The Dressmaker
The Mayor thought that no-one had seen him wishing, but one person had. In the town hall there was a lady who worked as a cleaner. Her name was Mrs Porfit and she had worked for the mayor for thirty years. She liked his kindly ways and he liked her quick wit and good sense.
Mrs Porfit also worked as a dressmaker. She had been taught to sew by her grandmother and was able to run up an evening frock or afternoon tea dress in a couple of evenings if needed. She was an expert beader and every lady in town, including the Mayor’s wife, went to Mrs Porfit when they had an important occasion coming up for which they needed a frock.
Mrs Porfit was a very cheery lady. Everyone in the town hall liked to stop by her little den for a chat and a cuppa. When she wasn’t making sure the tables were polished so that the typists could see their faces in them, or polishing the fingerprints off the doorhandles with little tutting noises at the lack of glove-wearing, she was offering a ready ear to the troubles of the other staff members.
So when she saw the Mayor making a wish and looking so troubled, Mrs Porfit
thought ‘now what on earth can be upsetting our Mayor on tonight of all nights?’
The little wish star saw her chance and, kissing it once, she let the sparkling wish fly to do its work.
The Mayor’s wish
Aloud Mrs Porfit said ‘Are we all ready for the party, Mr Mayor?’
The Mayor shook his head and told her about the missing decorations and the lack of Santa Claus. Mrs Porfit looked around the hall and thought very hard. Eventually she said. ‘Well if you can let me have the old velvet curtains that have been taken down in the Council chamber’ I can rustle you up some decorations by the time the clock strikes twelve.’
‘Wish Star, Wish Star,
Brightly shine
Grant tonight
This wish of mine
Every girl and every boy
Needs a party full of joy.’
The Mayor looked at her with glee. Could it really be done so soon? He knew from his wife that Mrs Porfit was a miracle worker with her needle and thread. Instantly he made her a gift of the velvet curtains. ‘Use whatever you need and keep the rest’ he declared. ‘I will arrange for the car to bring them round to your house.’
Mrs Porfit hurried home and readied her kitchen for the task ahead. By seven o’ clock she had crafted huge banners of bunting to hang from the great hall ceiling. By eight o’ clock she had run up frills to go round all the tables for the feast. By nine o’ clock she had sewn beautiful red velvet roses to scatter among the dishes.
She looked at the rich red of the velvet cloth. Her little granddaughter, Lisette, had not had a new dress this year and the Mayor had said to use whatever she did not use.
Mrs Porfit reached for her pinking shears.
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I hope you’re enjoying the Wish Star’s story so far. We are almost halfway. Will she manage to grant all the wishes? We’ll find out more tomorrow. xxx
Sarah Todd Taylor 