[Critique Group 1] Cleora's February piece

[sitting.duck at springmail.com]

Chapter 2
 
“Okay, let's get started,” began Ginger. “When you want todo something, you place your right index finger on the right side of your nose,and brush it like this.” Ginger put a tiny finger beside her nose and flippedit gently. Some leaves on the ground beside Misty, rose into the air and beganto swirl around like a small tornado. “Now, you try.”
 
Misty did the finger thing, and nothing happened.
 
“You have to think about what you want to do.”
 
Misty tried again. This time, the faery flipped over andover in the air.
 
“Cute,” said Ginger. “Let's see.” Her finger went up besideher nose, and Misty found herself flipping over and over.
 
“Hey, stop that.”
 
“What? You didn't think that was fun?”
 
“No!”
 
“The other thing you need to know is about transport. Hereis the list of names and the locations.” Ginger handed Misty a notepad withfour names and addresses. “If you need anything, lift the first page, and thinkor ask your question. The answer will appear on the page underneath.”
 
Misty looked down at the tablet then up. There was a flashof light like a bulb popping out, and the sprout was gone. “Wait! Come back.”But Ginger didn't reappear. Misty looked all around. By this time, it was darkin the woods. Her stomach growled reminding her she hadn't eaten all day. “Comeback.” Misty said again. But, still, no Ginger. An idea came to her. She placedher finger beside her nose and flipped while thinking about a big steak dinnerwith potatoes and gravy. Nothing happened. She tried again, concentrating hard.Nothing. She lifted the top page, and asked “How do I get something to eat?”
 
“Do your job,” appeared on the page.
 
“How do I do that?”
 
“Look where you want to go,” appeared on the page.
 
Misty looked at the first address on the tablet. Nothinghappened. She snorted in frustration and looked up and straight ahead gazinginto the darkness. Suddenly, she threw the pad on the ground and jumped up anddown on it. It remained undamaged. She picked it up and tore it into pieces. Itreassembled itself. She threw the tablet down, screamed as loud as she could,closed her eyes tightly, swung her fists up and down and stamped her feet. Thetablet lay on the ground. Finally, she picked it up again, and staired at thefirst address. “How do I get to you?” The page fluttered. She lifted it.
 
“Nose,” appeared on the page.
 
She thought a little while. Then putting the page down, shestaired at the first address, put her finger beside her nose, and thought aboutthe address. Suddenly, she was in a Livingroom with a small unadorned Christmastree. Beside the tree on a coffee table were 3 cookies and a glass of milk. Shelooked around, saw she was alone, ate the cookies and drank the milk. Voiceswere coming from an adjoining room. She walked over to the left side of theentry to listen.
 
“This is very difficult for me to say,” a man was saying.“So, I'm just going to come out and say it. It has been a very difficult year.There's no money for a fancy feast or presents. We will still have Christmas,but presents are to be homemade. We will have the usual dinner. No fancy piesor cakes. Does everyone understand?”
 
“Yes sir,” came a chorus of sad voices.
 
“Good. Don't stay up too late,” the man continued. “It'sbeen a long day. I'm going on to bed.” A chair scraped back and Misty heardfootsteps leaving as someone stood and left the room.
 
“Do you think the test will come out okay?” asked a youngermale voice.
 
“I hope so,” said a young female. “Do you know what you'regoing to get...make for Dad?”
 
“No clue. I think I'll go for a little walk. See you in themorning.”
 
Misty placed her finger beside her nose and thought aboutbeing outside. She vanished just as she saw the girl come through the doorwayand turn down the hall.