The Girl Who Danced With Fairies story by Roger Crooks

The Girl who Danced with Fairies art by Jeff Miller

 

As Samantha Jenkins lay in bed she would nightly hear footsteps heavily make their way down the hall and stop at her bedroom door. Samantha would hold her teddy bear tightly and close her eyes as the door slowly creaked open. Not wanting to see the person at her door she remembered that her special friends would also visit about this same time every night.

When she reopened her eyes, a light would begin to fill the room. At first one little fairy would appear and then a second. Before long hundreds were buzzing about the room making for an unbelievable sight. The fairies loved Samantha and would scoop her up and carry her around the room. The fairies easily fit in her small hand so it took hundreds of them to pick her up. They laughed and smiled as they gave her sensations that few children get, the gift of flight.

Hefting her body through the air the fairies took Samantha away from her room to a dark and magical forest each night. Samantha tightly held on to her teddy bear as the fairies lowered her to a special illuminated place in the forest. The towering trees stood like sentinels, protecting her special place from the darkness that enveloped the wood. Most of the fairies gathered at a central spot where Samantha was fixated on the brightness and beauty of their light. Samantha would wake the next morning and there was no evidence of the fairies, they were very sneaky Samantha would think.

Samantha told everyone she knew about the fairies and how she could fly with their help and about the strange and magical forest she visited. No one believed her and her claims were dismissed by most adults. Teachers and other adults believed Samantha was simply a child with a very active and vivid imagination.

Samantha’s stories exhausted her teacher who was also tired of Samantha drawing the fairies on her desk, in her books, and on her homework. The teacher arranged for Samantha to see the school guidance counselor about her ridiculous fascination and preoccupation with fairies.

Ms. Rugelli, the counselor at Samantha’s school, was different than other adults Samantha had talked too. Ms. Rugelli actually believed her about the fairies and would not only listen but encouraged Samantha to describe them! They spent a lot of time together and Ms. Rugelli would allow Samantha to use her crayons and art supplies to draw detailed pictures of the fairies and the special forest.

One year later found Samantha in the back of the car of social worker, Hendrix Hughes. Mr. Hughes had gotten to know Samantha well over the past few weeks since being introduced by Ms. Rugelli. They were on the way to a place called a foster home. Samantha was confused at why she couldn’t just go stay with Ms. Rugelli or Mr. Hughes but was okay with where ever they went.

The foster home was much different from her regular home. Samantha did not say much the first evening at the home and was very shy. They seemed like nice people and Samantha was enjoying playing with the family dog. When she went to bed she waited for the door to open or for the fairies to come. The door never opened and the fairies never came, and she was very, very happy.

Merry Crooks Christmas 2011

Grant (age 7) is becoming a master bowman and can be seen with a bow and quiver of arrows running around our house. Grant wants a Nerf sword and shield for Christmas. Favorite food: Sushi. Favorite football team: Packers

Hunter (age 10) attended his first scout winter campout and proved his genius by bringing two sleeping bags and using one inside the other. Hunter only has two items on his Christmas wish list, a sling shot and exotic fruit (mango and coconut) for Christmas (hopefully not to be used together). Hunter continues to be an easy to please fellow. Favorite food: Vegetable Casserole. Favorite football team: Colts

McKay (age 12) continues his love for soccer and can be seen on most afternoons shooting goals in the front yard. McKay is a Zelda freak. McKay is hoping for Zelda Skyward Sword for Christmas and has also asked for lemonade and orange juice. Favorite food: Sushi. Favorite football team: Ravens

Taylor (age 13) started middle school this year and participates in the drama club (personally I think she should be captain of that club). Taylor is infatuated with all things Psych and enjoys bullying boys on the soccer field. Taylor has her own Youtube Channel, a comedy fest called “Taylarious”. Taylor wants a fish tank for Christmas as well as a cell phone (sorry but Santa isn’t bringing either one). Taylor also wants a game called Perplexus and since it doesn’t require monthly fees nor monthly cleanings, she may actually get it. Favorite food: Jack in the Box Tacos (with her dad). Favorite football team: Steelers

Benson (age 14) is enjoying being at Challenger High School/Early College. As a freshman he played on the varsity soccer team and was part of a historic perfect season…perfect meaning that they lost every game! He played hard and had a great time. Benson has asked mostly for books and a few Xbox games for Christmas. Favorite food: Pizza. Favorite football team: Steelers

Jolene (age eternally young) continues employment at Sorenson Communications. Jolene sought RID Certification and earned her NIC Master Certification this year. Jolene has asked for a skinny spatula for Christmas. Santa will have to stop by Spatula City on his way from the North Pole. Favorite food: Jolene said it is stupid that I’m putting favorite food in a Christmas letter and wouldn’t tell me hers…I think her favorite is popcorn and sushi but not together. Favorite football team: Steelers

Roger (age feeling older by the day) has enjoyed Words with Friends and will play about anyone but his brother-in-law Jon, play him and you’ll know why. I was watching Youtube videos of a master archer and posed the question to McKay about how awesome it would be to be the best in the world at something. McKay responded, “You can be the best dad in the world!” I strive for that every day.
Favorite Food: Most. Favorite football team: Packers and Steelers

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Aquarium Quirkiness

I overheard this conversation while at Fort Fisher aquarium this summer. I thought it would be a cute comic so I “hired” my daughter to do the art work for me.

