Fairies of Fick Island

By Kayla Somerlot

Nine-year-old Becca Hardy has just begun a two-week vacation with her grandmother and plays daily with friends Nick and Nichole Fick.

Becca rescues a butterfly trapped in a spiders web and gets the shock of her life. There, in her hand, lay the dream of most childrena fairy named FraunCilla.

Becca and Frauns curiosity create secrets and deception in both worlds. What child wouldnt want a fairy for a friend? What fairy wouldnt want to live in a doll house with all those newfound toys?

Having broken the number one rule of the colonyNo Human ContactFraun is fearful. If found out, her actions could cause she and her family to be cast from the colony. Fraun makes a life-changing decision.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524570552

Kayla Somerlot

Kayla Somerlot is a self-employed grandmother who enjoys writing poems and short stories. Kayla’s poems have been published in anthologies, and she is looking forward to seeing her first novel in print.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Becca

I t had been months since she had seen her grandmother, longer yet, since she’d spent time with her friends, Nichole and Nicholas (Nick) Fick. But for the next two weeks she would get to see all of them. The rumbling of a vehicle interrupted her thoughts. The clothes she was holding fell from her hands, she raced to the window (sigh), wasn’t grandma.

Rebecca (Becca) Hardy stared down the empty road. June’s soft breeze played in the curtains tugging at blonde shoulder length hair. Long bangs fell across wide brown eyes. She heard before she saw, Daddy Aaron plowing the last of the fields before planting. He looked small atop the big green tractor. Shirt tails whipping behind him, his favorite cap on his head. Becca smiled, trailing behind the tractor, a flock of seagulls resembling a giant white wave. Diving and screeching loudly as they fought for the tasty morsels unearthed by the plow. Cattle milled under the big maple, undisturbed by the commotion.

Beyond the field lay Lake Huron. Where green and blue water, looked as though it melted into the sky. Turning from the window, she skipped to the closet pulling out shirts and a couple of sweaters. Hugging them to her, she danced to the bed tossing them on the growing pile. Satisfied with her choices, she began folding them as neatly as she could. Mom’s well worn suitcase was over flowing, the lid wouldn’t reach the latch. Giggling, she remembered seeing her mom with the same problem. Climbing onto the bed she sat hard on the lid. A few bounces and it was packed tight enough to close and lock.

Now what friends shall I take? Becca thought tapping her finger against her bottom lip. Becca couldn’t wait to show Nichole the camping trailer she’d gotten for her birthday. Many plans and ideas had been made through notes and phone calls. Now it was all coming true. She smiled as she went back to the closet, taking a doll from the shelf.

"Miss Scarlet, we’re going on a camping trip." Picking up her mate, "and Jay you can come too. What shall I pack for you two? Laughing she sorted through a stack of doll clothes. "Oh, better not forget little sister this time." Reaching for a lavender bag, she pulled out a small doll, smoothing the wrinkled outfit. "Okay Tempy, what do we have in here." Taking out what wouldn’t be needed and packing the rest with Jay and Scarlet’s things.

Becca froze, running to the window. This time it was grandma’s big green van pulling in the drive. Quickly stuffing the doll clothes in the duffle she raced down the stairs and in to Grandma’s open arms. Becca hugged her tightly only letting go so mom could give Grandma welcome hug. Becca pulled plates from the cupboard and set the table. Her little sister Anna came running into the room giggling as grandma scooped her up.

The back door swung open and Daddy Aaron appeared bringing with him the familiar smell of the farm.

Dinner smells good, he said stepping out of his boots placing them on the rack, his cap on a peg.

Hearing her father, Anna wiggled from grandma. Daddy She squealed wrapping her chubby arms around his leg. Playfully he drug her along as she clung to him.

"Okay Anna, let go I need to get washed for dinner. Anna pouted for a second then raced back to grandma. Watching Daddy Aaron with Anna brought thoughts of her own father, whom she rarely saw. Then as other times, thoughts faded. Becca looked to her mom, busy scooping food from pot to bowl. Anna playing with grandma, then to Daddy Aaron. This would be the last meal with her family for awhile. She would miss them and Anna’s chatter, but not the chores. Excitement moved through her like a shiver. It was going to be great. While Grandma worked, Becca would stay at the Fick’s during the day. What a great vacation she was going to have.

After dinner mom and grandma did the dishes, discussing plans for the family party. Daddy Aaron took Anna into the living room. Becca went upstairs to finish packing, and to clean her room. She’d just finished making her bed, when mom called, grandma was ready.

Daddy Aaron put Becca’s duffle and suitcase in the van. Have a good time, he said kissing her on the cheek and ruffling her hair.

I will! Becca said, picking up Anna giving her a big hug and a kiss. Anna whimpered. I go too.

Not this time, Mom said taking her from Becca.

