Daisy Takes Charge Read online

  But she’d promised to help Maggie win the Songbird Festival and that’s exactly what she was going to do.

  With a quick scratch to the top of Vu’s head, Daisy sent him and Nelli outside. She turned back to her sister, ready to enforce her strict timetable.

  ‘This afternoon, you’ll be practising your Songbird Duet. Have you chosen which magpie you’ll sing with?’

  ‘Almost,’ Maggie replied. ‘It will be either Stormy or Melody. They’re both such pretty singers that I can’t decide between them. I figure I’ll just ask the first one that I find.’

  ‘Well, you’d better start looking,’ said Daisy, eager to get started on her sewing. ‘This is your only practice before the rehearsal tomorrow.’

  ‘Consider me gone,’ said Maggie, pushing her empty bowl away and heading out. She stopped in the doorway. ‘Thanks, Daisy. I was so nervous yesterday.’ She grinned. ‘But today I’m too busy to be nervous.’

  ‘That’s the plan,’ said Daisy.

  Once Maggie was gone, Daisy flew to her bedroom. The dress and feathers were in the bottom of her clothes chest. She took them out and grabbed the little sewing kit that Aunt Acacia had given her. Daisy settled into a comfy position in her hammock, ready to sew.

  As the black dress spilled out of its wrappings, Daisy marvelled again at how soft and delicate it was.

  Picking up one of the downy white feathers, Daisy lay it sideways across a shoulder strap of the dress. The feathery part would rest lightly against the edge of Maggie’s shoulder. Yes, she thought. That will look just right.

  Cutting a length of white thread, Daisy tied a knot in one end, then poked the other towards the hole in her needle. The thread bent and slid past, missing the hole entirely.

  Squinting her eyes in concentration, Daisy brought the needle closer to her face and tried again. This time the thread poked cleanly through.

  Smiling, Daisy lifted up the dress and began to sew. Up, over and around the end of the feather, Daisy sewed until the feather was fastened and wouldn’t move.

  The feather would look very pretty, curving over Maggie’s shoulder like a short sleeve. If only her stitches were more delicate. Daisy’s forehead creased into a frown as she stared at the clumsy stitching. The white thread stood out starkly against the black fabric, nothing at all like the almost invisible stitches of Aunt Acacia.

  A tiny doubt began to nag at the back of Daisy’s mind. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, she worried. Her gaze fell on the pile of white feathers. ‘More feathers might hide the stitching,’ Daisy told herself.

  Daisy stared in dismay at Maggie’s dress. Clumsily stitched feathers circled the neckline, jutting out at odd angles as though tossed by a wild wind. It looked nothing like she’d imagined.

  This was the only dress Maggie had that was pretty enough to be a costume, and Daisy had ruined it. Maggie was going to be furious!

  Happy voices floated up from the kitchen – Maggie making dinner with Nen and Efa. With her heart thumping guiltily in her chest, Daisy lay the dress across the end of her hammock and flew down to meet them.

  ‘There you are,’ said Nen, leaning over to kiss Daisy on the cheek as she placed the last bowl on the table. ‘I was just about to call you.’

  ‘Maggie’s been telling us what a wonderful help you’ve been today,’ said Efa, taking a seat.

  ‘She really has,’ said Maggie. ‘I don’t think I would’ve gotten half as much done without her.’ She shot her sister a grin.

  Daisy didn’t know what to say. Maggie wouldn’t be grinning when she found out what Daisy had done. Silently, Daisy sat next to her sister.

  ‘How was practice?’ asked Efa.

  ‘Good,’ said Maggie. ‘We have our song all worked out, and the harmonies are sounding great.’

  ‘Which magpie are you performing with?’ Nen asked.

  ‘My friend Melody,’ Maggie replied.

  Daisy listened quietly to the conversation throughout dinner. She was feeling too guilty to join in. If only there were some way she could fix Maggie’s dress without anyone having to know.

  When Nelli and Vu flew in through the window, Daisy jumped up to feed them. Tears pricked her eyes. She leaned into the cupboard and swiped them away, but Vu noticed and chittered his concern. Daisy tried to shush him but the damage had been done. She turned back to the table. Three sets of eyes followed her every move.

  ‘Daisy, you’re as pale as a ghostgum,’ said Nen, leaping out of her chair and wrapping Daisy in a protective hug.

  ‘Are you ill?’ asked Efa. ‘Let me look at you.’

