The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making - Catherynne M. Valente [94]
“It’s almost time,” said the Green Wind gently. The wine-colored sand was nearly spent.
“I understand now,” September said ruefully.
“What?” said Saturday.
“What the sign meant. To lose your heart. When I go home I shall leave mine here, and I don’t think I shall ever have it back.”
“I will keep it safe for you,” Saturday whispered, barely brave enough to say it.
“Will you see the witch Goodbye gets her Spoon, Green?”
“Of course, my lambswool.”
“And you’ll show Gleam Pandemonium, and the sea, and the highwheels, and all sorts of things, Ell? Like she wanted, to see the world.”
The Wyverary laughed. “If the Library gives me weekend liberty, I shall!”
The orange lantern bounced and shone.
September turned to Saturday.
“Did you see her?” the Marid said nervously, looking at her with great dark eyes. “Our daughter. Standing on the Gear. Did you see her?”
“What?” said September--and then she winked out, like someone blowing out a candle, and all the field was still.
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Chapter XXII: Ravished Means You Cannot Stay
In Which September Returns Home
Evening was just beginning to peep through the windows of September’s little house, glowing blue and rose. September found herself at the kitchen sink, with her hands deep in soapy water that had long gone cold, a pink and yellow teacup still clutched in her hand. Behind her, a small, amiable dog yapped away at nothing. September looked down--her lonely mary jane, who had missed all the adventures, lay cast off and forgotten on the parquet floor. Her feet were bare.
“Mama won’t be home yet!” she said suddenly. “Oh, how glad I shall be to see her!”
September put on a kettle of tea for her mother, and set out a clean little plate with an orange on it, and opened all the windows to let fresh air in. She even let the small dog kiss her nose. September got a blanket out of the closet and curled up in her father’s big, threadbare armchair just by the door, so the first thing her mother saw when she came home would be her girl, safe and sound. Besides, September felt as though she could sleep for a century. She pulled the woolen blanket up around her chin as the dog chewed its own tail at the foot of the chair.
“I wonder what did happen to the fairies after all?” She said to the dog, who wagged his tail, pleased to be paid attention to. “When I get back, that will be the first thing I shall ask Ell about! After all, Fairy begins with F! And when spring comes again, I shall be sure to leave mother a note and a nice glass of milk.”
September drifted off to sleep in her couch, her long hair wrapped around her. When her mother came home from a long shift at the factory, she smiled and bundled her girl off to bed, snug and whole and warm.
She didn't notice. Of course she didn’t. Who would, after a long graveyard shift and with her back so sore? A mother cannot see every little thing, and glad we may be that she could not, as it would have caused a great deal of trouble September would never have been able to explain. All stories must end so, with the next tale winking out of the corners of the last pages, promising more, promising moonlight and dancing and revels, if only you will come back, when spring comes again.
For when she lifted her daughter up out of the threadbare couch, September cast no shadow at all.
Table of Contents
Chapter I: Exeunt, on a Leopard
Chapter II: The Closet Between Worlds
Chapter III: Hello, Goodbye, and Manythanks
Chapter IV: The Wyverary
Chapter V: The House Without Warning
Chapter VI: Shadows In The Water
Chapter VII: Fairy Reels
Chapter VIII: An Audience with the Marquess
Chapter IX: Saturday’s Story
Chapter X: The Great Velocipede Migration
Chapter XI: The Satrap of Autumn
Chapter XII: Thy Mother’s Sword
Chapter XIII: Autumn Is the Kingdom Where Everything Changes
Chapter XIV: In a Ship of Her Own Making
Chapter XV: The Island of the Nasnas
Chapter XVI: Until We Stop
Chapter XVII: One Hundred Years Old
Chapter XVIII: The Lonely Gaol
Chapter XIX: Clocks
Chapter XX: Saturday’s Wish
Chapter XXI: Did You