M.A. Weaver Is On Call For HVMO2-TV

Grandma Lu had gotten up in the night to get a drink of water. She stood by her kitchen sink and looked out the window and saw a strange glow coming from Grandma B's Mini Farm. "Hmm, I wonder what's going on over at "B"'s house. Maybe she is having a party." She went in the living room and started to nod off in her rocking chair. She said to herself, "This is silly, old woman, go back to bed." As she walked towards the bedroom she looked out her living room window and saw an even brighter glow down the road. "Okay, I had better call "B" and see what's going on. I hope it's not a fire or something." So she did just that.
 Grandma B answered the phone short of breath and said, "Oh, Grandma Lu call the rescue squad we have an emergency over here." So of course, she did just that with no questions asked.
M.A. Weaver was on call tonight for  HVMO2-TV. The television station received notice of all emergency calls. The phone rang and of course, Marlee answered it. She had picked up the phone immediately. She was so surprised to find out that the emergency was at Grandma B's Mini Farm.  She ran out the door and jumped in her convertible and drove over to her Grandma B's house.
There were startling numbers of cows, horses, donkeys, chickens and numerous neighbors with their cats and dogs waiting to be told what they could do to help. It seems that there was a Queen that had been kidnapped and was being held in a lavender treasure bucket with little means of escape.
Marlee decided that she needed to back out and make a fast disappearing act. Just when she thought she could get through the crowd her boss caught her by the arm. "Oh, good. Glad you got here so fast, M.A.. You are getting the scoop on this story. It will make your career." Her boss was immediately making way for her to get her microphone into the porch so that she could report the news.
Not only did Marlee tell the truth about what she had done to the poor little fairy, but she gave the rescue people a single strand of green beads to hand down to Aine.
All of a sudden a swish of blue came flying into the porch. There was Airel, the Irish Fairy Descendant of Warrior Kings. She snatched the green beads from poor Marlee's hand; swooped down and rescued Aine all in one fell swoop. Before anyone could say a word they were gone.
As noisy as the Mini Farm was when she got there, it was now so quiet you could hear the tiny wings flying straight west towards Grandma Lu's house by the lake. Grandma Lu watched with fear as she saw hundreds of fairies start to make camp on her tree trunk. "Oh, what am I going to do with all those wee darlings, I have no food for them."
 While Grandma Lu was wondering what to do with all of her tiny visitors, Grandma B had a new problem. There was her beautiful Tree Fairy crying pitifully for help. Her family had all left her trapped in a tree all by herself. She had lived there for so long she could not fly anymore.  Grandma B had an idea. She knew that there were still fairies hidden in their nests in some

trees. She knew that those particular fairies were ones that loved to help humans. All they wanted was a please,  but NEVER say thank you, but set out some milk and honey. Grandma B walked under the trees and said, "Will you please help me? I am so sorry that I moved your flower garden. I am so sorry that Marlee made a mistake, but she's just a little girl. Will you forgive us and have your family come back home? I would be so sad without all of you.  If you will send a message to your family I will go get your milk and honey. Poor old Grandma Lu just doesn't have enough room for all of you. Could you do that please? We have been friends for years and years. Let's not let one misunderstanding mess up our friendship. Okay?"
Again little gossamer wings made a whirring sound and suddenly the fairy dust settled and the sun came up and another day started. There was no more mystery to report on so the news people all left. The neighbors and their animals went home and little Marlee lifted up her arms and said, "I love you, Grandma B, can we still go on treasure hunts when I visit?" What do you think Grandma B told Marlee after she gave her a great big hug. "Yes!"
                           ******************
A footnote to add to this series is this: It is said in ancient folklore that when a new baby laughs, a new fairy is born. Perhaps there will be a lot of new fairies on the Mini Farm in a few months!

                 

Fairy Dust Glows In The Moonlight

While Grandma B was experiencing some loss of keys, trash in her flowerbeds and strange footprints to mention just a few crazy things, Marlee was experiencing some of her own perhaps self-made problems. She kept thinking about her treasure bucket at her Grandma B's house. She also daydreamed about the wish that she had made last week. She had kissed a fairy and made a butterfly wish. Oh, dear, she never should have done it!

