Ticket to Faerie by F. I. Goldhaber Read Free Book Online

Ticket to Faerie
    Alyssa slapped the thick envelope against the palm of her
hand. She recognized the fancy script from the flat nib of Grandma's
fountain pen. Every year she received a similar packet within a few
days of her August birthday. Nanna, Mom's mother, sent checks on
Alyssa's birthday and at Christmas that she could spend on clothing
or music. But her father's mother only sent junk.
    When she was a child, Alyssa pretended that Grandma's
magical charms would work and attempted to follow the detailed
and silly instructions. They never did whatever Grandma promised,
but Alyssa had fun pretending. Of course, she used to read fairy tales,
too. Now, as she entered her sixteenth year, she wanted more than
pretend magic. Nanna had sent a sizeable check in honor of the
milestone. Even though her mom would only let her spend half of it,
Alyssa had enough for six albums and a pair of new skate shoes.
    With a snort, she loosened the envelope flap with her
thumb, and pulled out a piece of white parchment paper covered
with neat black script.
    Dearest Alyssa,
    I know you've found my gifts disappointing in
the past. The only reason the magic never worked
for you is because you refuse to follow my
instructions precisely. I've chosen a very special
gift for your sixteenth birthday and I hope you've
finally matured enough to take advantage of it.
You're only permitted three visits in a lifetime,
dear. Please make the most of this one.
    Love,
Grandma.
    Alyssa used her fore and middle fingers to scissor the
envelope open wide enough so she could peer inside to see what else
it contained. She withdrew the square document, not sure if the
material was thick cardstock or thin PVC. The words "Magical
Carnet" were written in bold letters across the top of one side. The
rest of the script crowded together in letters so small, she had to
squint to read.
    "Good for one round trip to any destination within the
Kingdoms of Faerie that the bearer chooses. Must use within one
year of receipt. Must return within one month of departure. To use
ticket, bearer must arrive at the station a half hour before scheduled
departure. Reservations recommended, but not required." On the
back, at the top it said, "Directions:" followed by intricate
descriptions of more silly requirements such as hopping on one foot
and running around widdershins.
    Alyssa muttered under her breath and stuffed the letter and
the "ticket" back in the envelope.
    "Whatcha got there, Short Stuff?" At six-foot-three, her
father towered over his diminutive wife, and Alyssa had inherited
her mother's height, not his.
    She held up the envelope and made no attempt to keep the
disappointment from her face.
    "I'm sorry, Babe." Her dad leaned down and ruffled her
short reddish-blond hair. "I know Mom's a few sandwiches short of a
picnic, but she does love you."
    "Yeah, right," Alyssa whispered. She stuck out her lower
lip.
    "What say we go see Mom this weekend? I'm sure she'd like
that, and maybe she'll have a real present for you at her house." His
grin made his freckled face, still topped with a thick mop of
carrot-red hair, even more boyish. Alyssa could almost forget he was
her dad and not the big brother she'd always wanted.
    She wandered up to her room and tossed the envelope on
top of the painted white dresser with fading fairy decals. Later, she
would drag the box from the top shelf of the closet and add the
envelope to all of Grandma's other gifts that her mom had insisted
she keep over the years: the plastic pony that never turned into the
real thing; the stuffed mermaid that only got wet when Alyssa,
unable to find a swimming hole, threw it in the pool; the cream that
didn't make all her freckles disappear when she turned twelve; the
miniature saxophone that never improved her skills enough for her
to make the jazz band and travel to D.C.
    At least those gifts included something she could play with.
Alyssa pulled the ticket from the envelope. So pathetic . She
really had gotten too