The Frivolity Fairies: A Christmas Short Story

By Jo Michaels

It's Christmas Eve, 2014, and thirteen-year-old Shirley is listening to the same bedtime story she's heard every year.

This year, she comes face to face with the frivolity fairies from the tale; naughty, careless creatures who cause mischief with no regard to morality.

In a tale of Christmas spirit, magic, and happy endings, find out what happens when one little girl sets out to make things right.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jo Michaels
• Release date: Oct 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310089381

Jo Michaels

Jo Michaels loves writing novels that make readers gasp in horror, surprise, and disbelief. While her browser search history has probably landed her on a list somewhere, she still dives into every plot with gusto, hoping "the man" will realize she's a writer and not a psychopath about to go on a rampage. Her favorite pastimes are reading, watching Investigation Discovery, and helping other authors realize their true potential through mentoring. She's penned the award-winning Pen Pals and Serial Killers series and the best-selling educational book for children, Writing Prompts for Kids, which has rocketed the kids that use it into several awards of their own.Most of Jo's books feature the places she's lived: Louisiana, Tennessee, and Georgia. That's given her a special amount of insight to what makes those locations tick. Her works are immersive and twisty, and she wouldn't want it any other way.

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The Frivolity Fairies

by Jo Michaels

Copyright © 2014 Jo Michaels

Smashwords Version

ISBN: 9781310089381

License Notes

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be copied or re-distributed in any way. Author holds all copyright.

This book is a work of fiction and does not represent any individual living or dead.

Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

Cover design by Jo Michaels

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by fines and federal imprisonment.

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Christmas Eve – 2014

Once upon a time, in the very city we live in, there was a little girl, with auburn hair and blue eyes, named Shirley.

My mother always began her Christmas Eve story the same way, and I always got goose bumps when she described the little girl like me—even giving her my first name. I knew, at age thirteen, I was too old for bedtime stories—or tales about fairies—but I never would’ve let my Mom know that. I think she enjoyed spinning her crazy yarn as much as I liked hearing it. That night was no different, and I was eager for her to get going. Giving my arms a firm rub, I sat up in bed and leaned forward so I could hear her better.

Now, this little girl was very well behaved. She always did what her parents told her, and never did she have to be punished or scolded.

One night, the year she turned six, as her mother tucked the child into bed and kissed her forehead, she asked, Mommy, can I stay up late and try to catch Santa Claus? This question the child had asked every year since she turned three, and every year her mother answered the same way: You’re not old enough yet. Maybe next year. Then, she’d kiss the little girl again, tiptoe out, and close the door.

But this year the door didn’t latch, and it swung back open just a crack.

A thrill shot through me as I anticipated what would happen next.

Her mother didn’t seem to notice, and neither did the little girl. She snuggled up to her teddy bear and closed her eyes.

Late that night, she woke up and clutched her pillow. Voices, like bells on a glockenspiel, bounced around the room. They were so low she had to hold perfectly still; lest the rustling of her pillowcase drown out the sound.

Put that back! Take the red one!

I chuckled when my mom’s voice imitated that of a fairy, and my mouth moved in sync with her next words.

No. I want the green one.

We smiled at one another.

Curious then, her fear dripping away like raindrops from a rooftop, the little girl released her pillow, crawled to the end of the bed, and lifted her eyes over the footboard.

Two fairies were standing on the small tea table in the corner, but Shirley could only see one of them clearly. That one had on a short, purple dress that looked to be made of dragonsnap petals, had shimmering yellow wings, and was graced with golden hair that fell in tight curls to her waist, adored with a sparkly clip at the nape of her neck. She was holding a green gumdrop in the shape of a poinsettia leaf, and her eyebrows were drawn together; her tiny mouth turned down at the corners.

With a regal air, the second fairy had an arm extended and a finger pointed at the first. I said, take the red one, Flita! This command tinkled through the air, but was filled with authority.

Shirley rose a little higher for a better view of the small creatures.

When Flita