Almost two weeks ago now, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend NerdCon: Nerdfighteria. So wonderful, in fact, that I’m still not sure if my ears have returned from Boston. They may still be at a Harry and the Potters/Hank Green and the Perfect Strangers concert, which is also where I’d like to be.
Among the many amazing panels and events I was able to attend, NerdoWrito was perhaps the most exciting. It was a 45-minute word sprint organized by the fabulous Kristina Horner, in which we attempted to write a short story given a specific adjective, character, and quotation to include. The prompt I selected was to include an “honest” “bride on her wedding day” with the quote “Which way to the birthday party?” and the following is what I managed to scribble down.
Sirens blared, and cars raced past. Everyone was late today, pushing and shoving through crowds that only seemed to grow thicker by the minute. The bright sun only made matters worse for one of the city’s many occupants. It was blinding, as she was likely the only one who wasn’t wearing sunglasses. Isabel peered out from under the shadow of her hand, saw the sign on the crosswalk change, and pushed through to the crosswalk. She received even more odd looks as she went, likely tripled from her tripping down the curb. Isabel groaned, ignored the odd looks, and rushed to the other side.
Pausing on the corner, Isabel looked around. She didn’t fully recognize this city, having never been here before. It was only some chance turn of events that brought her here on this exact day. Still, nothing could help the fact that her taxi had dropped her off at the wrong spot, and she was now completely lost. Throwing down her hand, Isabel briskly walked into the first shop she saw.
Customers turned to her, watching her go straight up to the front counter. Even the casher was dead silent.
“Excuse me,” Isabel said, straightening herself out and trying to catch her breath. “Can you tell me which way to the birthday party?”
The cashier blinked. “I’m sorry. What?”
“The birthday party,” Isabel insisted. “I’m running late, you see.”
“I can see that,” the cashier replied. “I just thought it was for another event…”
“Not at all,” Isabell said. She fumbled through her heavy skirts, pulling out a small invitation. “I just need directions.”
The cashier hesitantly took the small slip of paper, giving it a short look over. “Yeah,” he said slowly. “You’ll want to go over two blocks to the right—they’re long, though—and make a left on Fourth. Another two streets down until you hit Brook Hollow. It should be about halfway down that block.”
“Thank you,” Isabel said. She took back the invitation, sliding it back into her pocket and shuffling her skirts to hide where it was hidden.
“Can I just ask—” the cashier blurted out.
Isabel turned slowly, ready for the question. “Go on, then.”
“It’s just… if you’re going to a birthday party, what’s with the dress?”
Looking down, Isabel pulled up at the neckline of her pure white gown. She picked at a small spot on her bodice and readjusted her skirt, beginning to nod to herself.
“I thought it was obvious,” she said, starting back to the door. “I’m getting married today.”
With a quick wave and a smile, she left the shop, returning to the busy street. Rushing down, Isabel followed the directions of the shop keeper. She made it down a block before stopping in her tracks. Then, she let out a loud laugh. Shaking her head to herself, she pressed on.
“Well, they just had to move, didn’t they?” Isabel furiously pressed on the button for the crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. Then, she lifted her skirts as much as possible to hurry over to the other side. “At least they didn’t leave them behind…”
In the middle of the next block, the city shifted around her. The chaos died down and the traffic lessoned. All of the shops disappeared on the next street and friendly neighborhood greeted her. Isabel kept on, weaving into the suburbs of the city and finding the one house that looked entirely out of place.
She smiled to herself and crossed the lawn. Ignoring the front door entirely, she went straight to the small hidden door on the side of the house and let herself into the backyard. Smiling to herself, she pressed on. It was nice to see such a familiar place after the past few days. She was glad that her parents had been so accommodating in the move.
“Hello?” she called out. Walking across the grass, Isabel settled at the base of a tree. She waited a moment, tapping on her knees. “I know I’m late,” she announced. “At least say hi.”
At her words, a door so tiny most wouldn’t know it was there opened up. A small, shiny faerie fluttered out, and Isabel lifted a hand to let her perch there.
“Not bringing the baby?” Isabel asked. “I even showed a mortal your invitation, just like you asked. Two, actually. The first couldn’t read it.”
A small chime responded to this, but Isabel recognized the rhythm of the tinkling as laughter. As she shook her head, another faerie emerged from the tree. This one carried a small bundle of leaves.
“Oh, she’s beautiful,” Isabel said, holding up her other hand.
The second faerie perched there, and Isabel adjusted her eyes past the natural glow of them to look into the split in the leaves. It was always had to make out the face of a newborn faerie, but Isabel had learned after growing up with them for so long.
“What’s her name?” Isabel asked, even though she knew she was testing her limits of understanding their language. It took a few repetitions of the sound for her to catch on. “Ila?”
A happy sound hit her ears, and she knew she was right. Then, she pouted at them.
“You didn’t do that to make it easy for me, right?” she asked. “Idi? Rila?”
Both made sounds in the negative, and Isabel smiled at them. “Good,” she said, “because I can’t be having that on my wedding day.”
“Belle?” a strong, deep voice called out. “Did you sneak past?”
Glancing up, Isabel helped the faeries get closer to the door of their home. “Of course not, Dad!” she called back. “I just promised I’d go see the baby.”
The back door to the house opened and her parents beckoned her into the house. Isabel greeted them both with hugs, rushing inside.
“Did you meet Ila?” her mom asked, reaching up to fix her hair.
Isabel sat still, letting her parents fuss over her. “I did!” she said. “When will she be able to use her wings?”
“A few weeks at most,” her dad told her. “But what I want to know is how you escaped your bridesmaids in your dress…”
Laughing awkwardly, Isabel tried to wave off her dad. “That’s a story for another day, Dad.”
Aw, this was so cute and mysterious. Great job keeping it vague, but intriguing. I definitely didn’t see the faerie twist coming. Very impressive for a quick free write.