“Let’s see if we can find where the fairies live,” said Jacquitta.
“I don’t believe in fairies,” said Vinny.
“Oh, but they’re real,” said Jacquitta wanting to protect little Patience from the reality of an imagination-derelict world. “They live in little mushroom villages. They are usually kind and lovely, but sometimes, if you are mean to them, they can get annoyed and then horrible things can happen.”
“It’s not true,” said Vinny. “My friend said that his mother told him that fairies were made up.”
“I’m sure they live around here,” said Jacquitta. “Oh look children! There’s a mushroom ring! It’s a fairies’ village!”
“It’s not a fairies’ village,” said Vinny. “It’s a pile of poisonous mushrooms.”
Vinny kicked the mushrooms with his foot. He smashed them to smithereens. “See,” he said, “no fairies.”
Little Patience burst into tears. “You’ve hurt the fairies and broken their houses,” she said.
“You are a naughty, naughty boy,” said Jacquitta.
The next morning Vinny woke up with a club foot.
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