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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Fairy Tale / Folk Tale
- Published: 12/26/2022
Phoebe and the Fairy
Born 1980, F, from Eagan, MN, United StatesPhoebe had driven three hours, hiked for two hours and forty-seven minutes, paddled across a river, and hiked another two days; but she was nearly there, and she was relieved. At least she’d slept well the past few nights.
She pulled a protein bar from her backpack and sat on the ground to enjoy a short break before meeting the fairy who could help her. She munched slowly, savoring the snack.
She stood, and quickly brushed the dust off her rear end. She pulled on the elastic band that held her hair back, finger-combed her hair, and pulled it back into a ponytail again. She straightened her clothing. There. She was ready. She drew a deep breath and continued up the hill.
She hiked another ten minutes. She saw the huge tree stump that she’d expected to see. She went to it, walked around it three times, twirled twice, and called out “Helpful Fairy, help me please.”
Nothing.
She did it again.
Nothing.
She stopped, looked at her surroundings, and wondered what she’d done wrong. She had (as always) followed the directions carefully. Though alone, she felt like a moron for the twirling…surely that part wasn’t necessary, and she wasn’t excited about doing the whole thing over again. “Helpful Fairy?” she called out. She waited.
And the fairy waited, a mischievous smile playing on her face. This part never ceased to amuse her. These people came here and expected her to simply jump out and say, “Here I am! Ask me anything! I am here for You!” The twirling bit was her way to get some fun out of her job before she really started. She knew that they had to feel so foolish doing it.
Phoebe was already considering leaving. This was silly. Perhaps there wasn’t a fairy. Phoebe wasn’t a gullible person, and she’d at first scoffed at the notion of a fairy (a fairy!) who could help her, but her brother was a person she trusted entirely, and he was the one who had told her how to find the fairy. And she was desperate for help. “Okay, Helpful Fairy, maybe you’re busy,” she called out. She’d wait another minute or so, and then she’d leave.
The fairy waited fifty-six seconds. Then she stepped out from behind a large tree a few yards away and said, “I am the Helpful Fairy.”
Whatever Phoebe had expected, this wasn’t it. The fairy wasn’t tiny. She was about Phoebe’s height, nearly five ft, 5 inches. She wore a green top and green pants. She had dark hair and strikingly blue eyes. She was beautiful, though not in the Hollywood fashion.
“Hello,” Phoebe said.
“Hi!” answered the fairy. “What is the problem for which you have sought my help?” She hated that line. It sounded so…proper? Pompous? But saying it was the rule.
“My husband snores. And I can’t sleep. The lack of sleep has caused me to become a different person. It’s difficult to be cheerful and patient. It’s difficult to do even basic things during the day.
Please help me.”
“Oh. Well, that one’s easy.”
“It is?” asked Phoebe in a hopeful, pleased tone.
“Yes. I can stop your husband from breathing. And then he will stop snoring. Problem solved.”
Phoebe gaped at her. “But, if he stops breathing, he’ll - “
“Die? Yes. That is true. He will.”
“I don’t want the man to die! I just want him to stop snoring!”
“But you must acknowledge that this is the most efficient way to ensure that he stops snoring.”
“This is ridiculous!” Phoebe responded, annoyed. “So if I came here and said that my arm was aching, you’d suggest that - “
“That I remove your arm?” interrupted the fairy. “Yes, I would. I wouldn’t spend time trying to figure out just why your arm hurt. The most efficient thing would be to just get rid of your arm.”
Phoebe was finding that she did not like this rude, interrupting fairy who was so inaccurately named.
The fairy waited expectantly. “Well?”
“Listen, you helped my brother. Why won’t you help me?”
“Your brother? Describe him please.”
Phoebe did, and the fairy said, “Oh, him. Yes, I did, but only in a way. I helped him see how he could help himself.”
“I can’t help MYSELF with this! My husband’s the one who needs to stop snoring!”
“I cannot change his behavior,” answered the fairy in a bored tone. “And neither can you. You can change only yours. This is widely accepted and quoted, and I am surprised you don’t already know it.”
Phoebe gritted her teeth. “Look, I am aware of that. I think he would stop snoring if he could. I came to you for help, not for what you must think is advice.”
“Let me ask you something,” said the fairy. “Have you slept well during your journey here?”
“Yes, very.”
“Well, there you go.”
“Are you suggesting that I start sleeping in a different location? That’s your idea of helping me?”
“I am only pointing out that you slept well when you didn’t sleep in the same room.”
“Well, guess what? I don’t have that option! We don’t have a spare bedroom.”
“Hmmm. You could ask me to take away your ears. That’d be efficient. You’d never again be awakened by his snoring.”
“Right. This was such a waste of time.” Phoebe turned to leave.
“Hold on!” cried the fairy.
Phoebe stopped. She turned her head to look back.
The fairy looked kinder now. “I can help. Really. I can.”
“You can make my husband stop snoring?”
“Yes. It’s quite simple. Just a bit of pixie dust, that’s all.”
