Clover awoke to golden rays of sunshine streaming in through her windows, casting a warm glow across her room. Her skin tingled with an unfamiliar energy, a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Then her eyes fell on a delicate wood wand attached to the end of a thin branch that had grown out of the wall during the night.

She detached the wand from the branch, her fingers tracing the delicate carvings etched into the polished willow wood. It's a real magic wand. Holding the wand, the reality hit her, and a flutter of uncertainty stirred in her stomach. I'm a fairy godmother.

A trail of sparkling motes filled the air as she waved the wand around. The sight was both enchanting and mesmerizing. She tapped the tip on a few items around her hut, but nothing happened.

Hmm, it doesn't work by touching things. Maybe I have to say something, like for a spell.

She chewed her lip. Noticing a dirty dish on the table, she said, "I wish that plate was clean." Her heart fluttered with anticipation as she focused on the plate.

The wand vibrated in her hand, its tip pulsating with a soft yellow radiance like a captured firefly. Motes raced to the plate and formed a small cloud over it. In the blink of an eye, the plate was clean. The motes faded away, and the wand stopped vibrating.

Hushed voices filled with a mix of excitement and uncertainty drifted in through the open window. Clover snuck to the window and peered outside to see a small crowd. Her neighbors and friends waited expectantly, sharing their chore-ending wishes with each other. Determined not to let their selfish desires dampen her spirits, Clover resolved to prove herself.

She hurried to dress, drew a deep breath, and stepped outside, wand in hand.

"Clover!" Little Timmy squealed, holding out his beloved stuffed bear, eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Can you use your magic to fix Teddy's ripped arm?"

"Let me see what I can do." Silence descended upon the crowd as she waved her wand over the bear and said, "Repair this bear."

Palpable anticipation filled the air as she focused on the bear.

Nothing happened and the crowd fell silent, all eyes on her.

She replayed the actions in her mind that she used with the dinner plate earlier and tried again.

The wand remained inert.

She cleared her tight throat. "It worked earlier. Maybe it needs a minute to recharge."

A woman's voice said, "Timmy, say it as a wish."

Timmy looked at Clover. His eyes showed a mix of hope against concern she would fail again. "I wish my teddy bear was like new."

The wand vibrated again as she tapped the stuffed bear. A thin stream of motes sparkled around the bear. It was pristine and new. Then, before everyone's eyes, the fixes came undone. The seam split, and the arm swung loose again.

Timmy's face fell.

Clover's heart ached as she saw the disappointment in his eyes. "I'm sorry, dear. I'm still learning."

Other villagers called out their own wishes. Clover granted a few small wishes - tarnished pots and pans made shiny again, chipped crockery repaired. Small wishes that could have easily been accomplished with manual labor. The more elaborate wishes she granted, like fixing a broken mantle clock missing some gears and springs, were temporary. More than once, she failed to meet the expectations of the crowd and herself.

The villagers offered polite smiles and gave her half-hearted encouragement, but their voices betrayed the disappointment. "You'll get it. Just takes practice is all." One by one, they drifted away, back to their daily lives.

She watched them go; wand heavy in her hand. She had much to learn before she could make them happy.

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Over the following week, as Lily had predicted, Clover worked hard to become better at granting wishes. As her abilities improved, the villagers found new ways to push the limits of her skill.

* * *

The MacKay family raised the chickens whose eggs Clover supplied to the baker. When she went to thank them for their generosity, Fiona MacKay approached her with a wish. "Clover, you know how busy Angus is between working the farm and cutting trees for lumber."

"Yes, ma'am I do. I think I've only ever seen him relax a dozen times in my life."

"Well, we've been wanting to add another room for ages. Now that we're becoming grandparents an extra bedroom has become a necessity." She looked at her husband with admiration. "My poor Angus never has the spare time. We considered hiring someone, but we're short of money."

"What my wife is trying to say is, Fairy Godmother Quinn, can you use your magic to build our room?"

Clover placed a hand on Fiona's arm. "Congratulations. I know how much you love kids." She turned to face Angus. "I've noticed you have all the construction materials in the yard. Which is good. I don't think I can make things out of thin air." Clover hesitated, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. I can do this. I have to prove myself. "However, I can't make any promises because I have trouble making big wishes last. Are you still willing to try?"