A little marriage humor

Mrs. Crooks is crazy about Twilight and I thought her passion would make for a funny marriage comic.

Family therapist: A new kind of hero!

I have always collected autographs and had the great luck to meet quite a few celebrities and other “famous people” but recently had an opportunity to mingle with another kind of hero.  Perhaps it’s a bit strange to become a fan of other “professionals” but it is what it is.

When I was a student at Appalachian State I missed a rare opportunity to attend a training session with renowned family therapist, Dr. John T. Edwards. When I learned he was hosting another training, I had to attend. His well known “blue book” has been a staple of my work with children and families and I reference it over any and all other books. I keep my copy in my car and read and refresh myself at those times I’m waiting for one of my kids after school or during a sports practice. I have introduced many of his tactics and techniques in my work but had only read his book, never been trained in person. Attending the training was magical for me.  It was like getting hitting tips from Cal Ripken Jr. or learning to throw a football from Peyton Manning, Dr. Edwards is a master.  The training was everything I hoped for and more.  I told one of my colleagues that meeting Dr. Edwards was more rewarding than meeting any ball player or celebrity.  Sure that’s a bit odd but a legend is a legend whether it be on a field or in a classroom!

Roger Crooks with Dr. John Edwards

Fortunate Cookies short fiction by Roger Crooks

Fortunate Cookies
Roger Crooks

My wife and I often eat at Vu’s Sushi Bar. Vu’s has an amazing selection and you always leave feeling satisfied. Our teacher salaries don’t leave a lot extra but we manage to splurge about once a week at Vu’s. Our little ritual at the end of each meal is to take the fortune cookie that is placed closest to us and we take turns reading our fortunes. We usually end up giggling together and on occasion we feel like some major insight or wisdom was shared with us. Regardless of silly or serious fortunes, we love reading them almost as much as eating the sushi.

It was a particularly chilly evening when we concluded another fantastic meal and Vu himself brought our bill to the table along with the standard fortune cookies. He placed them down as usual and returned to his work.

My wife, Savannah, opened her fortune cookie first and read, “An upcoming opportunity for vacation should not be passed.” Savannah smiled and stated, “Well Mr. Miller, it appears we must get ready to take a trip.”

I laughed; she is always so cute when she gives that humorous smile. “Okay, my turn”, I stated to her as I opened the cellophane wrapped cookie. As I snapped the cookie, the paper inside looked very different than usual, almost like some ancient parchment. I nervously chuckled and read the writing to myself.

“Well, what does it say?” Savannah asked with a wide smile.

I answered, “Well it says, “Tonight only you can wish for the impossible and it will come true””. We shared some laughs, paid the bill, and headed home.

I had almost forgot about the fortune cookie when Savannah questioned, “Hey Micah, why don’t you wish for some snow so we can get snowed in and watch movies tonight?”

I replied in a mocking, jovial tone, “Sure thing, O’ fortune cookie gods I implore thee to grant my wish, let it snow all night!” Savannah and I laughed but even before we stopped laughing, the snow started falling. There was an eerie silence until I turned on the windshield wipers not that they were particularly useful as the powdery snow floated through the air, not heavy or wet enough to land on the moving car. “Wow, what a wild coincidence,” I stated as I became a little more serious.

“Incredible, now wish that I was a few dress sizes smaller,” Savannah teasingly requested.

I laughed and stated instead, “I wish a James Taylor song is playing on the radio.” Savannah hurried to turn on the radio and it was instead a Natalie Merchant song. “Luck’s over,” I stated.

Savannah fiddled with the radio dial and within seconds she found another station playing James Taylor. “Wicked cool,” she giggled.

I then sarcastically replied, “Wicked, cool coincidence is more like it.”

As we pulled into the driveway of our home, I got out of the car and started walking through the snowy air. I mumbled to myself, “I wish I had a suitable diamond ring that would make Savannah the envy of her friends. I wish it to be under her pillow.” We went in the house and as Savannah went to put away our take home box of leftover, I went to the bedroom to once and for all put this ridiculous fortune cookie hoax to rest. The bed was still perfectly made as Savannah always kept it. I walked to her side of the bed and gently pulled back her pillow. I was already convinced that there would be nothing but the snow and James Taylor wishes came true so why not at least look under her pillow? Much to my surprise there was a beautifully wrapped jewelry box. I opened it and a gorgeous diamond ring that must have cost a year’s worth of my salary was nestled inside. I tried to disengage my rational mind from the probability of getting wishes. I then decided that even though I didn’t understand the magic of what was happening, I was just going to go for it and enjoy the night.

