Invitation to the Ball: Uncollected Anthology, #19

By Leah Cutter

Janice still can't believe it. She has an invitation to the royal fairy ball!

Finally. It's her time. She can be...discovered.

Janice practices her model strut, perfects her makeup, and has a friend help her with coming up with the perfect outfit.

But will it be enough? Is it finally her time? Is her life about to change forever?

"Invitation to the Ball" follows the journey of Janice, a fairy with big dreams.

Part of the Uncollected Anthology, Issue 19: Silver Linings.

Set in the NIMBY-verse. Be sure to read the other stories as well:

"The Fairy Boy Band"
"The Ice Skating Fairy"
"The Perfect Shoes"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Knotted Road Press
• Release date: Jul 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781540117458

Leah Cutter

Leah Cutter--a Crawford Award Finalist--writes page-turning fiction in exotic locations, such as New Orleans, ancient China, the Oregon coast, ancient Japan, rual Kentucky, Seattle, Minneapolis, Budapest, etc.  Find more fiction by Leah Cutter at www.KnottedRoadPress.com. Follow her blog at www.LeahCutter.com.

Book preview

Invitation to the Ball

Invitation to the Ball

Uncollected Anthology: Issue 19

Leah R Cutter

Knotted Road Press

Contents

Invitation to the Ball

About Uncollected Anthology

About the Author

Also by Leah R Cutter

About Knotted Road Press

Invitation to the Ball

Janice found not only her hands shaking, but her brilliant white wings as well, as she picked up the golden envelop that had magically appeared just inside her door. Her name was inscribed across the front of it, done in flowing calligraphy, using the most expensive of fountain pens. The ink still carried a faint scent of cinnamon, and the paper felt rich and heavy as she ran her fingers across it.

Was this really an invitation to the royal fairy ball?

There were far too many fairies for everyone to be invited to each ball. Instead, a drawing was held each season. One hundred and one lucky commoners were randomly selected and sent invitations.

Was this truly her time? She was the right age, after all, having just turned sixteen.

Cautiously, Janice turned the envelop over. An actual wax blob sealed the lip—blood-red, with the impression of a crescent moon and stars stamped into it. The royal crest of the fairies.

Janice could no longer contain her excitement. She ripped the envelop in her haste to open it, drawing out the printed invitation and scanning the card.

Yes! The midsummer ball! In a week’s time! And she was invited! Holy crap!

Janice couldn’t help herself. She flew up and zoomed around her living room, bouncing like a rabid rubber ball against concrete. She raced back to the ceiling, which was covered in pink and red blossoms, then down, past the backless couches and chairs lining the living bamboo walls, springing up off the thick green grass covering the floor then around again.

Oh my goddess! What was she going to wear? How should she decorate her wings? Should she wear rainbow sparkles with yellow streamers? That had been the trend that spring. Did she have to wear formal fairy robes? That would be dull. Or