The Fairy Godmother Part 110

 

“Now what are we going to do?” asked Enid once they had made there way to the delivery computer in the laundry basement. “It isn’t as if we know anything about computers.”

“Talk for yourself,” said Myrtle.

“So why did we need the computer whiz kid?” asked Enid.

“I thought she’d be able to do it quicker,” said Myrtle giving the computer a quick dust off and checking to see if it was plugged in. “Right,” she muttered, plugging in the network lead and then the mains lead. “Here goes,” she muttered to herself turning on the power.

“Is the monitor plugged in?” asked the Mirror.

“No,” said Myrtle, correcting that problem. A moment later the monitor started going through a set up sequence, until it came up with a screen asking for a pass word.

“That’s us stuffed,” said Enid.

“No it isn’t,” said Myrtle, copying down something that was written on a post it note stuck to the side of the monitor.

“Like that’s going to work,” laughed Enid getting the words our just before the computer sprang to life.

“How do we get onto the mirror network?” Myrtle asked the mirror.

“I still don’t see how this is going to help anything,” moaned Enid.

“First we need to get onto the Mirror network,” said Myrtle.

“I could use my computer to contact this one,” said the Mirror.

“Why didn’t you say that before?” asked Enid.

“I’ve been reading my book on computer networking,” said the Mirror. “I didn’t realise how much you could do with it.”

“Well, that’s good,” said Enid. “We are giving you an incentive to find out how to get more out of your computer.”

“Can you get onto Enid’s laptop and find out what is on hers that isn’t on mine,” asked Myrtle.

“We didn’t need to come here to learn that,” said Enid.

“Probably not,” said Myrtle. “But we are here now and there’s no reason for us not to find out whilst we are here.”

“OK,” said Enid. “I just think.”

“That this situation isn’t optimal,” said Myrtle. “We know that.”

“There is a program that is monitoring everything that is done on Myrtle’s computer that isn’t on Enid’s,” said the Mirror.

“Can you remove it without causing more problems?” asked Enid.

“I tried deleting it, but it just rewrote itself,” said the Mirror.

“See what happens if you rename it as old,” said Myrtle.

“And what good will that do?” asked Enid.

“There seems to be something in the set up that rewrites the program if it doesn’t see it there,” said Myrtle. “If it sees the program, but the program does nothing, then it wont rewrite it.”

“Will that stop it from doing whatever it is doing?” asked Enid.

“Should do,” said the mirror.

“So why aren’t you getting on with it?” asked Enid.

“We need to find out what exactly this program is doing,” said Myrtle, busy tapping away at the keys on the old laundry machine.

“I hope you know what you are doing,” said Enid.

“This doesn’t seem to be such a sophisticated program,” said Myrtle.

“It’s taken over the Fairy Network,” hissed Enid.

“It’s given the impression of taking it over,” said Myrtle. “But from what I can see, it is only an impression. The Fairy network has stopped being used because no one trusts it, not because it has failed.”

“So what are you going to do about it?” asked Enid.

“First I’ve changed the IP addresses and all the user files and passwords,” said Myrtle.

“What the hell does that mean?” asked Enid.

“It means that none of the addresses they have match up with any of the addresses to of the computers, printers and anything else on the network,” said Myrtle.

“So?” Enid asked.

“If they send anything to a printer, it wont go there,” said the Mirror. “Nothing will work the way they expect.”

“So we create chaos and?” asked Enid.

“Whilst they try to sort that out, we can disconnect them from the network and put something on their network that blows their computers out of the water,” said Myrtle.

“What!” asked Enid.

“Anything attached to the Fairy network that shouldn’t be will have their system wiped and everything memory wise on that computer will be written over with total rubbish. If they try to clear it, then it will rewrite over all the memory again,” said Myrtle.

“You do that and,” said a voice from the shadows, trying to sound menacing.

“It’s been done,” said Myrtle.

“But!” stuttered the voice. “You just undo that, this instance.”

“Or you’ll do what?” asked Myrtle. “We’ve taken you virus off our network, disconnected your computer from it and protected our network from you.”

“I didn’t think you knew how to do that,” he shouted.

“I have also unlocked all the magic wands and told their owners,” said Myrtle. “Your security passes no longer work, so the security people will arrest you as soon as they see you,” she added, turning up the wick on the paraffin lamp next to her. The light showed Liam tapping away frantically at his mobile phone.

“The letters are falling down to the bottom of the screen,” he shouted.

“I always thought that was a nice look,” said Myrtle, smiling at him.

“You’ve killed my phone!” he said dropping it as smoke started to come from the sides.

“How unfortunate,” said Myrtle smiling as a team of security men kicked down the basement door and rushed in.

“Are you all OK,” the leader of the team asked Myrtle.

“My phone is not OK,” Liam said to him.

“This is the guilty party?” the man asked Myrtle.

“Yes,” Myrtle smiled.

“What the hell do you think you are doing, you should be arresting them,” Liam shouted as the team leader signalled to one of his men to handcuff Liam.

“Myrtle and Enid are Fairy Godmothers, only a fool would arrest them. As for the Mirror, how would you put handcuffs on the Mirror?” the security team leader asked.

“That is no reason to handcuff me!” shouted Liam.

“You gained illegal entry to the Fairy Godmothers internet network, held it hostage and threatened to destroy it,” the security leader told Liam. “I am arresting you for these crimes.”

“But,” Liam muttered as the cuffs clicked shut.

“Take him away,” the leader said to his men.

“Shouldn’t you read my my rights or caution me or something?”

“We will do that on the way to the station,” said the man smiling.

“Can I do that?” one of the younger looking security men asked.

“Of course you can,” said the leader smiling. “He’s very eager to learn,” he said as his men lead Liam away.

“Always good to encourage the youngsters,” said Myrtle smiling as the security men disappeared.

“Does this mean everything is over?” Enid asked.

“Not exactly,” Myrtle sighed.

“What do you mean?” asked Enid.

“We may have stopped the computer virus, but it’s still there and could be activated at any time,” said Myrtle.

The Fairy Godmother Part 110

“Now what are we going to do?” asked Enid once they had made there way to the delivery computer in the laundry basement. “It isn’t as if we know anything about computers.”

“Talk for yourself,” said Myrtle.

“So why did we need the computer whiz kid?” asked Enid.

“I thought she’d be able to do it quicker,” said Myrtle giving the computer a quick dust off and checking to see if it was plugged in. “Right,” she muttered, plugging in the network lead and then the mains lead. “Here goes,” she muttered to herself turning on the power.

“Is the monitor plugged in?” asked the Mirror.

“No,” said Myrtle, correcting that problem. A moment later the monitor started going through a set up sequence, until it came up with a screen asking for a pass word.

“That’s us stuffed,” said Enid.

“No it isn’t,” said Myrtle, copying down something that was written on a post it note stuck to the side of the monitor.

“Like that’s going to work,” laughed Enid getting the words our just before the computer sprang to life.

“How do we get onto the mirror network?” Myrtle asked the mirror.

“I still don’t see how this is going to help anything,” moaned Enid.

“First we need to get onto the Mirror network,” said Myrtle.

“I could use my computer to contact this one,” said the Mirror.

