Chapter 28
“Along time ago, before this town was here, a huge forest stood in its place,” began Comfort.
“In that forest, there was a poor woodcutter who lived next to a rich woodcutter.
The rich woodcutter could afford anything he wanted, but he never shared with the poor woodcutter.
The rich woodcutter was a selfish, proud, and greedy man.
In contrast, the poor woodcutter was humble and honest and had to work hard all day just to provide enough for his family to eat.
They never had much, but they had each other, and that always seemed to be enough.
“One day, the poor woodcutter was out chopping wood and heard a tiny cry for help. He searched all around until he found a small fairy, trapped beneath a stone. ‘Help me, good man!’ the fairy cried, ‘And I will grant you any wish you want!’
“Of course the poor, honest woodcutter freed the fairy because that was the kind of man he was.
When the fairy asked what he would wish for, he said he had everything he wanted—a roof over his head, enough food to eat, and a wife who loved him.
The fairy saw that he had a good heart and was so moved that she put a spell on a nearby tree.
The fairy told the poor woodcutter that the tree would always grant any person who was honest and good the righteous desires of their hearts, if they would but put forth their hand to ask.
“The fairy disappeared, and the poor woodcutter wondered if what the fairy said was true. He wished for a new ax, as his own had grown old and dull. He reached into the tree and pulled out an axe made of solid gold.
“He rushed into town and sold the axe for a great deal of money.
He bought new clothes for himself and his wife, plenty of good food, and a new shiny steel axe.
Then he brought the rest of the money home to his wife, and they celebrated their good fortune.
From then on, any time that he or his wife, who was just as good as he was, wanted for anything, they would visit the tree and pull out whatever it was that they wanted, always offering gratitude to the good fairy who had given them such riches.
“Now, the rich, greedy woodcutter could hardly fail to notice his neighbor’s good fortune.
And instead of being glad for the honest old man and his wife, this wicked woodcutter wanted only to have their riches for himself.
So, he went to his neighbor and pretended to be glad for their newfound wealth, and asked how it was that their luck had turned at last.
“The honest woodcutter, who suspected nothing, told his neighbor all about the tree and how to get whatever he wanted by simply reaching his hand into the trunk to retrieve it.
The rich woodcutter set off immediately, determined to procure riches even greater than his honest neighbor.
He found the tree exactly where the old man had described, and reached out his hand, wishing to have more money than his neighbor.
“The honest woodcutter had been told about the spell that would give blessings to those who were good and honest, but unbeknownst to him, the fairy had also put a companion curse on the tree. She enchanted it so that whoever would stretch forth their hand but was wicked at heart and undeserving, would find not treasure, but their doom. And so, instead of the fabulous wealth he was expecting, the selfish woodcutter found only a deadly snake, which struck immediately and then slithered away as the man died a slow and painful death.”
Comfort straightened and clapped her hands together. “And that is why, to this day, the townsfolk say that the Fairy Godmother Tree rewards the good and punishes the wicked.”
“That sounds like a story Father would’ve loved telling,” I said. I could imagine Father in my mind’s eye, acting out the story, imitating the facial expressions for the honest and hardworking woodcutter, and the greedy, self-centered woodcutter.
Comfort gave me a small smile. “I thought so too.”
“I think it’s a good story,” Cynthia said. Her voice startled me—I’d almost forgotten she was there. For a moment it had felt like the old days: just Mother, Father, Comfort, and me. Cynthia’s presence snapped me back to reality. “People should be rewarded for good deeds and punished for bad.”
Comfort’s head swiveled, sharp as a hawk. “That’s a bold statement, coming from you after yesterday.”
Cynthia’s face crumpled.
“Comfort!” I said sharply. Just when Cynthia and I had managed to take the first steps toward amending our relationship, Comfort had come along and ruined it.
“Forget I said anything,” Cynthia said haughtily, speeding up to walk beside Algernon.
I glared at my sister. “Really? Was that necessary?”
“She deserved it,” Comfort snapped, her voice hard. There was no pity in her voice. “Don’t you remember what she said to you?”
“I won’t forget in a hurry.” The memory still stung. “But give her a break. Our parents getting married just turned her whole life upside down and admit it—that makeup job I did yesterday was not my best work.”
Comfort’s lips twitched. “Not your best work? Truly, it was a disaster.”
“A complete disaster,” I agreed, grinning despite myself. “I scared myself looking into the mirror.”
“She shouldn’t have said that, no matter what someone looks like, though.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“What matters most is the type of person they are and whether they are kind and forgiving, like you.”
I nudged her. “Like in the enchanted tree story? Does that make me the poor, honest woodcutter?”
“Exactly,” she said with wicked gleam in her eye. “And Cynthia is the—”
“No, she isn’t,” I cut her off before she could deliver the obvious punchline. “Besides, if we’re nice enough to her, maybe she’ll make us that flaming pudding you told me about. I wouldn’t say no to that.”