A Fairy's Guide to Disaster (26 page)

“Yeah.”

“After you found it at his house, you said you should’ve believed me.”

Judd’s cynical expression softened. “Okay.”

“Believe me now,” said Tess. “Light it, Matilda.”

I put my hands together around the wick. The cotton material sizzled to life and threw up a flame as tall as Gerald. Judd sat bolt upright, his eyes fixed on the candle.

“Whoa. Did you see that?” He stood with his hands on the table and leaned forward, his nose very close to me.

“Yes,” said Tess. “And so did you.”

“I don’t see any fairy.”

“Look harder.”

Judd glanced at his sister. When his gaze came back to the flame, he sucked in a breath, hard enough to make the flame flicker in his direction. His eyes fixed above the candle on me and my flaming palms. I waved, letting the fire dance along my fingertips. Judd ran his fingers through his hair, lifting the heavy bangs off his forehead. And it was my turn to be surprised. Judd’s face with its pale freckles, square chin, and mischievous eyes was captivating. I blushed at having his eyes being trained on me and I wished I’d bothered to comb my hair.

Tess moved in close to Judd, putting her cheek up close to his. “You see her, don’t you?”

“Uh, huh.”

“For twenty bucks, describe her for me.”

“I don’t want the money,” said Judd.

Tess raised one of her eyebrows and dropped it as the edges of her mouth curled up.

“He sees me. I can tell,” I said as hot tingles raced up and down my body.

“Describe her, Judd,” said Tess.

“She’s really tiny. Maybe a half an inch tall with long black hair to her waist. And she’s holding white fire. Good enough?”

“Is she pretty?”

Judd dropped his hands. His hair flopped down over his face and he fell back into his chair. A pink tinge crept up his neck from his collar.

“Tell me if she’s pretty,” said Tess. “That’s how I’ll know for sure.”

“Yes, she’s pretty. Happy?”

Tess flung her arms around her brother and squeezed. “I’m so happy.”

Judd pushed her off and crossed his arms as I doused my flames and landed on the table. I walked to the edge and sat next to one of his juicy crumbs.

“What are you exactly?” he asked.

“I’m a wood fairy,” I said, trying not to show how flustered I felt about being called pretty by a human.

Judd frowned. “A wood fairy that makes fire. Isn’t that kind of a problem?”

“It’s a paradox, I admit.”

“What’s a paradox?”

“A contradiction.”

“Like how I don’t believe in fairies, but I’m seeing you?”

“Exactly.”

Tess pulled her chair over next to Judd’s and perched on the edge. “Matilda needs our help.”

“What kind of help?”

“Go ahead, Matilda,” said Tess.

I tried to tell Judd the story of the mantel, but Tess cut me off so many times, I gave up and let Tess tell it. Tess was a better storyteller anyway. Everything sounded more fantastic, more amazing, when it came from her lips. When Tess finished, Judd looked willing to do just about anything.

“So you want to get out to Whipplethorn today?” he asked.

“Can you do it?” I asked, absolutely certain that he’d find a way.

Judd threw back his shoulders. “Sure. No problem.”

CHAPTER 22

JUDD collapsed onto the sofa and heaved a sigh. His thick hair concealed most of his face and he seemed to be growing larger every minute I knew him, larger and more capable. I left Gerald and Iris on the sofa table and fluttered over to Judd, landing on his knee. I peeked up under the curtain of hair to see his dark eyes looking back intently.

“What happened?” I asked.

“I can’t do it,” he said.

“Yes, you can. You can do anything.” I patted Judd’s leg. Warmth radiated from under the dark blue material. Heat was just one of the many ways Judd differed from his little sister. Tess was positively cool to the touch. Judd pulsed with energy where Tess stood calm in the face of his storm.

We’d watched as Judd threw himself into our problem. He asked a million questions and answered half himself. He found Whipplethorn Manor’s location on something called the Internet. He called cousins and friends looking for a ride. He discouraged easily, but managed to overcome the disappointments and find another avenue. He reminded me of a saying Dad often used: “If the door is closed, find a window.”

“We just need a window,” I said.

Judd jerked his head up and peered at me through breaks in his heavy bangs. “What?”

“Nothing. Just something my dad says.”

Iris darted in front of Judd’s face. “Dad says, ‘If the door is closed, find a window.’”

“I can’t think of any more windows,” he said. “When do I get to meet the babies?”

