The Three Sisters

"Life is hard enough as it is." - This is the motto of the village where the three sisters are at home. The motto makes everyone continue to struggle on their own, rather than ask for help. Neighbours hardly know one another. Parents are too busy to spend time with their children. Everyone lives in their own little world.

All this is about to change when the Earth Fairy comes to visit. The three sisters look and behave like ordinary young girls. They squabble a lot - as siblings sometimes do - and each of them has a special gift.

"If you learn to work together, you will live happily ever after," says the fairy. The promise comes true in unexpected ways.

After writing this fairy tale I realised that it is a story about a tragic event which happened last year in the area where I live. In October 2017 large areas of Central Portugal were reduced to ashes in a horrendous firestorm. Many people lost their homes, farms, animals, livelihoods or lives in one fateful night. The spirit of collaboration and resilience after the tragedy has been remarkable and inspiring.

'The Three Sisters' is a reminder that when the worst comes to the worst we are all better off as sisters (and brothers).