Prilla and the Butterfly Lie Read Online Free PDF Page B

butterfly’s back was to Prilla. Smiling, she slowly began to creep up behind it. She was careful not to step on a dead leaf or a twig. She didn’t want to make any noise that would scare the butterfly away. This is my last chance, Prilla thought. She had to catch this butterfly!

    Finally, Prilla was right behind the creature. She took a deep breath and lunged forward to grab it. “Gotcha!” she yelled.
    The butterfly froze. Then it toppled over.
    Prilla stared. Her mouth hung open in disbelief. She reached over and softly poked the butterfly’s wing with her finger. It didn’t move.
    No doubt about it. The butterfly was dead.
    “What have I done?” Prilla cried. She took a deep breath. “Oh, why did I pretend to like butterflies in the first place?”
    Once again there was a flash of purple, and Vidia landed right next to Prilla.
    “Hello, precious,” Vidia said with a smirk. “I’ve been looking for you all day. How’s the butterfly herding going?” She wrinkled her nose. “And what is that awful smell? It smells like…ugh—stinkbug! Prilla, what in Never Land have you been up to?”
    But Prilla was too upset to reply. She slowly raised her arm and pointed to the motionless butterfly.
    Vidia looked at it, then turned to stare at Prilla. She wore a look of shock. “Precious, it’s not…?”
    “Dead,” finished Prilla forlornly. “Yes. I killed it!”
    “My goodness, sweetheart,” said Vidia. “Now you’ve really done it. Even I’ve never killed a butterfly.”
    This did not make Prilla feel any better. “I must have scared it to death,” Prilla whispered.
    Vidia shook her head. “You know, this never would have happened, darling, if you had just—”
    Prilla put her hands over her ears. “I know, I know! But I can’t think about that now. Will you please go get Queen Clarion so I can explain everything to her?”
    Vidia raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure, dear?” she asked. “You could just pretend this never happened. I won’t say a word.”

    Prilla was aghast. “No, Vidia! I must tell the queen.”
    “Suit yourself, precious,” said Vidia. “I’ll be back in two shakes of a dragon’s tail.”
    Prilla watched as Vidia took off into the air. Then she lowered herself to the ground and leaned against the toadstool, where the tiny butterfly lay still. She could hardly stand to look at it. She closed her eyes and dropped her head into her hands. What a disaster this was! She wasn’t a butterfly-herding fairy. She was a butterfly-slaying fairy!
    After what seemed like a lifetime, Prilla heard Vidia and Queen Clarion approach. She was surprised to see that Nettle was with them. Maybe she’s been brought along for an expert opinion, Prilla thought. With all the butterfly herders sick, caterpillar-shearing-talent fairies were the next best thing.
    Prilla wiped her eyes and stood up.
    Nettle opened her mouth to say something. But Prilla held up her hand for silence. “Please let me speak,” she said. “I have a confession to make, Queen Clarion. Something terrible has happened and it is all my fault.”
    “Go on, Prilla,” said the queen.
    “I…I…I…killed a butterfly.” Prilla lowered her eyes in shame.
    “What butterfly? Where?” Queen Clarion asked sharply.
    “Here,” said Prilla, pointing to the toadstool. But when she turned her head to look, she was shocked.
    The butterfly was gone!

“B -B-B-BUT IT WAS JUST HERE a minute ago,” Prilla stuttered. She turned to Vidia. “You saw it. Tell her!”
    Vidia gave her a wicked smile, which made Prilla even more upset. She turned to the queen. “It’s true! It was just there!”
    “What did the butterfly look like?” the queen asked.
    “It was pink and bronze,” Prilla said.
    She was trying hard not to cry. “It was very small.…”
    The queen burst out laughing. “Perhaps it looks like the butterfly that is sitting on your head?” she asked.
    Nettle started laughing, too. Vidia shook her head, smirking.
    Could it