“Why didn’t you say that before?” asked Enid.

“I’ve been reading my book on computer networking,” said the Mirror. “I didn’t realise how much you could do with it.”

“Well, that’s good,” said Enid. “We are giving you an incentive to find out how to get more out of your computer.”

“Can you get onto Enid’s laptop and find out what is on hers that isn’t on mine,” asked Myrtle.

“We didn’t need to come here to learn that,” said Enid.

“Probably not,” said Myrtle. “But we are here now and there’s no reason for us not to find out whilst we are here.”

“OK,” said Enid. “I just think.”

“That this situation isn’t optimal,” said Myrtle. “We know that.”

“There is a program that is monitoring everything that is done on Myrtle’s computer that isn’t on Enid’s,” said the Mirror.

“Can you remove it without causing more problems?” asked Enid.

“I tried deleting it, but it just rewrote itself,” said the Mirror.

“See what happens if you rename it as old,” said Myrtle.

“And what good will that do?” asked Enid.

“There seems to be something in the set up that rewrites the program if it doesn’t see it there,” said Myrtle. “If it sees the program, but the program does nothing, then it wont rewrite it.”

“Will that stop it from doing whatever it is doing?” asked Enid.

“Should do,” said the mirror.

“So why aren’t you getting on with it?” asked Enid.

“We need to find out what exactly this program is doing,” said Myrtle, busy tapping away at the keys on the old laundry machine.

“I hope you know what you are doing,” said Enid.

“This doesn’t seem to be such a sophisticated program,” said Myrtle.

“It’s taken over the Fairy Network,” hissed Enid.

“It’s given the impression of taking it over,” said Myrtle. “But from what I can see, it is only an impression. The Fairy network has stopped being used because no one trusts it, not because it has failed.”

“So what are you going to do about it?” asked Enid.

“First I’ve changed the IP addresses and all the user files and passwords,” said Myrtle.

“What the hell does that mean?” asked Enid.

“It means that none of the addresses they have match up with any of the addresses to of the computers, printers and anything else on the network,” said Myrtle.

“So?” Enid asked.

“If they send anything to a printer, it wont go there,” said the Mirror. “Nothing will work the way they expect.”

“So we create chaos and?” asked Enid.

“Whilst they try to sort that out, we can disconnect them from the network and put something on their network that blows their computers out of the water,” said Myrtle.

“What!” asked Enid.

“Anything attached to the Fairy network that shouldn’t be will have their system wiped and everything memory wise on that computer will be written over with total rubbish. If they try to clear it, then it will rewrite over all the memory again,” said Myrtle.

“You do that and,” said a voice from the shadows, trying to sound menacing.

“It’s been done,” said Myrtle.

“But!” stuttered the voice. “You just undo that, this instance.”

“Or you’ll do what?” asked Myrtle. “We’ve taken you virus off our network, disconnected your computer from it and protected our network from you.”

“I didn’t think you knew how to do that,” he shouted.

“I have also unlocked all the magic wands and told their owners,” said Myrtle. “Your security passes no longer work, so the security people will arrest you as soon as they see you,” she added, turning up the wick on the paraffin lamp next to her. The light showed Liam tapping away frantically at his mobile phone.

“The letters are falling down to the bottom of the screen,” he shouted.

“I always thought that was a nice look,” said Myrtle, smiling at him.

“You’ve killed my phone!” he said dropping it as smoke started to come from the sides.

“How unfortunate,” said Myrtle smiling as a team of security men kicked down the basement door and rushed in.

“Are you all OK,” the leader of the team asked Myrtle.

“My phone is not OK,” Liam said to him.

“This is the guilty party?” the man asked Myrtle.

“Yes,” Myrtle smiled.

“What the hell do you think you are doing, you should be arresting them,” Liam shouted as the team leader signalled to one of his men to handcuff Liam.

“Myrtle and Enid are Fairy Godmothers, only a fool would arrest them. As for the Mirror, how would you put handcuffs on the Mirror?” the security team leader asked.

“That is no reason to handcuff me!” shouted Liam.

“You gained illegal entry to the Fairy Godmothers internet network, held it hostage and threatened to destroy it,” the security leader told Liam. “I am arresting you for these crimes.”

“But,” Liam muttered as the cuffs clicked shut.

“Take him away,” the leader said to his men.

“Shouldn’t you read my my rights or caution me or something?”

“We will do that on the way to the station,” said the man smiling.

“Can I do that?” one of the younger looking security men asked.

“Of course you can,” said the leader smiling. “He’s very eager to learn,” he said as his men lead Liam away.

The Fairy Godmother Part 110

“Now what are we going to do?” asked Enid once they had made there way to the delivery computer in the laundry basement. “It isn’t as if we know anything about computers.”

“Talk for yourself,” said Myrtle.

“So why did we need the computer whiz kid?” asked Enid.

“I thought she’d be able to do it quicker,” said Myrtle giving the computer a quick dust off and checking to see if it was plugged in. “Right,” she muttered, plugging in the network lead and then the mains lead. “Here goes,” she muttered to herself turning on the power.

“Is the monitor plugged in?” asked the Mirror.

“No,” said Myrtle, correcting that problem. A moment later the monitor started going through a set up sequence, until it came up with a screen asking for a pass word.

“That’s us stuffed,” said Enid.

“No it isn’t,” said Myrtle, copying down something that was written on a post it note stuck to the side of the monitor.

“Like that’s going to work,” laughed Enid getting the words our just before the computer sprang to life.

“How do we get onto the mirror network?” Myrtle asked the mirror.

“I still don’t see how this is going to help anything,” moaned Enid.

“First we need to get onto the Mirror network,” said Myrtle.

“I could use my computer to contact this one,” said the Mirror.

“Why didn’t you say that before?” asked Enid.

“I’ve been reading my book on computer networking,” said the Mirror. “I didn’t realise how much you could do with it.”

“Well, that’s good,” said Enid. “We are giving you an incentive to find out how to get more out of your computer.”

“Can you get onto Enid’s laptop and find out what is on hers that isn’t on mine,” asked Myrtle.

“We didn’t need to come here to learn that,” said Enid.

“Probably not,” said Myrtle. “But we are here now and there’s no reason for us not to find out whilst we are here.”

“OK,” said Enid. “I just think.”

“That this situation isn’t optimal,” said Myrtle. “We know that.”

“There is a program that is monitoring everything that is done on Myrtle’s computer that isn’t on Enid’s,” said the Mirror.

“Can you remove it without causing more problems?” asked Enid.

“I tried deleting it, but it just rewrote itself,” said the Mirror.

“See what happens if you rename it as old,” said Myrtle.

“And what good will that do?” asked Enid.

“There seems to be something in the set up that rewrites the program if it doesn’t see it there,” said Myrtle. “If it sees the program, but the program does nothing, then it wont rewrite it.”

“Will that stop it from doing whatever it is doing?” asked Enid.

“Should do,” said the mirror.

“So why aren’t you getting on with it?” asked Enid.

“We need to find out what exactly this program is doing,” said Myrtle, busy tapping away at the keys on the old laundry machine.

“I hope you know what you are doing,” said Enid.

