Chapter 2
On her way out to the garden, Brooke stopped when she heard Absalom suddenly crow. Her attention was drawn to sunlight glinting on glass. She saw a pair of unusual spectacles resting on a stump. Curious, Brooke picked them up. The silver frames had rounded rectangles of gold tinted glass mounted inside them. In addition, there was an extra set of green lenses that went over the main lenses with just a turn. She had never seen glasses like them.
As Brooke carefully looked them over, she could tell that they were antique and clearly handmade. She decided to try them on, not expecting them to do anything unusual. Surely there were more advanced types of spectacles in the modern world. But when she put them on, her surroundings looked drastically different!
The farm looked brighter and everything was moving. The sky was more vividly blue than she thought possible. Her mother's ornamental grass swayed, almost as if rocking back and forth in rhythmic waves. Brooke took the glasses off, and looked around. Everything was the same as before and there was nothing remarkable.
When she put them back on, wow!
Everything changed. The plants and even beams of sunlight moved in tune to some kind of unknown harmony. A few paces away, she noticed the tall grass fold to reveal a paved stone path into the garden. She has never seen the path before. Interested in finding out where it led, she began to walk down it. With an adventure on the horizon, she easily forgot about not losing track of time.
She had walked a few yards when she heard the delicate strumming of a stringed instrument akin to a harp. Brooke tried to find the source of the music. In the distance, she saw a beautiful fairy dancing on a toadstool.
Brooke put her hand to her mouth in awe, amazed at what she was seeing. The lovely, delicate music surrounded the fairy as if she were the source of it.
The irresistible tune made her want to dance. Her feet began to tap as she moved towards the fairy, feeling an irresistible urge to dance with the tiny lady. The music charmed her and her feet began to move faster in tune with the lovely melody. Brooke put her head back and looked at the blue sky. She raised her arms and began to spin.
This was better than a dream!
Suddenly the music stopped abruptly when she got close to the fairy. The tiny lady was startled that Brooke could see her. She heard a tiny voice.
“No don't dance, or you'll never be able to stop!” The fairy exclaimed with worry on her face. "What is your name?” Asked the fairy.
“My name is Brooke Murphy.” She replied, leaning in to admire the beauty of the lady before her. Her gleaming auburn hair was swept upward in an elaborate twist held in place by a golden barrette. Baby's Breath decorated her tresses. Her skin was the palest peach, and her eyes seemed impossibly green.
“Murphy, hmmm, I see.” The tiny lady paused to think. Her translucent wings caught the sunlight as they fluttered. Her dress was made of layered orange gossamer fabric that made Brooke's blouse look plain and dull. The only thing she could compare the fabric to was her mother's opal ring. When Brooke looked at the stone from one direction it looked pink, but when she turned it, she could see lavender along with shimmering multicolored specks of every hue. She imagined that a person could look at a fairy all day and it would be endlessly fascinating. She was mesmerized until the fairy snapped her fingers.
“Attention, young one! I can see you are new to this world and its wonders but you must listen. Would you happen to be a daughter of Joe Murphy?”
Brooke giggled. The sound of her laughter startled the small lady and she nearly fell off her toadstool. She tried to be quieter when she spoke.
“Miss, Joe Murphy is my grandpa. He moved out of state a few years ago. John Murphy is my dad.” The little lady began to clap and dance with joy until a strand of her reddish hair fell over one eye.
“Little John? Why of course! Time gets away from me. I knew there was a reason to dance today! I'm Marigold, and I help the plants grow. They love me because the more I dance the more they grow.” Marigold shrugged and then whispered, “I get a little help from good old fashioned pixie dust of course.” After hearing this, Brooke began to understand why the Murphy farm was special. She wanted to give her thanks.
“You are doing a great job! Everyone thinks our pumpkins are the best.” Brooke told Marigold. The fairy began to clap and make a delighted sound.
“Yes, the pumpkins are my pride and joy! Thank you for the compliment, young Brooke!”
“You're welcome.” Brooke told her, holding the glasses on so she could continue to see her new friend. Marigold smiled sweetly and clasped her hands in the front.
“Perhaps as you travel down the path you could help me a little. Would you tell my sister Violet to bring some more pixie dust? I seem to be running low! If she asks why, just tell her that the pumpkins would like a boost.”