Friends of the Fairies Day 4

Birds and Deer and Snakes – Oh my!

It may be sweltering outside but we stayed cool at the park with these cool, fun kids!

We had a huge freeze dance competition! Congrats to our winners!

Dossledorf left us an interesting note today – it was all about the snakes Reed and Penner saw on their way to Hannalonkawich.

Dear Friends,

Well, the deer were just doe-eyed last night! They were just so happy to have been introduced to you and they feel SO special that each of you took home a deer of your own. Thank you for being gentle and kind to our new friends.

Well! I also have OTHER news!

Salinthia is just so embarrassed because she thought YESTERDAY was the day she was going to introduce you to Tinner. She forgot we discussed it was going to be deer day.

That is why Tinner was waiting for you on the path!

Oh jeez!

Anywho, Salinthia has written you her own note, but wanted to put it by the wishing well for you. JFCs and old friends… can you help lead the kids to the jungle wishing well?

Thanks, D.

(Just to keep you up to speed, Salinthia is our camper’s Bo-violet’s fairy. We found out earlier this week that her best friend is a snake! )

We had a big discussion about snakes and snake safety because although snakes are friends with the fairies they are still very private and shy. We need to know what to do if we happen to see one and how to stay safe!

After the note, we headed to the jungle wishing well – thank goodness it was shady in there! And so wild! And buzzing with fairy magic!

When we got to the well, there were 2 notes!!

Dear Friends,

I am so sorry about the mix up. I told Tinner to go to the path to introduce himself to you yesterday – no wonder we startled you! You weren’t even supposed to meet him yet!

Now Tinner is just so humiliated and shy. He is already so sensitive because there are so many people who fear snakes. Now he is too embarrassed to come back out.

Would you do me a favor and make a wish for all the snakes here at the wishing well? Would you please wish for the safety of Tinner and all our slithery pals? They are just so misunderstood.

Know that even though they can look a bit mysterious, they really are kind. Keep your distance though – you never want to surprise a snake… if you see one, please whisper kind words and leave them alone. They are very private.

Thank you for your help. When you return to basecamp I have asked Dossledorf to leave you a surprise!

With love,

Salinthia

Then there was another note just for Bo-Violet:

Dear Bo-Violet,

I hope you don’t mind if I sent you a private note.

I am hoping, dear friend, if you would assist me in your own project. While the others are doing a snake craft, I was wondering if you would work on creating a story about Tinner. Tinner really is kind and such a good friend. He desperately wants people not to be afraid of him, but he is too private and too shy to introduce himself.

We thought if perhaps you could write a story about him, and have a beautiful canvas picture to go with it, the kids at your camp would be less afraid of snakes… and more accepting of him and his reptilian ways.

Will you help us?

Love,

Salinthia.

Of course Bo-Violet was very gracious and accepted her own special project. She did an excellent job of painting and writing the story. Here it is!

Tinner the Snake

Once upon a time, there was a snake named Tinner. He lived in Griffith Park. He had a fairy friend named Salinthia. Like all snakes, he is very private and has many animal friends. He loves to dance and sing in snake language.

One day, Salinthia told Tinner to meet with another snake on the path, so they could meet her human friends. Tinner was very excited to meet new friends. So he waited and waited and danced with his friend snake.

But soon some people came by in sapphire blue shirts but instead of being a whole group, and instead of kids, there were two adults. The adults were pressing buttons on things they called “cameras” and “phones”. The adults seemed a bit afraid. Then they went away. Soon Tinner heard kids’ voices but instead of talking about snakes, like Salinthia said they would be… they were talking about deer!

“Oh No!” thought Tinner. “Salinthina must have been wrong!” He was very embarrassed and went to find Salinthia. He found her at the wishing well. He told her the humans had not come to see him,

“Oh No! I’m sorry, Tinner. I forgot today is the day we introduce them to deer!” said Salinthia.

“Oh” Tinner said sadly.

Salinithia asked, “Are you sad?”

“Yes, I am very embarrassed”

“Why don’t I write the humans a note to tell them you are embarrassed. Then I can ask Dossledorf to tell them tomorrow will be snake day?”

Tinner said “ok”

“I have an idea. How about we ask my human to do a special project and write a story about you for her human group. Then they will not be afraid of you”

Tinner says again, “OK But I don’t want them to see me”

The next day, Tinner and Salinthia went to the wishing well again. After a little while the group came and THIS time they were talking about Salinthia and snakes. They read both of the notes Salinithia had written and Tinner was very happy. The group seemed very excited to learn about Tinner and they were sad Tinner was embarrassed.

That made Tinner very happy. Later, he and Salinthia went to see Salinthia’s human write the story. He thought it was a good story and was excited they thought of that idea.

The End

While Bo was working on her project, the campers worked on their surprise from Salinthia – snakes! They look fantastic!