“Savannah, I have something for you,” I stated as I got down on my knee, and opened the box for her. I had gotten on my knee “old fashion” style when I originally proposed to her. Once again I felt a little nervous, not knowing why.

“Micah…how?” she questioned as tears came down her flushed cheeks. The ring fit her perfectly and glistened on her perfect hands. I felt so good knowing she could rid herself from that humble ring I originally bought her. She had never complained about that first ring but I knew it was small and she deserved better.

Savannah wrapped her arms around me in a tight, loving embrace. Not one to let a precious moment slip away I continued, “I have something else for you in the closet, go look.” As she went to open the closet I once again made a wish. I wished for sexy lingerie that we could both enjoy, gift wrapped in a fine box.

Savannah opened the package and was stunned with the beauty and craftsmanship of the sexiest lingerie I had ever seen. The fabric was so perfectly smooth with elaborate decorations, fitting her every curve to perfection. We enjoyed an evening of passion like we had never enjoyed before.

Later that night as I was falling asleep with her in my arms I thought about what wish I could make that could really bring us the most happiness. As I dozed off I recall saying, “I wish I hadn’t went into teaching but had went for a higher paying career where we could have all the money we need and more.”

The next morning I awoke in a different house, in a different city. I was so disoriented that I about fainted. Savannah was gone. I looked on my night table and spotted a bank summary, my bank summary. I was filthy rich. The direct deposit information was listed from my employer, I worked for Google!

In the days following I tracked down where Savannah was in this new future. Unfortunately my wish for a big money job erased much of my past. Because I never went to Appalachian State University to get a teaching degree, Savannah and I had never met in college. I was grief stricken when I learned that Savannah had died in a weather related automobile accident years earlier on a trip back home from App State. I remembered back to when she was going to originally make that trip, I had asked her to stay and to marry me. She had stayed with me then but in this new past, she braved the icy roads alone and perished. My greed caused me to lose my best friend and lover.

I eat at Vu’s several times a week now and have ever since I moved back into town. I hope and pray that someday I’ll come across another fantastic fortune cookie so I can wish my life back to what it was, so I can have my precious Savannah back. Once I even bought an entire case of fortune cookies from Vu. I took them home and cracked open every single one, yet nothing but generic fortunes on plain fortune cookie paper. Today I’m here eating Savannah’s favorite sushi plate and thinking about her.

In a world of imperfection Savannah was the closest thing to perfect that I had ever met. Vu brings me my bill and my lone fortune. I have an aching pain as I see the single fortune cookie, knowing there should be two cookies for me and my lovely wife. I fight away tears as I think of my greed, my desire for money. I open my fortune and it reads, “Embrace those you love and don’t let them slip away.” I start to weep, pay my bill, and drive to my lonely and quiet home.

Taylor wins bookmark design contest for Library!

Taylor amazes me.  She has more talent in her pinky than I have in my entire body!  Taylor has won many art contests and once again won 1st place in the Hickory Library bookmark design contest.  Her art work will be distributed on bookmarks at Patrick Beaver and Ridgeview libraries and are free to all library patrons so stop by and grab one.

In addition to family we were thrilled to have Taylor’s teacher, Mrs. Parker, join us for the awards ceremony.  Below is the picture of the bookmark, my photo does not do it justice.  Where the glare is, Taylor placed a boy reading a book.  She represented three children from different continents and they were reading books about each others continent.  Taylor has a brilliant mind…comes from her mother I guess…

Taylor's winning bookmark...sorry about the glare from my camera.

Taylor and her 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Parker

Strange art work hanging in the boys room…

Jolene has hung several of our kids art in the hall leading to the boys room.  The other day as I walked in their room I had to take a double take at the arrangement.  Here is a picture of what I saw…and yes that is a Kentucky Fried Chicken picture/ad!??!  I still haven’t asked who hung this up but I will have a good laugh when I do.  You never know what you’ll see going into their room!

Notice the top middle picture???

My plea for help…

My dearest Jolene,

I tried very hard to be your personal plumber but after several lengthy attempts I must admit failure.  Today I cut my hand and both our bathroom as well as the kids are leaking…WORSE!!!  I’ll stick with social work from now on and leave the plumbing for the plumbers.  Would you be so kind to call the plumber and tell them your husband is an ass and let them know I stripped the “seats”.  I’ll pay for my incompetence just send me the bill.

Love  

Roger

Working at Grandma’s

This past Saturday my dad invited his sons and grandsons to come till up my grandmothers front yard so we could plant new grass seed and cover it with hay.  I awoke and although the other kids had soccer, Grant volunteered to be the “big man” and come work with me.  It was a little chilly but perfect for working. 

My dad and Jason had a fire built, burning brush and fallen limbs.  It took some time to till, rake, plant, fertilize, and cover the yard wih hay, especially with the extended breaks we took to stand around and talk.  I’m looking forward to seeing what a great stand of grass she will have.

Mama and her favorite grandsons! They are her favorite because they work hard for her!!!

 

The Great Grandsons hard at work!