"We’ll be making a trip in a couple of weeks.

Becca gave her mother a long hug, climbed into the van, settling for the long ride. Grandma backed out of the drive turning onto the road. Becca waved until the hill took them from view. Starring out the window as they soon passed the water tower at Huron City. This wasn’t a bus trip on a school day she was going to grandmas for two whole weeks. She would see and play with her friends and help grandma with the garden. Grandma interrupted her thoughts asking what she thought of a new baby brother or sister. She really loved Anna, but a baby brother might be nice. Be careful what you wish for, grandma chuckled. Becca asked about the garden. Grandma said it had been worked up but only planted green beans, she was waiting for Becca’s visit. Becca laughed, she loved helping but reminded her grand mother of her last attempt at making rows for seed had turned out pretty crooked. They both laughed. Grandma fell silent, concentrating on the road and heavy Sunday traffic.

One of Becca’s summer assignments was to keep a journal. Pulling it from her back pack, she leafed through the pages re-reading her thoughts. The last entry was about her summer vacation, which was now coming true. Her mind drifted back, remembering how she had met the Fick’s. Mrs. Fick had worked for her grandmother part time and became Becca’s caregiver. Nick was her age, rambunctious, always jumping in, asking a hundred questions, one on top of the other. Nichole, was two years older and liked to draw and play with dolls, as did Becca. When the two were together their imaginations took them to some interesting places.

Then mom met Daddy Aaron, who lived in Port Hope. Port Hope is a small town in the upper thumb of Michigan, bordered by Lake Huron many miles away. When mom told her Aaron was a farmer, she pictured a large burly man in bib overalls. Being nervous over their first meeting, yet there was nothing large about him. He was slim and not much taller than mom. Becca liked him immediately. His voice was quiet and reassuring. Aaron not only worked the family farm and raised cattle, he also worked in a local factory. Happy for her mother and liking the idea of being a family, but the move was difficult for her.

You’ll love living on a farm, mom told her.

Mom forgot to tell her about the hard work and loneliness. Down home school only a few blocks away and walking distance. Here it was a long bus ride. Family and friends were miles not blocks away. The hum of the tires made her sleepy, the next she knew grandma was shaking her awake. Grandma put her bags in her room and kissed her goodnight. Becca put on her pajama’s, and was back to sleep as soon as she felt the pillow beneath her head.

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Chapter 2

FraunCilla’s Adventure

F raunCilla put away the playthings. Stacking the snack bowls for the cleaners straightening the chairs neatly. Her thick wavy hair found its way from her band. Long tendrils trailed down the sides of her face tangling in her fingers. Heaven’s Spirit, she whispered, tucking the long strands back in place. Glad was she work details were rotated this would be her last eve in the nursery.

Little ones could be a handful, yet some like AunnaBella were fun. Fraun had grown quite fond of Aunna, she was a sweet little one with hair the color of ripened wheat. Wide green eyes, the color one saw on a fog filled morning as the sun peeked through leaves. Fraun envied Aunna’s beauty herself being blessed with dark heavy tresses that refused to stay confined. Eyes, unlike Aunna’s were dark. More like the color of the fleshy inside of a walnut shell before dried.

The Warm Season had finally arrived, all would be busy. Fraun hoped the coming work cycle would take her beyond her dark drab confines. Every new light cycle brought the sweet smell of blossoms drifting in with the coming and going of work details. Not sure where she would be working, but would not be chasing little ones.

In the waning warmth of last Season of Harvest, Fraun had an opportunity to work with the gatherers. Walking the darkened trails, stalks of field growth stretched toward the sky, Fraun saw little in the dark as gatherers climbed tall plant stems. Seeds were dropped to the ground where Fraun and other workers filled their pouches to be taken back to the Pantry. Snuggled in her warm fur coverlet those memories returned often through the Cold Season.

As a little one she had been taught as all the basic rules off the Colony. Little ones were never allowed to venture beyond the walls, unless accompanied by parent or guardian. Fraun joined others in the Learning Chamber. Here they were taught to recognize foods harvested food that sustained life for all.

Fraun spent many clicks of the time piece on the chamber wall, drawing pictures of plants, trees, and flowers. All were taught to distinguish by smell the difference of studied plants and flowers. What was useful and which plants one did not touch, like the poison plant that would make one very sick and itch for many cycles. RhanCilla, their teacher led them down dimly lit corridors to the Pantry. Delicious smells tantalized her nose, making her stomach rumble. Here food is stored from collections throughout the Warm Season and the Season of Harvest. Fruits, nuts, flowers, and vegetables, gathered had to feed the colony from harvest to harvest. They learned to rotate food stocks, clean and ready the chamber for new harvests. Giggling, she remembered wearing jams and honey. By the time the chore was finished Fraun was a sweet mess, it was an extra treat. Scrubbing floors was