Everyone knows fairies can't fly 2/9

As he got nearer he could see a sailor at the top of the mast working on the rigging. He appeared too tall to be a goblin and he thought he recognised Fern Marigold Knott, the fairy that Jennifer Jane had befriended. She had done the family a favour in the past, which Dave had repaid by buying her a small sailing dinghy so that she could go cruising on her holidays.

As he flapped closer and closer, he was sure that he was correct, she was a very good rigger and was often in demand amongst the larger ships because she was a fairy, so she was able to work at heights without the need for a safety harness.

He flapped up just behind her. “Hello Fern,” he said, “What are you working on today?”

Fern turned round in astonishment as she recognised Dave flapping away industriously at the same height as herself. She lost her balance and fell rapidly towards the deck before opening her wings to glide down to a soft landing on the quayside.

“I’m ever so sorry; I didn’t mean to startle you!”

“How on earth did you manage to get up there?” Fern gasped, as Dave landed beside her, “especially with those horrible looking things strapped to you!”

She looked him up and down critically. “If it’s not a rude question, would you mind telling me how much you weigh?”

“About one hundred and seventy pounds!”

Fern seemed rather puzzled and started counting on her fingers.

“Just over twelve stone,” said Dave with a grin.

Fern looked carefully at his wings, then began muttering partly to herself and partly to Dave.

“I’m about the same size as you, which is large for a fairy. I have quite well developed muscles specially adapted for flying and I only weigh about six stone because my bones are lighter than yours, but I can only glide a little way if I happen to fall off somewhere high enough. I don’t wish to be rude,” she continued more loudly, “but those wings don’t appear to be anything like as large as mine. They don’t fold up properly because there’s no joint in the middle, not only that but the whole construction seems very heavy! There’s no way you can possibly fly using them, yet you were definitely up there a moment ago.”

She walked round behind Dave studying the fastenings round his waist, then suddenly grabbed him by the elbows and threw him up in the air. Dave flapped just in time and managed to break his fall.

“I’m sorry,” said Fern, “I only meant to lift you to check your weight, but you’re so light you went right up in the air by accident. There’s no way you’re twelve stone, it felt more like twelve pounds to me!”

Dave explained that he didn’t really know his flying weight; he just kept twiddling until it felt right. Fern stood still for a moment, thinking hard.

“The witches must have taught you a spell to make yourself light enough to fly!” she said eventually, “I don’t suppose you could teach me to make myself lighter as well?” she added wistfully.

“It’s very simple once you know how. Just pat yourself on the head and twiddle your thumb. One way makes you lighter; the opposite rotation makes you heavier again!”

He demonstrated the spell, then watched as Fern made herself lighter. She unfolded her wings again and took a tentative stroke. Her feet immediately left the ground and she continued to flap until she’d gained a height of fifty feet or so. She glided around for a while, trying out various wing movements, her speed and agility increasing with every stroke of her wings