The Problem With Pixies

Dear Miss Jenna,

Summer is coming quick, it will soon be time for the fairy hunts to begin. I thought we should spend a bit more time going over the differences between a fairy and a pixie.

While fairies are mostly quiet, pixies are more like a noise with wings. We’ve learned that fairies do seem to have a way of talking to each other, a way of communicating. But it’s such that humans can barely hear it, much less understand it. Pixies however, like a mockingbird, can repeat things and phrases they hear. And they have no hesitation about spewing words all over the meadows. Some of the old fairy hunters, of which I am one, think they are not just repeating words they hear, but are actually capable of learning and using languages. A few of us even think they can use people talk. Some of the unfortunate ones, those who have been beset by pixies, think they use this ability to make troubles and trickeries on them. I think that’s quite possible. A lot of times, I will think I hear someone calling my name, but when I turn around, there’s no one there. Sometimes, I’ll be among the gardens at sunset, and I’ll hear whispers on the wind, calling me to the meadows. Sometimes, I’ll think it’s nothing, that your old Uncle Mike is just getting silly in the thoughts as I get older. But, sometimes, sometimes Miss Jenna, I think it might be pixies.

  I would think the biggest difference between a pixie and a fairy is attitude. A fairy is happy to while away the day working among the plants and flowers, and doing their part to keep nature moving along. Pixies on the other hand are a mischievous bunch, always looking for something new to do for fun. They do so enjoy perplexing the humans, so if one were to stumble across a pixie dance, or catch one in a fairy trap, the pixies would spend years playing tricks on the human. Remember, some pixies stay around all year, so that’s a lot of time to pull their tricks. If you get a pixie angry, which being caught in a trap is certain to do, a pixie will spend years tormenting the human who made it angry.  The person who is unlucky enough to anger the pixies will have an unfortunate life indeed.

That’s not to say all pixies are bad, or even that a pixie is all bad. Pixies are more like people than people like to admit. Pixies, being a small creature, don’t have room inside themselves for lots of stuff, like lessons and feelings. So when they get full, as they often do, they have to let it out. Even though you are only starting your second hand you have learned how to better control some feelings, all the while stuffing all kinds of your lessons inside yourself, too. As you grow, you’ll handle more and more. Some things that made you angry when you were only on your first hand seem kind of silly when you reach the second hand. Sure seems that way sometimes, doesn’t it, Miss Jenna? Things that fluster and flummox you today will seem just as silly when you reach your third hand. That’s because your body is growing, and when your outside grows, it just makes sense that your inside grows too. You are making room to hold more than one thing inside at the same time. Most little cowgirls, once they reach their second hand, have already figured out how to think about two things at once, to learn lessons not only in mathematics, but in reading and writing all at the same time. Just as you wouldn’t expect someone who hasn’t even reached their first finger to be able to talk, you wouldn’t expect someone who’s only on their second hand to understand the rocket sciences. Their body isn’t big enough yet to hold all the lessons it takes to know what makes a rocket fly. To think otherwise is just nonsensical.  And just as it is with lessons, so it is with feelings. Sometimes, just like learning your lessons, learning you feelings gets mixed-up and confusing, too. By the time they reach their second hand, most cowgirls have learned that you can be mad at something, but still love it, too.

That may sound confusing, especially for someone who has just started their second hand. Perhaps I can explain it a bit better. Say you are on a proper cowgirl adventure and you find a big old bull frog in the field. Being a real cowgirl, most likely, you would stick that frog in your pocket to take home. As every cowgirl knows, a frog, especially a big old bull frog, is always a useful thing. Then when you went to bed that night, your Mom finds that frog in your pocket and she lets it go. The next morning you might be angry at Mom for letting such a useful bullfrog go, but you still love her because she’s Mom. After some time, you’ll find you’re not angry anymore, but you still love her very much. A cowgirl would learn two things from this; first; how to hide your bull frogs better, and second; that when you reach your second hand, you’re big enough inside to hold two feelings at the same time for something. Not so with pixies. Since they are so small, a pixie can only hold one feeling at a time. That’s bad if you anger a pixie, because for certain they will stay angry for a long time. But it can be a good thing too. If you happen to get lucky enough to make a pixie happy, they will be your friend for a long time also. Just as mean and ornery as a pixie is when they are tricking, they can be as kind and generous when they are gifting. A person who falls into a pixie’s favor would be living a charmed life indeed. Believe it or not, Miss Jenna, there are a few people who are brave enough, or fool enough, to try to snare pixies. I’m not sure how prudent that is, as we know how easy a pixie is to anger.

As I set and watch the fairy traps, there sure seems to be something afoot in the gardens this year. Peppers that are supposed to be green are turning purple. The snapdragons that were red last year, are white this time. Strawberries are coming up in places I never planted them. It is certainly curious.

As always Miss Jenna,keep Texas in your heart until your feet are in Texas again.

Love as always,

Uncle Mike

Here are some more coloring pictures for you to practice with.

*excerpted from; A Second-Hand Wish ©2012 R. M. Moore used by permission