A Fairy's Wish

By Janna Claire

Fairies aren't real...or are they?

Twelve-year-old Gracie Jamison is enjoying the flowers in her family garden when suddenly, she hears a tiny voice coming from a flower and sees a small form. Gracie finds out that her garden is inhabited by garden fairies!

With one wish from a new, small friend ("Why not? What could possibly go wrong?"), Gracie finds herself a fairy in a tiny, delightful world she never knew existed.

But when Gracie is left a fairy permanently, she must find a way to get back to her family. The situation worsens when the entire garden begins to die. Gracie discovers it's up to her to save the garden... and every fairy in it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781645847472

Book preview

Chapter One

Rain, rain, go away. Come again some other day, twelve-year-old Gracie Jamison recited, her face pressed against the window. No luck. Gracie sighed heavily as a clap of thunder burst overhead. Rain poured from the gray sky in a steady, unhurried way.

Gracie never really minded rain. In fact, she usually liked it. Usually, during a storm like this one, she would curl up under a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate and watch a movie with Mama and Dad. Afterward, when the storm was over, she would put on her jacket and boots and take a walk with her parents outside. The air would be pleasantly cool. After the rain, the world seemed to be cleaner, in a way, and fresher.

But Mama and Dad were not at home. They had gone to visit Mrs. White, their sick elderly friend, all the way over in Texas. Aunt Millie was coming to stay with Gracie, but she hadn’t arrived today as she had planned. She had telephoned earlier that afternoon, saying that she would be a day later than expected because her flight had been delayed.

So that left Gracie alone for the night. She didn’t have to worry about dinner. Mama had a ready-made casserole in the fridge, but she was lonely. It didn’t seem right not to hear Mama singing as she cooked or Dad hammering nails in the garage. Everything was so silent; it was almost scary.

Mew! Gracie looked down from her perch at Tom, the Jamisons’ old gray cat. He looked up at Gracie with huge, sad, yellow eyes. Tom was scared of thunder.

Gracie picked up the old cat and placed him beside her on the window seat. Tom sat down and began nibbling at his paw.

I’m bored, Gracie told Tom. There’s nothing to do.

Tom was too busy gnawing on his paw to say anything.

I don’t want to watch television, Gracie went on, because there’s nothing good on.

Tom licked his paw and rubbed it on his head.

I called Ava a while ago, but she didn’t answer.

Tom stopped washing and stared at Gracie.

What is it? Do you have an idea of something I can do?

Tom flicked his tail, walked around in a circle, curled up into a ball, and closed his eyes.

No, I don’t want to do that, Gracie said. I’m not the least bit tired.

Tom’s only answer was a contented purr.

"Well, at least you’re happy," Gracie said. She stroked him gently.

The phone rang, nearly making Gracie jump out of her skin. Tom looked up, annoyed at the machine that had disturbed his slumber.

Gracie picked up the phone, hoping it was someone interesting. Hello?

It was Mama. Hi, Gracie, how are you doing?

Fine, Mama. Just bored.

"Well, I just wanted to check on you. Are you sure you’re up to spending the night alone?"

I’m sure, Mama.

Now, you be sure to lock all the doors.

Yes, Mama.

And don’t answer the door unless it’s your Aunt Millie.

Yes, Mama.

And don’t eat anything you shouldn’t.

Yes, Mama.

And go to bed at nine thirty.

Yes, Mama.

All right, then, dear. Be a good girl. We’ll be back in two days.

Bye, Mama. I love you.

Bye, dear. I love you too.

Gracie put down the phone. It was five thirty. Her stomach growled. Gracie walked into the kitchen to get dinner. Tom, who was hungry too, jumped off the window seat, and followed her.

Gracie pulled the broccoli and cheese casserole out of the fridge. She peered into the cupboard, found a pack of rolls, and pulled them out. She warmed the casserole in the oven and buttered two rolls. Tom meowed crossly.

You’re so impatient, Tom, Gracie scolded. She filled one of Tom’s bowls with cat food, and the other one she filled with water. Gracie sat down, said grace, and started to eat. The kitchen was very silent except for the sound of Tom lapping up his water and crunching his food.

The rain slowed and eventually stopped. Gracie finished her food quickly and rinsed her dishes in the sink. Then she went into her room, pulled on her boots, and put on her pink jacket. Even if Mama and Dad aren’t here, I’m still going to take a walk, Gracie decided.

Gracie took a deep breath as she stepped out into the cool, early evening air. It felt so refreshing, as if she had just drunk a glass of delicious fresh water.

All this rain had to have been good for the garden. Gracie loved the garden. She worked in it with Mama all the time, and as a result of their labors, neat rows of chrysanthemums, pansies, daffodils, tulips of all colors, poppies, buttercups, carnations, irises, lilies, daisies, and more filled half of the garden. The other half was filled with tomatoes, green beans, carrots, corn, broccoli, and four fruit trees—two pears and two apples.

Whistling, Gracie walked in the wet grass over to the colorful garden. Her spirits were rapidly rising as the result of being outside, in the fresh air. She turned and smiled when she heard a joyful bark. Goldie, a large golden retriever, came running over to Gracie. Goldie belonged to the elderly Mrs. Thomas, who lived right across the street. Mrs. Thomas was too old to walk Goldie, so she let her run all over the neighborhood. Goldie was a very nice-looking dog, and if you looked at her, you would immediately suspect that she was very well-cared for. That was because every house Goldie visited had a family that would always give Goldie a treat and some attention.

Gracie rubbed Goldie’s soft head vigorously. Goldie moaned and lay down on her back, exposing her soft tummy. Laughing, Gracie began to rub Goldie’s tummy, making her grunt with pleasure.

After this, you better get back to Mrs. Thomas, okay? Gracie reminded the dog. It’s getting late.

Goldie wagged her tail. She always went back to her owner every evening.

I’ll get you a biscuit, and you get home, you hear? Gracie stood up. So did Goldie, panting eagerly.

Gracie returned to the house and came out with a dog biscuit. She gave it to Goldie, who gobbled it up in two bites.

Okay, now. Go home. See you tomorrow, girl.

Goldie trotted across the street and settled down in the lawn in front of Mrs. Thomas’s trailer.

Gracie sighed. She wanted a dog more than anything, but Dad was allergic, so that was out of the question. Sometimes Gracie worried about Goldie. She loved her, and she was happy to see her every day. She also knew that Goldie loved going around the neighborhood and getting attention and treats. But Gracie worried that she might get run over by a car one day or get lost and not return to Mrs. Thomas.

If I were Mrs. Thomas, I’d hire a dog walker, Gracie muttered to herself. She headed to the garden.

Chapter Two

The flowers in the garden were beautiful and growing nicely. Gracie went first to the chrysanthemums, her favorite. There were several tiny new buds quivering under the weight of large water droplets. Gracie gently touched the buds. She loved watching plants grow from tiny buds into bright, beautiful flowers.

Next Gracie went to the cheerful red poppies. Poppies were Gracie’s second favorite. They were so bold and bright and happy-looking. She passed over to the soft pink, white, blue, and yellow tulips. Then she glanced at the daffodils. Daffodils were Mama’s favorite. Her eyes swept over the bright blossoms, and something caught her eye.

It was in the daffodil. A…a sparkle. A tiny sparkle that shined like a star.

It was a water droplet. Sometimes they looked shiny. That had to be it.

Gracie looked harder. No. It…it was moving. It was dancing about to and fro in the flower.

What was that sound? It seemed to be coming from the daffodil that the sparkle was in. It