Fairy Magic: The Forest Wars of the Fairy Princess and the Goblin Witch

Chapter 1

With wiry red hair, freckle painted cheeks, and shiny braces, Alison Bailey was anything but your typical sixth grader. As she trudged home from school she replayed the events of the day.

Ben was out sick, so she sat alone at lunch.

What a faker. He probably played video games at home all day today. Should have just volunteered for Mrs. White. That would have been better than sitting by myself.

Later on, her way to art class she got mud on her new jeans. Then in P.E., she tripped over her shoelace and biffed it onto the ground.

And everyone one saw.

Everyone.

Mark and Danny.

Lizzy and Andrea.

Even the Bella twins. Ugh. What a bunch of turds.

By the time dismissal came around everyone was talking about it.

Especially from Jose and Melissa.

Who cares?

Just because everyone else wants to be their friends doesn't mean I do.

They're dumb anyway.

The other girls baffled her. Why talk so much about boys? They weren't even allowed to date. And makeup? Too much work for Ali. Luckily, school was so close to home that she could spit and it would land on the front steps. Thank goodness too. She was so done with today.

Ali stuffed her hands in her pockets and trudged along.

She hated being the new kid in school. She hated this new place. Why did we have to leave? Why did mom have to die? It's not fair. Nothing in Gabby's life was fair. Not Mom. Not school. Not anything.

"Hello there Allison," came an elderly voice.

Gabby blinked as she reeled herself back into reality.

When she turned to address the speaker, she found Mr. Wilkins waving from his front porch. The old man's gray hair looked like moss wisping in the wind.

"How was school?"

Ali shrugged. "No homework this weekend, so that's good."

Mr. Wilkins grinned, causing crows feet around his eyes.

"I guess that means you and Gabrielle can play all weekend."

Ali shrugged, "I guess."

Mr. Wilkins frowned.

"You girls don't get along?"

Ali furrowed her eyebrows. Gabby was a monster. She constantly took Ali's stuff without permission. She constantly annoyed Ali. And she constantly ruined her time with Dad.

"Let's just say, I wish I had been an only child."

Mr. Wilkins shook his finger. "Careful what you wish for."

Ali picked at the dried mud on her pants. "With my luck, no amount of wishing would help. Besides, I don't believe in any of that magic hocus pocus stuff."

The old man furrowed his eyebrows and gazed into the distance.

Ali waved her hand. But her neighbor didn't' respond.

Strange.

It wasn't like Mr. Wilkins to be so serious.

Maybe this is why Dad called him crazy Jay?

After a moment he blinked his eyes and returned his focus to Ali, as if seeing her for the first time. "I didn't believe in magic either. Not until..." The old man let his words trail off.

Ali raised an eyebrow. "Not until what?"

Mr. Wilkins waved his hand in dismissal. "Never mind me. Just get home. I'm sure your father's waiting for you."

Ali smiled, then continued toward her house. All the while she considered her neighbor's comment.

What the heck was going on with Mr. Wilkins? Magic? What did he mean? He didn't believe until, what? Maybe Dad's right. Maybe he's just a crazy old man.