There was magic in their family and Violet had it.

If you asked Mabel, this was a terrible mistake.  It wasn’t sensible, fair, or logical. She should have gotten the magic.

Mabel was the older sister. She followed rules and kept promises. She was careful, considerate and responsible.

Violet was none of the above.

Besides, how could a five year old handle magic? Mabel wondered. Violet didn’t even know her alphabet!

But she had the magic. And now, it seemed, she could fly.

“Come down, Violet!” Mabel begged. “Please!” She really didn’t need this right now.

Hovering near the ceiling, Violet peered into the light fixture. “Lots of dead bugs in here.”

Mabel climbed onto the couch and tried to grab Violet’s ankles. But her little sister wiggled out of her reach.

“I’ll let you have my dessert tonight,” Mabel cajoled. “I’ll even buy you ice cream tomorrow.”

Violet ignored her. She curled up in mid-air and turned upside down.

The purple cape fell over her head. Wire hangers dropped to the floor. Violet’s skinny legs wobbled.

She suddenly plummeted downward, head-first toward the floor.

Mabel jumped off the couch and ran to catch her sister. But she wasn’t fast enough. “Violet!”

Luckily, Violet put out her hands and landed just inches from the floor.

“Ta da!” she cried, flopping over on her side.

Mabel’s heart beat wildly. “What do you think you’re doing, Violet? Are you crazy?”

“You told me to stay out of your way.”

”I didn’t tell you to fly,” Mabel protested.

Violet stretched her arms and wriggled her toes. “What’s wrong with flying?”

“It’s dangerous, silly! You almost smashed yourself up!”

“But I didn’t,” Violet said smugly. “And besides, people fly in airplanes all the time.”

“That’s different,” Mabel said. “That’s science, and engineering, and, um, tickets. People don’t fly by themselves.”

“I do,” Violet said with irritating logic.

Mabel took a deep breath. “Do you know why you can fly?”

“Because I’m going into kindergarten?”

Mabel rolled her eyes. Then she ordered herself to stay calm and mature.

She had to guide and advise her ignorant little sister. Violet needed her advice. It wouldn’t be easy, but Mabel could help her.

“What do you know about magic, Violet?”

“It’s in fairy tales.”

“It’s real, too,” Mabel explained. She felt a pang as she said it. Hadn’t she promised her mother never to breathe a word of this to Violet?

She had promised never to speak of magic to anyone.

The magic came from her mother’s side. Her mother hated it so much that she would barely admit it was real. Mabel’s father didn’t know about it. Mabel had only stumbled on the truth by accident.