magic in the air

Do Christmas wishes really come true? Debra was going to put it to the test…

Debra kicked off the sparkly shoes and rubbed her feet. Did anyone really have feet that narrow? she wondered. She wiggled her toes, enjoying their pleasure at being released.

The wings strapped to her back would have to stay, but she managed to lift the glittery crown up slightly and give her head a good scratch. Not for the first time, she asked herself what she was doing dressed like this.

Debra was thirty-three next birthday; not old in human years, but surely middle-aged in fairy years – positively elderly when it comes to a position in Santa’s Grotto. In fact Santa probably wouldn’t have given her CV a second look if the college student hadn’t let them down at the last minute.

Even the outfit was designed for extreme youth – ridiculously small with no allowance at all for anyone with a womanly body, which in normal circumstances, she was rather proud of.

“You have to be joking!” Debra had gripped the hanger of the dress she was arranging in Womenswear. Let them prise her away from her beloved department if they dared! Sam, her manager, but also a good friend, patiently explained the predicament.

“You fit the costume, Debs. It’s that simple.” he said. “Well, sort of anyway. I’m sure we can squeeze you into it.”

“Why don’t you ask Neil? He could be an elf or something.”

“He’s over six foot!” “Who says elves are always small?” Debra looked at Sam in frustration. She knew nothing about fairies or elves.

Sam smiled at her. “Come on Debs, it’s only for two weeks, we’ve a new girl starting then. Think of the children and their disappointed little faces. The Christmas fairy is very important to the Grotto. She has a vital role to play…”

Debra held up her hand then. “Save me from all that managerial speak! All right, I’ll do it. But you’d better make sure it really is only for two weeks”

Sam gave her a quick hug, “Promise.”

That had been three weeks ago. Apparently students were in short supply – the local supermarkets were paying twice as much. And all they required from their employees was a Christmas hat plonked on their head. No throbbing feet for them.

Debra was still rubbing her feet when a little girl appeared. She rammed the silver tiara back in her hair and stood.

“I’m sorry, Santa’s feeding his reindeer at the moment,” she trotted out brightly, thinking of Albert tucking into burger and chips in the canteen. “He’ll be back later.”

The little girl stared at her for a moment then ran off.

Debra sank back into her chair. Roll on when it was her turn to skip back to fairyland for a quick cuppa, she thought.

It hadn’t been a good week. After arguing with Jon for most of it, she was beginning to seriously wonder if they should go their separate ways. Maybe he was more suited to Gemma, the new redhead in his accounts department. She was all he spoke about lately.

“Why don’t you get an office job like Gemma, instead of working in a department store?”

Debra was furious. “I happen to enjoy working at Merediths.”

She’d stormed off then, and hadn’t answered any of his calls since. Thank goodness he couldn’t see her now! “Santa gone for a cuppa, has he?” Debra automatically checked her tiara. A man, possibly someone’s dad, was looking through the entrance at her.

“I’m afraid so. He’ll be back in about ten minutes.”

The man turned and spoke to someone behind him, “We’ve to wait a bit, Ella. Santa’s just popped out.”

Ella peeked shyly round the corner. She was about four years old, all blond hair and blue eyes. Debra smiled at her.

“The fairy isn’t wearing any shoes,” she whispered to her dad.

Debra tried to coax her feet back into the glittery shoes one size too small.

“Fairies don’t wear shoes,” he explained seriously. “Isn’t that right?”

Debra gave up on them. “Quite right. I usually fly everywhere.” She held out the silver sparkly pumps to the little girl. “In fact, would you like them? You look

“You look like a GIRL who knows all about FAIRIES,” Debra smiled

like a girl who knows all about fairies.”

Ella took the shoes shyly and stared down at them. Her dad smiled. “Thanks. That’s really nice of you.”

A shuffling behind the curtain meant Albert must be back. Debra rolled her eyes at Ella’s nice dad. “Time to get back to work!” she said, disappearing back into the grotto.

“I’ve got terrible indigestion” Albert moaned as she appeared, “Half an hour

isn’t long enough for lunch. It can’t be good for me eating that quickly.”

“Your beard’s wonky,” Debra told him flatly, “and at least you had lunch.”

Albert wiggled it around, then sat heavily on his tinsel covered chair.

“OK, I’m ready. Though if my indigestion gets any worse, you might have to be Santa”

Debra gave him a withering look. “I don’t think so.” “Where are your shoes?” “They were killing me.” “I’ll bring you a new pair in your Christmas stocking.”

“Well make them size 6 instead of size stupidly-small, please.”

Albert chuckled. He soon got over having to take a quick lunch, and the rest of the day passed quickly. Debra welcomed the children in with a well-rehearsed smile, and handed out presents one after the other. In the end she hardly noticed whether they were boys or girls, just another pair of hands taking the brightly-coloured gifts then running out the other side of the grotto.

Finally, at almost 6 o’clock, the store began to empty. Albert let out an enormous yawn and stretched his arms.

“Let’s put the Gone back to the North Pole sign up, shall we?” he said, “I doubt there’ll be any more now.”

