When Fairies Leave

The Adventures of Tucker and Tori

"Did you see that?" Tori asked. She got on her knees, careful not to stain her nightgown and peered over the edge of the creek bank.

"How could I miss a frog with a red, glowing crown jump into the creek?" Tucker jumped with both feet into the shallow water. The cold water reached up past his ankles.

"Are you going to try and catch him?"

"A fairy frog that glows red? Of course I'm going to try to catch him." Tucker swept his feet back and forth. The rising sun lent light to the muck stained water floating down stream.

"It shouldn't be hard to finding him." Tori leaned further over the bank. "There should be a red halo floating around somewhere."

"You would think," Tucker replied.

"You would think what?" Mom asked. She stood on the opposite bank sipping a cup of hot tea, the bag's string hanging over the edge and gliding back and forth across her hand.

"To find the fairy Ezra turned into a frog." Tucker looked up at her and smiled.

"Ezra, the oak tree fairy?"

"Yep!" Tori said. She looked toward the tiny door with a green awning in the tree. "We haven't seen her, but she sounds really pretty."

"I'm sure she is." Mom tapped on her coffee mug. "Why don't you two come in the house and have breakfast? G and Amberlenni will be here soon and they can help you frog hunt."

"Okay, in just a minute. I want t to see if I can find Drake while most of the water is still dark." Tucker pushed the water with his foot, making big waves for the little creek.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ. The sound swept through the air and back again. "What's that?" Tori stood.

Green glitter floated in the wake of the zipping sound. "Tis me. Tis only me," the soft sounding voice of Ezra tickled Tori's neck as it bounced down her skin like a warm waterfall.

"Ezra! What are you doing out of the tree? It's not safe out here until I catch the horrible fairy you turned into a frog."

"Tis alright, Tucker. Drake can't hurt me as long as he is a frog."

"Frogs don't have powers?" Tori cocked her head and tried to focus on the green globe of Ezra.

"No, my child. Frogs do not have fairy powers." Ezra giggled as though the children should know that.

"Why don't you look like Tinkerbell?" Tori asked.

"Tinkerbell?" Ezra laughed again, soft and gentle. The glitter began to move like a wave around her until she looked like a girl no bigger than a bottle of nail polish. She was a beautiful fairy with yellow-orange hair, the color of the sun, and dark green tattoos. Her wings fluttered and she flew around them like a hummingbird.

"Oh...you are prettier than Tinkerbell." Tori elbowed Tucker who leaned against the creek bank next to her.

"Yes, way prettier," he agreed.

"Thank you," she said. Her cheeks turning a bright pink. Ezra looked away and slumped her shoulders. "It was so nice becoming your friend, but I'm afraid I have to go."

"What do you mean?" Tucker stood up on his tip toes and puffed out his chest. Anger boiled in his chest. "You don't need to leave because of that bad fairy, Drake."

"Oh, but I do. It won't be safe here once his warriors figure out what I've done to him."

"But who will take care of you and leave you gifts?" Tori whined. Her lower lip pushed out in a pout.

"You've given me all the gifts I need, little one." Ezra smiled, flew over their house leaving a wave of glitter behind. "Your house is now blessed. Drake nor his warriors can ever harm you."

"How will we know the spell you cast is working?" Tucker asked.

"You will know the spell works when you see the golden windows every morning at sunrise and every night at sunset."

"Golden windows?" Tori asked.

"Yes, golden windows show others your house is protected. Fairies nor Orks will dare trespass."

"But what about trolls?"

Tucker rolled his eyes. Tori asked a lot of annoying questions. "There's no such thing as trolls, silly."

"Sure there is, right, Ezra?"

"Actually he is right. There is no such thing as trolls."

"See?"

Tori squinted and stuck her tongue out at him.

"Will you ever come back, Ezra?" Tucker asked.

"I'll try, but it will be impossible if Drake ever frees himself of my spell."

Tears filled Tori's eyes. "I don't want you to go! You can stay in our house."

"No, I must go." Ezra looked over her shoulder. "I must go and find a way to save my kingdom." Then all the gifts they have given Ezra appeared in her arms including Gator, the missing soldier. He didn't look like a plastic toy anymore. He suddenly lifted his hand, waved, and they disappeared.

Tucker and Tori stood staring at the empty space. Their hearts felt as heavy as a gallon of milk, not even the chocolate kind.

"Why do fairies have to leave?" Tori's voice sounded strained.

"I don't know Tori."

"Breakfast!" Mom called.

They turned toward the house. "Look, Tori! Golden windows!"