Lucy-Love, the dainty fairy princess

Mia and Granny enjoy playing together even before the sun has risen. Dew drops hang like glass clappers on the flower petals. The cobwebs sparkle in the early morning blaze.

Granny tells Mia to listen carefully. The insects and birds enjoy socializing. Cricket uses his bowstring legs and Piet-my-vrou sings in time to the song. In between Granny draws Mia’s attention to the other tiny sounds that can be heard.

“What is it, Granny?” Mia asks as eagerly as always.

“Shhh,” whispers Granny. “You have to keep dead still, otherwise the fairy orchestra will stop quickly!”

“What is a fairy orchestra, Granny?”

“When you close your eyes, you will hear tiny, soft bell sounds. The fairies have the most beautiful little glass bells. I’ve already asked you to listen how cricket uses his bowstring legs and how the birds play with him. The beetles also use their acorn hats as drums. This is what we call the fairy concert, Mia.”

“Granny, I’ve never seen a real, genuine fairy. Where are they?” Mia turns the rose topsy-turvy because she believes this is where the fairies hide.

“Be careful, Mia! Come let me show you where you will find them. One uses your cotton wool hands when you look for fairies. The moment when you roughly upset flowers and leaves, you chase them away. Remember God uses all the fairies to paint the flowers into the most beautiful colours. This doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a huge job!”

“But, Granny, I must see one!”

“Now let me quickly show you where the fairy princess, Lucy-love, lives. You have to walk very softly on tiptoe with me. She lives in the pretty rose creeper in the corner of the garden.”

Granny and Mia sneak as softly as they can through the garden. “Remember it’s only Grannies and small children who can see them. Bigger children and adults don’t know anything about fairies.”

They pull the fragrant, pink flower petals away and in the cavity of the rose lies the prettiest, loveliest being Mia has ever seen in her life! She takes such a deep breath that she nearly becomes light-headed.

“Granny, isn’t this too beautiful! Her delicate wings sparkle so lovely. Can’t I take her home?”

“Unfortunately, my Mia, she is the princess of the garden and if we remove her, the whole garden will die!” They whisper so loudly they don’t realize that Lucy-love stretches herself out and nearly wakes up.

Granny quickly grabs Mia’s hands and quietly they sneak back home! Back at home Granny shows her not to tell anybody about the secret they share!

They sit at the breakfast table and eat delicious Bear porridge with honey.