Christmas for Moonchild

Faerie Moonchild is depressed because she knows her human friend Eleanor will spend much of the holiday with her family and not Moonchild. Eleanor,though, has a surprise for her tiny faerie pal.

            In the innocent age when children still believe, faerie princess Moonchild flitters through her secret portal and into Eleanor’s family farmhouse. Eleanor and her family have not yet awakened this predawn Christmas, which is fine with Moonchild so she might learn the magic and joy of Christmas. She gasps at the sight of the decorated Christmas tree with all the shining tinsel and gleaming glass ornaments, and she breathes in the delectable bouquet of pine, spices, and berries. With the holiday finest to delight in, Moonchild nearly forgets the pang of loneliness that saps her green glowing essence.

            Notably this season, Eleanor’s family spends more time together, and so, Eleanor has less time for her faerie friend. Moonchild firmly counsels herself to accept the loneliness because solitude is the customary faerie existence. Moonchild’s conviction does not assure her contented acceptance, it only makes her wee faerie heart heavier.

            Exploring with her dim glow, Moonchild notices other Christmas decorations. On the small table sits a small open barn with figurines in it. Fascinated, Moonchild flitters closer to investigate. There in the front is a human couple bending over a baby lying in what appears as an animal feeding trough. Moonchild learns of the Christmas birth.  

            Intrigued, she draws close to the winged figure that seemingly hovers above the baby Jesus. The figurine is about Moonchild’s size�"a few human inches tall. She remembers guardian angels appear about the same size of people, but they exist in another realm. Nevertheless, the figurine makes her think of her mother and father somewhere far away in their own faerie realms. Again, the aching swells in her heart.

            The stairs creak behind her! Someone from the family is coming downstairs. Moonchild flutters up to hide in the barn’s rafters next to the figurine angel. She peeks out to watch in the soft light. It is safe; it is Eleanor. Eight-year old Eleanor, wearing her floor length nightgown, pads barefoot across the floor. She intently leans into the tree.

            “Moonchild?” Eleanor whispers. “Are you here in the Christmas tree?”

            Moonchild flitters out of the little barn to alight next to the figurine family.

            “Good Christmas, my young missy,” Moonchild says, performing a low curtsy.

            “And a Merry Christmas to you, my faerie friend,” Eleanor says, returning her own perfect curtsy. “I think this will be such a special Christmas for you this year!”

            “For me? But you know I began celebrating Yules in my own faerie manner.”

            “Oh, I remember. I will chase trolls with you in January, but I know you are lonesome right now. You cannot miss out on Christmas, it’s a joyful family time.”

 “My family is far away, and we as faeries are forbidden to journey unless extraordinary circumstances apply�"as you well know,” Moonchild says, glow fading.

“I can never match your gift to me,” Eleanor says to the dimly lit faerie. “But I thought of a Christmas surprise you may enjoy�"a way to be part of my family holiday.”

            “No, it’s dangerous! Your father and brother don’t believe in me,” Moonchild says. “That is why I must remain vigilant whenever around your family and farm.”

            “I know that will never change, but we have something new this Christmas!”

            Moonchild watches as Eleanor goes behind the tree, and it wiggles a bit with tinkling bells. Suddenly, the decorated Christmas tree bursts bright with colorful lights.

            “Ohhhhhhh!” Moonchild says in awe. “The tree glows like a thousand faeries.”

            “They are new�"electrical lights,” Eleanor says factually. “And a perfect place for a glowing faerie princess to blend in and feel the magic and joy of Christmas!” Eleanor sits down as the Christmas lights and one very content faerie brightly illuminate her face.

.           “Look at my glow!” Moonchild exclaims. “I feel the magic of Christmas already.”

Author's Note

Last year's Christmas card insert, and perhaps a strange genre relationship between fantasy faerie and traditional Christian Christmas. Any comments?

Reviews

[wondering]

did you have faries on your farm when you were growing up, or perhaps this one now??