Augustine and Aura - a fairytale of two friends

There once was nice, old cobbler who worked night and day making shoes. He loved shoes, but even more than that, he loved his daughter Augustine. One day he worked long and hard on a very special pair of shoes for his daughter. When she came home from school, he presented her with the fine shoes.
“Oh, Papa’” she exclaimed. “They are wonderful. May I wear them?”
“My dear, “ replied Papa, “These are fancy shoes, not play shoes.”
“Oh, Father! I will be careful”
“Very well, my dear.”
“Thank you Papa.” Augustine said as she hugged him. “Thank you for these fine shoes. They are the most beautiful shoes I have ever had.”
She skipped out to the garden where she danced with the butterflies and twirled around with the sunflowers. She was giggling and humming with joy. The shoes made her feel like a princess. When she lay down among the marigolds to catch her breath, she noticed a tiny chirping sound. Glancing over, Augustine saw a bird’s nest lying on the ground in a soft muddy spot by the fence. Taking off her shoes, she walked over to watch the baby birds.
Before long, her mother called her in to dinner. After a warm bubble bath, Augustine climbed into bed and begged her Mother to read her favorite bedtime story. It is a story about knights and princesses dancing together at a grand ball. Augustine was falling asleep dreaming of the beautiful gowns the ladies must have been wearing when suddenly her eyes popped open. Her shoes! Her new shoes were still out in the garden. Oh no! It was much too late to get them now. She would have to wait until morning.
As soon as the first streams of sunlight came into her window, Augustine ran outside to gather her shoes. As she began to slip her feet into the shoes, she noticed that one shoe didn’t fit. She picked it up to look inside and saw something down by the toe. Very gently she reached in and pulled it out. It was the tiniest, little fairy Augustine had ever seen.
“What are you doing in my shoe?” asked Augustine.
The fairy didn’t answer. She looked very scared.
“Don’t be scared. My name is Augustine and I am nice. I am just wondering what you are doing in my shoe.”
The fairy looked at her and quietly said, “My name is Aura and I am here on a mission.”
“What kind of mission?”
“Well, I was sent to find the perfect gift for Queen Lomaine’s birthday. Yesterday I was walking through your garden looking for the most beautiful flower when I realized that a flower would soon die and fade away. I didn’t want to give the Queen something that would die. So I sat down in your shoe and it was so comfortable I guess I fell asleep. “
The fairy sighed. “Now, it is morning and I still don’t have a gift for the Queen.”
She began to cry.
“Don’t worry,” said Augustine. “Maybe I can help you think of something.’
Together they came up with many ideas like a new hat, or a sea shell, but none of the ideas seemed just right.
Jumping up, Augustine exclaimed. “I have it! I have the perfect gift idea. Come with me.”
With that she scooped up Aura and ran down to her Father’s shop shouting “Papa, papa. We need your help.”
Aura and Augustine took the next few minutes to explain to Papa the problem. Augustine whispered in his ear her idea and Father said he would be happy to help. He worked all night making the special surprise.
In the morning, he brought to them the most perfect pair of fairy shoes you could imagine. They were red just like the flowers in the garden that Aura liked, the inside was as soft as the velvet from a toothbury leaf and they were shiny and full of sparkles like a raindrop had just fallen on them.
“Oh, goodness gracious!” squealed Aura. “They are so beautiful. I have never seen anything as fine as these shoes. What a perfect gift to give the Queen. Oh, thank you! Thank you.” She reached up to give them both as big of a hug as a fairy could.
Turning to Augustine, she said “How will I ever repay you?”
“You don’t have to repay me, Aura. We are friends and that is what friends do.”
Waving goodbye Aura flew away home. That night Augustine fell asleep thinking about the grand party her friend Aura would be at, laughing and dancing with the Queen. What a fun time they must all be having.
In the morning, Augustine went out to the garden and found the most amazing dress hanging among the flowers. It was made of golden leaves and flowers, and gossamer wings, woven together with ribbons of sunlight and petals until it practically glowed. It was just her size. Augustine could hardly believe her eyes. As she walked closer she saw a little tag hanging from the sleeve. The tag read:
“Something to go with your shoes. Love your friend, Aura.”