The Fairy Godmother Part 60

“This has failure written all over it,” said Enid, at 6am whilst I was putting the finishing touches to the spread.

“Only if you say something you shouldn’t,” I replied.

“Are you saying,” she started.

“That you would sabotage this just to score points?” I asked.

“That isn’t what I was going to say,” snapped Enid.

“Maybe not, but I wouldn’t put it past you,” I replied. “You have a history of that sort of thing.”

“How could you say such a thing to your own Mother!” Enid replied trying to sound shocked.

“My own Mother, the one who dumped me in the fairy nursery as soon as my Father walked out on her,” I replied.

“I couldn’t cope without him, I don’t expect you to understand,” she said. “It was a very difficult time for me.”

“You didn’t try to cope and you didn’t make any effort to let me know who you were when I was old enough to look after myself,” I replied. “And anyway, you are doing what you always do, trying to divert attention to you. Well today isn’t about you, it is about Ella and Rosie, the two birthday girls.”

“I think you are being very cruel,” said Enid.

“And you are being selfish, trying to hi-jack today, grow up and let someone else be centre of attention for once,” I replied, checking the food for the umpteenth time and then moving on to the decorations. They were perfect, as they had been late the previous day when we put them all up and I added a spell to make sure they stayed in place.

“This is also a day for reconciliation,” Enid reminded me.

“Yes, between Jessie, Ian and their parents,” I said.

“I don’t see why it can’t be between us as well,” Enid replied.

“Because you have never said sorry for anything you have ever done,” I said.

“But,” Enid started. “I don’t think I have anything to say sorry about. Whereas you, I can think of tons of things that you should be saying sorry for.”

“That’s the problem,” I said. “You don’t see that anything you have done could ever be wrong, so the reconciliation falls at the first hurdle.”

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” said Enid.

“You are doing it again,” I said. “Making it all about you. I want today to go smoothly, I want the Happy ever after ending and I want the families to be friends again. We can discuss our differences after that has happened.”

“So what are you saying?” asked Enid.

“This day better go well or else,” I said.

“I shall do my best, but really it is out of my hands,” said Enid.

“Stuff this up and I shall never speak to you again,” I replied.

“I came here to help you,” Enid replied, trying to sound reproachful, but only succeeding to sound petulant.

“Then help,” I replied.

“How?” she asked.

“By not doing anything without asking me,” I said.

“You are treating my like an apprentice, worse than one, I’d allow some call to judgement,” said Enid.

“You didn’t when I was an apprentice,” I replied. “Now, I expect you to stay quiet till I ask you to do something.”

“But,” she started and I held my index finger up to my mouth.

“Not one word,” I said. She glared at me and left with a dramatic waving of her wand.

“Do you think she’s going to cause trouble?” asked Jessie.

“Not if she wants to speak to me again,” I smiled.

“Don’t you think you are being a bit hard on her?” Jessie asked.

“No,” I replied. “She has a lot of bridges to build, but that is for after the party.”

“Have you been in touch with Rosie’s people?” asked Ian.

“Yes, they should be here just after breakfast, I thought Ella and Rosie should have as much time together as possible,” I said.

“Rosie’s coming?” Ella asked, from the kitchen door.

“It’s her birthday as well,” I said. “I thought you might like to get to know her.”

“I don’t know,” said Ella. “It feels like I’m here to create spare parts for her or something.”

“It wasn’t spare parts,” I replied. “More bone marrow and she is always there to return the favour.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” said Ella.

“Also, you were born together, you weren’t created to supply her with anything, it was just lucky for Rosie that it worked,” I said.

“You were not created for spare parts,” said Jessie. “Never think that.”

“OK,” said Ella.

“Would you like Rosie to come to your party?” I asked.

“Yes,” said Ella. “It might be nice to get to know her.”

“She can leave any time you want her to,” I said.

“If she’s coming after breakfast, we’d better get breakfast started,” said Ella.

“I’d better see to Joy,” said Jessie as a yell was heard from upstairs.

“She’s got a good set of lungs on her,” I said as Jessie headed off.

Breakfast was over and cleared away when there was a knock on the door.

“I’ll see to that,” I said, not sure which of the guests was arriving first.

“Rosie,” screeched Ella. “You’ve got to come and see Joy, my baby sister, she is just the best thing ever,” she added, dashing past me, grabbing Rosie by the hand and pulling her upstairs.

“Come in,” I said to Rosie’s parents. “Would you like a cup of tea?”

“That would be very nice,” smiled Rosie’s Mum and they followed me through to the kitchen.

“I’d better check up on Ella and Joy,” said Jessie. “We don’t want Joy to get upset.”

“I’ll come with you,” said Rosie’s Mum.

No sooner had we got to the kitchen than the door bell rang again. All four Grandparents had arrived at the same time.

“A cup of tea for everyone?” I asked.

“That would be an idea,” said the two Grandmothers at the same time.

“Right,” I said heading back to the kitchen.

“Jessie!” said her Mother as she saw her walking down the stairs carrying Joy.

“I thought you might all like to meet Joy,” she said, holding the baby up, she waved and then burped.

“She looks just like you did at that age,” said Jessie’s Dad. “Absolutely beautiful.”

“I think she has a look of Ian around the eyes,” said Ian’s Mother.

“She is Joy and she is herself,” said Ella.

“Of course,” said Ian as the kettle came to the boil.

“I think it might be an idea if we brought the tea into the living room,” I said smiling.

“There’s a lot of us,” said Ian as everyone filed into the living room. “How are you going to make one pot of tea serve all of us?”