“And no…um…weirdness? No loss of heads or anything?”
“Correct.”
“But why all the trouble you gave me? What was the point of all of that?” Phoebe asked.
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. Well, not terribly. Mildly. But anyway,” she rushed on, seeing Phoebe’s annoyance return, “I do it out of boredom. It is entertaining to tease.”
“So, you just get a kick out of frustrating people?”
“We all have a bit of wickedness in us. This is how I manage mine.”
“Yeah. Okay. Well, personally, I think you should find a hobby or something. Don’t tease.”
The fairy looked thoughtful for a moment. Then she answered, “Nah, this works for me. And it's easier. Anyway, about your husband’s snoring, there is an important detail.”
“Which is…?” prompted Phoebe.
“He has to give his consent.”
“Are you serious right now?”
“I am. I don’t alter anyone without that person’s consent.”
“But it took so long to get here!”
“That’s an easy one. Did you drive part way?” asked the fairy.
“Yes.”
“Okay. Tell me where you parked. I can whisk us there in a jiffy. From there I’ll ride with you to your house. I’ll do the magic if your husband agrees. And then I’ll whisk myself back here.”
Phoebe tried to take all of this in. The fairy seemed completely different. She was kind now. Could she trust her?
“You’re having trouble knowing if I’m truthful. But I think you’ll be convinced as soon as I get us to your car. Ready?”
Phoebe drew a breath. She’d come this far. She might as well see if the fairy would do what she claimed. “Okay.” She told the fairy where she’d parked. Within seconds, they were at the car.
“Can you just whisk us and the car to my house?”
“Afraid not. I can take one passenger when I whisk. I can’t take something as large as a car. Besides, I rarely get the chance to ride in a car. I’m thrilled for the opportunity.”
They drove the three hours to the house.
There, Phoebe introduced the fairy to her husband. Her husband, though he was skeptical, agreed to let the fairy work her magic, a process that lasted mere seconds. Then the fairy left.
That night Phoebe’s husband didn’t snore. And that night the fairy smiled as she thought, “Hobby indeed! No, I think my ways are just fine. I had fun. They’re happy. We all got what we wanted. And she slept.
Phoebe and the Fairy(Marla)
Phoebe had driven three hours, hiked for two hours and forty-seven minutes, paddled across a river, and hiked another two days; but she was nearly there, and she was relieved. At least she’d slept well the past few nights.
She pulled a protein bar from her backpack and sat on the ground to enjoy a short break before meeting the fairy who could help her. She munched slowly, savoring the snack.
She stood, and quickly brushed the dust off her rear end. She pulled on the elastic band that held her hair back, finger-combed her hair, and pulled it back into a ponytail again. She straightened her clothing. There. She was ready. She drew a deep breath and continued up the hill.
She hiked another ten minutes. She saw the huge tree stump that she’d expected to see. She went to it, walked around it three times, twirled twice, and called out “Helpful Fairy, help me please.”
Nothing.
She did it again.
Nothing.
She stopped, looked at her surroundings, and wondered what she’d done wrong. She had (as always) followed the directions carefully. Though alone, she felt like a moron for the twirling…surely that part wasn’t necessary, and she wasn’t excited about doing the whole thing over again. “Helpful Fairy?” she called out. She waited.
And the fairy waited, a mischievous smile playing on her face. This part never ceased to amuse her. These people came here and expected her to simply jump out and say, “Here I am! Ask me anything! I am here for You!” The twirling bit was her way to get some fun out of her job before she really started. She knew that they had to feel so foolish doing it.
Phoebe was already considering leaving. This was silly. Perhaps there wasn’t a fairy. Phoebe wasn’t a gullible person, and she’d at first scoffed at the notion of a fairy (a fairy!) who could help her, but her brother was a person she trusted entirely, and he was the one who had told her how to find the fairy. And she was desperate for help. “Okay, Helpful Fairy, maybe you’re busy,” she called out. She’d wait another minute or so, and then she’d leave.
The fairy waited fifty-six seconds. Then she stepped out from behind a large tree a few yards away and said, “I am the Helpful Fairy.”
Whatever Phoebe had expected, this wasn’t it. The fairy wasn’t tiny. She was about Phoebe’s height, nearly five ft, 5 inches. She wore a green top and green pants. She had dark hair and strikingly blue eyes. She was beautiful, though not in the Hollywood fashion.
“Hello,” Phoebe said.
“Hi!” answered the fairy. “What is the problem for which you have sought my help?” She hated that line. It sounded so…proper? Pompous? But saying it was the rule.
“My husband snores. And I can’t sleep. The lack of sleep has caused me to become a different person. It’s difficult to be cheerful and patient. It’s difficult to do even basic things during the day.
Please help me.”
“Oh. Well, that one’s easy.”
“It is?” asked Phoebe in a hopeful, pleased tone.
“Yes. I can stop your husband from breathing. And then he will stop snoring. Problem solved.”
Phoebe gaped at her. “But, if he stops breathing, he’ll - “
“Die? Yes. That is true. He will.”
