A Hot Day

Southland Times, Issue 21832, 8 October 1932, Page 21

A Hot Day

It was one of those warm, lazy days in mid-summer. A languorous calm seemed to settle over all; the sand was gleaming gold down to the edge of the water, where tiny waves rolled lazily in. Overhead a brassy sun shone from a clear sky. Back in the bush, though, it was cooler. Through the trees brief glimpses could be caught of the bay, while the sun merely filtered through the thick canopy of leaves, making a golden pattern of lace on the ground.

Joan and John had wandered down the path into the bush. They felt too hot to play on the beach, and too lazy to go swimming, so they thought it would be cooler in the bush.

“Wouldn’t it be lovely, now John,” said Joan, “if a fairy came and said we could go to Fairyland.” “Rot,” said John, “there’s no such things as fairies.” He was feeling rather cross, because he was so hot. “I’d sooner have some ice-cream than go to Fairyland, if there was such a place.” “Of course there are fairies,” said Joan, warmly, “and they are not ‘things,’ ” “Thank you, Joan,” said a sweet voice behind them, and there, poised daintily on a rocky leaf, was the sweetest little fairy imaginable. Her frock was of rata petals, and her wings were such delicate cobwebby things, and her hair was shining raven, bound round with a garland of tiny leaves. “Oh, a fairy,” cried Joan excitedly. “Yes," said the fairy, “I am so glad you believed in me, Joan. Do you know,” in a whisper, “you saved my life?” “Ooh!” said Joan. “Did I?”

“Yes,” answered the fairy, “An old witch had caught me, and she said if I heard three children say they believed in fairies I could go back to Fairyland. Last night I heard two little girls tell their Mummy that they had seen a fairy, and now I have heard you. I was just beginning to think that no one believed in fairies these days.” “Oh! I am so glad," said Joan. “You see, John,” she said, turning to her brother who was looking rather sheepish.

“I-I-am sorry I didn’t believe in you before,” said John, “but I will, now I’ve seen you,” looking at the fairy admiringly. “Well, that’s all right, then,” said the fairy. “Would you like to come to Fairyland with me?” “Oh! rather,” exclaimed Joan and John together. “Come on then. You see, it’s my birthday to-day and I am having a party. I was trying to get some new petals for a frock, and there wasn’t much rata about, so I went further and further and then the horrid old witch caught me. Ugh! but that’s _ all over now. Just shut your eyes tight, and just say ‘I wish I were in Fairyland.’” The children did as the fairy bid them, and after a minute they heard the fairy’s voice telling them to open their eyes. They did so and found themselves before the palace of the Fairy Queen. The door was open, so the fairy led them straight through to the throne room where the Fairy Queen sat in all her regal splendour. Joan and John felt rather nervous, but they followed the fairy. The fairy bowed low before Her Majesty and the two children bowed too. “This is Joan who saved my life,” said the fairy, and all the fairies crowded round while she told the story. “Oh! Thank you, Joan,” said the Fairy Queen when Fairy Rata had finished telling her story. “I am sure

John will believe in us now, won’ you?” “Yes, I will,” said John.

“Well, perhaps you will take these little gifts, just to remember us by,” said the Queen, handing them each a sparkling diamond. Just then another fairy came in and announced that tea was ready, so they all went into the banquetting hall. What a feast there was spread before the children’s eyes. “Icecream,” whispered John to Joan. “Sh!” sSid Joan.

After tea, Rata took them all around the Palace Gardens where wonderful flowers grew, all the kinds you could think of, and fairy fountains, throwing rainbow-coloured spray into the air. Soft strains of elfin music was wafted out to the garden from the ball-room, and the scents of the flowers mingled in the air. Joan and John thought it was wonderful. All too soon the fairy said it was time to go home, so they said good-bye, and thanked the fairy for the lovely time they had had. Then they shut their eyes and said: “I wish we were back in Mortal Land.” They opened their eyes, and there they were, in the same glade in the bush where they had met Fairy Rata.

It was cool now as they hurried back down the path. The birds were saying good-night, the sun was disappearing over the hill, casting his last rays across the waters of the bay. Soon they were home, and only the sparkling diamonds they clutched in their hands, reminded them of their trip to Fairyland.

—Cousin Dorothy M. Fox (16), 94 Earn street, Invercargill.