She was the one that told the butterfly to make all the bologna disappear and put ice cream and chips on the stove instead. Oh, she was in so much trouble. She never ever thought that making a wish on a silly old butterfly would come true!
She had told Zoe what she had done and Zoe had promised that she would keep Marlee's secret. Zoe had told Stashia, but that didn't count.

Besides wishing that her daddy's favorite meal would disappear, she had also made a mistake. Grandma B let Marlee hunt for treasures a lot. She also "helped" the fairies by giving Marlee special treasures just for fun and because she loved Marlee so much. Grandma B had given Marlee some toy fairies to play with. She was not aware that Marlee and Zoe had gone to the Fairy Tree by themselves while all three (3) of them were outside. Marlee had picked up a fairy whose name was Aine. She was a very special fairy that had lived there for many years. She was the Queen of all the fairies that lived at the Mini Farm. When Grandma B told her it was time to go in the house, she picked up Aine and threw her in her treasure bucket. If they would have listened closely they would have heard the wind made from a hundred fairies' wings that lived in the Fairy Tree and the surrounding flower beds and trees.
The fairies were sending out an alarm that a rescue would take place on Grandma B's porch at dawn the next morning.
The fluttering of so many wings caused fairy dust to cover the entire Mini Farm. It glowed in the moonlight so that the alarm was sent as far away as Grandma Lu's house. Hmm. Would Grandma Lu be awake to see the glow? If she was would she be afraid?
                                                       ****************
Oona and Siofra are fairies that lived in Grandma B's fairy garden.
There were two fairies that are called Sillies. They also lived in Grandma B's fairy garden. The little fairy, Fiona had her own little house that was tiny, but had it's own little lookout tower.

Grandma B's Fortune Cookie

Grandma B and her friends had a wonderful time at the Chinese restaurant. Her friends had followed her to the library. They just knew she was trying to find proof of her "fairy theory" so that they would believe her. She got upset with them when they showed up at the library, but true to form, she quickly laughed and got over her "mad" and went out to lunch with them. "That's what friends do, they have your best interests at heart," she thought.
When they had finished their lunch their waiter brought the bill and their fortune cookies to them. Shanna said, "Ok, "B", open your cookie. What does it say?"

Grandma B broke her cookie to get the message out. She read it and started to cry!"

Her friends couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the little strip of paper that said, "Alas, the onion you are eating is someone else's water lily." "I just knew that destroying my old flower gardens has upset all my little fairy friends. I have to go home and see if I can't get them all put back together again." Again "B"'s friends told her she was wrong, but she ignored them and went home immediately.

The first thing she heard was a rooster crowing in her horse shed. She didn't have any chickens! Then She saw Zoe's fur all over the porch. "Oh, my poor Zoe, what has happened to you. It is all my fault! Those fairies have taken my groomer and groomed all of your fur out!"

She decided to go out to her old flower garden to see if she could restore it or put it back together again. But she saw the scariest thing ever! A huge footprint!
Since Zoe and Stashia had decided to be friends,
Zoe had told Stashia Marlee's secret (s). Even though Stashia loves Miss Marlee, she is not happy with what she did.

Grandma B Goes To The Library

"I'll just show those girls. I  know something magical is going on out there. There has to be books on Irish folklore that tell about the different kinds of fairies that there are.  Pictures. I want lots and lots of pictures."  She got into the car to go to town, but couldn't find her keys. She looked and looked. Finally she had to go back into the house. She just couldn't imagine what she had done with them. She thought, "Maybe they are in Marlee's treasure bucket again. There they were again along with one of Grandma B's fairies.

Grandma B had not gone to the library for a long time. She liked to look things up on the computer, but for this "job" she wanted to look at the actual books. Furthermore, she did not want to go to the local library. She didn't want anyone to know that she was researching fairies. She was not in the mood for their silliness.

The librarian told B where to look for the books she wanted. She found an empty table and started to read.
"Oh my goodness, look at this article, she mumbled. This says that if you have ill intentions that they will never show themselves to you, but will be naughty just to have fun. They can even make your food spoil. Here is another one. It says that they love to dance. Here is another one. This one talks about the fairies that love the water. Hmm, Green Springs. It says that fairies love to dance on the rocks by the springs, but don't disturb them or they might splash water on you in fun. It says that they love fountains. Oh dear, Grandma Lu told me to buy that fairy fountain at that yard sale and I was too busy to go look at it. Oh dear."

