"By evening, when the winds rose yet again, the power began to stutter at half-strength, and the sirens to fail."

Two years ago, we sat through a twelve-hour windstorm while over twenty trees on our property fell down all around us. We were cold and hungry and very tired and didn't end up having power for almost a week. So when I started reading this book about a family trying to cope during a storm, I could relate to their fear and stress. In What-the-Dickens by Gregory Maguire, three children and their twenty-one year old cousin, Gage, pass the time during a strong storm with a story.

Gage tells the children the story of a orphaned skibbereen or as we know them, a tooth fairy, named What-the-Dickens. He travels, learns the hard truths of life and finally meets another of his kind, Pepper. She takes him back to her colony and he tries to discover his purpose in life. He finds his unique talents and helps other skibberee to make the most of their lives as well.

We have another windy front headed our way this weekend and I'm hoping that it turns out to be minor. But if it isn't, I just might try to get through it this time with a story (and some JiffyPop).

Hoping for a silent night,
K


Buy What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy on Amazon or find it at your local library.