“This doesn’t seem to be such a sophisticated program,” said Myrtle.

“It’s taken over the Fairy Network,” hissed Enid.

“It’s given the impression of taking it over,” said Myrtle. “But from what I can see, it is only an impression. The Fairy network has stopped being used because no one trusts it, not because it has failed.”

“So what are you going to do about it?” asked Enid.

“First I’ve changed the IP addresses and all the user files and passwords,” said Myrtle.

“What the hell does that mean?” asked Enid.

“It means that none of the addresses they have match up with any of the addresses to of the computers, printers and anything else on the network,” said Myrtle.

“So?” Enid asked.

“If they send anything to a printer, it wont go there,” said the Mirror. “Nothing will work the way they expect.”

“So we create chaos and?” asked Enid.

“Whilst they try to sort that out, we can disconnect them from the network and put something on their network that blows their computers out of the water,” said Myrtle.

“What!” asked Enid.

“Anything attached to the Fairy network that shouldn’t be will have their system wiped and everything memory wise on that computer will be written over with total rubbish. If they try to clear it, then it will rewrite over all the memory again,” said Myrtle.

“You do that and,” said a voice from the shadows, trying to sound menacing.

“It’s been done,” said Myrtle.

“But!” stuttered the voice. “You just undo that, this instance.”

“Or you’ll do what?” asked Myrtle. “We’ve taken you virus off our network, disconnected your computer from it and protected our network from you.”

“I didn’t think you knew how to do that,” he shouted.

“I have also unlocked all the magic wands and told their owners,” said Myrtle. “Your security passes no longer work, so the security people will arrest you as soon as they see you,” she added, turning up the wick on the paraffin lamp next to her. The light showed Liam tapping away frantically at his mobile phone.

“The letters are falling down to the bottom of the screen,” he shouted.

“I always thought that was a nice look,” said Myrtle, smiling at him.

“You’ve killed my phone!” he said dropping it as smoke started to come from the sides.

“How unfortunate,” said Myrtle smiling as a team of security men kicked down the basement door and rushed in.

“Are you all OK,” the leader of the team asked Myrtle.

“My phone is not OK,” Liam said to him.

“This is the guilty party?” the man asked Myrtle.

“Yes,” Myrtle smiled.

“What the hell do you think you are doing, you should be arresting them,” Liam shouted as the team leader signalled to one of his men to handcuff Liam.

“Myrtle and Enid are Fairy Godmothers, only a fool would arrest them. As for the Mirror, how would you put handcuffs on the Mirror?” the security team leader asked.

“That is no reason to handcuff me!” shouted Liam.

“You gained illegal entry to the Fairy Godmothers internet network, held it hostage and threatened to destroy it,” the security leader told Liam. “I am arresting you for these crimes.”

“But,” Liam muttered as the cuffs clicked shut.

“Take him away,” the leader said to his men.

“Shouldn’t you read my my rights or caution me or something?”

“We will do that on the way to the station,” said the man smiling.

“Can I do that?” one of the younger looking security men asked.

“Of course you can,” said the leader smiling. “He’s very eager to learn,” he said as his men lead Liam away.

“Always good to encourage the youngsters,” said Myrtle smiling as the security men disappeared.

“Does this mean everything is over?” Enid asked.

“Not exactly,” Myrtle sighed.

“What do you mean?” asked Enid.

“We may have stopped the computer virus, but it’s still there and could be activated at any time,” said Myrtle.

“But I thought,” said Enid, pausing because she wasn’t sure what she thought. “I thought you knew what you were doing.”

“Yes, I did,” Myrtle smiled. “I was creating enough confusion in Liam’s mind so that he believed that his game was up.”

“Which means that Liam doesn’t know as much as he tells people he knows about computers,” said the Mirror.

“Makes you wonder if there is someone behind him,” said Myrtle.

“How are we going to clear all this stuff of the computer?” Enid asked.

“I’ve set a subroutine in motion to clear out everything,” said Myrtle. “I do know a thing or two about computers, it’s just easier to get Ethel to do things usually.”

By Janice Nye © 2021

“Always good to encourage the youngsters,” said Myrtle smiling as the security men disappeared.

“Does this mean everything is over?” Enid asked.

“Not exactly,” Myrtle sighed.

“What do you mean?” asked Enid.

“We may have stopped the computer virus, but it’s still there and could be activated at any time,” said Myrtle.

“But I thought,” said Enid, pausing because she wasn’t sure what she thought. “I thought you knew what you were doing.”

“Yes, I did,” Myrtle smiled. “I was creating enough confusion in Liam’s mind so that he believed that his game was up.”

“Which means that Liam doesn’t know as much as he tells people he knows about computers,” said the Mirror.

“Makes you wonder if there is someone behind him,” said Myrtle.

“How are we going to clear all this stuff of the computer?” Enid asked.

“I’ve set a subroutine in motion to clear out everything,” said Myrtle. “I do know a thing or two about computers, it’s just easier to get Ethel to do things usually.”

By Janice Nye © 2021

“But I thought,” said Enid, pausing because she wasn’t sure what she thought. “I thought you knew what you were doing.”

“Yes, I did,” Myrtle smiled. “I was creating enough confusion in Liam’s mind so that he believed that his game was up.”

“Which means that Liam doesn’t know as much as he tells people he knows about computers,” said the Mirror.

“Makes you wonder if there is someone behind him,” said Myrtle.

“How are we going to clear all this stuff of the computer?” Enid asked.

“I’ve set a subroutine in motion to clear out everything,” said Myrtle. “I do know a thing or two about computers, it’s just easier to get Ethel to do things usually.”

By Janice Nye © 2021

The Fairy Godmother Part 109

“And how long have you been working here?” Enid asked Mavis when she arrived with the chips.

“Only a few months,” Mavis replied. “Maud employed me to find out how someone managed to send you some poisoned mushrooms,” she added smiling at Myrtle and pushing the plate of chips towards her.

“So where did you learn about computers?” Myrtle asked, looking at a text on her phone.

“Don’t trust her,” the message came from the mirror. “And don’t eat the chips, she’s sprinkled something on them and it isn’t salt and vinegar.”

“Any suggestions on how to get out of this situation?” she texted the mirror.

“Yes, where did you learn about computers?” asked Enid, trying to distract the girl from Myrtle’s messaging.

“It’s nowhere you’d know about,” Mavis replied somewhat evasively.

“Say you’ve forgotten something in your rooms,” suggested the Mirror. “Something that they don’t have here.”

“I’ve left my memory sick behind,” said Myrtle.

“Do you need it?” asked Mavis.

“It’s got a lot of log on things,” said Myrtle standing up and picking up the Mirror.

“I’m sure you will remember them as soon as the screen comes up,” smiled Mavis. “It’s amazing how these things come to mind.”

“Usually I would agree with you,” smiled Myrtle. “But lately I have been forgetting the simplest of things. Baby brain, I’d forget my name if it wasn’t on my bracelet,” she added holding up the bracelet with Myrtle written on it.

“But you must at least have the chips,” said Mavis. “Don’t want you getting faint on the way back.”

“I’ll be fine,” smiled Myrtle heading for the door. “Come on Mother,” she added holding the door open.

