Chameleon Magazine

When little Maisie overheard her father on the phone, she thought he said he was off to join the Fairy Society.

“Fairy Society?” she gasped, eyes wide. “Do they wear wings? Do they help poor people with magic?”

Her father chuckled, buttoning his jacket. “Sort of,” he said. “We talk about how to make life fairer.”

Maisie clapped her hands. “So you are fairies!”

Later, when she peeked into the town hall, she saw not wands and glitter, but grey suits, tepid tea, and pamphlets titled Gradual Reform and Social Planning for the 21st Century.

She frowned. “Where’s the magic?”

An elderly man coughed politely. “Change takes time, my dear. We don’t zap the world better — we nudge it.”

Maisie thought for a moment. “So you’re the slowest fairies in history?”

The man smiled. “Exactly. We’re the Fabian Society.”

And from that day on, Maisie believed not all fairies had wings — some just had committees.

Quote:

“Some spells are cast not with wands, but with patience.”When little Maisie overheard her father on the phone, she thought he said he was off to join the Fairy Society.

“Fairy Society?” she gasped, eyes wide. “Do they wear wings? Do they help poor people with magic?”

Her father chuckled, buttoning his jacket. “Sort of,” he said. “We talk about how to make life fairer.”

Maisie clapped her hands. “So you are fairies!”

Later, when she peeked into the town hall, she saw not wands and glitter, but grey suits, tepid tea, and pamphlets titled Gradual Reform and Social Planning for the 21st Century.

She frowned. “Where’s the magic?”

An elderly man coughed politely. “Change takes time, my dear. We don’t zap the world better — we nudge it.”

Maisie thought for a moment. “So you’re the slowest fairies in history?”

The man smiled. “Exactly. We’re the Fabian Society.”

And from that day on, Maisie believed not all fairies had wings — some just had committees.

“Some spells are cast not with wands, but with patience.”