Now available on Amazon in paperback

 

Published! So excited

It’s Worth a Try News Flash

 It’s with great joy and delight that I cannot tell you all that Knocking on Faerie Door has now been finished.

It’s now in editing stage and I’m hoping to get it published in the next few months.

Regards 

Veronica S

It’s worth a. Try

 Knocking on Fairie door Chapter 37

I quicken my step and head for the hostel, as I turn into the doors the stench in my nostrils fades.  Thank goodness for that. My tummy is so sensitive to the smell. 

The rest of the afternoon drags by, my mind is not on  after school activities at all, my only concern is to get back to the dormitory and retrieve my opalescent orb, to send the message about my discovery to Nanny and Mr Bowfinger. Tick tock tick tock.. 

At last!! The end of the afternoon activities, now just to wash up and head to the dining hall, have my dinner and get to the dormitory.

I am so anxious about the book of runes and needing to get the message home, I am concerned about what the Queen will say about my find. I can’t even begin to think what perils may befall me, if I’m made to retrieve the book from Mrs. Lawley’s office. Oh what dread... my stomach is in knots again.

Dinner was served, I ate, I can’t recall what I ate as I didn’t pay any heed. 

Great it’s time to go back to my dormitory, light is starting to fade, slowly. I bide my time, considering my next move. 

it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 36

it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 36: With mops in hand and buckets for of sulphurous smelling soap we set off back down the corridor towards the mess. BP suddenly appears, we bo...

Knocking on Faerie Door Part 36

With mops in hand and buckets for of sulphurous smelling soap we set off back down the corridor towards the mess. BP suddenly appears, we both say "Thank you BP."
BP, Bethany and I all laugh at the mischievous prank that BP played on the Lawleys, once again getting me out of trouble. We are giggling and happy.
As we approach the mess in the corridor BP waves her wand and everything is spick and span. Me included,not a trace of my vomit anywhere!
Even the pots and pans are clean and packed neatly on top of each other.
Again we thank BP and withthat we pour the sulphurous water down a drain on the side of the corridor, it's usually meant to be for taking rain water away from the building. Soon enough we were carrying the now perfectly clean pots and pans back to the scullery. Cook seems very pleased to see such lovely clean pots, but seems confused as to why we should be returning them.
We never give her any time to ask. We return the empty buckets and mops to the janitors room, the janitor is not in.


I whisper to BP that we will meet again this afternoon after lessons, at the old Oak tree as I have some news to share with her. I smell troll stench just as BP leaves and flies up high into the sky.


"All done I see! Now off to class the both of you!"


We don't wait to be told twice and we walk hurriedly to class.
The rest of the day Bethany and I are able to have a few moments here and there
to discuss what I'd seen, but we had to be very very careful indeed. These walls have ears and for all we know they could Literally have ears!
The day seems to drag, lesson after lesson after lesson....
finally the bell rings and that signals the end of the day's lessons.

Bethany and I can barely contain our excitement, we run-walk down corridor after corridor, trying not to draw attention to ourselves. Once on the lawn we run as fast as our legs can carry us, we crumple in a heap of giggles at the base of the old Oak.
Within seconds we see BP?

"So what is the big news then?" She asks.
I go on to tell her all about how we looked around Mrs.Lawleys office and how I came across a book of runes.
BP is so excited to hear this news her wings begin to shimmer as I've never seen before. Her face is glowing now too! Oh this must be good news I surmise to myself.
Bethany says "What are we to do?" "Should we try and get it?"
BP responds " I will consult with the Queen" looking at me he says "use the orb, tell Nanny and Bob Bowfinger what has happened"
"I will" I say nodding my head.

"Right, we will meet back here in 3 days, and not a word of your discovery to anyone!"
We agree wave goodbye and head back to the dormitory. We are whispering all about
what our find may mean. Bethany asks "what's the orb?"
I giggle and say " I'll tell you later" we have entered the corridor and that stench envelopes me once more

it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 35

it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 35: As I was being lead down the corridor, by my ear, which was being pinched rather hard by Mrs Lawley, I look over my shoulder to see all the ...