“I am not a Fairy Godmother for nothing,” I smiled. “You keep them from fighting and I’ll bring in the tea and biscuits.”

by Janice Nye © 2020

The Fairy Godmother Part 59

“What are you thinking?” asked Jessie, as she looked up after putting Joy back down into her cot.

“Just how well you are doing,” I said. “Not that you were doing badly at any point,” I added quickly.

“But and extra pair of hands is always useful when you have a new little one in the house,” said Jessie.

“I hope I’ve been of help,” I said smiling down on Joy. “Not that this one has been any trouble.”

“Makes it sound as if you are planning on leaving,” said Jessie.

“There are things I should be doing,” I replied. “A Fairy Godmothers work is never done and you don’t really need my help any more.”

“We shall miss you,” said Jessie.

“You have my number, should you need any help,” I said.

“That’s one number I shall never loose,” said Jessie.

“Good, because I mean it,” I replied.

“I know,” said Jessie, smiling down at Joy. “What are you going to do about Enid?” she asked.

“I’ve told her what I think of her,” I said.

“Not really the best of ways to leave it though,” said Jessie. “And before you say it, I know you aren’t happy with it.”

“No more than you are happy with the way things ended with Joy and Ella’s Grandparents,” I replied.

“The problem is, how to solve it,” said Jessie.

“I suspect it’s one of those things that has to be talked through,” I sighed. “By the way, what was the argument with Ian’s parents?”

“They basically agreed with my Mum about Rosie, what I didn’t know about wouldn’t hurt me, but they also thought my Mum should have done better with keeping me in the dark about her,” Jessie replied. “So they had a row about that. Mum thought I should back her up.”

“And what does your Dad think?” I asked.

“He thought that I should have been told about it at the start, that I should have a say about Rosie and then they wouldn’t have had to spirit her away like that,” Jessie said.

“It would have saved all that subterfuge when Rosie fell ill,” I said.

“Ian and I could have been killed,” said Jessie.

“I don’t think anyone thought that was possible when Rosie was born, I think things got out of control,” I replied.

“Lily, that’s who I blame for it all,” said Jessie. “She’s never once been to apologise. All that manipulation and she just walked away from it without an explanation or anything. Is sorry too much to ask?”

“I think it is the least she could have done, but it isn’t going to happen now,” I sighed.

“Why not?” asked Jessie.

“She killed herself,” I said, my mind wandering back to the moment when she vanished and her clothes fell empty on the sofa.

“Over this?” asked Jessie.

“She had dug herself down a hole and couldn’t see a way out,” I said.

“I’m sorry,” said Jessie.

“It’s not your fault,” I said. “But it hasn’t helped with Enid.”

“How come?” asked Jessie.

“They were sisters, not very close, but she was talked into becoming Head of the Fairy Council when Lily died. Then she wanted me to take on the role of Head of the Fairy Godmothers, because she was finding she couldn’t do both jobs at the same time,” I explained. “She probably thought she could carry on telling me what to do and then I’d do it all for her.”

“Don’t you want to be Head of the Fairy Godmothers?” asked Jessie.

“No,” I said. “I prefer to be working with people, not sorting out the paperwork and there is a lot of that when you become Head of a department.”

“I can’t see Enid doing paperwork,” Jessie smiled.

“She didn’t,” I said. “She’d hide it or delegate it to someone else, who also hide it. When I did the job, temporarily, I kept finding things that should have been sorted out years ago. A good half of my work involved sorting out things that she didn’t feel like doing at the time.”

“So you didn’t want the job?” asked Jessie.

“I found someone who was ideal for it, loves all the detail of contracts and accounts,” I said.

“But she didn’t like her?” asked Jessie.

“You’ve got it in one,” I sighed. “She hasn’t forgiven her for her Mother steeling Dad away from her. I suppose she’s also the reason I ended up in the Fairy nursery.”

“She dumped you! Her own daughter!” Jessie asked.

“Said she couldn’t bring me up on her own,” I said.

“And that is why you didn’t know who she was?” asked Jessie

“Not till she couldn’t deny it any more,” I said. “I still don’t know who my Father is or was and as for my Grandparents, I know Mum rang their Mum when Lily died, but I don’t know who she is and I have no idea about the other three grandparents.”

“Would you like to know about them?” asked Enid.

“I would like the option of knowing them,” I snapped. “And, how long have you been listening?”

“Ever since you told me to leave,” said Enid.

“Why?” I asked.

“I was waiting for you to talk Jessie here into seeing this little one’s Grandparents,” Enid replied.

“Is that why you stayed?” Jessie asked.

“No,” I replied. “I stayed because I thought you could do with a hand, whilst you were getting used to things.”

“So you had no intention of getting her to see the Grandparents,” snapped Enid. “You were just saying that to keep me quiet?”

“And it had been working so well,” I replied.

“You are about to leave, unless I am mistaken,” Enid said. “And there has been no reconciliation.”

“There might have been if you hadn’t butted in,” said Jessie. “I was just beginning to think that Ella and Joy should know their Grandparents, then you turned up and stuck your oar in.”

“It would be a shame for them to miss out,” I said. “And they may have learnt their lesson.”

“I suppose I could give it a go,” said Jessie. “But how would we do this?”

“I think it would be nice to have a party,” I replied. “It will be Ella and Rosie’s birthday next week. Perhaps we should get them all together.”

“I’m not sure if that is awfully wise,” said Enid.

“Ella and Rosie should know each other and Rosie should know Joy,” I said.

“You’re right,” said Jessie.

“OK,” said Enid. “I’ll talk to Rosie’s family,” she agreed and with a wave of her wand she was gone.

“And you will stay till after the party?” asked Jessie.