  ‘Don’t cry,’ said Maggie, as a tear trickled down Daisy’s cheek. ‘Whatever it is, we can make it right.’

  ‘Please don’t be nice to me,’ Daisy burst out, pulling away from Nen’s hug. ‘I don’t deserve it.’

  A worried frown creased Nen’s face. ‘Daisy, what have you done?’

  Daisy knew there was no hiding it now. All the pent-up emotion drained out of her, leaving behind a deep weariness.

  ‘Come on,’ she said. ‘I’ll show you.’

  ‘Daisy, how could you?’ Maggie sobbed. ‘Aunt Acacia made that dress especially for my first performance!’

  Daisy wanted to explain that she’d only been trying to help. But the words would not come.

  The family had crowded into Daisy’s bedroom. Efa put his arm around Maggie as Nen held the dress up for a closer look.

  ‘I’m sure Acacia could fix it,’ Nen said.

  ‘But Aunt Acacia could be anywhere in the forest,’ Maggie cried. ‘We’ll never find her by tomorrow.’

  ‘Leave that to me,’ said Nen. ‘When your aunt and I were children, we created a calling spell to use if we ever needed each other. She’s never let me down before, and I’m sure she won’t now.’ Nen took out her wand and chanted. ‘Send a message to my sister. Let her know I need and miss her.’

  A heavy weight lifted from Daisy’s heart. ‘Don’t worry, Maggie,’ she said. ‘Aunt Acacia will fix it.’

  But Maggie wouldn’t look at her. She pulled away from Efa and stepped out the door. ‘I have work to do.’

  Daisy moved to follow, to apologise and make up. But her parents blocked the way. Efa nodded at Nen, then headed after Maggie.

  ‘I know you were trying to help, Daisy,’ said Nen. ‘But by not asking first, you’ve upset your sister and created a problem that we now need to fix.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said Daisy. ‘If I could just tell Maggie . . .’

  ‘Maggie needs to calm down first,’ said Nen. ‘She’s under a lot of pressure, preparing for the Songbird Festival, and this isn’t going to help. I think tonight you should stay in your room. You can apologise tomorrow.’

  Daisy nodded glumly.

  With a kiss on Daisy’s forehead, Nen headed towards the door. ‘I’ll send Vu up to keep you company.’

  Daisy read and talked quietly to Vu as the muffled sounds of sad music drifted up from Maggie’s room. Time inched by. The feeling of calm she’d felt when Nen had called Aunt Acacia began to fade as Daisy strained her ears, listening for the sound of a new arrival. It was very late and the music had long since stopped when Daisy’s eyes finally closed. And still Aunt Acacia had not come.

  Daisy was woken the next morning by a high-pitched squeal. Diving out of bed, she hurried to the stairwell to investigate. She arrived just in time to see Maggie throw her arms around Aunt Acacia.

  Joy and relief welled up inside Daisy. Aunt Acacia would work her magic, and when her dress was beautiful once more, maybe Maggie would forgive Daisy. Feeling hopeful, Daisy fluttered down to the kitchen.

  ‘Here’s the little troublemaker now,’ joked Aunt Acacia as Daisy landed beside her. She put her arm around Daisy’s shoulders. ‘Nen showed me your sewing when I flew in late last night. The idea was good, but the execution was a little bit lacking.’

  Maggie snorted.

  ‘Don’t be mad at her, Maggie,’ Aunt Acacia gently scolded. ‘You know she was
trying to help. I’ll return your dress to as good as new, so there’s no reason to stay upset.’

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ said Daisy.

  Maggie ignored her.

  ‘I wasn’t trying to ruin your dress,’ Daisy persisted, placing a hand on her sister’s arm. ‘I just wanted you to match your partner’s colours for the duet.’

  Maggie held herself stiff and silent for a moment. Then the tension in her shoulders eased. ‘I suppose I can forgive you,’ she said.

  Daisy squealed and moved to hug her sister. Maggie held her hand up to stop her. ‘But,’ she said, ‘next time you want to help me, ask me first!’

  ‘I promise,’ said Daisy. ‘It won’t happen again.’

  ‘Excellent! Now, I’d better get to work,’ said Aunt Acacia, flying up to the spare room.

  Daisy picked up a leaf-wrapped parcel and held it to her nose. ‘Mmm, freshly baked damper.’ She unwrapped one corner, breaking off a large chunk. ‘Want some?’

  Maggie shook her head. She had that anxious look on her face again.