"Then this page says that if you knock three times on a hill and sit a ways away the fairies will start dancing. It says that they expect an offering of cake and milk. Oh, brother, those girls would really get a kick out of that one."
A different book had said that fairies like to live in trees and flower gardens. It said that they do not want to be moved for any reason. If they are, sometimes strange things can happen. One book even said that a fairy called a Brownie would jump on mini horses backs and make them run. Oh, then there is Fiona she rides on bubbles. She was probably on my porch when Marlee was playing with her bubble machine."
Grandma B took a deep breath, put the books back on the shelf and thanked the librarian. Just as she was about to leave she had a surprise, and not a wanted one. Her friends  had decided to have an impromptu meeting to convince "B" that fairies were not the cause of her little irritations on the Mini Farm. Instead they met with a very irritated Grandma B. They tried with smiles and hugs, but to no avail. They were at a loss of what to do.

Kathy said too loudly for a library, "When all else fails, you eat Chinese and make sure you get a fortune cookie." Nikki, "B", and the rest of her friends agreed.
So they did just that unaware of the shushing of the poor librarian because of their loud giggling and talking.
They were also unaware of at that exact time of day, very unhappy wee fairies of all different burghs or residences such as toadstools and trees and flower gardens both new and old, were preparing a mass exit at Grandma B's Mini Farm, But first a wee revolution that at some point will be news worthy to roving news reporters around town.
                                     ******************
The fairy that Grandma B found in the bottom of Marlee's treasure bucket was Aine, the Queen of Fairies...

Grandma B's Friends Tell Her She Is Imagining Things

The days following Marlee's visit and the strange things that happened were not easy. Grandma B was not herself.  She was on edge and even jumpy at times.
Some of her friends got together and decided that B needed some Friend Therapy, so they invited "B" out for dinner one evening.

The ladies ordered their food, and drinks and Sandy said, "Okay, "B", what's the matter with you? You just are not yourself. Are you sick?"
"B" just laughed and said, "You guys are silly. I'm just fine. Just had kind of a bad week."

 Kathy and Nikki and Shanna weren't there that night, however they did get a call later on in the evening from Sandy, Brenda, and Sabrina. They were worried.
"B" had told her friends that one day her horses had gone wild. They ran and ran so fast she just couldn't understand it. Then where she had her old flower garden, there were broken flower pots and trash strewn all over the place. B said, "You have no idea how many times I have lost my phone and my keys this week. The other day I found my keys in Marlee's treasure bucket. Just getting old I guess. I do wonder, though, if disturbing my little fairy garden houses and so on in those old flower beds hasn't upset the natural order of things out there. I have heard of that before.

Her friends giggled and said, "We think you need a night out more often, Old Girl. You are starting to imagine things." When they said that, "B" mentally dug in her heels and decided to go to the library and prove to them once and for all that "her fairies" were lovers of nature and did not like to be disturbed.
When she got home that evening the horses, once again were running like crazy.

Grandma B kept seeing Marlee's little face in her mind. Something just was not right. "I wonder what is going on with that little girl. She almost looked guilty the other day. Maybe the girls are right, maybe I do need to get out more often."
She decided to go to bed early. When she got into bed there was something very wrong. What in the world?
"Ok, this is it, I'm getting my phone and taking a picture of this so the girls will believe me once and for all."

A Fairy Kiss And A Butterfly Wish

Grandma B was happy today. Today was Marlee's day to stay overnight with her.
Those days were such fun for her. The first thing that she was going to do was to check to make sure that she had all the groceries that she needed. Sometimes Marlee's mom and dad stayed for supper the day that they brought Marlee to her house. There was something that Marlee's daddy liked to eat that she hadn't fixed him in a long time' fried bologna and mashed potatoes and gravy. She even mentioned it to Marlee. "B" loved it too. She knew that she had a brand new package of bologna in the fridge, but she needed some potatoes and some snacks for Marlee. So she went to town and pick up the things that she needed and went back home.