“I wouldn’t miss that party for all the world,” I smiled. “And I’ll help with the clean up job afterwards.”

“It is the recipe for either the greatest bun fight the world has seen,” said Jessie.

“Or it will go happily ever after,” I said. “The typical fairy tale ending.”

by Janice Nye © 2020

The Fairy Godmother Part 58

“Joy,” said Jessie thoughtfully.

“It’s just a thought,” I said.

“Joy,” she said again looking at the baby who smiled back and reached out her hands as if asking to be picked up. Jessie picked her up. “Joy?” she asked and the baby hugged her. “Joy it is,” Jessie smiled. “As long as no one has any objections?”

“I think it’s a beautiful name,” said Ella.

“It sums her up perfectly,” said Ian.

“That’s settled then,” said Jessie.

“So when do you get to come home?” asked Ella.

“First your Mum needs to have a bath, then she is seen by the consultants and if they say there are no problems, then she can go home with you,” said the nurse.

“That’s going to take forever,” Ella replied.

“It will do if we stand here talking about it,” said the nurse whilst Jessie gathered up all the things she needed. “Baby needs a bath too,” she added.

“Why don’t Dad and I bath her,” said Ella. “That will speed things up a bit.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” said the nurse. “The baby bathing room is through there.”

“What about Myrtle?” asked Ian.

“I can get everything packed up ready to leave,” I replied, not sure how I would managed bathing a baby, I’d avoided it so far, I didn’t think it would be a good place to learn, in front of a load of new mothers.

“I don’t think you are allowed to leave till we give the say,” said someone in a white coat.

“I think you have the wrong person,” I replied.

“I don’t make mistakes,” he replied sounding rather annoyed.

“Well, you have done now,” said Jessie. “My friend Myrtle was just getting my things organised whilst I had a bath.”

“I see,” he said, turning to the nurse. “Why didn’t you say something?” he snapped. She burst into tears and ran out of the ward. “Blasted nuisance these girls,” he said. “One sharp word and they run off crying.”

“She’s doing her best,” I said.

“Well it isn’t good enough,” he replied.

“She isn’t going to learn if you keep snapping at her,” I insisted.

“And why should that bother me?” he asked.

“Well, if no one wants to work with you, they may find it easier to replace you,” I smiled.

“Yes, well,” he muttered.

“It is unprofessional to take out your anger on those who can’t answer back,” I persisted.

“And who asked your opinion?” he asked.

“No one,” I replied. “But I’m giving it all the same, because you are an arrogant egotist and if I don’t tell you no one will because they are being too polite.”

“And you don’t care who you upset,” he replied.

“I think you could be a good person, if you just dropped the ego and remembered that you are dealing with people,” I explained.

“Well, thank-you,” he said. “Now if you don’t mind, I have a patient to examine.”

“Of course not,” I smiled. “Good luck,” I said to Jessie as I drew the curtains around her bed.

The curtains were being pulled back when Ian, Ella and baby Joy came back from the baby bathroom.

“Am I correct in assuming that this is your baby, her elder sister and your husband?” he asked Jessie.

“You are,” she smiled.

“Good,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to make the same mistake twice.”

“Can Mummy and Joy come home?” asked Ella

“We have decided to call the baby Joy,” Jessie explained.

“A very nice name,” said the consultant, checking Joy over. “Yes, you can both go home and I hope Joy is a joy to all of you.”

“Thank-you,” said Ian.

“There will be some paperwork for you to sign, but a nurse will be in with it shortly,” he replied and headed off to the next bed.

“If we take the stuff to go, to the car,” I suggested. “It will make things easier once the papers have been signed.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” said Ian, picking up a few bags.

It didn’t take long to get everything to the car, though there did seem to be a lot of things needing to be washed.

“If you like, I can wait here whilst you can get Ella, Joy and Jessie,” I said when I saw him looking round a bit uncertain.

“That would be good,” he said. “I want to get Jessie and Joy in quickly, there’s a bit of a chill wind and I don’t want either of them to catch a cold.”

“You go,” I smiled. “I can have the car door open as soon as I see you.” He smiled and headed back to the ward.

“Have they chosen a name yet,” said Enid, sitting on the wing.

“Careful, you might dent it,” I said.

“Are you calling me fat?” she snapped. “Or the wing thin?”

“What are you doing here?” I asked, not bothering to answer her question.

“Can’t a Mother visit her daughter?” she asked, trying to sound hurt.

“Sounds like a leading question,” I replied. “I think the answer has to be, it depends on the Mother and daughter.”

“And what do you mean by that?” she snapped.

“Any other Mother and daughter, I wouldn’t have any problems,” I smiled. “But this is you and me we are a talking about, so what are you doing here?”

“I was just wondering how things were going,” she said trying to sound innocent and failing.

“You could have rung or sent a text,” I said. “You know I keep my phone with me at all times.”

“You could have rung me,” she replied trying to sound hurt.

“You still haven’t answered the question,” I replied. “What are you doing here.”

“I was wondering if you’d had time to talk to them about the grandparents?” she asked.

“No, not as yet,” I replied.

“I could ask them if you want,” she said.

“I don’t want,” I snapped. “You are about as subtle as a ton of bricks being hurled from the tenth floor.”

“There’s no need to be like that,” Enid said, trying to sound hurt.

“I will talk to them about Grandparents when they are in the right mood and not before,” I explained. “And when I have done, I will let you know what they think.”

“If that’s the best,” she said, as I caught sight of the little family leaving the building with the baby in a strawberry pot carried by Ian.

“That’s all you are getting, now, you need to go,” I snapped.

“You’ll be in touch?” she asked.

“As soon as I have an answer,” I replied.

