Daisy Takes Charge

Across a meandering river,

In a forest tall and green,

Live the magical Wilderness Fairies

And their wise Fairy Queen.

Guided by their Callings,

The Wilderness Fairies strive

To use their magic wisely

And help the forest thrive.

But sometimes things go wrong

When one fairy helps another.

Too much enthusiasm

Can lead to fuss and bother.

A
vast expanse of greens, browns and blues spread out below Daisy as she flew higher and higher, dodging the leaves and branches of the treetops and flying into the sapphire-blue sky beyond. She was only new to flying and she loved it!

Far off in the distance, the tall grey spires of a human city sliced the sky. Just the sight of them sent a shiver up Daisy's spine.

She turned to the small green beetle who flew by her side.

‘What do you think, Vu? Is it time for a break?'

Vu chittered that it was time for something much more important than a break.

Daisy shielded her eyes and looked up. The sun was directly overhead.

‘You're right,' said Daisy. ‘It's time for lunch.'

Vu chittered happily as they headed back to where they lived with Daisy's family in the base of a tall gum tree.

Daisy landed in the leaf litter outside the kitchen door. A buzz of excited voices floated through the window.

She flung open the door and hurried in, almost bumping into her sister, Maggie, who was pacing back and forth across the kitchen floor, wringing her hands and babbling incoherently.

‘Oh, Daisy!' cried Maggie, grabbing her by the shoulders. ‘It's so exciting . . . and nerve-wracking. I don't know what I'm going to do.' Her face took on a greenish tinge. ‘Actually, I think I might faint.'

‘Sit down for a moment,' said Nen, leaving the salad she had been preparing and steering her eldest daughter towards the kitchen table.

‘What's going on?' Daisy asked. She sent Vu to eat with Maggie's ladybird, Nelli, then joined her dad and sister at the table.

‘Maggie's been chosen to be a contestant in the Songbird Festival,' said Nen.

‘By Queen Jasmine herself,' added Efa in his proud, fatherly tone. He handed Daisy a message scroll.

It was an official notice from the Fairy Messenger Service. Daisy unrolled the paperbark and read.

Daisy grinned as she looked at her sister then to the invitation and back again.

A personal invitation from the queen! How exciting!

She studied the scroll again. ‘What's a duet?' she asked.

‘It's where two voices sing together,' explained Efa.

‘That should be a snap for Maggie,' said Daisy. ‘She's always singing with the magpies.'

‘But I've never sung for an audience,' groaned Maggie. ‘The whole forest has been invited to watch and I only have this afternoon and tomorrow to prepare. The day after that is the rehearsal and the Festival.' She buried her face in her hands.

‘Cheer up, feather brain,' said Daisy, putting her arm around Maggie's shoulders and resting her head against her sister's. ‘I'll help you practise. With your natural talent and my organisational skills you're sure to win.'

Maggie groaned even louder but Daisy didn't pay any attention – she had just re-read the final sentence on the message scroll:

‘Her Majesty Queen Jasmine will award the most talented performer a momentous prize.'

Daisy's imagination took flight as she wondered what the momentous prize could be. Would Maggie become Queen Jasmine's personal musician? Would she win a treasure trove of instruments? Maybe she would become the singer in a band of fairies and travel all over the forest . . .

Whatever the prize, Daisy was sure that Maggie would win it. After all, she had Daisy to help her.