In Which Mrs. Pimms Completes the Rescue...

(Part IV of Mrs. Pimms Finds a Fairy)
       In the space of a moment, Mr. Pimms saw an old wood with a strange light.  This vision, however, was rather brief, for in another instant he found himself barreling head long into Mrs. Pimms, who caught him in her arms and proceeded to drag him, and a small child who looked vaguely familiar, out of a ring of mushrooms that looked more than vaguely familiar.
   
        ‘Mary!’ Mr. Pimms exclaimed.

        ‘Not yet,’ hissed Mrs. Pimms, moving swiftly, holding tightly to her precious cargo with each arm.  They went at great speed until they were out of the woods and could make out the twinkling lights of the village beyond.  Suddenly she stopped, dropping Mr. Pimms’ and young Mary’s arms, turning a radiant face up to greet Mr. Pimms.

            ‘Gregory! I knew you’d come,’ she beamed up at her husband and threw her arms around his neck.
            ‘But the exchange…’ he said, his voice muffled by the bun on the top of Mrs. Pimms’ head.
            ‘I didn’t think they’d do it.  Not to a child, but just in case… Oh, I knew you’d do it.  You were my insurance, darling.  And it all worked out beautifully, didn’t it?’  Mrs. Pimms said into his neck.
            ‘But how did you…’
            ‘Mrs. Pimms?’ came a small voice from somewhere around Mr. Pimms’ side.  ‘Do you think I could go home now?  I’m awfully tired.’
            Mrs. Pimms removed herself from about Mr. Pimms, and turned to little Mary.  ‘Of course, Mary,’ she bent down to look the small child in the eye.  ‘You weren’t very scared, were you?’
            ‘Not really,’ said Mary, who did not look in any way shaken by the experience.  ‘I got to see a fairy, Mrs. Pimms,’ Mary beamed up at her. 
            ‘That you did, dear.  Though I am sorry about the cake.’
            ‘Oh, that’s alright,’ Mary said, waving the thought away with her hand as though it were of little consequence.  ‘I had a ripping good time.  I’ll make mother something else for her birthday.  I can’t believe I saw a real fairy; they aren’t very nice,’ she mused in a considering fashion as though analyzing the sum of her experience, ‘but they are very pretty,’ she finished, stifling a yawn.  Her tired face beamed up at them, and Mrs. Pimms noted the girl was far from the worse for wear.  It had simply been another adventure among many in the life of a small child.
            Mary and the Pimms’ arrived at Mary’s front door.  Mary’s mother gave Mrs. Pimms a smile—and Mr. Pimms a nod—and issued her yawning daughter into her home and up to bed.
            Mr. Pimms took his wife’s hand as they walked toward their house.
            ‘How did you do it, Mary?’ he asked with genuine awe.  ‘A fancy spell?’
            ‘Oh, it was more you than me, dear.  A willing sacrifice always covers the gravest of harms.’
            Mr. Pimms nodded.
            ‘And you’re alright, dear?’ she said, looking askance at her husband.  It was a question that meant quite a lot of things.
            Mr. Pimms turned toward his wife.  ‘Never better,’ he said with a wide smile.
            And they walked hand in hand into their home.
            (The End)

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