“I’ll hold you to that,” Enid replied, with a quick wave of her wand she was gone.

“Was that your Mother?” Ian asked after we settled Jessie and Joy into the car.

“I’ve told her to stay away till I ask her to come,” I replied.

“If she’s being a pest, I can have a word with her,” Ian replied.

“It’s OK, I can deal with her,” I smiled, still wondering what on earth she was playing at.

By Janice Nye © 2020

The Fairy Godmother Part 57

“Time to go home,” I said to Ella as a nurse looked meaningfully at the ward clock.

“But I want to stay with Mummy and Baby,” she mumbled.

“Don’t we all,” sighed Ian.

“Well, if Mummy is OK tomorrow than she and baby can go home with you,” said the nurse.

“Can’t she go home now?” asked Ella.

“She has to see the consultant,” the nurse smiled. “And he went home hours ago.”

“I wish it was tomorrow,” sighed Ella.

“Tomorrow will come quickly if you go home and get some sleep,” smiled Jessie.

“Come on Ella,” Ian said. “Mummy needs to get some sleep as well. You don’t want the consultant to think she is too tired to go home.”

“Of course not,” said Ella. “Promise you will go to sleep as soon as we’ve gone,” she told her Mum. “And don’t keep waking Mummy up,” she told baby. Baby gurgled and she read that as agreement.

“Good by,” Jessie smiled as we walked down the ward with a bag of dirty washing.

“We should get breakfast ready,” said Ella at 6am. I was sitting on a chair in her room, keeping an eye on the phones and her.

“Why?” I asked.

“So that we can get to the hospital early,” she answered.

“They wont let us in any earlier,” I replied. “We would just spend ages hanging around outside.”

“But that isn’t fair,” Ella replied.

“Fair or not, it’s what they do,” I explained. “If they let people in to see their relatives whenever they wanted to then it would be very disruptive of the hospital.”

“I don’t see why,” Ella replied.

“Well, there are some people I know of who would be there 24/7,” I replied.

“I don’t see why that would be a problem,” said Ella.

“Because some people would find it difficult to get any sleep,” I explained. “Also, those chairs aren’t very comfortable.”

“I suppose,” she sighed. “But I can’t sleep, I want to do something.”

“I suppose we could get the breakfast things ready,” I smiled. “But we have to be quiet, your Dad needs to get some sleep.”

“OK,” said Ella leaping out of bed. We tiptoed theatrically down the stairs and went into the kitchen.

“We didn’t tidy up last night,” said Ella. “Mummy would be most disappointed in us if she came home to find the kitchen looking like this.”

“I think everyone was a bit too tired last night,” I smiled. “But it’s easy sorted,” I added giving a quick wave of my wand, the sink started to fill with hot water, the washing up liquid bottle squirted at the water and the green scratchy thing leapt into action. No sooner was something clean than it was on the draining board, the tea towel was drying it and it was flying back to it’s place in the cupboards. Meanwhile, all the mucky dishes were scraping themselves clean of any left overs, all of which went in the bin, and were lining up ready to be washed.

“Mummy sometimes says she’d like a dishwasher,” said Ella. “But I think a magic wand would be much more useful.”

“They’re not limited to just doing the dishes,” I agreed as, with another wave of my wand all the jars and packets that were sitting on the work surface either found there way back into their places in the cupboards or sorted themselves into the right bins.

“We should put out the recycling,” said Ella. “The bins are going to be emptied today.”

“No sooner the word than the deed,” I replied, giving my wand another wave. The kitchen looked clearer, but the work surfaces needed a wipe down.

“What did I say about the wand?” I felt sure I heard Enid say, but much as I looked, I couldn’t see her anywhere.

“If you can’t be bothered to show yourself, then you aren’t really there,” I thought and dismissed her from my mind or tired to.

“We just need to get the surfaces wiped down and breakfast things ready for when your Dad comes down,” I smiled at Ella.

“We need to clean the floor,” said Ella shaking her head. “We must have walked some mud in or something. Mummy wouldn’t have the kitchen floor in that condition.”

“OK,” I smiled, waving my wand again. A cupboard opened and a bucket and mop hopped out. The mop proceeded to clean all the muck off the floor and then took itself and the bucket back into the cupboard.

“I wondered where you all were,” said Ian standing at the kitchen door. “I do hope you realised that I was going to get up early to do all of that.”

“Of course,” I replied.

“But?” he asked.

“I wanted to do it,” said Ella.

“But you didn’t do it,” said her Dad. “Myrtle waved her wand and it was done.”

“We were going to sort out breakfast next,” I said, trying to change the subject slightly.

“Well, I’ll sort breakfast,” said Ian. “And you little Missy can go back upstairs, get washed, clean your teeth and get dressed. Breakfast should be ready by the time you’ve done all of that.”

“Yes Daddy,” she said, giving him a big hug and skipping up the stairs.

“If I tried doing that I’d fall to the bottom before I even got half way up,” he laughed.

“Me too,” I smiled.

“I know it would be quicker if you waved your wand,” he smiled. “But, it is nice to be able to do something.”

“I think I might have got into trouble with the Fairy Council if I’d used the wand any more for a few hours at least,” I laughed.

“They are restricting the use?” he asked.

“They are beginning to find out that there are consequences to the use of the wand,” I smiled. “Some of which would be hard to see the connection.”

“Such as?” Ian asked.

“There was an apprentice, he got hold of his masters wand, thought he’d use it to do the cleaning, it ran away with him, the castle was flooded before his master could get back and sort it out. As for the ballet dancing elephants, they made quiet a mess especially when they saw the crocodiles,” I smiled. “Clearing all the water out of the castle caused a lot of flooding problems down the hill from the castle, some of the crocodiles escaped, the people in the nearby town didn’t see them in quite the same light as the apprentice.”

