She was right about that too.”

“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say to that.”

“You don’t have to say anything, it’s just a fact.  And I would never work with you because I couldn’t stand seeing an animal hurt, even if you could fix him.  I’m not able to do that.  You could bring in a person, who was a mess, but not an animal, and since you don’t work on people, I won’t work for you.”

“I’m glad we cleared that up,” he chuckled.

“Why did you become a vet?”

“I wanted to help animals and stop their suffering.”

“Thank you,” she said.

“For what?”

“For being that kind of a person.”

“You’re welcome. What kind of a person are you?”

“I’m not sure.  There’s so many interesting things in the world, it’s impossible to settle for just one.  Do you know what I mean?  Once you learn something then you know it, so you have to move on to something new, or else you fall asleep and never wake up.”

“I get that.”

“You do?”

“I do.”

“I think the pizza person is here, I’ll be right back.”

She dropped the pizza box and bag of fries on the table.  As soon as the cats were done walking on everything, they jumped down, and she opened the food.

This looks delicious and thank you for not trying to pay for dinner.  I feel bad enough already.”

“You’re welcome but you have nothing to feel bad about.”

“That’s nice of you to say, but you did find me on the floor.”

“Can I have my pizza now?” asked the Fairy.

Lin put a huge slice on a plate and gave it to her.  It was gone in two minutes.

“Thanks,” said the Fairy.  “I’m going home now.  Steve is outside waiting for me.  I think you two are smart enough to know you’re a perfect fit.  And Lin, best cake EVER.”

“Stop by now and then,” said Lin.

“Really?”

“Sure.”

“I will.  Double Dog cross my heart, pinky swear.”

Lin held out her little finger and they pinky swore.  Then Drew was gone.

“That was a nice thing to do,” said Joey.

“What was?”

“The way you said goodbye.”

“Oh, that.  Well, she’s kind of fun, so…”

“I heard her say, Oval Mice Goggles.  What does that mean?”

“It means, OMG.”

“Fairy talk?”

“Pretty much.”

“So,” he said.  “How do you like life around here so far?”

“I don’t.  I’m not staying. I mean I know this is a city, but it’s too small for me.”

“Too small?”

“Yes.  I’m not even unpacking.  I’m renting this place and I’m moving as soon as possible, maybe in another week, if I can get on the mover’s schedule.  He’s going to let me know.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Two weeks.”

“Don’t you think you should give it more time?”

“No.  I’ve already been here two weeks too long.”

“So, we aren’t meant for each other?”

“Not unless you’re willing to move.”

“My practice is here.”

“I know.”

“I just met you.”

“I know.”

“I don’t even know your last name.”

It’s Smith.”

“What’s your middle name?”

“I don’t have one.”

“Don’t you want to know my name?”

“You’ll tell me when you’re ready,” she said.

“Don’t you think this is happening too fast?” he asked.

“Life is fast. You either run with it, or you fall behind and miss everything.”

“Uh…”

“Stand up,” she said, knocking her chair over as she rose and walked over to him.  She put her arms around his neck and kissed him.

He wrapped his arms round her, and kissed her back.

The cats each grabbed a slice of pizza and took them into the living room.  The dog grabbed the fries.

The Fairy and Steve watched from outside the kitchen window.  “He’s a goner,” said Drew.  “He’ll move anywhere she wants to go.”

“You think so?” asked Steve.

“They’re still kissing, and his shirt just hit the floor,” laughed the fairy.  “It’s time to go.”

And they all lived happily ever after, in a really big city, where Drew and Steve spent their summer vacation, along with Brad.

The End

 

 

 

 

The New Year Fairy…and Steve, 4

“I think you should get up,” giggled Drew.  “If you lay on the floor too long, Joey might get here and think you’re dead or that you fell down.”

“He won’t be here for a long time,” groaned Lin, rolling to her side.

“It’s six o’clock,” said the Fairy, looking around.  “Why did you get so many animals?”  she asked, waving at the two cats.