“Of course,” said Enid, grabbing her laptop and following her daughter out.

“What was all that about?” Myrtle asked the Mirror as soon as they were clear of the cafe.

“I was going to ask you that,” said Enid, looking at her daughter.

“I remembered Mavis, only she wasn’t called Mavis when I saw her last,” said the Mirror.

“What was she called?” asked Myrtle.

“Belladonna,” said the Mirror. “My previous mistress employed her because of her knowledge of poisons.”

“Belladonna,” muttered Enid. “The name rings a bell. An alarm bell.”

“I’d better warn Maud,” said Myrtle. “Don’t want her eating the chips.”

“I’ve already done that,” said the Mirror.

“You don’t think she tried to poison Myrtle?” asked Enid.

“I would be very surprised if she didn’t have a hand in the last attempt,” replied the Mirror. “And she doesn’t like leaving a job unfinished.”

“You thought she would put poison on the chips?” asked Enid.

“The moment I saw her,” said the Mirror. “But I didn’t want her to suspect anything.”

“So we walk all the way back to Myrtle’s rooms,” said Enid.

“I don’t think that is a good idea,” said the Mirror. “I would be very surprised if they don’t know where you live. It might not be safe.”

“I’d better contact James,” said Myrtle. “I don’t want them using him as a hostage.”

“That’s a good idea,” said the Mirror.

“So, it’s my place,” said Enid.

“No, for the same reason,” said Myrtle, pressing the send button.

“So where do we go?” asked Enid. “Because we can’t spend the day dashing round everywhere.”

“No,” said Myrtle, taking a short cut through the park to the laundry. “But I suspect that Velvet might be able to help us.”

“Velvet!” squeaked Enid.

“Have you never wondered why there are no laundry vans driving round the streets?” Myrtle asked.

“Hadn’t really thought about it,” said Enid. “It goes off dirty, if I’m in a rush I wand it, and it comes back clean.”

“And any other delivery vans for that matter,” Myrtle asked.

“Likewise, it’s not something I think about,” Enid smiled.

“There are a whole series of underground tunnels for the distribution of all sorts of goods and services,” said Myrtle.

“So?” asked Enid.

“They have a network which is separate from the one that we use,” Myrtle replied. “Velvet should be able to get on that.”

“How will that help us?” asked Enid.

“I’m not sure, but we need to find out what has been put on the Fairy network so that we can find a way to counter it,” said Myrtle. “They make it sound like it is something big, but it could be all show.”

“It seems to have set off a series of updates that freeze the computer,” replied Enid. “That sounds pretty big to me.”

“As far as I know, that has only hit Violet’s laptop,” said Myrtle. “Ethel said that it would take a day or two at least to download all the updates. Then it has to install them.”

“What are you saying?” asked Enid.

“This has stopped the Head of the Fairy Godmothers from using her laptop and has probably reduced the usage of computers by anyone else to the minimum, just in case it starts doing an update. Or to put it another way, the office is not working at full capacity, so they have achieved their objectives anyway,” Myrtle explained.

“But why?” asked Enid.

“Violet went to the College to talk them into including computing in their syllabus,” said the Mirror. “Perhaps they thought this would strengthen their argument against change.”

“I can follow that logic,” said Enid. “Except the actions of Thistle have probably lost her her job and any argument she might put forward.”

“It could be that someone has used the Fairy College to further their plan,” said Myrtle. “Thistle didn’t sound like she knew what was going on as far as the computer system went.”

“You mean this Liam cooked up a plan which involved getting control of the Fairy network and he is using Thistle to achieve this?” asked the Mirror.

“Devious,” said Enid.

“It may even be that someone is using Liam to do this,” said Myrtle. “We need to a way of finding out what he knows.”

“The Royal Suite,” said Enid slowly. “They have put him in the Royal Suite.”

“What of it?” asked the Mirror.

“A few years ago Lily asked me to sort out some equipment to keep an eye on one of our visitors. I got Ethel to put up some cameras that fed the footage straight to my laptop,” said Enid. “We were supposed to take it down after the guest left, but Lily liked the idea of having it there, so it was left.”

“Nice idea, but Ethel would know about it,” said Myrtle.

“Except, we put the idea that it had been taken down, in her mind,” said Enid.

“That poor girl, everybody has been trampling round in her head without a thought to her,” said Myrtle.

“I’ll apologise to her when we’ve got this sorted, but at the moment she isn’t someone I care to trust,” said Enid.

“It isn’t her fault,” said Myrtle. “It isn’t as if she knows what she’s doing.”

“I know,” sighed Enid. “It’s just, I’m so used to asking her help with computers.”

“When was the last time she helped with your laptop?” asked the Mirror. “It may not be the solution that we think it is.”

“Actually,” said Enid and everyone looked at her. “I know I used to be keen on Ethel sorting out everyone’s computers, but I never got her to look at mine. I was always to busy using the blasted thing.”

“Good,” said Myrtle. “So that reduces the chances of them having got to it.”

“Are there any remote links into it?” asked the Mirror. “They don’t have to get hold of the laptop to get into it.”

“Ethel kept nagging me about it,” said Enid. “In the end, I put the thought into her head that she’d done it and that sort of shut her up.”

The Fairy Godmother Part 109

“And how long have you been working here?” Enid asked Mavis when she arrived with the chips.

“Only a few months,” Mavis replied. “Maud employed me to find out how someone managed to send you some poisoned mushrooms,” she added smiling at Myrtle and pushing the plate of chips towards her.

“So where did you learn about computers?” Myrtle asked, looking at a text on her phone.

“Don’t trust her,” the message came from the mirror. “And don’t eat the chips, she’s sprinkled something on them and it isn’t salt and vinegar.”

“Any suggestions on how to get out of this situation?” she texted the mirror.

“Yes, where did you learn about computers?” asked Enid, trying to distract the girl from Myrtle’s messaging.

“It’s nowhere you’d know about,” Mavis replied somewhat evasively.

“Say you’ve forgotten something in your rooms,” suggested the Mirror. “Something that they don’t have here.”

“I’ve left my memory sick behind,” said Myrtle.

“Do you need it?” asked Mavis.

“It’s got a lot of log on things,” said Myrtle standing up and picking up the Mirror.

“I’m sure you will remember them as soon as the screen comes up,” smiled Mavis. “It’s amazing how these things come to mind.”

“Usually I would agree with you,” smiled Myrtle. “But lately I have been forgetting the simplest of things. Baby brain, I’d forget my name if it wasn’t on my bracelet,” she added holding up the bracelet with Myrtle written on it.

“But you must at least have the chips,” said Mavis. “Don’t want you getting faint on the way back.”

“I’ll be fine,” smiled Myrtle heading for the door. “Come on Mother,” she added holding the door open.

“Of course,” said Enid, grabbing her laptop and following her daughter out.

“What was all that about?” Myrtle asked the Mirror as soon as they were clear of the cafe.

“I was going to ask you that,” said Enid, looking at her daughter.

“I remembered Mavis, only she wasn’t called Mavis when I saw her last,” said the Mirror.

“What was she called?” asked Myrtle.

