Everyone knows fairies can't fly 9/9

Lieutenant Moonshine had just finished bandaging the first two of her workforce to return from their first flight, when another movement outside the window caught her eye.

“Looks as if some more of you have come back, I’ll just pop outside and see if they need any help as well.”

In fact it wasn’t her fairies returning at all. Two strangers using a most peculiar looking contraption, flew down at a shallow angle and landed on the forecourt, before rolling along the ground on two fat little wheels. She couldn’t make out why it didn’t fall over, but it came to a smooth stop just in front of her.

“Hello Lieutenant Moonshine, I haven’t seen you for ages. Let me introduce my father, I do hope we’re in time to help sort things out and get the transport fogs back to normal.”

Moonshine suddenly recognised the young lady speaking to her.

“It’s Jennifer Jane isn’t it? My you have grown since I last saw you! Thank goodness you’ve come, all the staff except for two are still out flying and the two I do have aren’t much use, because they’ve hurt themselves crashing into a tree. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Then she suddenly sat down on the ground and burst into tears. “Did you just say transport fogs?”

“That’s right; none of the ships going on long voyages can find the way to their destinations. The transport fogs aren’t working, so goods can’t be delivered on time. Where has everybody gone?”

In between sobs, Moonshine explained that all her staff had gone off flying. Those of them who were mums had taken their children from the crèche and were enjoying the company of their children in the air with no fear of them flying off on their own.

Jennifer Jane looked at her dad. “You know what Abigail said, ‘it’s all your fault, you put it right!’”

Dave looked rather embarrassed and thought for a moment before he answered.

“I’m not as used to this sort of thing as young Jane, but I think the first thing to do would be to get the children back safely. The mums aren’t as likely to take chances as the others, so most of them should be able to get back to work once their children are safe. I suggest that Fern goes with her, so that if the mothers have any difficulty catching the children, she’ll be there to help. Once that’s been done, Lieutenant Moonshine’s first priority should be to get the fogs working again. After that we’ll just have to wait and see how long it is before the warehouse has a working level of staff again.”

Fern flew off to begin her task, while Jennifer Jane went across to the Mary Bell crèche, to make sure that none of the children escaped again once they were returned.

More and more fairies hobbled back as the day progressed. Hardly any of them were fit for work! There were cuts and bruises but most of them were suffering from strained wing muscles and were in some considerable pain. Dave talked to each of them as they returned, pointing out the trouble they’d caused by all going off at once.

“Don’t worry about it happening again,” most of them replied, before going on to tell him about the damage each of them had suffered.

Two hours after Dave and Jennifer Jane had arrived, all the staff had returned. In the meantime Dave had a word with Moonshine, suggesting that those who wished to continue flying did so after a suitable rota had been arranged, so that they weren’t all out at the same time. Once the arrangements had been decided, he and Jennifer Jane left and flew back to the Witches’ Home.

Later that evening he was telling Mary how the problem had been resolved.

“It may take a few days until things are completely back to normal. After all, most of the staff have to recover from all sorts of bumps and bruises, but I’m pretty sure the transport fogs will be up and running by tomorrow. All in all I think I can say I did a good job sorting out my mistake in telling a fairy how to fly!”