Lin sat up, the towel falling from her face.  “WELL, I COULDN’T JUST LEAVE THEM THERE COULD I?”

“Why not?”

“LOOK AT THEM.  THEY KEPT STARING AT ME AND BEGGING ME TO TAKE THEM WITH ME.”

“YOU’RE TALKING VERY LOUD!” shouted the Fairy.  “VERY, VERY LOUD,”

“I am?”

“You were.”

“I’m a little overwhelmed.”

“I can see that, but don’t worry.  I named everyone for you.  The black cat is Midnight, the white one is Snowflake and the dog is Brutus.  So you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Not very original,” said Lin, laying back down on the floor.

“You could just say, THANK YOU!,” screeched Drew.

Lin stuck her tongue out at her.  “Is that THANK YOU enough?”

The fairy gasped, “You need a time out!”

Lin sat up.  “You know what?  You’re absolutely right.  That’s exactly what I need.”

“I’m right?” asked Drew. “Really?  About what?”

“I need a vacation!”

“No.  You don’t, you just need…”

“I’m going to book a trip somewhere.”

“You have cats and a dog to take care of.”

“They can come with me.”

“No, they can’t.”

“I’ll get a pet sitter, or maybe Joey can watch them for a few days.  I’M TIRED AND CRANKY AND EVERYONE WANTS SOMETHING FROM ME.”

“I don’t,” said Joey, looking in the back door.  “I came early to check on the animals, but I can see that you aren’t quite ready for me.”

“What makes you say that?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.  “Do you have something against sitting on the kitchen floor?”

“I don’t actually,” he said, joining her. The cats came in to investigate and the dog followed carefully behind them.  “What’s wrong?”

She shrugged and looked around.

“That bad?”

She nodded and wiped her face off with the dishtowel.

“Hi.  My name is Drew and I’m her Fairy.  Nice to meet you Joey.  Give her a chance.  You just caught her at a bad time and you two were meant to be together.  I know that for a fact.”

Joey stared at the Fairy fluttering in front of him.  Then he looked at Lin, who nodded and said, very softly.  “You just missed Steven.  Steven is her dragonfly.”

“He is.” said Drew, cheerfully.  “He’s my ride and yes, I know that if he was your size he’d eat all of us because dragonflies are vicious and deadly insects, but he’s okay because he’s small.”

“What’s happening?” asked Joey, his eyes wide.

“Ask her,” said Lin, nodding toward Drew.

“Okay, look,” said the Fairy.  “Lin just moved here, she has a new job and she left all of her friends behind.  She’s not starting over, because she’s a very happy person, but not everything is working out as planned, but then, when does that EVER happen?  Am I right?”

Joey nodded.

“So, since I’m her Fairy, you have one too, you know.  His name is Brad and he’s really hot, but never mind, this is about Lin and you too Joey.  So, she gets here and some of her things are lost or broken.  The house isn’t exactly what she was hoping it would be and she doesn’t like her job.  She always had cats and dogs but hasn’t for the last three years, and she misses them, so she went to the shelter and got these guys.  I named them but we can talk about that later.  I told her she would meet you because you two were meant to be together, that’s how she knew who you were when she bumped into you at the store.  It’s fate, in the cards, destiny, whatever you want to call it.  You two can make each other happy…oh, oh, oh…and she can work with you too, because she loves animals.  How fabulous is THAT.  So, I came here to help, but she’s freaking out a little because of all the things she has to do and I ate all her food.  Seven didn’t like any of her food.  She tried to give him tofu.  Can you believe that?  Tofu for a dragonfly?  That just goes to show you where her mind is lately.  I mean, come on.  She wasn’t at all happy when he asked for insects or small birds or fish, I can tell you that!

Joey and Lin sat staring at the fairy flitting back and forth in front of them.

“Then, she went to get the cats and dog and I knew she would meet you but it was supposed to be…mmmm…less rushed.  I never thought she’d ask you over right away.  I thought she’d meet you at your office first, but points to her for taking the initiative.  Then she came home and well, things kind of didn’t go as planned, so you found her on the kitchen floor.  She was going to make a wonderful dinner but there’s no food, so she was going to order out, or take you out or…

Joey turned to Lin.   “What’s happening?”