“Belladonna,” said the Mirror. “My previous mistress employed her because of her knowledge of poisons.”

“Belladonna,” muttered Enid. “The name rings a bell. An alarm bell.”

“I’d better warn Maud,” said Myrtle. “Don’t want her eating the chips.”

“I’ve already done that,” said the Mirror.

“You don’t think she tried to poison Myrtle?” asked Enid.

“I would be very surprised if she didn’t have a hand in the last attempt,” replied the Mirror. “And she doesn’t like leaving a job unfinished.”

“You thought she would put poison on the chips?” asked Enid.

“The moment I saw her,” said the Mirror. “But I didn’t want her to suspect anything.”

“So we walk all the way back to Myrtle’s rooms,” said Enid.

“I don’t think that is a good idea,” said the Mirror. “I would be very surprised if they don’t know where you live. It might not be safe.”

“I’d better contact James,” said Myrtle. “I don’t want them using him as a hostage.”

“That’s a good idea,” said the Mirror.

“So, it’s my place,” said Enid.

“No, for the same reason,” said Myrtle, pressing the send button.

“So where do we go?” asked Enid. “Because we can’t spend the day dashing round everywhere.”

“No,” said Myrtle, taking a short cut through the park to the laundry. “But I suspect that Velvet might be able to help us.”

“Velvet!” squeaked Enid.

“Have you never wondered why there are no laundry vans driving round the streets?” Myrtle asked.

“Hadn’t really thought about it,” said Enid. “It goes off dirty, if I’m in a rush I wand it, and it comes back clean.”

“And any other delivery vans for that matter,” Myrtle asked.

“Likewise, it’s not something I think about,” Enid smiled.

“There are a whole series of underground tunnels for the distribution of all sorts of goods and services,” said Myrtle.

“So?” asked Enid.

“They have a network which is separate from the one that we use,” Myrtle replied. “Velvet should be able to get on that.”

“How will that help us?” asked Enid.

“I’m not sure, but we need to find out what has been put on the Fairy network so that we can find a way to counter it,” said Myrtle. “They make it sound like it is something big, but it could be all show.”

“It seems to have set off a series of updates that freeze the computer,” replied Enid. “That sounds pretty big to me.”

“As far as I know, that has only hit Violet’s laptop,” said Myrtle. “Ethel said that it would take a day or two at least to download all the updates. Then it has to install them.”

“What are you saying?” asked Enid.

“This has stopped the Head of the Fairy Godmothers from using her laptop and has probably reduced the usage of computers by anyone else to the minimum, just in case it starts doing an update. Or to put it another way, the office is not working at full capacity, so they have achieved their objectives anyway,” Myrtle explained.

“But why?” asked Enid.

“Violet went to the College to talk them into including computing in their syllabus,” said the Mirror. “Perhaps they thought this would strengthen their argument against change.”

“I can follow that logic,” said Enid. “Except the actions of Thistle have probably lost her her job and any argument she might put forward.”

“It could be that someone has used the Fairy College to further their plan,” said Myrtle. “Thistle didn’t sound like she knew what was going on as far as the computer system went.”

“You mean this Liam cooked up a plan which involved getting control of the Fairy network and he is using Thistle to achieve this?” asked the Mirror.

“Devious,” said Enid.

“It may even be that someone is using Liam to do this,” said Myrtle. “We need to a way of finding out what he knows.”

“The Royal Suite,” said Enid slowly. “They have put him in the Royal Suite.”

“What of it?” asked the Mirror.

“A few years ago Lily asked me to sort out some equipment to keep an eye on one of our visitors. I got Ethel to put up some cameras that fed the footage straight to my laptop,” said Enid. “We were supposed to take it down after the guest left, but Lily liked the idea of having it there, so it was left.”

“Nice idea, but Ethel would know about it,” said Myrtle.

“Except, we put the idea that it had been taken down, in her mind,” said Enid.

“That poor girl, everybody has been trampling round in her head without a thought to her,” said Myrtle.

“I’ll apologise to her when we’ve got this sorted, but at the moment she isn’t someone I care to trust,” said Enid.

“It isn’t her fault,” said Myrtle. “It isn’t as if she knows what she’s doing.”

“I know,” sighed Enid. “It’s just, I’m so used to asking her help with computers.”

“When was the last time she helped with your laptop?” asked the Mirror. “It may not be the solution that we think it is.”

“Actually,” said Enid and everyone looked at her. “I know I used to be keen on Ethel sorting out everyone’s computers, but I never got her to look at mine. I was always to busy using the blasted thing.”

“Good,” said Myrtle. “So that reduces the chances of them having got to it.”

“Are there any remote links into it?” asked the Mirror. “They don’t have to get hold of the laptop to get into it.”

“Ethel kept nagging me about it,” said Enid. “In the end, I put the thought into her head that she’d done it and that sort of shut her up.”

“I don’t know whether to feel annoyed that you have been manipulating Ethel’s mind so much or re-leaved that your laptop should be safe to use,” said Myrtle.

“Do you have a plan?” asked the Mirror.

“I think so,” said Myrtle as she saw Velvet standing in the doorway to the laundry.

“Where do you think you are going?” came a voice from inside.

“It looks like rain, I’m going to get the washing in, would you care to give me a hand?” Velvet asked.

“Can’t you leave it out?” the voice asked.

“That would look suspicious,” said Velvet.

“Get it in then, but don’t take long,” the voice snapped as she walked over to the first of the lines.

“What the hell have you been up to?” hissed Velvet.

“Someone is trying to take over the Fairy network,” said Myrtle. “We are trying to prevent it.”

“You have a plan?” asked Velvet.

“Something like that,” said Myrtle. “We need to get to use the delivery network.”

“There is access to the tunnels through the door to the left, I can get you a couple of minutes when I take the first load of washing in,” said Velvet. “Sort this out quickly.”

“I’ll do my best,” said Myrtle.

By Janice Nye © 2021

“I don’t know whether to feel annoyed that you have been manipulating Ethel’s mind so much or re-leaved that your laptop should be safe to use,” said Myrtle.

“Do you have a plan?” asked the Mirror.

“I think so,” said Myrtle as she saw Velvet standing in the doorway to the laundry.

“Where do you think you are going?” came a voice from inside.

“It looks like rain, I’m going to get the washing in, would you care to give me a hand?” Velvet asked.

“Can’t you leave it out?” the voice asked.

“That would look suspicious,” said Velvet.

“Get it in then, but don’t take long,” the voice snapped as she walked over to the first of the lines.

“What the hell have you been up to?” hissed Velvet.

“Someone is trying to take over the Fairy network,” said Myrtle. “We are trying to prevent it.”

“You have a plan?” asked Velvet.

“Something like that,” said Myrtle. “We need to get to use the delivery network.”

“There is access to the tunnels through the door to the left, I can get you a couple of minutes when I take the first load of washing in,” said Velvet. “Sort this out quickly.”

“I’ll do my best,” said Myrtle.

By Janice Nye © 2021

The Fairy Godmother Part 108

“If you wanted our attention why didn’t you just tell King Rufus’s Fairy Godmother?” asked the Head of the Fairy Council.