  ‘Are you worried about the Festival?’ Daisy asked, popping the chunk of damper into her mouth.

  ‘I’m so nervous,’ Maggie blurted out. ‘If I could just take someone with me to the rehearsal, I know I’d feel better. But everyone is too busy! Dad’s in the healing grove. Mum’s helping pollinate the grevilleas. And Aunt Acacia is fixing my dress.’

  ‘I could come,’ said Daisy. ‘I’ve nothing else to do.’

  Maggie shook her head. ‘It’s such an important day. I just don’t know if I can trust you, Daisy.’

  ‘Oh, Maggie. I promise I won’t do anything unless you want me to. I’m so sorry about what I did before. Let me make it up to you.’

  Maggie was silent for a long time. Then she smiled. ‘All right, you can come.’

  Daisy grabbed Maggie and danced her around the room. ‘You won’t be sorry. Where is the rehearsal?’

  ‘The same place as the Festival,’ said Maggie as Daisy finally released her. ‘Queen Jasmine’s Tea-Tree House Gardens.’

  ‘Come on then,’ said Daisy. ‘Let’s go!’

  ‘Don’t you think you should get dressed first?’ asked Maggie.

  Just below the Fairy Queen’s Tea-Tree House were the Tea-Tree House Gardens. Famous for their beauty, they were planted and tended by Queen Jasmine herself.

  Daisy and Maggie landed in the centre of a large open area that was blanketed in soft green moss and dotted here and there with the native orchids known as blue fairies. In preparation for tonight’s Festival, fragrant candles hung from the orchids’ slender stems. Cherry blossom-shaped tables were scattered across the mossy ground beneath them, giving the impression of a meadow in bloom.

  An elegant fairy in a dark-red dress with spiky red blossom wings approached them. ‘I’m Waratah, the Festival organiser. And you are?’

  ‘Maggie. And this is my sister, Daisy. We’re here for the rehearsal.’

  ‘Excellent,’ said Waratah. ‘You’re the last ones.’ Scanning the crowd of helpers, she gestured to one of them. A smiling fairy in a short blue dress, with wings like the petals of the blue fairy orchids, fluttered over to them.

  ‘This is Cyan. She’s in charge of the rehearsal.’

  Distracted, Waratah frowned at a fairy on the other side of the clearing. ‘What is he doing now? Mulch!’ she shouted. ‘Where in the wilderness are you taking that table?’

  ‘Let’s get you over to the others,’ Cyan suggested to Maggie and Daisy. ‘We’ve a lot to get through before the performance.’

  Daisy trailed behind, trying to take it all in. Around her, fairies hurried to and fro, getting everything ready for tonight. She wished Vu could share in the excitement.

  Maggie didn’t seem to be enjoying it. She was asking Cyan a million questions about the rehearsal and tonight’s Festival.

  ‘You’re nervous, aren’t you?’ Cyan asked Maggie. ‘Don’t be. Queen Jasmine chose you. She believes you’ll be great. And Queen Jasmine is never wrong.’

  She took Maggie by the hand, leading her towards a clump of flat, disc-shaped fungi that had grown like stairs on the side of a fallen log at the very edge of the clearing. From the number of candles that had been placed around it, Daisy guessed that the highest and largest fungus would be the Festival stage.

  Gathered below was a group of nervous- looking fairies – the other contestants and their companions, Daisy thought. With a shock of recognition, Daisy noticed that not all of them were strangers.

  ‘Daisy!’ A small fairy girl with stripy socks and a guileless grin ran over to greet them. Daisy’s heart lurched as the girl tripped over a bump in the ground. She stumbled awkwardly but remained upright by throwing her arms around Daisy.

  Daisy grinned as she helped her friend back to her feet. ‘Oh, Pea.’

  Pea was not daunted by her ungraceful entrance. ‘What are you doing here, Daisy? Are you performing, too?’

  ‘Definitely not,’ Daisy laughed. ‘My sister Maggie is.’

  ‘Great to meet you,’ said Pea, reaching out to shake Maggie’s hand and almost knocking her over. ‘Sorry, I’m so nervous today I can hardly stay on my feet.’

  ‘That’s all right. I’m pretty nervous myself,’ said Maggie.

  ‘I didn’t know you were a musician,’ Daisy said to Pea as they headed towards the others.

  ‘I didn’t know myself until recently,’ said Pea.

