My Fairy Godmonster (21 page)

I can’t speak, so I nod.

He asks, “May I have this dance?”

I smile and he sweeps me away. Gliding in his
arms reminds me of when I danced on top of his feet as a child. It
seems like a long time ago.

Dad looks me straight in the eyes. “I should
be horsewhipped for not believing you. And for leaving you here to
work yourself to the bone. I’ll never forgive myself.”

“It’s over, Dad.”

He looks relieved.

When did you learn how to put on makeup and
do your hair?” Dad asks.

“Er, magazines?”

Wistfully he says, “It’s obvious, you’re not
my little girl anymore.”

I hug him. “I’ll always be your little
girl.“

The dance ends.

“Time to split.” Fairy Godmonster’s sexy
voice whispers in my ear.

I jump.

“You okay?” Dad asks.

“Yeah.”

“My Hog’s in the barn. Come on,” says Fairy
Godmonster.

“Umm, can I peek in at the foal, Dad?”

“I’ll come with you.”

“You can’t leave your guests now that the
bride and groom are gone. I’ll only be a few minutes,” I say
quickly.

“Go on,” he says.

“Tell Scott, I’ll be right back. And, I’m
glad you hired him to work for us.”

I catch up with Fairy Godmonster. “You’ve got
to stop scaring me like that.”

“I have shown considerable restraint since I
have been here,” she sniffs.

Daria comes out of the house. She forgets to
close the back door all the way. Godzilla follows her and hides
under a bush.

“Daria,” I say, when she passes me.

“Don’t speak to me. You’re mean. I’m glad I’m
going home tomorrow.” She huffs away.

“But you let - ”

“Chill. It’s her cat.” Fairy Godmonster
smiles. “Poor thing probably needs fresh air.”

“Poor thing?” I ask.

We giggle.

Kong greets us in the stable, tail wagging. I
pet him and peek at the sleeping foal, amazed to think it was only
last night that I helped with his birth.

Fairy Godmonster gives me a quick hug. “I’m
proud of you.”

“Me, too.”

“Well said.” She jumps on her Harley and
pushes a button. The wings flip out.

A pang of regret pierces my heart.

“Can’t you stick around and teach me how to
be cool like you?”

She looks pleased. “Like I haven’t
complicated your life enough.”

I smile. “It wasn’t all your fault.”

“True,” she answers. “Those idiots at FIMM
better not make the same mistake again.”

“I don’t want you to go,” I say.

“A Fairy Godmother’s curse.”

“But you’re a Godmonster.”

“True. The rules still apply,” she says,
revving the motor.

“Oh, yeah? What about the ice cream you blew
on Daria?”

Fairy Godmonster’s eyes turn orange with
mischief. “I used the monster rule book on her.”

I chuckle. “This is the best day of my life.
Thanks.”

Her eyes turn soft and blue. I have never
seen them that color. It’s gone in a flash.

“I won’t forget you, Miss Winifred
Smith.”

“How will I learn to put on makeup or pick
out dresses or a million other things I need to know?”

She gazes into my eyes. “Your friend, Jac, is
pretty smart. You’ll manage just fine. And you’ll have Claire to
help until she and David start a business and find their own
home.”

“Do I get to keep my magic shoes?”

Fairy Godmonster’s eyes gleam. “I lied. Your
shoes are indestructible. That’s all. You made your own magic.
Humans can, you know.”

She pushes a button and hovers in the
air.

I ask, “Will I ever see you again?”

“Who knows?” she says. “I love weddings.”
Fairy Godmonster laughs and zooms out of the stable.

I run after her, but she disappears in a
flash of purple mist.

Sighing, I close Kong inside the stable. Walk
back to the dance and hear Daria screaming.

“Mommy, Gazella is outside!” She crawls under
the table after the cat.

“Come out from there right this minute, young
lady,” Weasel orders in a whisper. “You’ll ruin that dress,
too.”

Daria ignores her mother. “Here, Gazella,
kitty, kitty.”

Godzilla hisses at Daria and zips away,
tearing through the dancers. Daria runs after her.

Kong comes running from the stable. I know I
locked him in.

“Dogs need fresh air, too,” roars Fairy
Godmonster overhead. She hovers in the air on her motorcycle.

Kong spots the cat and barks. Godzilla
screeches and tears away. The dog gallops after her, sliding around
people’s legs. Chairs tip over as people stand to watch.

Godzilla jumps on top of a table. Kong puts
his paws on the table and looks frantically for the cat.

Dad yells, “Kong, down!”

Kong obeys, but circles the table, barking
like a crazed coyote.

Daria screams, “Mommy!” She tries to avoid
the dog and grabs for the cat. Godzilla leaps off the table.

Weasel yells, “Somebody grab that beast!”

Everyone stares, fascinated.

“Kong, come,” Dad orders.

Kong races in fast pursuit after
Godzilla.

The orchestra stops playing.

The photographer fumbles with new film.

Dad runs to catch Kong.

Godzilla spits and screams.

Daria runs after her cat screeching,
“Gazella, Come back!”

Weasel hurries after Daria with as much
dignity as she can. “Daria, come here this minute, darling.”

Godzilla streaks toward the water fountain.
She leaps two tiers, swishes through the water and lands on the
top, clinging there spitting and yowling. Too terrified to
move.

