Non-believers beware - because this is a story about absurd magic, possibly the only kind that exists daily, so if you happen to see any of it, believe it. There is magic happening at the back of your head - so turn, turn, turn. That's what Mani's grandmother wanted to tell him as he stood in front of her, now.
"Lots of lizards here" said Mani to his grandmother, watching two running after a shiny black bug on the ceiling. She giggled - from where she was sitting; it seemed to her that one was climbing right into Mani's head and replied, "Oh, yes," and sat at her writing desk" "Does your story have magic?"
he asked, innocently. His mother had warned him not to ask weird questions because he would get weird answers; but this wasn't weird, was it? "Of course," she said, scratching out a previous sentence she had written. "What kind?" asked Mani. "The only kind that exists," she said, rather grandly.
"And what is that?" Mani asked. She looked at him for a moment and then said,"When I was about your age, but taller, I went and looked down the Magic Eye once and found a dragonfairy."
"A dragonfairy" Mani's eyes widened. A part of him wondered if she was just making it up for his sake but that was fi ne, too. He wanted to know what a dragonfairy was. Who wouldn't?!
"A dragonfairy is a fairy who breathes fire. Dragonfairies are quick tempered creatures who have fits of goodwill. They're not popular though they have been documented, of course." "And you saw a dragonfairy?" "Of course, I saw her! I wouldn't say I did, if I didn't. "She rolled her eyes at him and shut her book. "So what - where did you fi nd her?" "The Magic Eye on the door." "Do you mean - the peephole?" "Call it what you like," she said to him, scratching her head. "And what did she want?" "Who-the dragon fairy? I can't tell you." "Why"" "Because the ask of a dragonfairy is never twice told."
Mani looked at his grandmother carefully. She was very serious, but there was also something a little odd about her. No, it wasn't just that her ears stuck out a little or that her hair was actually jet-black - it was her voice. It seemed to come from somewhere else." "I am taking a nap," she announced. "You watch the back of your head."As she left, Mani stared at her, trying to picture the dragonfairy and wondering what she meant. A lizard on the wall, tut-tutted.