“Thing got out of hand,” said Ian.

“You have to know what you are doing,” I replied. “Hence, the magic wands are more of a last resort than a go to solution.”

“So why did you use it today?” he asked.

“Ella does very well, left to herself she would have done the washing and put everything away, only some of the things she would need a step ladder to put away and she may have dropped one or two thing whilst washing,” I replied.

“Only one or two things,” smiled Ian.

“She’s trying hard for her Mother,” I smiled.

“And she makes me very proud of her,” Ian smiled.

“Do I?” asked a little voice from the door.

“Always,” said Ian. “I think baby is very lucky to have an elder sister like you.”

“Do you think so?” asked Ella.

“I think baby thinks that you are wonderful,” I smiled.

“How can you tell?” asked Ella.

“I can see it in her eyes when you lean over the cot, totally absorbed, she never looks away,” I smiled. “And the fact that she doesn’t cry when you are around, speaks volumes.”

“I hadn’t noticed that, but you are right,” said Ian. “Your little sister loves you.”

“She needs a name,” said Ella.

“I was hoping we’d have thought of one by now,” sighed Ian. “Such a happy joyful baby, I’d have thought we could come up with a name by now.”

“Joy,” I said. “She brings Joy to everyone.”

“I like that,” said Ella.

“So do I, but we will have to see what your Mummy thinks about it first,” said Ian.

“Then we had better have our breakfast and get ready to get her,” Ella replied.

By Janice Nye © 2020

The Fairy Godmother Part 56

“I don’t want breakfast, I want to see Mummy,” shouted Ella.

“You don’t get to see your Mum till you’ve had your breakfast,” I explained for the millionth time that morning.

“Daddy?” Ella said as he walked into the kitchen. He didn’t look as if he’d had much sleep, though I had waved my wand in that direction.

“It is as Myrtle says,” her Dad yawned.

“Then you’d better have breakfast as well,” said Ella. “Mummy is going to be very worried if you turn up at the hospital looking like that!”

“I think I’ve been told,” Ian said, looking rather surprised.

“She’s right,” I replied. “What would you like for breakfast?”

“You aught to eat as well,” Ella said looking at me.

“I think I’ve been told to,” I smiled.

“I think toast would be good,” said Ian.

“Right,” I said. “Toast and coffee. I’ll get started.”

“The coffee might waken me up a bit,” Ian said, filling the kettle. “I’ll give you a hand, we can get presentable after breakfast.”

“We don’t want to spill anything down ourselves,” said Ella. “And you will do if we get ready first,” she added looking at her Dad.

We were at the ward door waiting for visiting to start, looking much more presentable than any of us had at breakfast.

“A word in your ear,” said Enid, slipping out of a side room.

“You aren’t wanted,” I hissed, hoping that Ella and Ian hadn’t seen her, fortunately they were busy trying to see through the ward door to see if they could spot Jessie.

“The grandparents should be here,” hissed Ella.

“That is not our decision to make,” I told her.

“But,” started Enid.

“I know what Jessie’s mother did to upset her,” I replied. “I don’t know what the others did or didn’t do, but it is for Jessie and Ian to decide when they want them back in their lives. If we try to push them together it could ruin things completely.”

“But,” Enid persisted.

“No ifs or buts,” I said. “A lot of these problems have been caused by us sticking our noses in where they weren’t wanted. They aren’t going to be improved by us sticking our noses in again.”

“If that’s what you say,” Enid sniffed.

“Yes, now go before anyone sees you,” I replied as a nurse came to open the ward door and the crowd of waiting people surged through.

“There’s Mummy,” squealed Ella, dashing off down the ward. “Mummy I’ve drawn some pictures for you.” Ian and I arrived at the bed a few seconds after Ella, but she was already busy talking to her Mother, telling her about the pictures, so Ian checked up on the baby, gazing into her eyes and lifting her out of the cot.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered. “Have you had any time to think of a name?” he asked Jessie.

“I thought of naming her after you,” Jessie smiled looking at me. “But, I’m sorry to say, I can’t remember what your name is.”

“Don’t worry,” I sighed. “I didn’t remember what it was till my Mother reminded me about it recently and I wouldn’t wish Myrtle on anyone.”

“Myrtle! What sort of name is that!” asked Jessie.

“What do people call you?” asked Ian.

“The Fairy Godmother,” I smiled, it did seem rather lame as I said it.

“What would you like to be called?” asked Ella.

“I hadn’t thought about it,” I replied. “But I think she should have a name of her own,” I said smiling at the baby.

“So we are back to baby,” smiled Ian.

“I’m sure something will come to mind,” I said, as a nurse walked up.

“It’s time for you to have a bath,” the nurse told Jessie.

“Do I have to?” asked Jessie.

“It’s important to keep the wound clean,” said the nurse.

“We’ll look after baby,” said Ian.

“Thanks,” said Jessie easing herself out of the bed, she didn’t look too keen on moving, but the nurse helped her gather her things together and take her to the bathroom.

“Why does Mummy have a wound?” asked Ella, not an easy question to answer.

“The birth didn’t go so easy,” said Ian. “Do you know what a Caesarian is, have they told you about that at school?”

“Yes,” Ella frowned. “Did Mum have one?”

“Yes,” said Ian, looking relieved at not having to explain it. I felt a little disappointed, I’d have to find out about that one myself, perhaps one of the pregnancy books I’d noticed lying around might have it in.

“Then we will have to do even more for her when she gets home,” said Ella. “Mummy will need to rest and concentrate on baby. I think she needs a name, a pretty name.”