When Grandma B got home she opened up the fridge to put her groceries away. She couldn't believe her eyes. The package was completely empty. "I just can't believe this. I could have sworn I had a brand new package of bologna. Now I am going to have to go back to town to the grocery store and get another package. Shoot a pickle! As Grandma B's day  went on, everything was fine as usual. Just before Marlee and her folks were going to be there for supper, she thought she heard something. She listened and looked around. She didn't see anything out of place. "Boy, I must be hearing things. Oh well, I'd better get busy and get supper started. They will be hungry." When she opened the fridge she saw two packages of bologna. "What is going on? I think I'm losing it. I know that there was only one empty package so that's why I bought another one."
Grandma B went ahead and fixed supper and it was all ready for them to eat when they got there. They visited and played with Marlee for awhile. Then it was time to go in the house and eat supper. When everyone went in the house to eat, much to everyone's surprise, there was no food on the stove; cooked food that is. Everyone started talking at once. They all thought that someone had been in the house that wasn't supposed to be there. They searched and searched and couldn't find anything or anyone that wasn't supposed to be there. The only one that didn't find it strange was Marlee. She was being very quiet. Hmm....
                                    *******
Have you ever heard of a fairy kiss and a butterfly wish? Marlee looks a little guilty. I wonder what that is all about..

           

Marlee Does Not Like Alarm Clocks

"My morning started off just terrible. Grandma B found a dumb old alarm clock and put it in my room. It made a terible noise at 5:00 this morning and scared me half to death. I couldn't sleep through all that racket. Grandma B came into my room and yelled at me. Yeah, she yelled at me, Stashia." 'Get out of bed, Marlee, or you'll be late for work.' That's what she said to me. "I told Grandma B to quit being grumpy. Then she told me to quit being grumpy and to get up, get dressed and have something to eat. I don't think that I can take this every morning. Oh Stashia, what have I done?"

Well, Marlee was late to work. Mrs. Sandy was not happy. "Marlee, you have a dirty face, your hair is not in a pony tail, and you still do not have your shoes on. Did you forget again?" Marlee gave Mrs. Sandy a sad look. 
"Okay, Marlee, I will give you one more chance to show me that you are a good worker. You need to do the dirty dishes that I made fixing the farmers their breakfast. I made them biscuits and gravy and fried eggs. That makes a lot of dirty dishes. So you go to the kitchen and get to work. I put the water and soap in the sink for you. I also put a box by the sink so that you can reach the dishes."
"I love biscuits and gravy, Mrs. Sandy, can I have some before I go to work:"
Mrs. Sandy said, "Didn't you eat before you came to work?" Marlee said, "Yes, but only a cookie. I got up late this morning." Mrs. Sandy said, "Well, you do some dishes. I will get you something to eat, then you and I are going to talk to Grandma B."
Mrs. Sandy left a girl in the kitchen to keep an eye on Marlee while she went out to the cafe to talk to Grandma B. Oh how they laughed. "Well, I guess our little trick worked. She doesn't like to have an alarm clock and a cookie for breakfast. I don't think that she lied to get all gussied up and wearing shoes in the morning either. This was so much fun. I just love that little girl. Let's go get all three of us some biscuits and gravy. I have a feeling I am still going to need a bake chef for my cafe."

And she was right. Miss Marlee has lots of time before she goes to work. She needs to play with the dogs and cats and hunt for treasures. She can ride her big wheel and drive her convertible when there is news about town. Who knows, there might be some big news sooner than you think.