Daria runs to the fountain’s edge and trips.
Weasel leans over to grab her. Kong, racing at top speed, can’t
stop in time. He knocks Weasel and Daria into the water.

Everyone gasps.

Kong spots Godzilla and jumps into the
fountain. Weasel, brat, and dog thrash around in the water.

“Eeekkk!” screams Daria.

“Help,” squeaks Weasel.

The photographer snaps picture after
picture.

Mother and daughter come up sputtering,
completely soaked.

Everyone tries to keep a straight face. Even
Mr. Dudley. They can’t. The whole crowd bursts into laughter.

I can’t help laughing. How cool to see Weasel
embarrassed, for once. Then I remember how it feels. I hurry to the
fountain.

“Take my hand,” I say.

A sudden softness fills her eyes for a
split-second. “Thank you,” she whispers.

The photographer snaps her picture.

“Stop taking pictures if you want your money,
James!” she hisses, glaring at him.

She turns to me. Her eyes are black now, face
red with anger and humiliation. “This is your fault.”

“I wouldn’t cause anyone the embarrassment
you’ve made me endure for the last month, Mrs. Dudley. Do you want
my help?”

She almost refuses, until she looks at the
crowd. She takes my hand and I haul her out.

“Daria, get out of there this minute!” Mrs.
Dudley grabs Daria’s hand and tries to pull her out.

“Get Gazella, Mommy!” screeches Daria.

“Hush, you’re making a spectacle of
yourself.”

“Gazella! Gazella!” wails Daria.

A sad-looking Godzilla perches on the top of
the fountain, hissing. Kong barks and leaps to reach her. Water
splashes everywhere.

Someone turns off the fountain.

Dad grabs Kong’s collar and drags him out of
the water. “SIT,” he orders.

Kong obeys, panting in exhaustion.

Godzilla leaps into Daria’s arms. Twenty
pounds of wet cat knocks her back in the water.

With the crowd laughing uncontrollably, Mrs.
Dudley hauls Daria and her cat out of the fountain.

“I’m terribly sorry,” Dad tells Mrs.
Dudley.

She glares at him, the dog and the guests,
too mad to speak. Stiffly, with her nose in the air, she stalks
toward the house, dripping and dragging Daria and her cat.

James snaps a few more pictures.

I whisper to him. “I want some of those
pictures.”

He grins. “You bet.”

I hear a deep laugh and look up. Fairy
Godmonster does loops in the air on her motorcycle. She shrieks, “I
love a happy ending!”

Chapter 30: Slow Down - Life Ahead

Scott’s lips touch mine, ever so gently. The
kiss lasts a long time. My body wants to shoot into the air like a
firecracker.

I hear whistling. How can Scott whistle and
kiss me at the same time?

My eyes pop open. A dream. So real, my lips
are burning. I roll over and see Mom’s palomino horse on the pillow
next to me. The leg is attached and looks like it has never been
broken.

Tears well up in my eyes. “Thank you, Faro,”
I say, hoping she hears.

I hear Scott whistling. Looking out the
window, I see that the Dudley’s are almost ready to leave. I
quickly pull on clothes and hurry out the front door.

Scott is helping the limousine driver load
the trunks and suitcases.

“Now be especially careful with those last
two suitcases, Scott. Don’t put anything on top of them.”

“Yes, M’am.” He winks when he sees me.

Daria is already sitting in the limousine,
Godzilla in a cat carrier on her lap.

“Bye, Daria.” I smile. “Watch out for dogs at
the airport.”

She glares at me and closes the window.

“Goodbye, Charles,” says Mrs. Dudley.

“You did a great job on the wedding,
Erminia,” Dad says. “Thank you. I appreciate your help while I had
to be gone.”

“You’re welcome, Charles,” she says. “Thank
you for allowing us to stay with you. I know how inconvenient it is
to board strangers.”

Dad hugs her and said, “We’re family
now.”

Not to me, I think. No way. Not ever.

Her black eyes turn to mine. “Perhaps you can
learn a thing or two from Claire while she stays here,
Winifred.”

I smile at her. “Goodbye, Mrs. Dudley.”

She climbs into the limo and slams the door
shut.

Dad shakes Mr. Dudley’s hand. “Have a safe
trip, Otis, and let us know when you arrive home safely.”

“Goodbye, Charles,” says Mr. Dudley. “Thanks
for everything. A few of my friends are quite interested in your
stallion. Let me know when he sires some foals.” He smiles at me
and says, “I have no doubt you’ll make your own luck, young
lady.”

“Bye,” I say, smiling back.

He climbs in and the limousine driver takes
off.

Dad, Scott and I heave huge sighs. We look at
each other and laugh.

“Let’s get to work,” orders Dad in a voice
like Mrs. Dudley’s.

We laugh again.

Dad strides off toward the stable.

I smile at Scott. This summer is going to be
way cool.

He grabs my hand. “Time to work,
cowgirl.”

“Think you can handle it, city slicker?”

We laugh and follow Dad.

Scott whistles all the way to the barn.

I look at his lips and quiver. Sometime this
summer, I’ll make my dream come true.

###

I have always loved Cinderella stories. I
hope you enjoyed reading this one as much as I enjoyed writing
it.

Thank you for purchasing this book.

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