“You mean the fairy or me being on the floor?”

“Both” he said.

“Everything she said is true and I don’t know anymore than you do.

“Fairies aren’t real,” he whispered.

“I HEARD THAT,” said drew.  “I’M RIGHT HERE, YOU KNOW.”

“Sorry,” said Joey, “it’s just that this is a lot to take in and I’m kind of surprised.”

“Yeah,” signed Drew.  “That happens sometimes.  Lin’s handling it pretty well though, all things considered.”

Lin burst into laughter.

“She thinks it funny,” said the Fairy, smiling.

“I don’t think that’s why she’s laughing,” he said, looking into Midnight’s mouth, then into his ears.

“Why else would she be laughing?”

“I think she’s hysterical.”

Lin hit his arm and nodded.

“Don’t you think that’s strange?” asked the Fairy.

“No.  I don’t.  I think it’s a normal reaction to what’s going on.”

“Do you want to meet your Fairy, Brad?  Oh, PLEEEEEEZZZZZZZE say yes, please.”

“No.”

“You humans are such scaredy cats!” she said, landing on the kitchen counter.  “Honestly, no wonder all the other kinds don’t show themselves to you.”

“What other kinds?” he asked.

“Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously.”

“All other kinds of beings who live along side you guys. You don’t KNOW about them because they HIDE, or  just stay out of sight because you’re all such BIG BABIES.”

“Is she for really?” he asked Lin.

Lin nodded.

“I’m going to call for a pizza and fries, okay?  Maybe a salad as well.”

Lin nodded again and let him help her up.

“I’m not trying to usurp your position, but you’re new here and I know where the best pizza is.”

Lin took his hand for a second.  Then she started setting the table.

“She can talk, you know,” said the Fairy.  “Just not right now.  All the words, are stuck in her throat.”

 

 

 

 

 

The New Year Fairy…and Steve Part 3

“Is that what you’re going to wear?” asked Drew, here wings flapping erratically.

“What’s wrong with this?” asked Lin, looking down at herself?

“Nothing,” said the Fairy, “if you’re on your way to a mud wrestling contest?”

“What does that mean?  And when did you ever see a mud wrestling contest?”

“Aren’t those sweatpants?”

“No.”

“Yoga pants, am I right?”

“Fine, I’ll change but I don’t know why, since I don’t plan on actually meeting Joey, the VET.”

“I hope you’re nicer to HIM than you are to ME,” said Drew, snapping at her.

Lin counted to ten and then said, “I’m sorry.  I am.  Please forgive me.”

“Sure,” said the Fairy, happily.  “You’re forgiven, now go and get dressed in something that tells everyone that you’re confident, gorgeous and ready for an adventure.”

Lin stared at her.  “There are no clothes that can do that.”

“You need to look like a real person, not a slouch who is miserable and dragging herself from one place to another.  And try and do something with your hair.”

“Wow!  Don’t hold back, tell me how you really feel.”

“I just did,” said Drew.  “Didn’t you hear me?”

“I’m going to change.  Have a cookie while I’m gone.”

“I ate all of them already.”

“Then eat something else.”

“What?”

“Anything.”

“Okay,” she said.  “I hope you look better next time I see you.”

“So do I.”

***

“Better?”

“Oh, yes.  Much better,” she said, spinning in a circle.  “He won’t be able to help himself.”

“Right,” said Lin.  “So, I’ll see you when I get back.”

“You will?”

“Unless you’re gone, I mean.”

“Well, I could stay another day, just in case you need more help, like with the DECOR, or anything.”

“Are you saying the house doesn’t look right?”

“You said THE house, not MY house, and that’s what’s wrong.  Well, one of the things, anyway.”

Lin walked out the door, got into the car, and drove to the animal shelter.  Two cats and a dog picked her out and they went into boxes and a crate, so she could take them home.  She left the windows open and ran into the grocery store for their food and plowed into a good looking man with black hair and great eyes.