Marlee's Interview Didn't Go As Planned

The day of Marlee's interview arrived and she was so excited. She had gotten an interview set up and Grandma B was taking her to the cafe. It seemed like it was taking an awfully long time to get there, but no matter, she was ready.
She checked her hair; her pony tail was still in place; check. Her face and hands were clean; check. She had on her new outfit, check. It seemed like she was forgetting something, but she couldn't figure out what. "Oh well, she thought. I am ready as I'll ever be. Boy this growing up stuff is hard. You have to remember so much stuff. And we had to get up so early this morning, I hardly had time for breakfast!"
Finally Grandma B and Marlee arrived at the cafe just in the nick of time. She was almost late. Stashia had warned her to be on time, but "B" had to stop for gas for the car. Then she had to get a drink while she was there. "Errr!"
When they walked into the cafe a girl greeted them and asked them where they would like to sit. Marlee said, "I'm Marlee, and I am here to interview for the chef job."
The girl just looked at her and then at Grandma B and started to choke when B gave her "the look." She said, "Follow me back here to the office." Marlee turned to B and started to take her hand. But B said, "Hey, you wanted this job, you have to do this on your own."
Marlee followed the girl to the office and sat down on the couch like a lady and waited for the person to interview her.
 Interview was a hard word. Stashia had said that when you get interviewed they ask a lot of questions. You have to tell them what experience you have and stuff. "Well, I have a lot of experience. I help Grandma B all the time. I even brought some cobbler with me so this person can taste it. They will hire me alright."
Marlee was very confident in her ability to be a bake chef and had no doubt that she would be hired on the spot.
When the office door opened Marlee got the surprise of her life. It was Mrs. Sandy! Mrs. Sandy was a good friend of Grandma B's and Marlee loved her. She had taken care of Marlee when Grandma B had hurt her back. Marlee thought to herself, "This is easier than I ever thought it would be. I've got this."
Then Marlee heard this: "Where are your shoes, young lady? You cannot go into a cafe without your shoes on. Furthermore, what are you doing in my office without your Grandma B?"
Marlee said in a soft voice, "I want to be a bake chef here at this cafe. Stashia told me to wear shoes and I forgot. I'm sorry. Grandma B said that I had to do this on my own. It was my idea, it wasn't "B's", but I did bring you a sample of some peach cobbler that I made. Once you taste it you will hire me I'm sure." Marlee showed Mrs. Sandy the peach cobbler that she had helped make.
Mrs. Sandy said, "Oh, Marlee, you brought me a cobbler with a piece missing! You don't expect me to serve that to my customers, do you?"

Marlee's bottom lip started to tremble. Mrs. Sandy had an idea. She said, "I'll tell you what, Marlee, I'm going to give you a job, but it's hard work and long hours and very little pay. It's a very important job, however, do you want it?"
Marlee jumped at the chance and said, yes before she asked what it was. Then Mrs. Sandy said, "Ok, Marlee see you at 6:00 in the morning. Remember shoes on, and hair in pony tails and be ready to work."
Marlee was so happy then she said, "What am I going to do, Mrs. Sandy?"
This was Marlee's face when she heard what her new job was.

Stashia Helps Marlee Get Ready For The Job Interview

Marlee decided that she had had it with her no cash job as being an ice cream model. The job was fun, but the pay was just free ice cream. She was going to be two  (2) in just a couple of months so she needed a real job. Grandma B had given her the idea a few days ago. They had been making cobbler and cookies. "B" said that she had done a fantastic job, therefore, it just made sense that she be a chef! So off she went to find her best friend, Stashia to get some advice on how to get the job of her dreams.

Stashia explained to Marlee that her manners and the way she dressed and talked were key points to make a good impression on the person that was going to interview her. She also told Marlee that she could not be late.
Marlee could not understand why she just couldn't go in to the cafe and just say, "I want to be your new chef" and get the job right then and there.
"Oh, boy, this might take some doing," thought Stashia.
But being the good friend she was, she started by telling Marlee she had to be clean. "Your face and hands need to be clean. Then you have to have nice clothes on and lastly, but the most important, your hair has to be fixed. You have to leave your ponytails in your hair and you must keep your shoes on."
"But the very first thing is an appointment. You have to have an appointment to get an interview. I don't know two things. How are you going to get an appointment and how are you going to get to the interview?"
Marlee giggled and told Stashia not to worry she could handle the grownups; she had them wrapped around her little finger. Well, maybe not mom and dad, but her Grandma B would do most anything to please her. So anyway that part was no problem.
She knew how to get into the water and wash her hands and face. She made a terrible mess, but she got the job done. She tested the water by sucking some out of the sponge and decided that she was clean enough.
 The fairies had left her a new outfit and a necklace that matched, so she had that covered.

