Fairy Barometer: Fairy Senses, #4

By Emily Martha Sorensen

When Maricela's grandmother comes to stay, she finds a magic barometer that gives her the sense of fairy pressure.  But more might be going on than she realizes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Emily Martha Sorensen
• Release date: Jun 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533770318

Book preview

Chapter One

M aricela, don’t run in the hallway! her mother shouted.

Maricela bolted down the hallway anyway.  She liked to run down the hallway.  She loved to run down the hallway.  Nothing was ever going to stop her.

Wham!

I told you not to run down the hallway, her mother scolded, coming around the corner to find her sprawled with a half-empty box lying on top of her.  "And look!  You wrinkled your abuela’s clothes!"

Maricela rubbed her elbow, which hurt from smacking it against the box before she’d fallen over, but she grinned.  She couldn’t possibly show she’d been wrong.  I don’t mind running into things.  That’s part of the fun.

"Aye, mamita, her mother groaned.  Learn to be a little more careful.  This is your grandmother’s house."

Not for much longer, Maricela said, popping up to her feet.  She was strong and wiry and didn’t bruise easily.  This was good, because she often played soccer with the boys.  They didn’t play nice.  She’s coming to live with us!

Yes, her mother said, "because she’s lonely without Abuelo.  You need to behave, or else she’ll wish she never sold her house."

Maricela grinned.  "Abuela could never regret coming to live with me.  She loves me."

Of course she loves you, you naughty child, Maricela’s mother scolded, gathering up the scattered clothes.  And your father wants another baby, she muttered under her breath.  He must be mad.

Maricela giggled and scooped up an armload of clothing.  She poured it into the box, which sagged on the side where she’d hit it.  One slippery nightgown oozed out and back to the floor again.

I know, Maricela’s mother said.  Why don’t you go out into the garden and see if she forgot anything there?

Maricela perked up.  Do you think she might have?

You never know, Maricela’s mother said.  But don’t run! she shouted, as Maricela bolted down the hallway and thundered down the stairs.

Maricela flung open the sliding glass door to the backyard.  She breathed in the fresh, crisp air happily.  The grass was dead, and her grandmother’s strawberries weren’t growing any fruit right now, but she had always loved gardening out here together.

A sudden wave of homesickness washed over her.  She was glad, really glad, that her grandmother was coming to live with them.  But she’d miss her grandmother’s house.

Maricela stepped through the fallen leaves, feeling them crunch under her bare feet.  She hated shoes and never wore them unless she had to.

One end of the garden was all dug up, emptied of plants Abuela had wanted to take with her.  The other end was just dead, harvested and wilted over when the frosts came.

I’ll miss you, garden, Maricela said sadly.

She moved around, saying goodbye to the rocks and trees, and then finally came back to the house.  Right beside the sliding glass door was her grandmother’s barometer, a metal thing with a glass tube inside it.

Maricela unhooked it.  Can’t forget you, she said.  "How would Abuela know the weather?"

Did you find anything? Maricela’s mother asked, opening the sliding glass door.

Maricela held up the barometer.

Odd, Maricela’s mother said, her brow furrowing.  I could have sworn we packed that.  Oh, well.  Come inside.  I need your help carrying things out to the car.

Maricela nodded and stuffed the barometer in her pocket.  She let her mother load her down with three light boxes, and then carried them carefully down the hallway, peeking out from either side to make sure she didn’t crash into anything.

You’re being awfully quiet, her mother noted.  What happened?

I just realized we’ll never come here again, Maricela said.  It’s going to belong to somebody else now.

Ah, Maricela’s mother said.  Yes, it is.  But sometimes things change.  And we will be glad to have her.

Maricela nodded quickly.  She was glad.  Just . . . a little sad, as well.  It would be perfect if we could take the house with us, she said.

Maricela’s mother laughed.  "It would indeed, wouldn’t it?