Knocking on Faerie Door Part 35

As I was being lead down the corridor, by my ear, which was being pinched rather hard by Mrs Lawley, I look over my shoulder to see all the other girls giggling. Mrs Lawley turns around looks
at all the girls and is enraged!
"Bethany Beaulie! You come here at once! Clearly you find this so funny, that you can now join Winifred in her punishment!"

"Yes ma'am" Bethany hastens forward and falls in step with me. He eyes downcast, her mouth still has a smile on it.

Before we knew it we were stood in Mrs. Lawleys office. We were both looking at our feet shaking slightly. The smile on Bethany's face now a distant memory. Both of us are too afraid to look up.
Just then we hear a booming voice as the door swings open.

Mr. Lawley steps in and says "What's going on in here."

We both begin to shake a little, we knew what was coming next....

But just then a cacophonous clattering and banging occurred just outside the door.
Both Mr.& Mrs.Lawley raced out to see if they could see what had happened and more so, who had caused the ruckus.

Oh my goodness gracious me!! What a mess! It seems the contents of the pantry had been emptied out in the corridor. There were broken eggs, spilled milk, pots and pans and flour everywhere!!



Suddenly my stomach problems seemed the least of their worries, they both shot off in different directions looking for the culprits, Bethany and I sniggered. We had a very good idea as to who or rather what was behind that mess. Good old BP! So pleased she is here at school with me, heaven alone knows what would have happened if she didn't keep helping out.

Bethany and I remained in Mrs Lawleys' office. She was away for what seems ages & we were getting a tad bored. So we decided to have a look around her office. We were very careful to make sure nothing was distributed. Imagine the trouble we would be in if we were found out?

The glass cabinets hold no secrets, just the usual trophies and medals and year books from past years.
Mrs.Lawleys desk top looked like a typical teachers desk, with quills and ink pots and some very important looking paperwork.
Then those drawers..... should I ? I look over to Bethany, Bethany shakes her head vigorously at me.
I nod back, Bethany now shrugs her shoulders, her eyes darting back and forth betweeen me and the door. The corridor remains silent...
I reach for the drawer handle, both Bethany and I breath in, in unison. Gingerly I open the first drawer being ever so careful not to make a noise. The drawer begins to slowly creak and then before long the contents are revealed. Nothing of interest in there! Papers and quills and the usual stuff you'd expect.

Again I nod at Bethany, who is now keeping a watchful eye on the door and I could almost see her ears pricking up as if to listen even more closely for any movement in the corridor.
Slowly but surely the drawer gives and it makes a huge screeching sound as it does so. I'm sweating now and I'm so scared. The drawer opens fully and Oh My Goodness!!! There's an ancient ruins spell book just lying there, in the drawer!!
Before I know what I've done I pick up the book and page through it. My fingers tingling, Bethany craning her neck to see what I've discovered. Spells a whole book of spells!! I'm sure that this book holds the answers to all our questions..
suddenly Bethany starts waving frantically to me, and motions me to put the book back.
I quickly and quietly slip the book back into the drawer and slam the drawer shut. What a relief that the drawer doesn't screech again as it shuts.


I move as fast as I have ever moved in my entire life, I'm standing next to Bethany, my heart is thumping in my chest my mouth is dry.
The doors swing open again, Mrs Lawley and her stench enter the room. She glares at us and says " I suppose you two are not responsible for that mess in the corridor?" "However I expect you know full well who is, so as punishment you two will have the privilege of cleaning it all up, to my satisfaction "
"Yes ma'am" we answer in a sing song voice.
With that we are pulled up by our collars and pushed through the door with instructions to get cleaning equipment from  the janitor.

it's worth a try: Knocking on Fairie Door part 32Bethany then turn...

it's worth a try: Knocking on Fairie Door part 32 Bethany then turn...: Knocking on Fairie Door part 32 Bethany then turned to me and winked! She knows!! Oh my word Bethany knows!!! What am I going to do...

it's worth a try: Knocking on Fairie Door Part 34

it's worth a try: Knocking on Fairie Door Part 34: Bethany remains transfixed on BP, the wonderment in her eyes obvious. The fairie dust begins to work its magic. BP quips " Bethany ar...

