CHRISTMAS WITH THE FOREST FAIRIES

 "Mama, the dining room is full of snow!"

"And so is the living room!" cried Arabella.

"It's Christmas morning!" said the twins.  "And we're freezing!"

"Good grief!" said their mother, the Queen, surveying the frozen wreckage of her home.  "It must have been my poisonous cousin, Repellante, who did this as a little holiday prank.  She was a nasty little girl too.  Or, perhaps it was Hepzibah! You know how gossip travels in the forest.  Yes, she must have heard that it was you two who led Rapunzel home!  Yet it is I who must suffer!" the Queen said dramatically (as she was wont to do.)  "What your father will say I do not know."  The sisters studied their small feet in the melting snow as they could think of absolutely nothing to say in their own defense.

"It's like living in the castle of the Snow Queen," whispered Arabella.  "Now she's a piece of work!"

"I heard she has stolen a little boy named Kay and put a piece of ice in his heart!" said Annalisa.

"Are you two talking about my horrid cousin, the Snow Queen?"
demanded Mother, whose hearing was acute.  The Forest Queen had been tramping about in the slush looking for rodents so she could undo the snow spell before her husband came downstairs.  He was always so cranky in the morning.  "That poor boy Kay is imprisoned in her castle.  Let us hope he brought a heavy coat and a muffler. That place is like ice!  Well, of course, it is ice."

"Don't you have any nice relatives, Mother?" said Annalisa.

"And that isn't all I've heard.  There's a little girl called Gerda who wants to rescue Kay, but she has no idea how to find the Snow Queen.  The poor child is wandering around in the snow talking to ravens and riding a reindeer.  She must be desperate."

The sisters stared into each other's eyes.  An idea had been born. They knew where the Snow Queen lived!  This time they would not share their plan with their mother.

"Mother, you undo the snow spell and we'll make hot chocolate. And then we'll open our presents!  We will have a merry Christmas after all."  The girls hurried away to the snowy kitchen, their eyes bright with anticipation.  First, they would find Gerda!

GERDA

Look for the Forest Fairies helping Gerda find Kay in the new year.