Fairy Fun*

Crushing the can, Houdini looked forward in anger at Conan Doyle.
“Arthur,” he grimaced, “is there no end to your gullibility. If you put this in the Strand, people will think you a fool…Fairies…Now, I’ve heard everything!”
“These are harmless little girls,” Doyle responded, “innocent as doves…cousins, who didn’t know each other well at all, before this.”
“Clever little rascals, I'll wager,” replied Houdini, skeptically.
“I’ll be happy to introduce you to Frances and Elsie. Elsie’s brother, Joseph, passed away,” said Doyle, “and her mother was disconsolate.”
“So,” Houdini deliberated, “the mother turned to Spiritualism like you, Spiritualism without evidence. I’ve been searching for my mother’s spirit for years and have met up with nothing but magician frauds.”
“It gives one hope,” Doyle said, and comfort that someone like my late son can communicate.”
“So now, fairies give you hope as well?”
“The unseen world gives one hope.”
“It does not give one hope when every trickster takes advantage of your grief!”
The door creaked open. Two girls, Elsie, 10, and Frances, 16, stood in the doorway just before the threshold. Harry Houdini looked up. His countenance changed at the sight of them. Surely, these two enchantresses were the most charming darlings he’d seen yet. Theirs was not the picture of the table thumping con artists who insisted on darkened rooms with whom he’d dealt, from one disappointing seance after another.
“So,” he responded, “You two have seen fairies?”
“We’ve taken pictures of them, Sir,” Elsie offered.
Houdini put his head in his hands, trying to stifle a laugh.
“Now, Harry,” Doyle interjected, “surely you don’t think these young ladies have any malice.”
“Arthur,” said Houdini, “excuse yourself.”
Doyle graciously left the room.
“Now, girls,” said Houdini, “truly, you’ve captured the imaginations of the English people.”
“Yes, Sir,” said Frances.
“For what purpose?” inquired Houdini.
“No purpose at all,” said Elsie, “We’ve been enjoying the fairies at Cottingley Beck (Stream), and we want to share the fun of it.”
“I see,” said Houdini, “You want to entertain folks…sort of like me.”
“Yes,” said Elsie, “it’s ever so much fun!”
“And I’ve even taken a picture of Elsie with a gnome,” said Frances.
Houdini raised his eyebrow, “A gnome, you say?”
“They live to be 400 years old, so they’re very wise,” said Elsie excitedly.
“Yes, you can find their homes in the moss at the foot of trees.” Frances joined in.
“Well,” said Houdini, shaking his head and smiling, “far be it from me to spoil the fun.”
*(a spontaneous writing based on Wikipedia & Movie, “Fairy Tale, a True Story”.)