Read Online An Ordinary Fairy by John Osborne - Free Book Online Page B

family has wanted this property back ever since his grandmother sold it to my parents. Why else would you be here?” She sat on the edge of the couch, hands still clenched.
    “No, no, no! I’ve never met the man. I’m just a photographer. There really is a magazine, and I really do have an editor who wants photos of beautiful ponds. Call him on my cell phone. Look it up on the Internet if you don’t believe me.”
    You have fairy paranoia, little one.
    “Please try to calm down,” Noah soothed.
    Willow looked away for a moment and closed her eyes. She took several deep breaths and seemed to relax somewhat. Noah followed her example.
    “I have one more question,” Noah said. Willow opened her eyes, which fired lightning bolts. He flipped his notebook closed, tucked his pen into his shirt pocket. “I’m curious about how strong you are.”
    Willow seemed confused by the change of subject. “Strong? I … I guess I don’t know what you mean.”
    “I mean you carried my big camera case for a quarter mile with one hand and never grunted. I’ve seen guys bigger than me whine about moving that thing across a room.”
    The blood drained from Willow’s face. At the same time, the hair on the back of Noah’s neck stood up.
    Fear.
    “The reason I asked was … well, I wondered if it had anything to do with the flying. Is that why you’re strong, so you can fly?”
    Willow swayed in her seat and fell back against the couch then covered her face with her hands. “Oh, no,” she whispered. She shook her head for a few moments, and then dropped her hands. Dread filled her features, her eyes wide and glistening. “How…” she began, but stopped.
    I thought you’d slug me.
    “The photos I took Monday stunk. The light was all wrong. My editor is pressuring me for results, so I went to the pond yesterday evening when the sky cleared to take some more shots. I guess you thought it was beautiful out, too. I was in the woods when you came to swim. And fly.”
    Willow lowered her head for a moment. When she raised it, tears ran down her cheeks. “You were there the entire time?”
    Yes, and I couldn’t believe what I saw. Couldn’t believe how beautiful you were. Still can’t.
    Noah nodded. His face was hot. He had expected her to be defensive or to deny everything. “I took a path from the fields. I had just finished setting up when you and Shadow showed up.”
    “So you have pictures.”
    “No, I didn’t take any. I was too shocked to think.”
    “How can I be sure you’re telling the truth?”
    “You’ll have to trust me.”
    “How can I do that? I don’t know you.” Willow stood, walked to the desk, pulled a tissue from a box, and blew her nose loudly. When she faced Noah again, she was somewhat composed.
    “What exactly are you?” Noah asked. “If that’s the right question.”
    Willow stood silent.
    “I figure you’re either some strange mutation, or a top secret Department of Defense project. Or maybe I saw swamp gas. Or perhaps you’re the victim of an alien abduction. Or maybe the Wicked Witch of the West cast a spell on you.”
    Willow laughed, which brought on a fresh stream of tears.
    Please don’t cry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.
    Noah stood, hesitated for a moment, and then crossed the room to Willow. She looked up at him, pensive. He spoke in a gentle voice.
    “I’m sorry. I can be a real smartass sometimes. It’s my way of dealing with uncomfortable situations. It’s easier to make fun than admit the truth that you’re a … fairy. That is the truth, isn’t it?”
    She looked down at the floor for a moment, then at him, biting her lip. “Yes,” she said, her voice so soft he almost couldn’t hear. “I am a fairy. They do exist and I am one. And now I’m exposed.” Her voice faltered and the tears came again. “I hope I haven’t done harm to my entire kind.”
    May I take you in my arms? Maybe if I held you…
    Willow blew her nose again and wiped her eyes. “Why did