The Crystal palace was dark and silent, only the drawn-out sobs of the Fairy Queen could be heard. All the Elves stood in little groups looking at each other, each one hoping that the other would think of something to make the Fairy Queen happy again.

For many years now, the palace had been quite. No longer did the multitudes of fairies sing and play in the sunlight, for how can little folk be happy and play, if the children of men do not believe in them?

“Oh dear, oh dear,” sobbed the Queen, getter her hankie all wet with her constant crying. For the twelfth time that day, Elgie the chief Elf, took her hankie and wrung it out onto the carpet of grass that grew all around the Palace.

The Fairies who lived in the Queen’s domain tip-toed about their business, each one hoping that one day the children of men would come looking under the toadstools in the wood, or come calling to them to come and play in the sparkling sunlight.

The grass glistened around the Palace, because it was always wet with the Queens tears, and even the covering of toadstools did not stop the little people from getting their feet wet.

The Elves and Fairies spent their days silently polishing the gossamer threads that hung between the bushes in the wood, always hoping that perhaps tomorrow, a child might believe in them.

Now my little friend, grown-ups will tell you that tomorrow never comes. Don’t believe it! Sometimes it does, and one wise little girl, knew that it does, and because she knew that it does, it did! Tomorrow came, and she knew that it came, and being the only one that knew, she put on her coat, and she put on her scarf, and all by herself she went out into the woods and played.

She played so prettily, and she played so long. She ran and skipped, and she jumped and she sang, and because it was tomorrow she did not get tired, and she did not get hungry, but after a long, long time, she did want somebody to play with.

She looked up into the trees and called for the birds to play with her, but the birds were too busy building their nests. She called to the little animals to play with her, but they were too busy scurrying around looking after their babies, and then she called for anybody to please come and play with her.

In the magic land of tomorrow, all the little people stopped what they were doing, and peeped out from under toadstools, from over the gossamer threads and from round the bushes. One tiny elf, a little bolder than the rest, called out to the child. “Do you mean us, do you want us to play with you?” “Yes, yes please,” said the little girl, bending down and peering under a red spotted toadstool.

Under the toadstool she saw a beautiful Fairy, all dressed in shimmering gossamer threads. She had tiny golden slippers that shone like the full moon lighting the dark night, and on head a tiara made of dewdrops, that twinkled and glittered in the morning sunlight.

The Fairy shyly asked if she believed in fairies. “Oh yes I do,” replied the little girl, and on hearing this all the fairies came out and danced round and round her, laughing and singing, just like they used to.

The Fairy Queen, hearing the sound of laughter, dried her eyes and came out of the crystal palace, and stood in front of the little girl. “Do you know who I am?” asked the Queen. “Oh yes, you are the Queen of all the fairies”, said the child. “And do you believe in me and all the little people?” inquired the Queen. “Of course I do, and will you please play with me?” replied the little girl. At this all the fairies, the elves, the goblins, the birds in the trees and all the little creatures that lived in the wood, gave a great cheer, and all of tomorrow, they played with the little girl.

The Crystal Palace pulsed with light and happiness from the Palace, reaching into all the corners of the world, laughter spread and kindness, and kisses and hugs, in fact all the things that make life good.

After playing all day, the fairy of sleep came and closed her eyes. The fairy of warmth covered her oh so snugly in love, and the magic fairy of dreams brought her back to today, to her own little bed, in her own little room, in her own little house, where she lived with her Mummy and Daddy.

Was it all only a dream? Will tomorrow really come? Of course it will. For if you look hard enough, and long enough, you will see the fairy rings that the Queen of all the fairies has put in the grass to remind you that the fairies are always there, to watch over you, and keep you safe, but you must believe in them, for if you don’t, tomorrow might never come, after all!

(c) 1999