Page 6 of Folds
“Sounds fine,” I say, feeling rather chipper. This is the most excitement I’ve had in my life in a while, and it’s the good kind. “Let’s go.”
What I didn’t anticipate about taking a fairy to the grocery store with me is just how many people would stop and stare. A few even asked “Is that a fairy?” to confirm, as if he could be anything else. Annoying, but it was the perfect chance for Selvanar to witness the miracle of grocery store produce.
“I’ve never seen so much food in one place,” he says in wonder. “Many options. I don’t know what most of these are.”
So I choose a few fruits and veggies that would be good eaten raw, since I’ve confirmed that fairies apparently don’t like cooked food.
I’ve learned quite a lot in the last twelve hours.
By the time we’re finished, though, Selvanar is covering his eyes.
“Those bright lights,” he says, squinting. “Too much. And everything buzzes.”
I can tell that electronics bother him, so I check out as fast as I can and get us back to the car. I can’t buckle him in, though, so he remains on my shoulder, and I drive as carefully as I can while he holds onto my scarf.
When we reach the house, though, I spot my sister’s car in the driveway. She’s home—which means I’m going to have to explain the fairy now temporarily living with us.
“Hey,” I say to Selvanar as I park next to her hatchback. “Do you have any clothes you could put on?”
I feel strangely protective of him, like I don’t want Lizzie to see him naked the way I have.
Selvanar leans forward so he can peer up into my face. “Clothing? Why? And no, I do not.”
Great. Hopefully she doesn’t mind.
“My sister’s home. Be… normal, okay?”
The fairy searches my face. “Are you embarrassed?”
“No! It’s just, you know, kind of strange. That you have no clothes.”
Jeez, why am I being so weird about this?
But Selvanar just chuckles. “Humans and your clothes. I can sit in your purse, if you would prefer.”
“Oh! That’s the perfect solution.” I hold open the top of my purse for him, and Selvanar climbs down into it, his arms hanging out the sides.
There. That’s proper. I don’t want my sister making eyes at my fairy like I did.
When I come inside, Lizzie’s watching a TV show on the couch, flopped over on a pillow. She sits up when I enter and shut the door behind me.
“Hey!” She registers the bags I’m carrying. “You went to the store? Did you check the list?”
I freeze. Of course I didn’t check the list. I was just intent on finding foods that Selvanar couldeat.
“Um…” I give her a weak smile. “Hey. There’s a reason. You gotta see this.”
Curious, Lizzie gets up from the couch and comes into the kitchen, while I set my purse gently on the table with Selvanar sitting inside it. Her mouth forms an O.
“Is that a fairy?” she asks, bending forward to get a better look. Selvanar frowns as she gets close and leans his head back.
“Ahem,” he says.
“Yes,” I tell her. “And I think he has personal space, Liz.”
Lizzie stands back up again and clears her throat. “Right. Sorry. But really, a fairy? How? Why?” She arches an eyebrow. “And he’s in your purse?”
“We just had to pick up some things he could eat, that’s all. I can go back to the store again later.”