“Have you got any ideas for a name?” I asked looking over at baby.

“I could look up names beginning with M,” Ella suggested. “There could be something amongst them Mum might like.”

“That’s an idea,” said Ian sitting down next to the cot with baby in, she was fast asleep and no one wanted to disturb her, though I suspect all of us wanted to pick her up and make a fuss of her.

It was late when we got back.

“I kept thinking they were going to throw us out,” said Ian as he pulled up in front of the house.

“They did, in the end,” I replied.

“Not till 9pm,” he said turning the engine off. The sound of Ella snoring replaced the sound of the engine.

“I thought she’d gone quiet,” Ian laughed, picking her out of the child seat. “Someone needs to be in bed.”

“She isn’t the only one,” I replied yawning.

“Where will you sleep?” asked Ian.

“You don’t need to worry about me,” I replied. “I will be fine, I meant you.”

“I am fine,” he started saying. “OK, you’re right, I’m all in,” he admitted. “But Ella and.”

“I shall keep an eye on Ella and the phone,” I assured him. “If anything happens you will be the first to know.”

“But you are tired, you must be,” he said.

“I am the Fairy Godmother,” I said. “I don’t need to sleep, much. I’ll be fine.”

“I’m too tired to argue,” he said as we tucked Ella into her bed.

“Good night,” I said, arranging the phones within reach and sitting down in a chair next to Ella.

“Good night,” he said going back to his room.

“You can’t keep this up,” said Enid, sitting herself on the chair arm.

“As long as everything goes OK Jessie will be home in three days,” I said.

“And then what?” asked Enid.

“I shall help out until they have got used to having baby around,” I replied.

“Haven’t they thought of a name yet?” Enid asked, changing the subject as always.

“Jessie wanted to call her after me,” I said. “But when she found out that you lumbered me with the name of Myrtle she changed her mind.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with Myrtle, as a name,” said Enid trying to sound offended.

“Is that why even the fairies at the nursery didn’t use it?” I asked. “Do you have any idea what it’s been like growing up without a name. Hell, it was used so little, I forgot I had one.”

“And now you know what it is,” said Enid. “You could at least thank me for that.”

“For reminding me that my name is Myrtle! I wish you hadn’t bothered,” I said.

“Do you want me to keep an eye on the little one whilst you get some sleep?” asked Enid, changing the subject again.

“I know your mothering instincts and your boredom threshold, you’d wander off after half an hour,” I replied. “I said I’d look after Ella and keep an eye on the phones and that is what I’m going to do.”

“Are you suggesting I might not be up to the job?” Enid asked sounding somewhat miffed.

“No suggestion in it,” I replied.

“I should think not,” she said.

“You aren’t up to the job, never have been, never will be. At least with me you had the sense to give me to someone else to look after,” I said.

“I have never been so insulted,” she bustled.

“You let me down,” I replied. “I’m not doing that to anyone in my charge.”

With a wave of her wand she was gone.

“Good riddance,” I muttered.

By Janice Nye © 2020

The Fairy Godmother Part 55

“There’s Mummy and Daddy,” said Ella pointing, we rushed over to them and walked along beside the stretcher. I didn’t want to think about what Enid was doing, but the thought still crossed my mind, I just pushed it to the back again there was enough with the here and now to occupy anyone’s mind.

Jessie was taken to a delivery room, Ian followed her in without question.

“I think we have enough in here,” said someone as Ella and I got to the door.

“Could you look after her for us?” Ian asked me. “Is there somewhere they could wait?” he asked a nurse.

“Of course, I’ll take you to the waiting room,” she said, smiling. “Though I don’t know how long you are going to be there.”

“Don’t worry,” I smiled and we followed the nurse to a room nearby full of chairs, tables, magazines and toys along with a lot of mothers, children and babies.

“If you’re needed, someone will come for you,” said the nurse and disappeared off back to the room Jessie and Ian had gone into.

“How long do you think it’s going to take?” Ella asked me.

“I don’t know,” I said. “Would you like to read a book?”

“They’re all baby books,” said Ella after looking through the nearest pile.

“Would you like to draw a picture,” asked the receptionist.

“That would be an idea,” I said. “You can give it to you Mummy when the baby is born.”

“I don’t like drawing,” Ella replied, sounding really angry, though I wasn’t sure why.

“I’d like to draw something,” I said. “You can always watch me, till you think of something else to do,” Ella said nothing, just sat next to me looking angry.

“What don’t you like about drawing?” I asked sketching the horizon on the sheet of paper.

“Whatever I do, someone tells me that it’s wrong,” she said, looking out of the window.

“Who?” I asked, drawing in the beach as I remembered it from the first time I went to the hotel. “The teacher,” said Ella, so quietly I almost didn’t hear her. “She thinks I should draw a dark line around everything.”

“Strange person, I don’t see any dark lines on me, or you,” I replied.

“Exactly,” said Ella. “But she wouldn’t accept my picture of a lizard because I hadn’t drawn a dark line round the edge.”

“Well, she isn’t here now and I don’t think she’s going to see anything you draw, unless you want her to,” I said. “However, your Mum and Dad will see and they will think you are very good.”

“OK,” said Ella, getting a piece of paper and sitting next to me at the table.

One by one the other people in the waiting room went to there appointments and left, till we were the only ones there.

“There is a cafe downstairs,” said the receptionist. “If anything happens, I’ll tell them where you are.”

“Thank-you,” I said. “How about some food?” I suggested to Ella.

“That would be a very good idea,” said Ella. “But what about Mum and Dad?”

“I think they are a bit busy at the moment,” I smiled. “However, we can always get some snacks for them and something to drink.”