Knocking on Fairie Door Part 34

Bethany remains transfixed on BP, the wonderment in her eyes obvious.
The fairie dust begins to work its magic.
BP quips " Bethany are you there?"
Bethany quickly composes herself and says
"I can hear you! I can see you! I knew you were real!"

BP replies "Pleased to make your acquaintance"

Bethany is now beaming as we sit under the old Oak. Alright, I think to myself, time to get serious.

"Bethany, this is really serious. I know you're very excited and probably still a little awestruck, however, you can not tell a single soul what you've witnessed today, do you understand?"

"Yes, of course, I well...I"

"You do understand that everything I've shared with you is the absolute truth and that BP and all the other fairie folk are in immense danger of being made extinct?"

"Yes, yes I do understand"

"So again I must reiterate that what you've learned today is not to be repeated to anyone, ever!"

"Yes I promise, not a word to anyone"

That sorted, we now need to strategise whilst we have time.
Bethany has agreed to work with BP and I to help overthrow the trolls and gain back the ground lost to children who believe in fairies. Or at least once did believe in Fairies, before those wretched trolls
took over positions of power and insisted that children who spoke of fairies were likely lunatics and needed to be taken from their families and locked away securely in asylums.

Once this law was passed, parents and children alike became fearful of the children discovering and discussing fairies. The fear of them being overheard and reported was too great to risk.
Thus making parents no longer able to entertain the children's flights of fancy and wild imaginative play. Parents were telling their children "Fairies are for lunatics and lunatics get taken from their families and locked away forever." They were saying " Fairies do not exist, and that they will not entertain any such nonsense" Often children were sent to their rooms without dinner as a punishment.
The parents of course did all this to protect their children from possibly being taken and locked in awful lunatic asylums.

Time has rushed on and we need to run at breakneck speed to our dormitory or be late for roll call. That is something Mr. & Mrs. Lawley would relish! The opportunity to ridicule and punish us for being late. Somehow we have escaped the wrath and slide in to our dormitory just as the huge doors at the end of the corridor swing open with force.

The stench of troll is making my stomach lurch and I do everything possible to hold myself together and not be sick. Mrs. Lawley draws closer, the stench engulfs me, I feel like my whole stomachs contents are about to be on display to the whole dormitory. She ebbs even closer, I cannot hold it in,
porridge pours from my stomach through my mouth and nostrils in what I can only describe as lava flow. It pours and pours wave after nauseous wave out onto the floor, over those huge shoes, which for the first time I notice have strange bulbous qualities to them. Troll feet!! OH my goodness gracious me!! What have it done? I've been sick all over Mrs. Lawleys feet! Oh dear now I'm going to be in such serious trouble!
The only good thing about this situation is that my vomit actually smells better than the Troll woman.

it's worth a try: Knocking on Fairie Door Part 33Fortunately the s...

it's worth a try: Knocking on Fairie Door Part 33 Fortunately the s...: Knocking on Fairie Door Part 33 Fortunately the school day passes with no event. I have managed to get past Mr & Mrs Lawley all day! ...

Knocking on Fairie Door Part 33

Fortunately the school day passes with no event. I have managed to get past Mr & Mrs Lawley
all day! I'm feeling on top of the world.

I remember my promise to meet up with Bethany, and as I head down to the old Oak, I feel a fluttering of wings by my ear. I have learnt not to smack at the sound of flapping, which is lucky for BP as she has just landed on my shoulder.

BP says "This is exactly what we need, we need people to believe"

"But" I say "Bethany already believes, so why should I tell her ?"

"You made a promise, remember?" says BP

"Yes I remember, but how much do I tell her?" "Can I really trust her?"

"You can trust her, after all she put herself in harms way, to save you. Doesn't that show she's trustworthy?" asks BP

"Yes I suppose you're right! I will tell her, it'll be grand not to have this secret to myself"

I see Bethany is already waiting at the tree. Im happy to see her. I begin to run over to her, brimming with excitement. BP almost loses balance and quickly flies down to my blazer pocket.

