Another original fairytale by Vikki Anderson

Spring was here and the children were playing at the lake for the first time in months.  The winter had been harsh and although they skated upon the mirror like foundation of ice, it was more appealing to them in the spring and summer when they could fish, boat and swim.

The children were from a small town where everyone knew each other and all was safe and secure for the little ones.  All knew how to swim; all knew how to boat and fish and safety the adults of the community had always encouraged.

It was for this reason that the children were very upset when they heard cries of help from around the lake.  It was a very small voice.  A youngster’s voice indeed.  “Help, we can’t get out.  Please help us!”  The cries were so frantic and upsetting that the children decided to look around the lake in sections by groups of three.  The cries continued and the children were starting to cry.  “Help us.  Something is holding us down.  We can’t get up.  We can’t see the light.  Please help — anyone — help us!”

One of the oldest children ran home, just on the other side of the lake, to get her parents.  They raced down to the awaiting children and also heard the cries for help.  They looked and looked, but couldn’t find anyone.  They searched under the bridge and thought the local troll may have captured one of their kind, but he was asleep.  They asked the water fairies for help and even though they are in competition with the earth fairies at times, they were very obliging and searched the length and depth of the lake to see if any other earth fairy was in trouble.  The earth fairies were puzzled and yet, the little voice cried out over and over again.  “We’re here, please help us.”

All of a sudden, one of the pebbles near the large oak tree slightly moved.  The pebble shaped crystal was about an inch in diameter; it looked quite heavy to move.  All the children helped the parent earth fairies push the crystal to one side after struggling with it for a few minutes.

Immediately, a beautiful crocus came springing forth with brilliantly colored purple petals and a strong green stem stretching towards the mid-day sun.  One of the tiniest earth fairies anyone had ever seen popped out of the ground brushing himself off of excess dirt and grime.  “I couldn’t help the poor crocus bloom with that boulder in the way.  Thank you all for your help,” and as mysteriously as he had appeared, he had vanished!

The children returned to playing near the water and tried to pick up as many “boulders” as they could to help any other flower fairy trying to help a bloom reach the sunlight in the rebirth of springtime.