“Joey?” she said, surprised.

“Yes,” he said staring at her.  “Do I care for your animal companions?”

“You will be,” she said.  “I just got them and they’re in the car, so I’m in a hurry to get their food, but come for dinner tonight, or tomorrow night, so you can get to know them.  Here,” she said, writing her address and phone number on the back of an envelope that was sticking out of her purse.”

“This is the payment for your phone bill,” he said, looking at the envelope.

“Oh, that’s okay, just mail it, when you’re finished with it,” she said, turning to go.

“I’ll see you tonight?” he said.

“Okay,” she said, wondering if she could get less than fifteen cans of food, counting the bags, so she could go through the quickie line.

She drove home, let the animals out of their boxes and cage and started putting food and water into cereal bowls on the floor.  “I need to get special dishes for them tomorrow,” she said to herself.

“What are you going to make for dinner?” asked Drew.

“Ah, you’re still here?”

“Yes, so is Steven.”

“Great.”

“You didn’t answer my question.  What are you going to feed him.

“What?”

“Joey…when he comes for dinner.  What will you make?”

She looked around the kitchen.  “Take-out.”

“You can’t give a guy take-out when you ask him to dinner,” said Steven, flying into the room. “Even I know that.”

“Then I’ll TAKE HIM OUT because there’s no food, thanks to my guest and there’s no time to go back to the store.”

“The puppy just went to the bathroom in the hallway,” said Steven.  “And there’s a cat climbing up the drapes in the living room.  I can’t really be around cats,  since they want to catch and eat me, so I’m out of here.  Are you coming, Drew?”

“Yes, the food’s gone and I think she can handle things from here,” she said, joyfully.

“You’re both leaving?”

Drew nodded.  “You’ll be fine.  He’ll think your klutzy ways are cute.  At lest for awhile.”

“Klutzy?”

“Chinese or pizza,” said Steve, “and order a lot of fries.”

“Chinese french fries?  I can’t do this,” she said, sitting on the kitchen floor.  “I’m just going to lay down and hope it all goes away.”

“That’s not a very good attitude,” said Steven.

“MEOW!”

The dog ran into the room, skidded across the floor, and landed on Lin.   The cat, flew off the kitchen counter and landed on the dog.  The dog howled and took off, with the cat at his heels.

The Fairy and Steve were sitting on the curtain rod, over the sink, laughing hysterically.

Lin pulled the dishtowel off the chair and put it over her face.  “Just another day in paradise,” she sighed.

 

 

 

The New Year Fairy…and Steve

“Just a minute,” she sighed, staring at the backdoor.  “Give me a second,” she mumbled, trying to get the rubber gloves off of her hands.  “Why didn’t I buy EXTRA LARGE?”  She finally got them off, then accidentally dropped them into the dishwater. “Rats!”

There was another tap-tap, and she growled, flung open the door and said, “WHAT?”

No one was there.  She stepped outside, looked both ways, then clenched her jaw and closed her eyes, trying to control the scream that wanted to rip from her throat.  She thought about humming HAPPY HOLIDAYS but decided against it, since she thought that might just push her over the very fine edge she was standing on.

“Humans rarely look up,” said a high pitched voice.  “You all look down, but few of you look up and up is where all the good stuff is.”

She looked up.  “Who are you, what do you want?  And why are you riding on  a dragonfly?”

“I’m your New Year Fairy and this is Steve, my ride.”

“Dragonflies are killers and if he was bigger, he’d eat you AND me for dinner,” she said.

“Yes, but this one is a friend.”

“She’s right though,” said Steve, truthfully.  “I would have you both for dinner.  It’s just what we do.”

“You’re a drawing,” she sighed, ignoring Steve.  “A  BLACK AND WHITE DRAWING.”

“I’m not.  I mean I started out that way, but I was promoted to being real.  Sometimes I forget and still show myself as a drawing.  Sorry.”