Angus and Fiona exchanged a brief glance, then nodded in agreement.

"OK, I've learned for big wishes, it helps if we wish together to draw on more magic. Mrs. MacKay, grab my hand and Mr. MacKay hold her other hand. Concentrate and repeat after me, "I wish for another room to be built onto the house."

In unison, they recited the wish incantation. Energy surged through Clover as her wand warmed, pulsing in harmony with the rhythm of her racing heartbeat. This feels… right. I know it's going to work this time.

From the tip of her wand, a cascade of shimmering sparkles erupted like a celestial waterfall, enveloping the building materials in a mesmerizing light. With an unseen force guiding their movements, the materials assembled themselves. Bricks were stacked, windows framed and set, and the door hung, as if by the hands of invisible workers. Five minutes later, the new room looked as if it had always been part of the cottage.

Mr. MacKay narrowed his eyes, as if trying to conceal his amazement. He shook the door and windows and kicked the base of the walls. "It's solid and fine craftsmanship, Little Clover Blossom," he said with a nod. "Grab as many eggs as the rooster will allow whenever you want."

Mrs. MacKay gave him a stern look and slapped him on the shoulder. "You wouldn't dare put her through that again."

Clover thrilled at the pet name he'd called her since she was a young girl. Elation filled her heart. She had fulfilled a wish that seemed deserving. More gratifying was that the room didn't collapse into rubble. The oppressive weight of self-doubt she had carried for days now lifted from her slender shoulders. She was as light and carefree as a feather floating on the breeze. Her feet barely touched the ground as she sought out Lily.

* * *

After a morning of completing odd jobs, the girls walked to Clover's place. It was the first time they'd talked since the birthday party.

Lilly wore a permanent smile on her face. Although she was looking at Clover, her attention was turned inward. Her voice had lost it's normal gruffness. "Declan is polite and treats me nice, but he's still not smitten. I'll win his heart yet if I can figure out how. He's not like the rugged farmhands I work with. He's a delicate soul with the heart of an artist."

Clover squinted and half-grinned at Lilly as she said, "Who are you and what have you done with my friend?"

Lily's voice grew serious. "Marrying Declan has been my dream for years. Unlike you, I can't wave a magic wand to make dreams come true."

Clover studied her friend's face and saw her fierce determination. "I know you will find a way, Lil. You've always been a force of nature by never accepting that failure is final. Anything I can do to help?"

Lily looked away and stammered, "Can you explain to me what a salad is? He really likes the salads his mother makes." She cupped her hands, forming the shape of an imaginary bowl. "I tried one. It's a weird jumble of vegetables and goat food in a bowl. Imagine a vegetable soup without any water or meat." She gave a small, involuntary shudder. "If I can learn how to make a salad as good as hers, maybe he'll see I'm more than a tomboy and a loudmouth."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out, Lil." Clover paused before declaring, "Just so you know, I can't wave my wand and make anything I want to happen. I still fail at granting wishes as often as I succeed."

"So I've heard. Thomas the fisherman nearly earned himself a black eye for bad-mouthing you."

"He has a right to be mad. After I built an extra room for Mr. and Mrs. MacKay, he came asking me to do the same for him. The MacKays had lumber and stone and glass. Thomas had driftwood and some gravel." She exhaled deeply. "That eyesore won't stand up to a light rain." She shrugged. "I tried my best."

Lily shook her head. "You've always been a people pleaser, even to those who mistreated you. I won't argue that the MacKays deserve what you did for them." She raised her voice, exasperated. "What you're not hearing about is all the jealousy your act of kindness for them has created."

"I'm a fairy godmother. Isn't that what I'm supposed to do? Besides, the wand doesn't grant every wish, so it must have safeguards."

A gust of cold air swept down from the mountains, stirring up dust. Lilly's hair ruffled in the breeze as she planted herself in front of Clover, hands on her hips. "People will ask for bigger things. Being who you are, you'll try, and it will get you into a heap of trouble. Mark my words, Clover Quinn, you need to learn how to set boundaries to protect yourself from being taken advantage of."