The clock on the mantelpiece chimed six times.
Lily opened the door to her room and peered out into the hallway. “I wonder where all the other fairies are,” she said. “I’m not late, am I?”
“No,” said Avery. “You’re right on time.”
“They must already have gathered in the entrance hall. Come on, let’s hurry!”
Lily and Avery flew to the top of the winding staircase. At last they heard fairy chatter coming from downstairs. “I’m coming!” cried Lily. “Hold on!”
When Lily spoke, the fairy chatter died down. Lily didn’t notice the quiet, though; she was so excited to make her entrance. She closed her eyes at the top of the staircase. It was all just as she had dreamed it would be. “Here I am!” she called. “I fly for Sheepskerry and Queen Mab!”
There was a moment of absolute silence. Lily’s eyes popped open. And then … there was an enormous burst of laughter.
“She’s a witch!”
“She’s hideous!”
“Didn’t she read the letter?”
“Look! She’s got warts on her nose!”
If Lily’s face had not been green, the other fairies would have seen her cheeks turn scarlet from humiliation and shame. If the brim of her hat had not hidden her eyes, the other fairies would have seen tears welling up in them. And if any of the other fairies had noticed the broom she was sitting on, they would have seen it shaking.
“Oh, Lily! Fly away!” cried Avery behind her. “Don’t you see? They tricked you!”
Shall I tell you now what Queen Titania’s invitation really said? Or have you already guessed? If you have, your heart will have gone out to dear, trusting Lily.
Here’s the invitation, and it is quite tricky to read. You can read it yourself or you can ask someone to read it for you, if you’d prefer. I do so hope that where you’re reading this is not like the fairy mainland. I do so hope that you have a friend or a sister or a teacher like Faith!
Titania, Queen of the Mainland,
does hereby announce and decree
that each fairy attending the
FANCY-DRESS PARTY
shall create her own costume
(in silence with no help from others),
using seven items from
QUEEN TITANIA’S MAGICAL COSTUME TRUNK
and elements from nature.
Each fairy
shall dress in the manner of a
P R I N C E S S.
Poor, poor Lily!
Every single other fairy was adorned from head to toe in tulle and silk and lace, and every part of it was pink. They carried ruby wands and wore diamond tiaras and capes of purest pearl satin. Their shoes were trimmed with feathers and their hair was piled on top of their heads in beautiful cascading curls. And every fairy’s wings were sprinkled with sparkles.
“What’s the matter, Lily Bell?” asked Claudine. “Is this how princesses look on Sheepskerry Island?”
Lily held absolutely still. She felt as if her witch’s dress were sucking all the breath out of her. She wished her broomstick would break into two so she could sink into the floor. She wanted to fly away from this horrible mainland and never come back. But more than anything, she wanted to punch Claudine Townley on the nose.
She did none of these things.
Lily Bell hitched her broomstick under her, straightened her pointy hat, and flew right down into that cloud of pink fairy princesses.
“What are you waiting for?” she said. “Let’s go.”