“Yeah,” said Tess from her spot on the floor beside the sofa table. “I want to see them, too.”

“Why?” Gerald sat on the table with his arms and legs crossed. Since I’d brought Tess and Judd to the mantel for introductions, he’d been quiet. He wasn’t overjoyed as I expected. He watched the humans like a science experiment. His face had a closed expression with small creases of worry holding firm on his forehead.

“Why what?” asked Tess.

“Why do you want to meet them?” asked Gerald.

“They’re baby fairies. They’ll be so cute.”

Gerald thrust his chin out at Tess. “They are not cute.”

“I’m not into cute or anything, but I want to see them,” said Judd.

Gerald jumped to his feet. “I’m telling you. They are not cute and one is a mindbender.”

“Mindbender?” asked Tess.

“Easy can read minds. So there,” said Gerald.

“Cool,” said Judd.

“It is not cool. It’s weird.”

“Why is it weird?” asked Tess. “It just means he’s special, right?”

“Especially strange,” said Gerald.

“I’d like to know what Cecily Jenkins is thinking about,” said Judd.

“Don’t you get it?” Gerald jumped up and down to emphasize each word. “He’s a freak. He can put thoughts in people’s heads, too.”

“That is really cool. I wonder if he could tell Dad to give us ride?”

“I don’t think it works with humans,” I said.

Tess sighed. “It wouldn’t work with Dad anyway. He’d never listen to a fairy voice in his head. He’d just think we’d finally driven him crazy. He always says we’re going to drive him crazy.”

“I guess you’re right. I don’t know what to do next,” said Judd.

“Somebody has to give us a ride,” said Tess. “What about Buddy?”

“He’s going to Sunday dinner with his girlfriend,” said Judd.

“Buddy has a girlfriend?”

“Who’s Buddy?” asked Iris, still hovering near Judd. Since they’d been introduced, Iris stayed near Judd whenever possible, blushing and fiddling with her hair.

“He’s our cousin,” said Judd. “He’s a geek.”

Tess frowned at him. “Mom says he’s socially-challenged.”

“That’s what I said. He’s a geek. Anyway, he’s busy.”

“What about Sarah?” I asked.

“She’s at church,” said Judd.

Gerald flew to Tess and landed on her shoulder. “Maybe,” said Gerald, “we should just stay here and wait.”

“
You
want to wait?” asked Iris. “You’re the one who ran off to find your parents. You said we had to get back.”

I left Judd’s knee and landed next to Gerald. “What’s wrong with you? Since when don’t you want to find our parents? It’s practically all you’ve talked about.”

“My parents are brilliant. They’ll figure out where we are. We should stay here where it’s safe.”

“What about our parents and Easy’s just a baby. He needs his mother.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Gerald turned away.

I spun him around. His forehead creased even more deeply and he had tears in his eyes. I hugged him, but he didn’t hug me back. His arms stayed limp at his side.

“Gerald, what’s wrong?”

“Do you like me?” he asked.

I pulled back in surprise. “Of course I like you.”

“You didn’t used to. Nobody did.”

I wanted to lie, to say some words of comfort, but they died on my lips. We’d been through too much to start lying now. “I didn’t use to like you, Gerald. That’s true. But I like you now.”

“That will all change when we get back. I’ll have no friends again.”

Iris came and wrapped her arms around him, too. “That won’t happen.”

“Yes, it will. You won’t want people to know you ever liked me.”

“Gerald, you’ll just have to trust us,” I said.

Gerald’s forehead smoothed and his expression became resigned. I hugged him again, and this time he hugged me back. Then he pulled away and flew down to the table.

“It’s one o’clock,” said Gerald. “Too late for church.”

“Right,” said Tess. “Church is over.”

Judd leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees. “It doesn’t matter. Gram can’t drive.”

“Oh, right.” Tess held out a finger for me to land on. “I don’t think we’re being much help.”

Gerald took a bite of a banana slice Tess had put out for us. “How’d she get to the antique mall then?”

“Her friend must’ve driven her,” said Tess.

Everyone stared at one another.

“Which one? Marie?” I asked.

Tess shrugged. “Maybe?”

“Don’t look at me,” said Judd. “They’re old ladies. I can’t tell the difference.”

“Oh, you can too,” said Tess. “Marie’s the one with the pregnant granddaughter. I heard Mom talking about it. She said it was a scandal.”

Judd brightened at the word “scandal.” “What happened?”