“I don’t want the man to die! I just want him to stop snoring!”
“But you must acknowledge that this is the most efficient way to ensure that he stops snoring.”
“This is ridiculous!” Phoebe responded, annoyed. “So if I came here and said that my arm was aching, you’d suggest that - “
“That I remove your arm?” interrupted the fairy. “Yes, I would. I wouldn’t spend time trying to figure out just why your arm hurt. The most efficient thing would be to just get rid of your arm.”
Phoebe was finding that she did not like this rude, interrupting fairy who was so inaccurately named.
The fairy waited expectantly. “Well?”
“Listen, you helped my brother. Why won’t you help me?”
“Your brother? Describe him please.”
Phoebe did, and the fairy said, “Oh, him. Yes, I did, but only in a way. I helped him see how he could help himself.”
“I can’t help MYSELF with this! My husband’s the one who needs to stop snoring!”
“I cannot change his behavior,” answered the fairy in a bored tone. “And neither can you. You can change only yours. This is widely accepted and quoted, and I am surprised you don’t already know it.”
Phoebe gritted her teeth. “Look, I am aware of that. I think he would stop snoring if he could. I came to you for help, not for what you must think is advice.”
“Let me ask you something,” said the fairy. “Have you slept well during your journey here?”
“Yes, very.”
“Well, there you go.”
“Are you suggesting that I start sleeping in a different location? That’s your idea of helping me?”
“I am only pointing out that you slept well when you didn’t sleep in the same room.”
“Well, guess what? I don’t have that option! We don’t have a spare bedroom.”
“Hmmm. You could ask me to take away your ears. That’d be efficient. You’d never again be awakened by his snoring.”
“Right. This was such a waste of time.” Phoebe turned to leave.
“Hold on!” cried the fairy.
Phoebe stopped. She turned her head to look back.
The fairy looked kinder now. “I can help. Really. I can.”
“You can make my husband stop snoring?”
“Yes. It’s quite simple. Just a bit of pixie dust, that’s all.”
“And no…um…weirdness? No loss of heads or anything?”
“Correct.”
“But why all the trouble you gave me? What was the point of all of that?” Phoebe asked.
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. Well, not terribly. Mildly. But anyway,” she rushed on, seeing Phoebe’s annoyance return, “I do it out of boredom. It is entertaining to tease.”
“So, you just get a kick out of frustrating people?”
“We all have a bit of wickedness in us. This is how I manage mine.”
“Yeah. Okay. Well, personally, I think you should find a hobby or something. Don’t tease.”
The fairy looked thoughtful for a moment. Then she answered, “Nah, this works for me. And it's easier. Anyway, about your husband’s snoring, there is an important detail.”
“Which is…?” prompted Phoebe.
“He has to give his consent.”
“Are you serious right now?”
“I am. I don’t alter anyone without that person’s consent.”
“But it took so long to get here!”
“That’s an easy one. Did you drive part way?” asked the fairy.
“Yes.”
“Okay. Tell me where you parked. I can whisk us there in a jiffy. From there I’ll ride with you to your house. I’ll do the magic if your husband agrees. And then I’ll whisk myself back here.”
Phoebe tried to take all of this in. The fairy seemed completely different. She was kind now. Could she trust her?
“You’re having trouble knowing if I’m truthful. But I think you’ll be convinced as soon as I get us to your car. Ready?”
Phoebe drew a breath. She’d come this far. She might as well see if the fairy would do what she claimed. “Okay.” She told the fairy where she’d parked. Within seconds, they were at the car.
“Can you just whisk us and the car to my house?”
“Afraid not. I can take one passenger when I whisk. I can’t take something as large as a car. Besides, I rarely get the chance to ride in a car. I’m thrilled for the opportunity.”
They drove the three hours to the house.
There, Phoebe introduced the fairy to her husband. Her husband, though he was skeptical, agreed to let the fairy work her magic, a process that lasted mere seconds. Then the fairy left.
That night Phoebe’s husband didn’t snore. And that night the fairy smiled as she thought, “Hobby indeed! No, I think my ways are just fine. I had fun. They’re happy. We all got what we wanted. And she slept.
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Help Us Understand What's Happening
Marla
10/21/2023Thank you!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Marla
10/17/2023Thanks!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Daniel Hartz
02/25/2023Excellent story...i loved every bit of it...definitely my favorite story i have read in a very long time
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Marla
02/27/2023Thank you! I am glad you liked it!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
02/25/2023This is such a cute fairytale. It can be for all ages. This held my interest and I enjoyed your story.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Marla
02/27/2023Thank you, Shirley!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Lillian Kazmierczak
02/25/2023Thus was a very interesting read, Marla! Congratulations on short story star of the day!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Marla
02/27/2023Thanks, Lillian!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Lillian Kazmierczak
01/07/2023That was a interesting take on a fairy, I could see where she could bored. But it is no excuse for being rude. As always Marla, you've written a great story!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Marla
01/10/2023Thanks, Lillian! It was fun to write!
COMMENTS (7)