"Hello" we both say almost simultaneously, and we giggle at that.

I look around to ensure no one else is near, I sit down making sure my blazer pocket is not crumpled or sat on & I motion with a patting on the grass, for Bethany to sit down next to me.

I look at Bethany & her excitement is palpable. Her eyes are shining and she looks even more beautiful.

In hushed tones, I begin with my story and how it all began with a walk from my bedroom window, I miss nothing out.

Bethany is as quiet as a mouse, she listens and absorbs every crumb of information I feed her.
Bethany is completely intrigued and bewildered. What happens next is the icing on the cake for Bethany. Butter petal Bloom emerges from my blazer pocket and causally say "Good Afternoon Bethany" all Bethany can hear is a squeak!

We will have to fix that says BP with a sprinkle of fairy dust.

Bethany sits transfixed on the little figure that is BP.

it's worth a try: Knocking on Fairie Door part 32Bethany then turn...

it's worth a try: Knocking on Fairie Door part 32 Bethany then turn...: Knocking on Fairie Door part 32 Bethany then turned to me and winked! She knows!! Oh my word Bethany knows!!! What am I going to do...

Knocking on Fairie Door part 32

Bethany then turned to me and winked!

She knows!! Oh my word Bethany knows!!! What am I going to do?? if Bethany knows, who has she told? Who else knows? Will Mrs Lawley find out?? Will she ring my parents and have me put in an asylum? I'm feeling desperate now.

I sit down to eat, my porridge is already cold. I don't even care, my mind keeps going over the events of the past evening & of Bethany and her brave actions.
Bethany slides in next to me and in a hushed voice says "Oh Winnie, you must tell me!"

"I must tell you?" I intentionally put on a quizzical expression as if to say "what are you talking about?"

"Winnie, I saw it, last night, in our dormitory"

I reply "you must've dreamt that also"

"Winnie, please tell me, I promise I'll keep it a secret" Bethany continues "you see, I have always believed  in fairies"

"SHHHHHH" I say a little too loudly.

The rumbling murmur in the hall hushed to complete silence, which in turn causes raised suspicion.

"Sorry" I meekly say & the rumbling murmur thankfully continues.

I give Bethany a stern glare as she begins to talk again.

"I'll tell you after class, meet me on the field next to the old Oak tree"
I continue
"Don't be late or you'll miss out" I wink back at Bethany.

We have formed an alliance, just as BP had suggest I do. I hadn't realised that it would come about in this fashion, however, I'm delighted it has.

Now to get through the rest of the day avoiding Mr & Mrs. Troll-face, I think to myself as I finish off the cold porridge, hand my plate in and head for class.

it's worth a try: Knocking on Fairie Door Part 30

it's worth a try: Knocking on Fairie Door Part 30: I feel the tears of relief trickle down my face, I don’t even care. How happy my heart feels now that I have BP with me. BP sits on m...

Knocking on Fairie Door Part 30

I feel the tears of relief trickle down my face, I don’t even care. How happy my heart feels now that I have BP with me.

BP sits on my shoulder and says with a voice that is cold and stern “You cannot take your duties lightly and you must be very careful of these trolls”

“They have power over me, over all of us because they run the school’s hostel”

“We need to be clever, outsmart them at every turn”

“You’re staying with me BP?”

“Yes for now”

“Oh BP you don’t know how happy that makes me”

“There are other plans underfoot as well, but more about that later”

BP Continues “That was a close call today; you can never let those words leave your lips”

“I won’t, I promise”

BP gets more serious, if that was even possible.

“We need to spread the word that Fairies DO exist” and she continues “We cannot afford to be caught”

“How do I do that? I’m not allowed to mention Fairies as I may get into serious trouble with the Lawly”

We talk tactics until the sun creeps up into vision above the window sill. BP bids me farewell and I

Begin to get ready for the school day ahead.

With a spring in my step and a light heart I set about with my morning chores, making my bed and getting ready for school. I’m dressed and waiting when my dorm mates are only just beginning to stir.

