CHAPTER 16The Fairy Ball
Monte’s breath turned frosty in the winter air. The sun had long since set, yet Grandmother Meriweather’s property was as enchanting as ever. Even under the inky stillness of the night, it was apparent that she had been hard at work transforming every bit of outdoor space into a Christmas masterpiece.
Toadstools suffused with light jetted down the side of the house, marking the way to the festivities below. Each rounded top wore a dusting of emerald glitter, welcome beacons of holiday cheer. Monte padded down the pathway, the toadstools on either side of him, the bark beneath his sneakers a soft contrast to the coarse crunch of Grandmother Meriweather’s gravel driveway. He slowed as he reached a patch of trees. Adorned in an abundance of red and white twinkle lig
