Week 14 Story: The Fairy Ferry

Bibliography: This story is based off The Monks and The Butcher translated by Walter K. Kelly (1855) from the Heptameron unit.



 "When do you think the ferry will arrive?" a light voice says from the kitchen.

"Soon, I hope. She's a beauty," says a deeper voice. "I've heard she's absolutely magical, too."

Tommy overheard this from his bedroom and tiptoed into the hallway, listening intently with wide eyes. Being close to Christmastime, the town was expecting a number of shipments to arrive.

"Yeah, and I think the ferry is bringing all the presents," said the deep voice that belonged to Tommy's father, Darrin.

"I sure hope so," said his mother, "I was worried. Do you think Tommy would like to see the ferry?"

"Oh I think he would love to."

Tommy was so excited. A real life fairy! He couldn't believe it. Why had his parents denied the existence of fairies for so long? And she's bringing presents? And she has magic! Actual magic!

When Tommy went to bed that night, he was so restless that he had trouble falling asleep. When he finally drifted off, he dreamt of sparkles and tiny sounds of ringing bells.

The next morning, he flew out of bed and practically slid downstairs, skidding to a stop in the kitchen where his parents were making breakfast. He looked at them with a gigantic grin on his face. His parents looked at him with a curious expression.

"Morning, bud," said his dad.

"We were thinking about doing something fun today," his mom said, sweetly. "How would you feel about going to see a ferry?"

Tommy beamed. "I would LOVE to!"

Later that day, Tommy and his parents drove to the river marina. Tommy brought his little polaroid camera, ready to photograph the fairy and show off to all his friends at school.

The three of them walked along the dock until Tommy's parents stopped in front of a big boat.

"Well, what do you think, honey?"

Tommy looked around, confused. "But where's the fairy?"

His parents looked at him strangely. "Well, it's right in front of you."

"But... it's a boat."

His dad laughed. "Yeah, a ferry." 

Tommy tried his best to hide his disappointment. "Oh..." he said.

"What's the matter, darling?" his mother asked.

"I thought you meant a fairy, not..." he gestured to the boat, "a ferry."


Author's Note:

In the original story The Monks and The Butcher, two monks and the butcher use a certain name that means monk but the butcher also calls his pigs. The butcher one morning is overheard talking about how he was going to kill the fat pig. Of course, the larger monk thought the butcher was talking about him and was fearful for his life. I used the pattern of misunderstanding that occurs when two people are using homophones. In this story, I used the homophones "ferry" and "fairy." The parents are talking about a ferry, the boat, but the little boy thinks they're talking about the magical creature, a fairy.

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