  Daisy shook her head in wonderment. Pea had found her Calling. Surely it wouldn’t be much longer until Daisy found hers, too.

  ‘Dad! This is Daisy. The one I told you about,’ called Pea.

  A short, roundish fairy, all dressed in brown, came towards them. He walked with a rolling gait and from the front, Daisy couldn’t see his wings at all.

  ‘So you’re Pea’s new friend. I’m Pod, her overprotective dad.’ He laughed, a deep rumbling laugh. Daisy liked him immediately.

  ‘Since you seem to be acquainted, Pea can fill you in while I see if the band is ready,’ said Cyan, heading to where a group of fairies had begun setting up their instruments.

  ‘So,’ said Pea, leaning in conspiratorially. ‘Shall I start with the other musicians?’

  She pointed out a dainty fairy in a pale-pink dress who stood apart from the group.

  ‘That one’s Boronia.’ Boronia was accompanied by an older fairy who looked to be talking sternly to her. ‘The grumpy curmudgeon is her mum, Grevillea.’

  Daisy giggled. Pod shot his daughter a reproachful look as Grevillea glanced in their direction. Pea paid no attention.

  ‘The two boys with the wavy brown hair are Grebe and Lark. Grebe, the shorter one without wings, is the one competing.’

  ‘Is Lark his brother?’ asked Maggie. Her voice was casual but her eyes sparkled.

  Daisy poked her sister. ‘You like him, don’t you?’

  ‘I don’t even know him,’ said Maggie, her face flushing red.

  ‘Yes, but you want to,’ whispered Daisy.

  ‘He is handsome,’ said Maggie.

  ‘Rose and Ella certainly think so.’ Pea nodded in the direction of two identical fairies with matching rainbow dresses and rosella wings. They were giggling and shooting covert looks in Lark’s direction.

  ‘They’re twin sisters who perform together. They seemed friendly enough when I talked to them, although it was a bit hard to join in with them finishing each other’s sentences.’

  ‘And what about the other boy?’ asked Daisy. ‘The one standing by himself.’

  ‘That’s Ash. He doesn’t say much.’

  ‘Contestants, over here please!’ Cyan clapped her hands and gestured for the contestants to move closer.

  Daisy gave Maggie a hug, whispered ‘Good luck’, then watched with Pod as Pea and Maggie joined the others with Cyan.

  When Pod turned to stand beside her, Daisy caught a glimpse of shiny, bronze, Christmas-beetle wings lying against his back.

  ‘Isn’t this exciting?!’ Pod said.
‘I just hope Pea doesn’t knock someone off the stage.’

  Daisy wondered if he was kidding but then, watching Pea stumble over her feet, she realised it was a real possibility. Please, thought Daisy. Don’t let it be Maggie. Then she crossed her fingers for both of them.

  Intrigued to know what Cyan was explaining, Daisy and Pod moved closer to listen.

  ‘There will be three rounds,’ said Cyan. ‘In the first round you will play your instrument. In the second, you will perform your original song. The songbird duets will be the finale.’ She pointed to a row of chairs at the base of the log. ‘That’s where you’ll sit when it isn’t your turn.’

  ‘Who’ll be going first?’ Grevillea interrupted, pushing past the contestants to stand beside Boronia.

  Cyan shot her an impatient look. ‘I don’t know yet.’

  ‘Boronia should be first or last,’ Grevillea continued. ‘The strongest performers always have those positions.’ Boronia cringed at her mother’s second interruption.

  ‘I will make that decision later,’ said Cyan through gritted teeth. She turned back to the contestants. ‘Those of you with wings may fly to and from the stage. Grebe will take the stairs.’

  Grebe had been watching the band setting up. He looked back to Cyan upon hearing his name. ‘Sorry,’ he apologised. ‘What did you say?’

  ‘That’s my brother, always looking ahead to the exciting part instead of concentrating on right now.’ Daisy turned to see Lark standing behind her, shaking his head. ‘Who are you here with?’ he asked.

  ‘My sister, Maggie. The one in the purple dress.’

  Lark’s eyes widened when he saw Maggie. ‘I didn’t see you two arrive.’

  ‘We were a little late,’ Daisy answered, trying not to giggle as Lark stared at her sister.

  ‘She’s done it now,’ Pod interjected. Grevillea was being escorted back to them by a very angry Cyan.

  ‘I am a patient fairy,’ Cyan explained. ‘But if you interrupt this rehearsal one more time I’ll banish you from the Festival.’