“I don’t know. Mom saw me and stopped talking.”

“You have to be stealthier,” said Judd.

“I know, but anyway, Marie can drive. Call Great Grandma, Judd.”

Judd picked up the telephone, dialed, and began talking eagerly into the receiver. I couldn’t read his lips, but he was smiling and nodding. After a few minutes he put the phone down, but before he could tell us what Sarah said, Evan came into the room. “What are you two doing?”

“Nothing,” Judd and Tess said.

“Nothing?” Evan frowned at his children. “You two are sitting together voluntarily and doing nothing?”

“Yeah, Daddy. Nothing,” said Tess.

“Well,” said Judd. “We were thinking of visiting Gram today.”

Evan’s frown deepened and one eyebrow lifted. “That’s weirder than nothing. What are you up to? You’re not going to ask her buy that video game for you, are you?”

“No way, Dad,” said Judd.

“So you just want to visit a bunch of ninety-year-old ladies for fun?” Evan walked over to the mantel and began taking the candlesticks and pictures off the top.

“A bunch?” asked Tess.

“It’s her sewing circle day.”

“Oh,” said Judd. “I, um, like sewing.”

“Now that’s just insanity.” Evan grasped the mantel.

“What are you doing?” asked Tess.

“I have to look at the back of the mantel.”

“What for?”

Evan didn’t answer. He pulled the mantel away from the wall and leaned it forward in one swift motion. Tess and Judd rocketed to their feet and everyone, human and fairy alike screamed, “No!”

Tess and Judd eased the mantel back against the wall. Evan leaned on the wall and rested his arm on the mantel. “Somebody better tell me what’s going on right now. And don’t say nothing.”

I darted past him but saw our front door was blocked by his elbow. “Iris, do you hear the babies?”

“They’re crying,” said Iris. “Really loud.”

“I checked the side door,” said Gerald. “It’s locked.”

I flew to Judd and Tess. They stood with their hands in their pockets, looking at the floor. I fluttered under Judd’s face and said, “We can’t get in. Make him move.”

“Answer me,” Evan’s voice boomed.

“Dad, we were…” Judd’s voice trailed off.

I went to join Iris, who was tugging on Evan’s sleeve. He didn’t so much as blink in our direction.

“We thought you might break it,” said Tess with her hands clasped.

Judd looked at her like she might be a genius. “Yeah. We didn’t want it to get broken.”

“You two were worried about something being broken?” asked Evan in his normal volume. “You break at least two things a week around here. What’s really going on?”

“Really, Dad. Mom said the mantel is seriously delicate. We’re not even supposed to touch it,” said Tess.

“That I believe.” Evan let Tess pull him away from the mantel.

Iris and I rushed through the front door. Horc sat in the hall with an enormous bump on his head and a bloody nose. He wasn’t crying anymore, but had a look of fury on his face that I recognized. The adult spriggans gave that look to the phalanx fairies before they attacked.

“I’ll find Easy,” said Iris, running past Horc.

“Don’t bite me.” I scooped Horc up and felt over his arms and legs. Except for some bruises and scratches, he seemed fine.

“You are the worst babysitter in the history of babysitting,” said Horc. When he opened his mouth a dribble of red spit slipped down his chin.

I wiped it with my sleeve. “How many babysitters have you had?”

“You are the first and the worst.”

“What did the spriggans do with you when they went somewhere?”

“They usually put me in a drawer,” said Horc, his expression not softening one bit.

“I’m better than that. Home is better than a drawer.”

“Nobody ever flipped the drawer over.”

“You’ve got me there,” I said. “I didn’t expect this to happen.”

“You’re not big on expecting, are you?” Horc’s lip trembled and he buried his face in my shoulder.

I patted his back and walked down the hall after Iris. I found her in our parents’ room. Iris held a sobbing Easy tight to her chest and murmured in his ear. I couldn’t see her lips clearly enough to make out what she was saying.

“Is he okay?” I asked.

Iris pulled Easy away from her so I could see his face. He looked like he’d been whacked with a big stick right down the center of his face. Tears dripped off the tip of his swollen nose and he wailed when he saw me.

“I think he hit Mom’s bedpost when he rolled off his pallet.” Iris dabbed at his nose with one of Dad’s old shirts.

“He wants to know if we’re under attack,” said Horc.

“No,” I said. “But we’d better get out of here before Evan decides to move the mantel again.”