Debra agreed. Standing in a dark grotto in a temperature of a hundred twinkling lights was exhausting. Womenswear was much easier, she decided. Removing her tiara for the last time, Debra ruffled her wavy hair around until it was no longer flat to her head. Her fairy costume was beginning to itch and scratch, and thoughts of a hot soak in the bath filled her mind.

She wondered if Jon might have it ready for her. He was actually quite thoughtful like that sometimes. Once, he even floated scented candles on the water. She’d almost forgotten that.

They’d wasted so much time bickering lately, she’d not allowed herself to think about any of the nice things they shared. Ten calls she had in one day, and she’d ignored every one. What if he gives up calling? she thought.

“Excuse me…”

Debra sighed quietly. The grotto was about to close. Santa was virtually on his way back to the North Pole, for goodness sake!

“Sorry, Santa’s not here at the moment. He’ll be back in the morning – after he’s given the reindeer their breakfast, of course,” she added, quite pleased with herself for thinking of that.

“I haven’t come to see Santa.” The voice sounded amused by her recital. “It’s you I wanted to see. I was afraid I might have missed you”

Debra looked up, “Oh, hello. Sorry, I thought it was another child hoping to catch Santa before he slipped away.”

Ella’s dad smiled and held out a bag. “I just wanted to say thanks for giving Ella the fairy shoes. She’s over the moon with them.” He grinned. “I did think about buying you a pair of comfortable slippers instead, as you seemed to be in quite a bit of pain! But Ella wanted to get you this…”

Debra took the bag from him, not knowing what to say. Inside was a small silver star. It lay in the bag, glittering brightly at her under the shop lights.

Ella’s dad looked embarrassed. “Ella wanted you to have it.” He shrugged.

Debra held it in her hand. “It’s lovely, thank you. I hope Ella enjoys the shoes. You’re right, they were killing me!”

“Don’t forget your wish. You have to wish on a Christmas star. I’m surprised a fairy like you didn’t know that.”

“Of course I know that,” she said with a smile. “Any fairy worth her salt knows that.”

“I hope it comes true for you. Happy Christmas.”

Debra watched as he walked off. The store was virtually empty now, and it wouldn’t be long before the cleaning staff arrived. She stood still, looked around to make sure no one was watching, then quietly made her wish. After all, surely wishes stood a good chance of coming true at Christmas?

A shuffling of feet in the grotto brought her back to reality. She looked round quickly. She thought Albert had gone long ago.

“What have you forgotten this time Albert?” she called out, “You’ll miss your train back to Lapland at this rate.”

When he didn’t appear, she poked her head round and peered into the gloomy grotto. All the fairy lights were out. She could just make out Albert in his red suit and beard. “You OK, Albert?” He nodded, but didn’t make any attempt to move. She walked towards the chair where he was standing. What on earth was he doing? It was only when she got closer that she saw how much taller he was… thinner, too.

“Any FAIRY worth her salt knows to wish on a CHRISTMAS star,” she said

“Happy Christmas Debs.” The voice didn’t sound like Albert. Debra reached up and pulled his beard.

“Jon! What are you playing at? Albert will kill you if you ruin his costume!”

“He was happy to lend it to me actually.” He held out a small badly wrapped present, scratching his chin at the same time. “Happy Christmas, hope you like it. How Albert wears this beard all day, I’ll never know.” “You’re early. There’s a week to go.” “I can never wait, you know that.” Debra pulled off the paper. A delicate silver necklace lay snugly inside a blue box. It sparkled at her in the darkness.

“Oh, it’s lovely!” Debra gazed at the delicate chain, “Really lovely.”

Jon cleared his throat. He always did when he wanted to say something important. “It’s been a rotten week, Debs, all that arguing and stuff. But you must know I’m crazy about you.” He shuffled in the darkness.

Debra could feel Ella’s star lying in the palm of her hand. She rolled it gently between her fingers. “I thought you were into redheads these days.”

“Did you?” Jon shrugged lightly, “No, the girls I really like have curly blonde hair – and wings on their back.”

Debra smiled. “Yes, well… I know I look ridiculous”

Jon reached out to take her hand – then quickly pulled back. “Yow! What on earth have you got in your hand?”

Debra shrugged, “It’s just my Christmas star,” she said, “Be careful, it’s got a lot of magic this time of year.”

Jon rubbed his hand. “You’ve been in this grotto too long if you ask me.” He pulled her towards him, and Debra snuggled against his red coat.

“You smell of Albert’s burger,” she said, making no attempt to move.

“I‘m surprised I don’t smell of blood. That star’s lethal. What on earth are you doing with it?” “All fairies need a star to wish on.” Debra glanced down at the silver star. She watched it twinkle in her hand as it caught the light from the doorway. On the chair lay the silver necklace from Jon. Dainty and sparkling, he had obviously tried so hard to get her exactly what she liked. She gently squeezed her hand around the star, silently thanking it for granting her wish.

Was there enough magic for one more, she wondered?

She pulled away from Jon and stood in the middle of the grotto, eyes closed. “What are you doing?” he said. Debra was too busy wishing to answer. And if she found herself out of this grotto and back in Womenswear on Monday, she would know Christmas wishes really did come true!