“I didn’t know how long it would take for them to pass the message along,” Liam replied. “And I don’t like waiting.”

“Or you could have just contacted us direct,” the Head of the Fairy Council continued.

“I don’t like to choose the logical route,” Liam smiled, like he knew something they didn’t.

“So why did you want to contact us?” asked the Head of the Fairy Council.

“Such a nice room this,” Liam replied, looking round it as if he was considering buying it.

“It isn’t the easiest of rooms to dust,” said the Head of the Fairy Council. “You haven’t answered my question. Why did you want to contact us?”

“No so quick, I like to savour my conquests,” Liam smiled.

“Conquests? We summoned you here,” replied the Head of the Fairy Council. “Hardly the act on a conquered people.”

“Try to use your computer, you will find that I have locked up you system so tight that you can only use it with my consent and if you don’t agree to me taking you over in, I’ll give you 24 hours, then everything will crash. I’ve been looking at your systems and I know just how much you will be left with, without them,” Liam laughed. “You have 24 hours and I’d like some decent accommodation whilst I await your decision or those hours may change into minutes.”

“We could put him in the Royal Suite,” suggested one of the councillors.

“Has it been cleaned since the last visitor?” asked another Councillor.

“Yes,” said the first Councillor. “The cleaning staff were most vocal about their thoughts on that guest, it took them a day just to clear out the rubbish.”

“Rubbish!” said the Head of the Fairy Council.

“They trashed most of the furniture!” the Councillor replied.

“Make a note not to invite them back again,” said the Head of the Fairy Council.

“Ladies,” said Liam. “I think you are getting side tracked. If the suite is clean, I’ll take a look at it. If it isn’t up to standard, I’m sure you can sort that out.”

“Of course,” said the Head of the Fairy Council. “Guards, could you accompany him to the Royal Suite.”

“Yes Ma'am,” said the Guard, bowing stiffly.

“Aren’t you going to take me?” Liam asked.

“You have left us with a lot to debate,” the Head of the Fairy Council replied. “I’m sure you would want us to spend all our time on making sure you get your answer sooner rather than later.”

“Of course,” smiled Liam. “You don’t want me to get board with waiting.”

“We would hate to detain you,” said the Head of the Fairy Council, waving to the guard.

“If you would come this way Sir,” said the Guard.

“Remember, I get board quickly,” said Liam as he followed the Guards out of the door.

“Should we send someone along to entertain him?” asked one of the Councillors, the others turned to look at her.

“We could send the mime artist down there,” said another.

“He’s been in therapy since the Royal visit,” said the Councillor sitting at the end of the table.

“What’s wrong with him?” asked the Council secretary.

“No one knows, he wont come out of the box he’s in, we think he can’t or wont find the way out, hard to tell, he wont talk,” the Councillor replied.

“The juggler?” asked another Councillor.

“He said he’d lost his balls, that’s why the mime artist was sent to entertain last time,” the Councillor replied.

“I think we’d better send him some food and think quickly,” said the Head of the Fairy Council.

“Enid,” said Myrtle, watching the Council Hall from the relative safety of the mirror. “When was your laptop last updated?”

“Two or three years back,” said Enid, looking at the ceiling.

“Are you sure?” asked Myrtle.

“OK, it was ten years ago,” Enid snapped. “I just haven’t got round to it.”

“Good,” said Myrtle.

“And do you work on the Fairy network?” Myrtle asked the Mirror.

“There was some talk of it, when I first came here,” said the Mirror. “But nothing ever happened. I’m still on the old Mirror network. Why.”

“We may have a way of getting round what he has done,” replied Myrtle. “The problem is that normally we would go to Ethel to sort out anything computer related.”

“Only she’s been compromised,” said Enid.

“Exactly,” said Myrtle.

“So you need a computer nerd who isn’t Ethel?” asked the Mirror.

“Yes,” said Myrtle.

“Maud, from the cafe, has employed one to make sure her orders don’t go astray,” said the Mirror.

“How do you feel about a quick walk down to the cafe?” asked Myrtle.

“Why don’t we just wand it?” asked Enid.

“They may be able to track us through the wands,” said Myrtle, looking at her wand. “Might be an idea not to have then with us.”

“I could send them both to my rooms,” said Enid.

“Good idea,” said Myrtle as the wands vanished.

“It feels odd,” said Enid. “Not having my wand with me.”

“Now you know how I felt when Lily took my wand away,” said Myrtle.

“I didn’t think I would feel so,” Enid paused trying to find a word to describe how she felt.

“Vulnerable?” suggested Myrtle.

“That’s the word,” said Enid.

“You’ll get used to it,” said Myrtle. “Any way, lets get to the cafe and see what we can do to expedite the whole thing and get back to normal.”

“I don’t see how my laptop is going to help,” said Enid.

“It might help us locate what he has put on the system,” Myrtle tried to explain. “It’ll be what isn’t on your laptop.”

“But there could be lots of things that aren’t on my laptop,” said Enid.

“True, but we will have some idea as to where to start,” smiled Myrtle opening the door to the cafe and feeling very glad that the morning sickness had passed.

“Are you OK?” asked Enid.

“Just hungry,” sighed Myrtle.

“What ever you want is on the house,” said Maud dashing up to them.

“We need the help of your computer person,” said Maud smiling. “And chips. I really want some chips.”

“Would you like to come into the back,” said Maud, looking at the Mirror. “I suspect this is Fairy Godmother business and you wont want everyone knowing about it.”

“You will have a long and prosperous life,” the Mirror smiled and Maud.

“That’s very nice to know,” said Maud. “Would you like some chips as well?”

“I don’t eat,” said the Mirror. “But I can appreciate the look and smell of your work.”

“Thank-you,” said Maud.

“Thank-you,” said Enid.

“This way,” said Maud. “I’ll send Mavis in with the chips and she can help with the computer stuff.”

“Thank-you,” said Myrtle.

By Janice Nye © 2021

The Fairy Godmother Part 107

“Can I be of any assistance?” asked the receptionist at the Fairy College.

“I’ve come to see Thistle,” said Violet

“Do you have an appointment?” asked the receptionist.

“I am the Head of the Fairy Godmothers,” Violet replied standing up as tall as her 5 foot 3 inches would allow. “I do not need an appointment.”

“I’m sorry, but no one gets to see Thistle without an appointment,” the receptionist replied. “I think I can fit you in in two months time, but only for five minutes,” she added looking up in time to see Violet vanish.

“Violet!” said Thistle, looking rather surprised. “The receptionist didn’t tell me you were coming.”

“She said you were busy, that I couldn’t see you without an appointment and that couldn’t be arranged for at least two months,” Violet replied, looking round the room. Thistle was alone, with a partially consumed cup of tea and sticky bun sitting on the table in front of her, not a single piece of paperwork in sight, nor a laptop or any other sign of work. “You don’t look very busy to me.”

“I don’t answer to you,” snapped Thistle.

“You answer to the same people as me and my department,” replied Violet. “The Fairy Council, in case you have forgotten and they are the one’s I shall go to next unless you have a very good explanation for your behaviour.”

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” snapped Thistle.

“Then you wont mind talking to the Council,” Violet replied, raising her wand.