“What about the baby?” asked Ella.

“I’m sure they will be able to sort something for the baby when it’s born,” I said.

“Good, because I don’t know what babies eat,” Ella smiled.

“Neither do I,” I said as we headed off for the cafe.

We returned from the cafe, having had a decent tea and bought some snacks and drinks for Ian and Jessie to find Enid and all of Ella’s grandparents in the waiting room.

“Did Ian ask you to come here?” I asked.

“No,” said Enid. “But I think they aught to be here.”

“It is not your place to decide who is and isn’t here,” I snapped.

“Well I’m glad she told us about it,” said Jessie’s Mum. “Jessie needs me, whether she knows it or not.”

“It’s for Jessie to decide on that,” said Ian, from the doorway. “And she doesn’t want to know you.”

“Is the baby born?” Ella asked, dancing about in front of her Dad.

“Not yet,” said Ian. “I just came out to check up on you. You’ll be needing something to eat.”

“Myrtle took me to the cafe for tea,” said Ella. “And we got some snacks for you and Mummy,” she added handing the bag of snacks to him. He took a quick look.

“All our favourites,” said Ian smiling. “I’ll take these in to your Mum. Thanks Myrtle. As for you lot,” he added looking at the grandparents. “When we want you here we’ll let you know.”

“You need family to look after Ella,” said his Mother.

“I can do that,” said Jessie’s Mother.

“I wouldn’t leave you to look after a dead hamster,” said Ian’s Mother.

“I’m not choosing any of you, Myrtle is doing a very good job and you lot would only argue, so you are all going. I could do without the stress,” said Ian.

“That’s no way to talk to your elders,” said Enid.

“It’s the way to talk to people who butt in without being asked,” I told Enid. “And that includes you, by the way, Mother.”

“Really!” she replied.

“I think we’d better go,” said Ian’s father, looking at Enid.

“Fine,” she said waving her wand, they all vanished.

“Sorry about that,” I said to Ian. “Parents!”

“I know what you mean,” he sighed. “Anyway, thanks for the snacks and looking after Ella.”

“She’s been drawing a picture for you and Jessie,” I replied.

“That’s very good,” said Ian looking at the picture. “It looks like it could walk off the page.”

“You don’t mind that it doesn’t have a dark line round it?” asked Ella.

“It’s perfect the way it is, just like you,” said Ian.

“Your wife needs you,” said a nurse standing at the door.

“You’d better go,” I said and he dashed out of the door.

“What do you think’s happened?” asked Ella.

“I don’t know,” I said. “But I get the impression we wont be waiting long. Your Dad will let us know as soon as he can.”

“What should we do?” Ella asked.

“You could draw another picture,” I suggested. “Maybe something for the baby.”

“Our pet rabbit just had babies,” said Ella. “I could draw a picture of them for the baby.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” I smiled, she set to work on that and I set to work trying to find out what was going on with Jessie. My mind wandered to an operating theatre, Jessie was on the table and they were performing a caesarian section. Things didn’t look too good, so I tapped my wand and things started to improve, the Doctor relaxed as did all the people round him.

Ella had just finished the picture of the baby bunnies when her Dad came back, he looked strained, tired, but relieved.

“Would you like to see your new little sister?” Ian asked.

“Yes please,” said Ella jumping up from the table and running over to give him a hug. “Can I see Mummy as well.”

“Of course,” said Ian, sounding very relieved, taking us though to a side ward where a very tired looking Jessie was lying in bed next to a cot containing a sleeping baby.

“She’s wonderful,” said Ella, leaning over the cot and kissing her on the head. The baby yawned and turned round. “Yes, you are,” she said to the baby.

“Hello Ella,” said Jessie sleepily.

“Hello Mummy,” said Ella nipping round to the other side of the bed and hugging her.

“You two aught to go home and get a good night’s sleep,” said Jessie. “Me and the little one will be fine here.”

“Small problem there,” said Ian. “I came in the ambulance with you.”

“So the car?” she asked.

“Is at home,” he said.

“Don’t worry,” I told them. “I can sort this, after all, I am your Fairy Godmother.”

“Thank-you,” said Jessie.

When we got to the car park I waved my wand and we were back at Jessie and Ian’s home.

“Could have done with a bit of your magic earlier,” said Ian after we tucked Ella into bed, she was fast asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

“You had it,” I smiled. “Now, I’ll watch the phones, you get some sleep.”

By Janice Nye © 2020

The Fairy Godmother Part 54

“I didn’t think I’d see you this soon,” said Jessie standing at the garden gate. I hadn’t really thought about where I was going when I’d waved my wand, but something had brought me here. “Is there anything wrong with Rosie?”

“No,” I said. “Well, not as far as I know. Last I heard she had made a full recovery.”

“So, if you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing here and come to that how did you know where we were?” Jessie asked.

“I don’t know,” I sighed. “I was having a rough time with my Mother and I just waved the wand to get out of there and it brought me here.”

“I didn’t know you had a mother,” said Jessie. “Sorry, that was a bit insensitive, of course you have a mother.”

“It’s OK, I’ve only just found out who she is,” I sighed. “She couldn’t deny it any longer.”

“That’s bad,” said Jessie. “Would you like to come in, have a cup of tea and talk about it?”

“A cup of tea would be nice, I’m not sure about talking about it though,” I replied. “How are Ella and Ian doing?”

“They are doing fine,” Jessie smiled. “And aren’t you going to ask about this little one?” she asked, patting her stomach.

“Little one?” I said looking confused.

“Don’t fairies have babies the same as humans?” Jessie asked walking up the garden path.

