Page 12 of Dreams Come True at the Fairytale Museu
‘We’ll see about that.’ I fold my arms and glare at him, and he looks like he’s about to fire something else at me, but instead, he backs down.
‘You know what, I feel like I’ve been whacked round the head by a humungous book of fairytales, so let’s agree to disagree. I’ll be upstairs, inmyoffice, going through your accounts to see where we can make some much-needed adjustments. If you continue to be opposed to change, that’s up to you. Your beloved museum can stay as it is for exactly six more months, so enjoy it while it lasts,orwe can work together to ensure many people get to enjoy it for much, much longer. The choice is yours.’
‘I’m not opposed to change!’ I shout after him as he disappears up the stairs. ‘I’m opposed to men who waltz in and think they can enforce change upon me!’
He doesn’t respond, which is probably a good thing, because I have a stone gargoyle fromThe Hunchback of Notre Dameand thwacking him round the head with it is unlikely to end well for either of us.
I’m trying to hold onto my rightful anger about the injustice of all this and not to think about the sense behind his words. Iknowhe’s not wrong, and I really, really didn’t want him to be right about anything, but moneyistight. The budget isalwaysoverstretched, and it’s extra upsetting when I have to spend more of it on replacing something that’s been damaged, lost, or stolen. I’m unsettled by the fact he’s been here for half a day and he’s already addressed some problems I’d been hiding from, and it feels like a bit of a reality check. Maybe it’s been a long time coming. The museumisfailing, and this might be the push I need to do something about it… while I still can.
3
‘Whois that insanely attractive man in your office?’
I groan, because there’s only one person Mickey can be referring to, and I was trying not to think aboutquitehow attractive he is.
‘Do not tell methatis the evil squirrel with no soul?’
‘Gerbil,’ I correct her. We’re in the Fairytale Homes hall and she’s helping me rebuild the Hansel and Gretel-style gingerbread house after a child has started dismantling it and, judging by the teethmarks, tested it for edibility too.
‘If we’re going down the animal comparisons route, there’s something much more vulpine that I’d use, because he is afox. A seriously hot Robin Hood-type fox. I thought you said he was horrible?’
‘Just because he’s nice looking doesn’t mean he’s not horrible.’
‘He’s quite Mark Darcy-ish, isn’t he?’ Mickey carries on like I haven’t spoken. ‘With the suity uptightness, and the tall, blue-eyed, dark-haired handsomeness.’
‘I doubt he even knows who Mark Darcy is. He doesn’t read fairytales, I can’t imagine he’d spare the time of day for a rom-com either.’
‘Even so, from what you’ve said, I was expecting a cross between Jim Carrey inHow the Grinch Stole Christmasand a Gremlin who’s eaten after midnight. Is he single?’
‘I have absolutely no idea, and even less interest in finding out.’ I nudge Mickey to hold a clay-gingerbread wall in place while I slot a brick back in. ‘And yes, presumably he is, because he’s not wearing a ring, and no one would be stupid enough to put up with him. He’s surgically attached to the Tablet of Gloom, and he’s a “no” guy, you know? All he says is “no”. No, no, no, no, no. Without thinking anything through or weighing up the merits, he just says no instantly. He can’t see the magic in anything.’
I try to ignore the prickle that I’m being a bit unfair when all Warren really did was spot problems I’ve been trying to ignore and be annoyingly sensible and blunter than I was ready for.
‘That’s a lot of information to have garnered when you only met him yesterday.’
‘And I would rather not have met himat all.’ I roll up a piece of air-drying clay and poke it into a hole between the gingerbread walls. It’s not the first time we’ve had to fix this house, and it undoubtedly won’t be the last. Usually I tell myself that I don’t mind, but everything Warren said yesterday has got to me, and I’m suddenly wondering why parents can’t keep a closer eye on their little darlings when they’re walking along the Yellow Brick Road that winds throughout this room between a selection of fairytale houses. Some are Lego models, some are garden sheds with added bits to make them into something special, and some are built entirely out of foam bricks and clay, like this one. ‘You haven’t seen the other ruby slipper, have you? It’s gone missing from the witch’s legs under the Oz house. Again.’
Mickey shakes her head as she glues the gingerbread chimney back on. ‘Have you told him about the wedding?’
I stop what I’m doing long enough to give her a disbelieving look. ‘Why, on this green and verdant earth, would I tell him about the wedding?’
‘Because you need a date for it and he’sgorgeous?’
‘He’s also trying to destroy my business, enforce his opinions on me, and will undoubtedly end up evicting me anyway, after months of misery for both of us. He’s cynical and uptight and his entire existence revolves around business. He doesn’t understand what I’m trying to do here.’
‘Oooh, this could be just likePocahontas! He could be your very own John Smith! You know, two different people from two different worlds, learning the ways of each other’s lives and to respect each other’s beliefs…’
‘Well, John Smith does get shot at the end, I could get behind that aspect…’
‘I knew this place was called Colours of the Wind for a reason!’
‘It’s called Colours of the Wind because I thought it was a good way of representing all the different colours and flavours of the fairytale world. It’s supposed to suggest there’s something for everyone.’
She squeaks and pulls her phone out. ‘I’m going to google him.’
‘Please don’t.’ I glue a line of clay gumdrops back on the roof, but she continues ignoring me. Even though she’s loved-up with Ren herself, the appearance of an attractive man inmyvicinity seems to have eroded either her common sense or her eardrums, because it feels like she hasn’t heard a word I’ve said.
I hold the gumdrops in place for the glue to dry while scouting around the room for the missing sparkly red shoe. We’ve got the pastel-coloured house fromUpwith a multitude of colourful balloons coming out of the chimney. Behind a curtain of green vines, there’s Rapunzel’s hidden tower, and a small version of Dorothy’s house fromThe Wizard of Oz, complete with the Wicked Witch of the East’s legs – the famous black-and-white-striped stockings and the ruby slippers on the feet – ready for anyone who wants to try them on and click their heels together three times. It would be nice if they put them back on the witch’s feet afterwards though.