“Perhaps we could talk about this,” said Thistle quickly. “We don’t want to waste the council’s time, we all know how busy they are.”

“I’m beginning to think that the council would be the best people to talk to,” said Violet.

“They might be,” said Thistle. “But you aren’t going there. You aren’t going anywhere.”

“Why not?” asked Violet.

“I’ve just turned this room into a wand free zone, you can’t whisk yourself out of here and I am not letting you go,” replied Thistle.

“So what do we do now?” Enid asked Myrtle. “I don’t have much baby knowledge to hand on and you don’t want to go shopping.”

“We could go talk to the mirror,” said Myrtle.

“Why?” asked Enid.

“She might have some ideas. At the very least, she might be able to tell us how Violet is getting on with Thistle,” Myrtle replied.

“Thistle, when I first heard the name I thought she’d got the short straw, but then I met her and it sums her up beautifully,” said Enid.

“You don’t like her,” asked Myrtle.

“Instant dislike, the feelings mutual,” smiled Enid.

“Lets go then,” said Myrtle. “I’m having a few misgivings about Violet going there by herself.”

“Mirror, mirror on the wall,” said Enid when they stood in front of the mirror.

“Please, don’t say “who is the fairest of them all” I’ve had a spate of that this morning. There was a school tour going round and they all found it ever so funny,” sighed the mirror.

“It’s OK,” Enid replied. “That’s one thing I’m never going to ask you.”

“Why not?” asked the mirror.

“Beauty is over rated,” said Enid. “And the only beauty competition I was ever entered in, I came last.”

“What was it?” asked Myrtle.

“Bouncing baby,” Enid sighed. “And Mother has never let me forget it.”

“What did you come here for?” asked the Mirror, deciding not to pursue the “Bouncing Baby” issue. “I’m assuming you did have a reason for this visit.”

“We were at a bit of a loose end,” said Enid.

“Violet has gone to see the Head of the Fairy College and we were wondering how she was getting on,” said Myrtle.

“Not very well,” said the Mirror, clearing to show them the interior of Thistle’s office.

“What do you think you are doing?” asked Violet, trying to wave her wand, a blue light traced its way round the wand and it turned to dust.

“That isn’t good,” said Enid.

Violet walked to the office door and tried the handle. The same blue light traced its way round the door handle and threw her across the room.

“The same will happen if you try any of the other doors or windows,” said Thistle.

“We’ve got to get her out of there,” said Myrtle, trying her wand. It didn’t work.

“We need to send this image to the Fairy Council,” said Enid.

“No sooner the word than the dead,” said the Mirror.

“Can they do something?” asked Myrtle.

“They can over-ride whatever it is she is using and bring them both to the Council Hall,” Enid replied. “Can I borrow your phone?”

“Of course,” said Myrtle, handing over her phone. “Who do you want to ring?”

“Head of the Council,” said Enid. “I want to tell them what’s happening and what they need to do.”

“You wont get away with this,” said Violet, walking round the room like some caged animal.

“I don’t see why not, I can’t imagine you told anyone where you were going and it will take a few days before anyone notices that you are missing, they’ll probably think that you aren’t in the office because of the update on your computer software,” smiled Thistle. “Then all we have to do is say that we haven’t seen you this year.”

“That would be a lie,” said Violet. “I’ve seen you at least three times in the last week.”

“But our records wont say that,” said Thistle. “And your records will say what we tell them to.”

“What do you mean?” asked Violet.

“Ethel, she’s always been such a computer nut,” said Thistle.

“What did they do to her?” shouted Enid.

“I’m surprise she got out of here knowing the difference between a laptop and a sandwich toaster, let alone all the things she does know,” said Violet.

“We thought it would help with the little job that we had in mind for her,” laughed Thistle.

“Which is?” asked Violet.

“Please sit down,” said Thistle pointing to a chair that didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the furnishings.

“Don’t sit down,” shouted Myrtle as she noticed the electric cable leading to the chair leg.

“What was the job?” asked Violet walking over to the window and away from the chair.

“We programmed our little Ethel to put a spying device onto the Fairy Godmothers server. “We know everything that you know,” Thistle laughed.

“Ethel wouldn’t do that,” snapped Violet.

“No knowingly,” said Thistle. “But she doesn’t know what she did and we programmed her not to see any signs of it.”

“All very interesting, but I find it very hard to believe that you have the knowledge to do this,” said Violet, moving away from the window, there was no one in sight.

“I don’t, I think the devices are a waste of time and space, but they have their uses,” Thistle smiled. “And Liam, you know him, King Rufus’s advisor. Liam told us all about it.”

“You wont get away with this,” said Violet, as the walls went out of focus and were replaced by the walls of the Hall of the Fairy Council.

“No, you wont,” said the Head of the Fairy Council.

“This wasn’t supposed to be possible,” shouted Thistle looking around her as the security guards approached.

“I think our tech is better than yours,” smiled the Head of the Fairy Council.

“This is not what it looks like,” said Thistle. “She was threatening me.”

“Sorry, but we all saw what happened and you were threatening Violet and you were spying on the Office of the Fairy Council,” said the Head of the Fairy Council. “There is no excuse for your actions.”

“I think I had better go and talk to Liam,” said Violet.

“I think it would be better if he were to be brought here,” said the Head of the Fairy Council. “I don’t want you to be put in any danger.”

“Danger?” Violet asked.

“We don’t know what this Liam is capable of,” said the Head of the Fairy Council. “And I, for one, don’t want to take any chances,” she added waving her wand. Liam appeared and was instantly apprehended by the security guards.

“So this is the Hall of the Fairy Council,” said Liam, turning to face the Council. “I wondered how long it would take to get your attention.”

“What the hell is he up to?” Myrtle asked the Mirror.

“I don’t know,” said the Mirror. “But nothing good.”

By Janice Nye © 2021

The Fairy Godmother Part 106

“Remember, no phoning me whilst I’m at work,” Myrtle told James as she was getting ready to leave for her second day back at work.

“OK,” said James. “But you will let me know if you’re going to be late?”

“You know I can’t make any promises,” sighed Myrtle. “Any more than you could make promises like that if I asked you.”

“But I worry about you,” he replied.

“I know, but this is my job and I’d like to be able to do it,” said Myrtle.

“I know, but if it gets too much,” said James.

“If it gets too much then I shall take maternity leave, till then I need to get back to work, I think they are in two minds about me working as it is,” said Myrtle, waving her wand before he could say anything else.

“Myrtle! I didn’t think you were coming in this morning,” stuttered Violet.

“Whatever gave you that idea?” asked Myrtle.

“You had a busy day, yesterday,” Violet stuttered.

“I’ve had worse,” said Myrtle.

“But you weren’t pregnant then,” said Violet.

“Being pregnant should not be an issue,” Myrtle replied. “If I am not well enough to work, I shall contact you.”

“Of course,” said Violet.

“Now what is my work for today?” Myrtle asked.

“Well things are going OK with King Rufus,” said Violet rather quickly.

“So what is Rosemary doing today, I am supposed to be mentoring her,” asked Myrtle.