“Never mind,” she said softly, wiping soapsuds off her knee.  “So, this is what going crazy feels like.  Fairies and dragonflies named Steve.  Honestly, I didn’t expect that.  Not at all.”

“Most people don’t meet their Fairy.”

“I would have been okay with that.”

“You’re funny.”

“No.  No, I’m not.  And what’s your name, I don’t want to call you, Fairy.”

“A Fairy is what I am, Drew is what I’m called.”

“So, now what, Drew?  What comes next?”

“I’m not sure.  This is actually my first gig.  I just graduated last week.”

“Of course it’s your fist time out.  Just my luck, an untried Fairy.”

“Oh, I’m so glad you think you’re lucky.  Thank you.”

“OMG,” she said, covering her face with her hands.

“Does OMG mean, oval mice goggles?”

“Yes.  That’s exactly what it means.”

“What fun.  And don’t park out in front because the driver of the garbage truck is going to be looking at his phone, because he had a New Year’s Eve date with the love of his life, and he’s waiting fro her to call, so he’ll smash into your car, if it’s out there.  If it’s not out there, then he’ll only run over your lawn and knock over the garbage cans.  What should I call you?”

She laughed, thinking of any number of names that would be fitting, at the moment.  Call me Lin.”

“I LOVE THAT NAME! ” shrieked the Fairy, clapping as loudly as she could. “IT’S MY FAVORITE NAME IN THE WHOLE WORLD!  Oval Mice Goggles, this is fantastic!”

“You’re WAY too happy.”

The Fairy gasped, “Is that possible?”

Lin shook her head.  “I honestly don’t know, but you’re loud and excitable and I…”

“Need a break from your life.  THAT’S why I’m here.”

“It is?”

The Fairy stopped flying around.  “Well, why else would I be here?”

“How should I know?”

“Didn’t they tell you I was coming?”

“Didn’t WHO tell me?” asked Lin, grinding her teeth.

“The Fairy Counsel, of course.  You should have gotten a letter two weeks go.”

“Well, I didn’t.”

“I’m so sorry about that.  That must be why you’re surprised to see me.”

“It’s definitely ONE of the reasons.”

“What’s another one?” asked Drew merrily, flitting back and forth.  “Oh, I love games like this.”

“If I ask you to go away, will you?  Please?”

“Is that part of the game?” asked Drew, frowning.  “Because if it’s not, then NO, I can’t go away, Silly.  I’m here to shake up your life and make it oh, so much better.”

“Who sent you?”

“Sent me?  No one SENT me.  I’m YOUR Fairy.”

“I never had a Fairy before. Are you like a Goddess Mother Fairy?”

“Oh, no,” said Drew, solemnly.  “You need a lot more training to be a Goddess Mother.  I’m just  a regular Fairy.  And, for your information, EVERYONE has a Fairy.”

“You look too young to be much of anything,” sighed Lin.

“I’m three hundred years old.  I guess that’s still young, but not that young, and Steve is hungry, do you care if he eats the things on your tree?”

“If it’s okay with the tree, it’s okay with me.”

“That’s a good attitude to have,” said Drew.  “It should always be up to the tree.”

“Sure,” said Lin, who was now curled up on the grass.  “Sure it is.”

“It’s going to rain and you’ll get wet if you lay on the grass very long.”

“I don’t care.”

“I think you should care, because you’re sweater will shrink if it gets wet.”

“No, it won’t.”

“Maybe it will,” said Drew.  “Why don’t you have some popcorn.”

Lin rolled over and started laughing. “Why don’t I have some popcorn!” she wheezed.

“See popcorn makes everyone feel better right away.”

Steve flew over and landed on Lin.  She was on her feet in a second, bushing him away.  “Oh, Steve, sorry.  I didn’t know it was you,” she said, picking him up.  “Did you have enough to eat?”

“Dragonflies never have enough to eat, so no.”

“I have food inside.  Maybe I have something you’ll like?”

“Sure,” said Steve.  “Thanks.”

“She’s very nice, isn’t she,” whispered Drew.

Steve nodded and they all went into the small house.

 

Picture:  Pixabay