Johnny Finds a Magic Broom

It all started by accident. When ten year-old Johnny Carmel found a broom. It was on Halloween night so there was nothing special or spooky about finding a broom.

But once he put his hands on it the little boy's life changed forever. To begin with, the broom spoke.

"Where do you wish me to take you, Master?"

Naturally Johnny was surprised. If it hadn't been Halloween he would have been scared. He figured someone had taped a battery with a speaker to make it sound like a talking broom.

But after the second time Johnny searched the broom completely. He found no battery. Nor a speaker. Not on the handle, not in the bristles, not even in the handle (because he tapped it to see if it was hallow). So the boy did the only thing any ten year-old would do: he spoke to the broom.

"What do you mean, MASTER?" he asked. "And how can you take me anywhere anyway?"

The broom answered, "The rule is that whoever holds me is my Master. Wherever you tell me to go I must take you."

"Wow!" said Johnny. "I gotta check this out!" So the little boy

straddled the stick like a horse and said, "Take me to the candy store!"

There was a cloud of purple smoke, the broom said, "Okee Dokie," and WHOOSH! Johnny found himself standing outside the candy story.

It happened so fast that the little boy had to think about what happened. He mumbled to himself, "If it works once it should work twice." So he said, "Take me home."

There was a cloud of white smoke -- Puff! -- the broom said, "Okee Dokee," and zoom, off he went.

But this time Johnny Carmel decided to test everything. So he tried to steer the broom; he leaned one way then the other. He even tried to see how far he could lean without falling off. Oh, what fun he had on that magic broom!

Johnny still couldn't believe it. He HAD flown --twice. Finally he burst into the biggest, loudest, happiest laugh. "I really have one. I really have a magic broom!"

Johnny went inside. He pout the broom inside the door. His father and mothr asked howmuch candy he got. He emptied the bag on the coffee table. Everyone searched through it for his favorite. But for the first time in his life the little boy didn't care if they ate the whole pile.

Later, as he lay in his bed, Johnny smiled. As he stared at the dark ceiling he wondered who had the broom before he found it. How long he could keep it. If anyone could take it away. No sooner had he thought that than he began to tremble.

"What if Mother gets it? Or Jeanie? Yikes!"

Quickly he ran downstairs.

"No more candy tonight!" said Father.

"Okay, Pop," he answered, pretending that was why he was downstairs.

In bed the little boy hugged his broom. "I have you, I really have you!"

Then he heard Mother say, "What are you doing up there, Johnny?" And he knew that he had to keep everything quiet, everything secret. If he didn't he might have to give the broom away. So he locked the door and pulled the blanket over his head.

"I need you to take me on one more ride," he whispered. "Can we fly from here or do we have to be outdoors?"

"The magic will take you out of anything, through anything, and into anything," whispered the broom.

"Then take me to the home of the person who owned you before me."

Instantly there was a cloud of green smoke. The broomstick answered, "Okee Dokee!" And before he knew it Johnny Carmel stood in a large cave.

It was spookie. Thre was a huge black kettle, a large crystal ball, shelves of magic potions. He was scared because he knew he was in the cave of a real witch. And the broom was hers. What if she caught him?

"Get me out of here!" said Johnny.

"Okee Dokee!" and he stood outside the cave.

A cackling came from the dark. It was the witch. And she was mad. Mad because she'd lost her magic but also because she had to walk home.

"I'll get the thief who robbed me of my precious Banjo if it's the last thing I do! I'll ... I'll ...!"

Johnny Carmel trembled as the witch approached. Suddenly saw her clearly. She was just like the pictures: blalck cape, pointed hat, and she even had a hair growing out of a wart from her hooked nose.

"Broomstick, broomstick," whispered the ten year-old. "Get me out of here. No, take me home. And quick!"

"You can call me Banjo, Master." Then there was a puff of red smoke and the familiar cry, "Okee Dokee!"

Johnny now lay soft and cuddly and secure in his bed.

"Oh, I have to be careful where I tell Banjo to take me," he mumbled. "At least that trip proved that it's all real. But if I'm not careful someone might get Banjo. Mom, Dad, or Jeanie. Or worse, the witch. She probably has all sorts of magic."

Before he fell asleep he asked Banjo, "What is the name of the witch we just saw?"

"Witchy-Boo," Banjo whispered back.

"How can I keep you?" asked the boy.

"You can't. Unless you have magic and cast a spell."

"But I don';t know any magic. Does that mean Witchy-Boo will use her magic and take you back?"

"If she uses her magic before you use yours."

"But I don't have any magic!" said Johnny.

"Yes you do. You have me."

Johnny thought about that. Then he said to the broom, "Yes, I can fly. But how could that out-magic a real witch?"

"You can fly to Witchy-Boo's cave," said Banjo. "And steal her

crystal ball."

"What good would that do? Besides, how could I steal it when she's there? And so mad?" Johnny trembled. He mumbled to himself, "Maybe I should take you back to the Vacant Lot. And let Witchy-Boo find you. I'm getting way over my head with this."

"As you wish, Master. I was only answering your question."

"Wait," said the boy. "That wasn't an order, just a thought. But tell me, howcouldI steal the witch's ball?"

Banjo answered from under the blanket. "You get on me. Order me to go to Witchy-Boo's cave andcome back immediately. As we zoom through her cave you grab the crystal ball."

"Oh," mumbled Johnny, his eyes wide open in the dark. "And when should I do it? I mean, IF I were to do it?"

"Right now," answered Banjo. "Because the crystal ball knows everything. It is the owner of all magic. And Witchy-Boo is asking it right now who has me. If you don't get the ball NOW you'll get cursed for sure."

Johnny Carmel trembled. So much had happened so fast. But he knew he had to do SOMETHING. Thoughts raced through his mind. Should he go back to the cave? Should he steal the magic crystal ball?

We will find out what he does in the next story, because this is TO BE CONTINUED...