Dancing with Fairies: The Fairy Ring Writing Contest!

 

Born This Way

“I'm a goblin.”

I frowned. “Don't say that. I think you're good looking.”

Benny was average at best. But I liked his shaggy hair and too-big mouth.

He glanced around the cafeteria and leaned in close, making my heart go hummingbird fast. “I'm serious. I'm a goblin. You know I'm not lying.”

Thing was, I did know and it wasn't so shocking. Just this year, three fairies and an ogre had come out. Minnie Patterson and Delia Troy went so far as to go to school in fae form, even when the jocks threw sodas at their wings. I blinked stupidly. What was I supposed to say? Was he sad? It's not like I cared if he was a goblin.

“Come on.”

Bennie led me out of the cafeteria and into the janitor's closet. It was dark and I thought he was going to kiss me, when he turned the light on.

I shrieked.

He was two feet tall, his nose like a clown horn, his mouth much bigger. And his hair was everywhere.

“You hate me.” He had Bennie's voice.

He had Bennie's eyes too. They were bigger, but I could see his soul; sweet and funny.

I said, “Did you hang the principal's car on the flagpole?”

“It's my goblinness! I must make mischief!”

I crouched down next to him. “Is this why you didn't ask me to the dance?”

“Yeah.”

I kissed him. My heart fluttered. Yeah, it was Bennie. When I opened my eyes, he was human.

He grinned. “I should tell you,” he said, “I was raised by an evil sorcerer who kind of wants to take over the school and turn the freshmen into trolls.”

“It's okay. I hate my parents too.”

-fin-