I am deeply thankful to Marta Shaffer, Jaime O’Neill, Tammy Chapman, and Ben Colahan for their incredibly helpful feedback. These are talented, thoughtful, and creative individuals who were willing to take the time to not only read the work of a novice, but to provide in-depth feedback. My aim is to eventually publish A Fairytale…

     Pam watches Edna’s eyelids as they flutter. They are like limp fleshy butterfly wings, unsuccessful in their persistent efforts to fly. And the creased vertical lines above her lips sway with the twists of her frowns and smiles. Pam takes a few strands of Edna’s recently permed hair and rubs them between her…

     Edna rests for the next couple of days and receives care and attention from her two nurses, Gargana and Kadiatu. Much of the time her friends are by her side to talk with her and keep her company. Sometimes they are silent companions, playing with her helmet of stiff white hair.      …

     The air in the Huldu village is clear, and for the first time since Cellu, Twynne, and Hendi returned from spying, Gargana has time to assess Hendi and Twynne’s injuries. She had seen to their comfort as much as she could when they first got back, but most of her energy was spent…

     When Pixie arrives at the Huldu village she has cuts along her face and body from twigs that whipped her as she ran. She is panting heavily and trying to speak to the group who gather quickly; they have been waiting for her.      “It’s okay, dear,” Edna says, “Just catch your…