Five Children and It

Weather and a visit from their uncle prevent the children from making their next wish for two days. The day after, Anthea wakes early, creeps to the gravel pit, and finds the Sand-fairy. She snuggles it in her lap and asks for its advice in getting wishes to turn out well. She admits that their previous wishes have been silly and asks what it thinks of wings as a wish. It thinks that it’s a fine one as long as they are not flying at sunset.

Back with the others, Anthea proposes that they take turns with their wishes, as long as everyone agrees on the wish. She goes first, and the others agree that wings are an excellent idea. The Psammead grants their wish, and they instantly have large, beautiful wings. Soon, they are flying over fields and woods, finally feeling as if they are experiencing magic.

As they pass over a plum orchard, they realize that they are hungry. Cyril says, “Stealing is stealing even if you’ve got wings,” (88) but Jane insists that their wings mean they are birds and so can eat the plums.