Silphania, the friendship fairy

Silphania was a very special fairy. Her job was to seek out unhappy children and cheer them up. One night she heard a little boy crying in his bedroom and flew to the house where the sobbing came from. Changing into a Robin Redbreast, Silphania landed on the window ledge and then carefully tapped at the glass with her beak. Inside four year old Lewis stopped his crying at the sound of the tapping. Drawing back the curtains he was surprised to see the little bird. Again the bird tapped the window, and gently Lewis opened it, letting the bird hop inside.

"Hello, why are you crying?"

Lewis jumped with surprise.

"You talked, birds can't talk," he stammered.

"I'm not really a bird I'm a fairy, my name is Silphania, but I didn't want to frighten you. Shall I change back to my proper self?"

"Oh yes please."

With a puff of sparking mist Silphania appeared sitting on his bed.
"Now, tell why you were crying".

"I have to start school tomorrow and I am afraid as I will not know anybody," Lewis wailed.

"Now now! There's nothing to be afraid of; the other children will love to play with you.
Shall l come with you?"

"Yes please, but what will all the children say when they see a fairy with me?"

"I will change myself into a dog then no one will know."

On leaving in the morning a golden retriever bounded up to Lewis and walked beside him. At the school gate Lewis hugged the dog and whispered, "Thank you Silphania," then he kissed his mother and scampered happily off to join the children. Lewis's mother turned to pat the dog but it was gone.

"That's strange, where she disappear to?"

She didn't see the little robin whistling happily on the fence.