“You’re pregnant?” I asked. There was me thinking she had put on a bit of weight, following her up the garden path I could see that it was quiet a lot of weight. “When is it due?” I asked cautiously.

“It was supposed to arrive last week, but babies never arrive on time,” she smiled and then grabbed her stomach and gasped in pain.

“Where are Ian and Ella?” I asked helping her into the house.

“They just went down to the park for a bit,” said Jessie trying to get her breath back.

“They should be here,” I said, tapping my mobile phone. The phone on the hall stand rang.

“I told him to take his mobile,” gasped Jessie.

“I could wave my wand,” I said.

“It’s OK, it’s eased off again,” she sighed, sitting down in the kitchen.

“Does that mean the alarm is over?” I asked.

“For the umpteenth time,” Jessie sighed. “I’ve had so many false alarms, even I have lost count.”

“How about I get you a cup of tea and you can tell me all about the little one?” I suggested.

“You are the only one who hasn’t realised I’m pregnant,” said Jessie.

“They don’t go on much about babies in fairy school,” I replied. “They don’t mention much about parents either for that matter.”

“You said your mother only recently admitted who she was,” said Jessie. “Did you know her, as a fairy that is, not your mother, if you know what I mean.”

“Yes,” I replied. “I’d been working in the same department as her for several years.”

“And she didn’t tell you she was your mother?” asked Jessie.

“No, not one word,” I sighed. “Not even when I mentioned that others knew who their parents were.”

“That’s rough,” said Jessie. “Did she tell you why she didn’t keep you?”

“Father went off with someone else and she didn’t feel like bringing me up by herself,” I said.

“That’ s rough,” she replied. “Shame your friend Enid wasn’t your Mum, I got the impression she wouldn’t have let something like that stand in her way.”

“Unfortunately you are wrong about her,” I replied. “She is my Mum, she called me Myrtle and then handed me in to the nursery for them to look after.”

“And you never suspected a connection?” Jessie asked.

“I did, but she said the mother couldn’t carry me, so she had carried me for her, like you carried Rosie,” I explained. “She only admitted it when there was no way out.”

“And you had a row with her?” asked Jessie.

“Yes, but not about that,” I sighed. “All these years I wanted to find her, now I have I just wanted to get away from her.”

“Have you thought about a holiday?” Jessie suggested.

“I went for one,” I replied.

“What went wrong?” Jessie asked.

“She followed me,” I replied. “And the place I chose wasn’t in the state I thought it would be in.”

“Go on,” Jessie smiled.

“Two people I helped, they were going to do up a hotel, it was on the coast, beautiful beach, lovely weather, you name it,” I sighed. “Unfortunately other people had ideas of what they wanted to do with the land and they were making any work on the hotel impossible.”

“So the beautiful hotel was a tip and then your Mum turns up and starts taking over,” said Jessie.

“You’ve got it in one,” I replied. “So long she didn’t want any part in my life, now she’s made a mess of hers, she’s all over me, being all buddy buddy whilst telling me what a mess I’ve made of things.”

“And I thought I had problems with my Mum,” sighed Jessie.

“What does she think of the little one?” I asked.

“I haven’t told her about it,” Jessie replied. “After what happened last time, I don’t want her anywhere near this pregnancy.”

“I can understand that,” I sighed. “Though it may be a bit hard on your Dad.”

“I know, but I couldn’t work out how to keep in touch with him without her knowing,” said Jessie, gasping in pain and grabbing her stomach.

“Is that another contraction?” I asked.

“I need the toilet,” said Jessie staggering to her feet and making a dash for it. Just as the bathroom door shut, the front door opened and Ella and Ian walked in, looking all excited after racing up the road together.

“Where’s Jessie?” asked Ian as soon as he saw me.

“She’s just nipped to the loo,” I smiled.

“Is Rosie OK?” asked Ella.

“Rosie is fine,” I replied.

“It’s coming,” Jessie shouted from the bathroom. “It’s really coming this time.”

“What?” shouted Ian dashing up the stairs.

“We need to ring for an ambulance,” Ella told me.

“Why?” I asked.

“The baby is about to be born and Mummy needs to be in the hospital,” Ella explained.

“Then I’d better ring for an ambulance,” I replied, fishing out my mobile phone.

“I’ll get Mummy’s bag for her,” said Ella. “She put it behind the sofa so that she didn’t trip up over it.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” I replied, though I hadn’t the first idea of what she was talking about.

The ambulance arrived as Ian guided Jessie down the stairs.

“I should ring for an ambulance,” he said as the door bell rang, Ella opened the door and there stood an ambulance man.

“I believe someone is about to give birth,” he said, looking at Jessie.

“That would be me,” she said.

“You go with Jessie and I’ll bring Ella along,” I said to Ian as Ella handed Jessie’s bag to him, he took it without registering what it was and followed Jessie to the ambulance.

“Are we going by wand?” asked Ella.

“Well,” I smiled. “I don’t have a car and I don’t know how to drive, so it would seem the most logical way to go.”

“Wont we get there before Mum and Dad?” asked Ella. A very bright child, I hadn’t thought of that.

“I’ll time it to arrive at the same time as them, so we can go in with your parents,” I told her.

“That would be a good idea,” agreed Ella. “Should I ring their parents?”

“I think I would leave it to them, if I were you, there seem to be a few issues there that they need to resolve,” I said.

“They aren’t doing anything to make things better,” said Ella. “And I miss my grandparents.”

“They should be there,” said Enid, stepping out of the shadows.

“I wondered when you would turn up,” I said, then waved my wand and took myself and Ella to the hospital just in time to see Jessie being helped out of the ambulance.

By Janice Nye © 2020