As they ready themselves one by one, my mind goes over the plans that were laid out throughout the night and into the early hours. This is going to work. I know it is.

Once everyone is ready we leave for the dining hall, walking in single file as is the expectation.

We open the door and file in, immediately something feels wrong. Why are all the girls looking at us?

What have we done? We are not late are we? No we can’t be!

The air around me suddenly chills; I feel her presence before I see her.

A hush descends….

We all hold our collective breath, for what seems like an age. Then suddenly it comes.

“DORMITORY 13!”

Oh no!!! That’s us…. Does she know?

“Yes Mrs Lawly” we answer together in a sing song response, not one of us brave enough to turn and face the Troll woman. My nostrils fill with the stench of her and my tummy does a summersault. Knowing what is coming next made my stomach do flips and my legs begin to feel hollow, my head is light and I’m feeling faint. Holding it together I wait for the next outburst. My dorm mates are trembling too, do they fear her the way I do?

It appears so.

Then it came, the tirade from Mrs Lawly. “Who dare have their candles lit after lights out?”

Silence

“Answer me now!”

Silence again

“Who was it?”

Silence still

“I saw a light flashing at the window of Dormitory 13 last night and I want an answer now!”

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it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 29

it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 29: Sliding down the door, emotionally and physically exhausted, I look at the girls are looking directly back at me. How do I start? If I star...

Knocking on Faerie Door Part 29

Sliding down the door, emotionally and physically exhausted, I look at the girls are looking directly back at me. How do I start? If I start at all? There are questions swimming in my head, so many questions.

How did that window break? Who broke it? How lucky was it that her glass of water was knocked over too, and from that distance? Something was afoot, something doesn't make sense. Oh it's all too much!! My head hurts.

"Come on then Winnie, what did Mrs Lawly ask you to do?" and "Winnie, why were you running?"
all these questions and more come at once. Tears begin streaming down my face, I am not even aware of them until I feel the splashing on my arm. My attention is suddenly back in the room, the girls are now closer and I feel their arms around my neck, words of comfort now falling around my shaking shoulders. Great now my sobs are uncontrollable!! Unable to stop myself from crying, and not responding to my friends, the tears stream for ages. My friends are clearly confused and thankfully concerned, they sit and wait for the tears to run their course.

Feeling better and holding back the last few sobs, I look imploringly at my friends as to ask them not to probe. I promise I will tell them later. This promise is enough for them to leave me with my thoughts, as they gather up their wash bags to prepare for bed. I wait in the dormitoory for a while before following them to the oblutions.

We all walked back to the dormitory together, it was pleasant. Discussions about the day and their travels and holidays echoed through the corridors, sounds of girls giggling and laughing and chattering. Happy sounds. It dawned on me that it'd been a long while since I last laughed and  felt carefree. It was a great feeling, one that I'd missed.

The bell sounded and the lights were promptly switched off,  it was sleep time, official. The sound of those heels click clacking down the corridor as each light in turn was switched off, sent shivers down my spine. The slight crunching sound of glass still very distinct with each foot fall.
It was her doing the rounds tonight. Great !!! That makes me feel so nervous. Just how will I get to sleep now. My mind still awash with all the thoughts from earlier, I become aware of the even breathing of my dormitory friends, they are all sound asleep. Turning over to try and get comfortable and turning my pillow over so that my head can rest on the cool side, something catches the corner of my eye.

Butterpetal Bloom!! What are you doing here? Her Gossamer wings are beating inches away from the window pane. Climbing out of my bed so quietly and carefully, I open the window and in flies BP. My heart skips a beat, so happy to see her yet petrified that the other girls will wake and see her.

"Oh BP!" I whisper as softly as possible."Why are you here?"

"I've come to help you a little"

"The window, that was you?"

"Indeed it was"

Wow! How great that I have some help and support. My heart is suddenly filled with hope and joy.

"BP do you know that the Lawly's are the new Housemaster and Housemistress?"

"That's why I came, the elves sent word"

"Ive been so worried, not knowing how I was going to do this on my own"