“I realised that her computing skills aren’t quite up to date,” said Violet rather hastily. “You know what the Fairy College is like, as you said, they don’t really do computers.”

“Wouldn’t Ethel’s time be better spent bringing the college up to date?” asked Myrtle.

“I agree, but at the moment I can’t get them to agree to include computing on the curriculum at any level. They think that the students will spend all their time playing computer games and not get on with any work,” sighed Violet.

“Do you want me to talk to them?” asked Myrtle.

“No, I don’t think that would be a good idea, you are Enid’s daughter,” sighed Violet.

“And what’s that got to do with anything?” asked Myrtle, though she could guess that her Mother must have been ruffling a few feathers.

“The course I sent her on,” Violet said, hesitating a moment.

“What’s she done?” asked Myrtle.

“Reduced the lecturer to tears within half an hour of arriving, they then spent the rest of the day trying to work out what she’d said to do this,” said Violet.

“Didn’t they try asking Enid?” snapped Myrtle.

“Your Mother told them to ask the lecturer and she just sobbed louder,” sighed Violet.

“And no one thought to tell me about this?” asked Myrtle.

“We didn’t want to bother you,” said Violet.

“Because I’m pregnant?” asked Myrtle.

“I didn’t say that,” Violet replied quickly.

“You didn’t have to,” Myrtle sighed. “So what am I supposed to do today, you’ve passed my apprentice on to someone else and I can’t go and talk to the Fairy College because my Mother has upset them. Do you want me to talk to Enid, I am assuming that she isn’t at the College today.”

“They said that Hell would freeze over, catch fire and sink before she is allowed into the grounds again, let alone in the building,” said Violet.

“Could be worse,” said Myrtle. “Do you want me to talk to her?”

“If you don’t mind,” said Violet. “I tend to forget what I’ve come to say as soon as I see her and then she always gets her way.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” said Myrtle. “You got her to go to the college in the first place. It isn’t as if she was keen on the idea.”

“Thank-you,” said Violet, looking over to Ethel.

“No your laptop hasn’t finished it’s update,” said Ethel. “It is only 60% through the download.”

“You aught to come with me,” said Myrtle. “You are the Head of the Fairy Godmothers, you shouldn’t let Enid boss you about.”

“But,” muttered Violet as Myrtle waved her wand and the two of them appeared in Enid’s sitting room.

“Hello,” smiled Enid. “Sorry I’m a little late, there was a problem with the alarm clock.”

“Is that why it’s embedded in the wall?” asked Myrtle.

“It rang at some ungodly hour,” Enid replied, waving her wand at it. The clock fell to the floor, the glass fell out, the hands fell off, followed by the dial and various cogs.

“I’ll send it to the repair people,” said Myrtle.

“If you must, but it wasn’t a very nice clock,” said Enid, more cogs fell out of it.

“Then I shall keep it,” said Myrtle, feeling sorry for it. “You can always set an alarm on your mobile phone.”

“I wouldn’t know how to do that,” said Enid.

“Perhaps I should come back later,” said Violet. “You two have so much to talk about.”

“And what will you do back at the office?” asked Myrtle. “Your laptop hasn’t finished downloading the updates yet.”

“I heard that one was a killer,” said Enid.

“How have you avoided it?” asked Violet.

“I turned off all the updates, about a year or two back,” smiled Enid. “They were so annoying.”

“You shouldn’t do that!” snapped Violet. “As a Fairy Godmother you are obliged to keep the software on your computer up to date and that means getting all the updates that come.”

“I’ll do it, at the weekend, if it’s that important,” muttered Enid.

“You will do it now,” Violet replied.

“I don’t know how to get to the updates,” said Enid. “I’ll ask Ethel, she’ll be able to find them.”

“Where is your laptop?” asked Violet. “I shall take it with me now.”

“Hang on, are you saying you don’t trust me to get my own laptop updated?” snapped Enid.

“No, she’s trying to get out of asking you what happened at the Fairy College yesterday,” said Myrtle.

“Ask the college,” said Enid.

“We would, but they don’t know, you wouldn’t tell them and the lecturer was so upset I doubt if she could even tell us what her name was let alone anything else,” snapped Violet. “So what did you say to her?”

“I told her how Lily died,” said Enid.

“What!” stuttered Violet and Myrtle together.

“She was letting rip at me about what bad examples Lily and I where. That we should both be locked up and that we weren’t fit to be there, that she was glad that she’d told the Council Secretary how evil Lily was, all that sort of thing,” said Enid. “Then she asked me where Lily was, so I told her.”

“I am so sorry,” said Violet. “She shouldn’t have done that.”

“I thought I deserved it,” said Enid.

“Doesn’t matter what you have done,” said Violet. “You didn’t deserve that, no one does. I think you should stay with your Mother today,” Violet told Myrtle. “I shall go to the Fairy College and tell them what I think.”

“Are you sure?” asked Myrtle.

“No one treats one of my Fairy Godmothers like that and gets away with it,” said Violet waving her wand.

“Did she really do that?” asked Myrtle.

“I wouldn’t lie about something like that,” said Enid. “I’d get found out.”

“That’s true,” said Myrtle. “Are you OK?”

“It was a bit of a shaker at the time, I thought everyone knew what Lily did,” sighed Enid. “But, I’m tougher than that, which is more than can be said of that lecturer.”

“Yes, you’d have thought, if she was dishing that sort of stuff out, that she would be able to take it,” Myrtle agreed. “I’d like to hear what Violet says when she gets there, she did seem to have her mad up.”

“That bunch could do with a bit of a stir up,” said Enid. “I tried to do it whilst I was there, but they were so stuck in the mud, that’s why I left to become Head of the Fairy Godmothers, I thought I’d be able to get them into the 20^th century from there.”

“We are in the 21^st century,” Myrtle reminded her.

“We are, they are still back in the 1800’s at the best,” said Enid. “That reminds me, they took my phone off me before they would even let me into the place and they’ve still got it.”

“I’ll text Violet with that,” said Myrtle, fishing out her phone. “She’ll get it back for you.”

“So, what do we do now?” asked Enid as Myrtle put her phone away. “Do I get to spoil you? Talk about babies or maybe get some clothes for the little thing?”

“It’s a bit early to get clothes, we don’t know what sex it’s going to be yet,” said Myrtle.

“Do you want to find out?” asked Enid.

“No, I can see the charms of finding out when the baby is born,” smiled Myrtle, patting the bump. “I’m sure they’ll be perfect whatever they are.”

“So no big gender revel party?” asked Enid.

“James has been telling me all about the accidents people have with them, it’s enough to put anyone off,” Myrtle explained.

“Fair enough,” said Enid. “Talking of James, I heard you had a bit of a problem with him yesterday.”

“He’s not used to me going out to work, that’s all,” said Myrtle. “I’ve explained it to him.”

“Good, because you can’t have him stopping you from working, you are so good as a Fairy Godmother,” Enid explained. “You are, by far, the best Fairy Godmother I have ever met.”

“You didn’t say that when you were Head of the Fairy Godmother’s,” laughed Myrtle.

“I didn’t want you sitting on your laurels,” said Enid. “I wanted to encourage you to do better always and now, no one is better than you.”

By Janice Nye © 2021