To everyone it was just a tree, not many leaves and to some people a waste of space. I knew it was just not an ordinary tree, but a tree that could transform itself.

Life goes on and the tree grew slowly. Never covered in leaves like the other trees. Never big enough for a kookaburra to sit

on so I knew the little tree would never be a home to tree snakes. I nurtured the tree, carrying buckets of water to cool it's roots in the baking sun and making sure it was kept warm on the frosty nights. All the other trees kept growing and I was advised to cut it out and plant another, but I didn't want to destroy the tree.

About three years passed. The new house was looking not so new and the rest of the garden was thriving. I would go into the back yard and sit with a book and cold drink on the hot days of summer and most times I would talk to the tree. It was on one of these days that I noticed something magical. The tree was starting to blossom and in the fork of one tiny branch was the smallest nest I had ever seen. I had noticed tiny birds in the garden and thought they were just passing by. In the nest was a silver sliver. I couldn't think how it got there, other than being put there by a bird. As each day passed I noticed more mystical things happening to the tree. The blossoms were not like the other trees bore. These blossom were so bright and delicate. My tree as I referred to it, was growing more beautiful. Some mornings I would find little flowers at the base of tree, as if they had been dropped from the branches, but the flowers weren't like the tree blossoms. I also found little trinkets lying around and thought a magpie must be nesting in a tree nearby and in his hurry to get his stolen treasure to his nest, he must have dropped some of it.

I went outside very early one morning, before the heat became intense and noticed my tree was covered in dew. It was then I noticed very tiny marks on the ground around the base of the tree. I thought I heard a tinkling sound and looked up. I am sure I saw a flutter, not quite like a butterfly, but something fluttering and tinkling. I am sure I was being watched, but I couldn't see anything.

It happened one cool night. The moon was shining and all around seemed to glimmer. I got out of bed and decided to sit on the verandah and enjoy the moonlight. As I quietly opened the sliding door at the back of the house, being careful not wake anyone else, I saw it. I thought I must be dreaming, but there in the moonlight, in the branches of my tree something was moving. I wanted to creep closer, but was frightened that I would scare whatever it was away. I stood and listened and heard the tinkling of bells. I looked more closely and was astounded. The tree was full of fairies. They flew from flower to flower, playing hide and seek amongst the leaves and enjoying themselves. The moon started to fade. I didn't want to go back to bed, but as a new day was dawning I thought it best to get some sleep. All that day I was consumed with excitement, but I didn't dare tell anyone what I saw the previous night.

I waited until everyone was asleep and crept outside. The fairies were back. As I watched, I saw the most beautiful fairy flutter to the tree. She was dressed in shimmering blue. Then I saw him. He was so handsome. His jacket was lilac with gold threads woven through the fabric and I noticed the other fairies standing around. It was a fairy wedding. It seemed like all of the butterflies had stirred to join the celebration. My tree was alive with fairies of all shapes and sizes, all dressed in floaty garments. I noticed little Pixies, sitting on the tiny mushrooms that grew at the base of the tree, and for some reason the flowers in the garden seemed to have a more intense perfume. I watched spellbound as the fairies came and went. As the moon faded and the daylight dawned the fairies fluttered from the tree.

Later that morning I went out to the tree with a friend. She asked me how the little flowers got on the ground. I showed her the birds nest which by now was full of fairy treasure. Little trinkets, a babies tooth, a silver coin and a tiny golden bell. She laughed and said I must have put the treasure there for small children to enjoy. Then she heard the tinkling and tiny peals of laughter in the tree.

Many years have passed. I no longer live in the house with the fairy tree, but wherever I am, I always find the smallest tree in the garden and look after it with special care, because I am sure this is where the fairies play. I have seen on bright moonlit nights, tiny silver wings flutter past and I know the fairies visit the special small trees.