Did Sally know the right spell to cheer her granddaughter up?
BY ALYSON HILBOURNE
SORRY, Mum.” Sally’s daughter, Christa, swept a hand through her hair. “Olivia insisted on the fairy costume and refused to put on shoes.
“I’ve got them in a bag along with a change of clothes.” She shook her head and Sally smiled.
“I’ve told her that I’ve got to go to a meeting,” Christa went on. “I won’t be long and she’ll have a lovely time with you and Gramps.”
“We’ll have a great morning. You get off or you’ll be late.” Sally urged Christa out of the front door.
Her daughter was looking tense and Sally had a fair idea that Olivia was more stressful than the meeting Christa had to attend.
“Wave goodbye to Mummy,” Sally said brightly.
Her granddaughter folded her arms across her chest and turned away.
“What shall we do this morning then, Olivia?”
Sally gave Olivia an optimistic smile, but the three-feet-tall pink fairy in a net tutu and clip-on wings only scowled, presenting her bottom lip.
“I want to do magic,” Olivia demanded, waving her pink plastic wand and creating a shower of glitter. “Like Tinker Bell.”
Sally pressed her lips together. Disney had a lot to answer for.
“We could magic up some cupcakes,” she suggested. “Mummy will be very happy to have cake when she gets back from her meeting.”
“That’s not magic,” the grumpy fairy said with a sneer. “That’s cooking.”
Sally tried to stall.
“Real magic. That’s a bit trickier, isn’t it?”
At that moment her husband, John, came into the kitchen.
“How’s my favourite fairy?” he asked.
Olivia glowered.
“She doesn’t want to make cakes,” Sally explained. “Olivia would like to do some real magic.
“But at the moment I can’t think of any real magic to do.”
Sally gave John a pleading look.
John nodded and Sally felt a rush of relief.
After 40 years of marriage they understood each other well.
John turned away and looked out of the window at the garden.
When he turned back he gave Olivia a gap-toothed smile.
“Do you think you could magic me a new tooth?” he asked. “I’ve been waiting to go to the dentist, but if you could do it quicker . . .”
He wiggled his tongue through the space between his front teeth, which was usually filled with a dental plate.
Olivia looked dubious.
“Could you help Gramps?” Sally asked encouragingly.
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