Gideon and Tumbleweed Tommy, the miniature donkeys, have been stealing the ducks' food. But the ducks, Puddles and Buddy, don't seem to mind.

They're too busy sneaking into the fun house, where they gaze lovingly for hours at their reflections in the funny mirrors.

Now that the rainy season has started, Gideon and Tommy love chasing each other across the meadow and rolling around on their backs in the mud.

Tommy also has a weird game going with Juan the alpaca.

"Tommy starts it every time," says animal attendant Yvonne Backman. "He walks up behind Juan and gives him a little nip on the neck; then he throws his head back and laughs. Then Juan retaliates by trying to bite his ankles."

I'm telling you this for a reason: Why should Marguerite Clemens have all the fun? She lives in Concord and is Fairyland's best friend -- even though she's never seen the place.

It all started two years ago, when the previous miniature donkey, Lampwick, died. Gideon was inconsolable.

Fortunately, another little burro, Tumbleweed Tommy, was located. But the price was $800 -- money that Fairyland, on its shoestring budget, just didn't have.

That's when you readers came to the rescue. I mentioned it in a column, and the next day the money started pouring in, including a small check from Clemens. A few days later, Tommy and Gideon were merrily chasing each other across the meadow.

And that was the end of that. But not for Clemens.

The next month, she sent another check. And the month after that, and the month after that, and so on. Each check came with a little note asking how the animals were doing.

Backman and her colleagues started writing back, sending her gossipy monthly reports about Tommy and the other animals. They also sent a framed 8-by-10 photo of Gideon and Tommy's "first sniff."

At the end of the year, they made and autographed a calendar for her, each month featuring a different animal in the petting zoo -- a tradition that will be repeated this year. By now, she and the folks at Fairyland have formed a strong friendship, even though they still haven't met.

"She's a dear, kind, compassionate person," Backman says. "She's always concerned about us and the animals."

They'd love to meet her, but at age 89 she doesn't get around much anymore.

They keep telling her not to send any more checks, that her friendship is more than enough. But it's her choice.

She may never get to Fairyland in person, but her spirit can be found in every corner of the park.

Note to parents: Fairyland will become even more enchanting next Friday when, for one week, it will stay open after dark.

From Dec. 16 to 23, the park will be transformed into "Fairy Winterland."

Instead of closing at its usual time, 4 p.m., it will stay open until 7, illuminated by thousands of tiny twinkling lights.

Among the many delights: nightly visits by Santa Claus, a puppet version of "The Nutcracker" and holiday celebrations from many cultures, including Kwanzaa, Las Posadas and Lunar New Year.

And in an ecumenical gesture, Santa -- aka Saint Nicholas -- will lead the Chanukah Festival of Lights parade Dec. 16.

Every child will have a chance to meet Santa and have pictures taken with him. While they're waiting, they'll be given hot cocoa or apple cider to sip.

This year Fairyland has added a synthetic ice rink and a snow machine.

(Actually, the "snow" is a biodegradable detergent, but the kids don't seem to mind.)

Sound like fun? Better find a small child to chaperone you because -- as usual -- no child is admitted without an adult, and no adult is admitted without a child.