Christmas Fairy Magic by Margaret McNamara Page A

The light was so strong and clear that Squeakie’s eyes opened for a moment. “Ahhma,” she said.
    â€œOpen the door, Clara,” said Sylva. “See if it really is magic.”
    Clara tentatively put her hand on the doorknob. She turned it gently and then flung it wide.
    The great room was dazzling. Where there had been an empty space, now there was a giant Christmas tree hung with every imaginable decoration, and Tink’s star on top. Where there had been a few torn pieces of wrapping paper on the floor, now there was an enormous pile of presents, teetering almost to the ceiling. There was a glorious feast on the table, and a wreath was hung above the mantelpiece. The smell of cinnamon and brown sugar was in the air. Steaming mugs of hot chocolate stood on the large oak table. Even the air of the great room was filled with the sound of delicate bells.
    And in the middle of it stood someone they all knew.
    â€œOh, Tink! Tink!” cried the Fairy Bell sisters all at once. “You’ve come home. You’ve come home at last.”

nineteen
    O h, what a feast they had! What a glorious reunion for all six Fairy Bells! So much love was there in the fairy sisters’ house, Rosy thought it might burst from all the happiness inside it.
    The clock had long since chimed midnight, and the sisters could not wait till the morning to celebrate. So they dug into their feast and opened gift after gift and sang till their voices wore out.
    Later Clara thought there must have been magic involved, because Christmas night seemed to last forever. They finally dropped into their beds, exhausted, asleep before their heads sank into their pillows. Tink took care of the tiny new baby fairy and tenderly tucked in Squeakie when she’d stopped flying around. “We can’t call her baby Squeakie anymore,” said Clara.
    â€œNot when there’s a new baby in the house,” said Sylva.
    None of the Fairy Bell sisters saw the dawn, but it broke bright and clear. The glow from the Bell sisters’ house could be seen even in the daylight, and soon all the fairies of Sheepskerry came to visit Tinker Bell and her sisters. Tink led them in a merry procession to Queen Mab’s palace, where they gathered for a festival of song and story. Tink told them tales of Neverland that would fill a book longer than this one. Finally the sun set over Sheepskerry Bay, and Christmas Day was over.
    Tink and her sisters said one last farewell.
    â€œAre you really going so soon?” asked Sylva.
    â€œCome back again, Tink!” said Clara.
    Tinker Bell kissed each of her sisters (and baby Noel) in turn. Then she raised her wings and flew away.
    Where Tink had stood, a trail of sparkles swirled in her place. “There’s one last Christmas surprise for you,” they chimed. “Can’t wait till you discover it!”
    As Clara turned back into the fairy house, she thought she would be lonely without her big sister, Tinker Bell, there. But the house was so full of love and magic that Tink’s glow wrapped around them all and filled them with even more joy.
    â€œI suppose we should get ready for bed,” said Clara. “It’s been such a long day.”
    â€œI’m so tired I could absolutely drop,” said Goldie, admiring her new skirt of spun gold. Tinker Bell had magicked her a new one, from Neverland. “I wonder if I can wear this to bed.”
    â€œI’d wear these sneakers to bed if I could,” said Sylva. “They’ll make me go even faster than the ones I lost—or the one I lost, I should say.” Tink had made new sneakers appear by magic for her little sister.
    Rosy took the sweet coral earrings off her ears and laid them carefully on her dresser. “Tink knows just what I like,” she said as she tucked Squeakie in.
    â€œBaby?” said Squeakie.
    â€œClara’s taking care of our new baby sister, Squeak,” said Rosy.