 The ponytails were the biggest problem, "Hmm, I wonder if this would work." She had an idea. She went to work and got her new outfit and jewelry on and went to see Grandma B. Grandma B told her how nice she looked, but said, "You need your hair fixed." Marlee grinned to herself and knew she had her "B" pegged. Stashia just groaned.
"The next thing you have to do is practice your posture. They look at things like that. Now sit like a little lady." It took some doing, but Stashia thought that Marlee could pass if she did exactly what she had told her to do.
                  *******************
The next installment will come soon of the interview and what happened.

Marlee Says "Oh, Oh!"

Grandma Lu chuckled when Grandma B told her about Miss Marlee's little shenanigans this morning. Grandma Lu said, "You know, B, we can't be good all the time." As she hung up the phone, she chuckled again and shook her head and thought, "The older she gets, "B" the more on your toes you're going to have to be." Then she smiled remembering when her children were about Marlee's age. "Mercy! I was a busy lady having to watch those babies every minute it seemed like."

She remembered when her daughter was about Marlee's age. Oh yes, it seemed like she was into things all the time.

 "I'm sure I was never naughty when I was a baby," Grandma Lu laughed to herself. She was glad no one heard her say that out loud!

 Marlee and her family and her friend, Grandma B were such fun people to watch in Marlee's growing into the "Two Stage."

This is a picture story of Marlee getting caught in the act!

"B" Tells Grandma Lu She's Silly

One day Grandma Lu went out to her friend's Mini Farm to visit. They hadn't seen each other for awhile so they had a lot of catching up to do. They were in B's kitchen while she was getting things ready for coffee. It was a wonderful time of year to have coffee out on the porch.
Grandma B was telling her friend how Marlee and her big pup, Zoe, were getting along. "You just wouldn't believe how much Marlee is making up to Zoe. You know she is such a big dog. Marlee used to be scared of her, but not anymore. The other day I went out on the porch and there they were:  It looked just like they were true friends. She was laying her head on Zoe's back and talking with her."
Grandma Lu kind of frowned when she heard that. B asked what the frown was about. "Well, you know I have been out here several times when Marlee was visiting. I've seen Stashia and Marlee out on the porch and I would swear that they were whispering to each other just like humans would do."
Oh, Grandma B laughed, "You are so silly, Grandma Lu, dogs and little kids can't talk to each other. You must be getting old!"
Grandma Lu just shrugged her shoulders, smiled at her old friend and said, "Let's go out to the porch and watch your horses play while we have coffee." And so that's what they did.
The next time Marlee came to visit "B" had kind of a strange feeling. She noticed that Marlee and Zoe were once again playing, but there was something missing; Stashia. "Hmm, I wonder why Stashia isn't out here playing with Marlee and Zoe. I know that she is in the house. Well, "B" found Stashia laying on her couch looking oh so sad.
"What's the matter, Stashia? Why aren't you out

on the porch with Zoe and Marlee? They would love to have you play with them. Stashia just rolled her eyes, curled up on the couch, and turned her back on "B."
"B" called her friend on the phone and said, "Grandma Lu, I think you might be on to something. I think Stashia is feeling left out. She thinks that Marlee can only have one friend." Grandma Lu said, "I thought so, you know a lot of people are like that too. They think that their friends should be friends just with them and don't want to share."
"B" groaned and said, "Yes, I know. I guess it's time for a visit with Marlee to explain to her that friends, pets or humans need to feel included and not be left out. She also needs to know that friends can have their special time with each other also. I don't know if Marlee is old enough to talk to about this."
Grandma Lu said, "Oh, no she isn't. Just take the lead and have Stashia come out to the porch with them and all will be good. You can do it "B!"
Well, after Marlee went home to her house, "B" took both dogs outside and they had a visit. "I suppose you know I feel like a big goof ball, but Grandma Lu thinks you guys can talk to Marlee. If you can talk to Marlee I get it. You don't have to talk to me, but you need to listen and understand something. Marlee is just a little girl. She loves you both so much. You love her too. So, the next time she comes, don't feel hurt if she plays with one of you more than the other one. Okay?" Both dogs looked at each other and left Grandma B standing there all by herself and went for a walk to discuss this situation. "Good grief, thought Stashia, being a friend is so complicated sometimes. I like you Zoe, but quit eating my snacks and we will be good."
Zoe, said, "Okay," and that was that. Friendship is very simple if you let it be.