Johnny Gets the Crystal Ball

Johnny Carmel lay in bed looking at his magic broom. He knew it was real because he'd ridden it to the candy store, home, and Witchy-Boo's cave.

He'd also talked to the broom. The ten year-old found that its name was Banjo. And whoever held it was its Master. He also learned that the broom had to take its Master wherever he said.

Johnny admired at his new toy. He was under the blanket with the door locked so he wouldn't disturb his parents or sister Jeanie. The boy shined his flashlight. The broom was a common, ordinary, everyday broom. But itdidfly andwasmagic! Magic enough to be able to flyintoanything,throughanything, andoutof anything.

But Johnny couldn't spend time admiring. Not now. He had to make a decision and fast. Because at that very moment Witchy-Boo, Banjo's former owner, was asking her maagic crystal ball where her broom was. And with her magic she would surely take Banjo back.

Should he follow the broom's advice and go to Witchy-Boo's cave and tqke her crystal ball so she couldn't take Banjjo? Or should he let the wart-nosed witch take the broom back so he could be free of magic and witches and all that?

Johnny thought, "This is the most fun I've ever had on

Halloween or any other day. If I keep the broom I can use magic every day. But the only way I can be certain of having magic is to get that crystal ball. So," he thought and looked at Banjo, "Let's do it!"

Johnny took a deep breath and said, "Magic Broomstick, take me to Witchy-Boo's cave and BRING ME BACK IMMEDIATELY."

Thre was a cloud of yellow smoke and the broom said, "Okee Dokee." Then off they flew with a powerful ZOOM.

Johnhy held on tight. Though he didn't have to. Because part of the magic was that no one ever fell off. That was the rule.

Johnny passed magically through his blanket, through the bedroom wall, and whizzed by everything as if it was standing still. Before he knew it he also flew through the wall of the cave of the witch. With all its spookiness -- the caldron, magic potions, crystal ball, AND the witch!

The broomstick followed orders. No sooner did it enter the cave than it immediately turned to go. At that split second the boy grabbed the crystal ball. JUST as the cackling hag pulled the hair on the wart on her ugly nose and was beginning to ask it who had her broom.

Through the cave wall, his bedroom, and his blanket. and Johnny Carmel, ten years old, found ;himself hiding under the blanket in his warm, cuddly bed.

As the boy whizzed by, Witchy-Boo said, "What in magic ... ?" Then she realized that her magic ball was gone.

"You thief!" she screached. "You brat-child! So you're the one who took my Banjo! And now my crystal ball! I'll get you no matter what!"

The ugly hag raced to the shelf to get a potion. Just as she tipped it up, Johnny, in his bed, said, "Crystal Ball, Crystal Ball, if you truly have magic and if I vcan use it, then answer me this: how vcan I keep Witchy-Boo -- or anyone -- from taking Banjo away? Andyou?"

The Crystal Ball spoke in a deep, calm voice. "You are my Master. Imust do whatever you ask. To keep the broomstick and me you need magic protection."

"How do I get it? I don't know any magic."

"You ask it of me, the crystal ball," was the answer.

Johnny knew he didn't have much time. "That witch must be furious!" he thought.

"So do it, Ball. Protect me and the broom and you!"

Poof! went a cloud of orange smoke. And the Crystal Ball said, "It is done. We are your's forever."

At the moment the orange cloud filled Johnny's room, the old witch swallowed the potion. She shrieked, "Bring me Banjo!"

But nothing happened.

"Bring me the boy!"

Again, nothing.

"Bring me my Crystal Ball!"

Still nothing.

Witchy-Boo was frantic. She grabbed every bottle on the shelf and drank it. She ran to her black kettle and drank the bubbling, magic potion. Butstillnothing happened.

She screamed. "The boy has found the Secret of Protection! Now I'll never get my toys back! Oh, my power is gone. I've lost my magic powers. What kind of witch am I now. Doomed just to

Meanwhile, Johnny didn't know he was protected. He knew he had to experiment. He had to test the power of the Crystal Ball. So he whispered, "Crystal Ball, Crystal Ball, I need to go to Witchy-Boo and see if she can take Banjo." Then he thought quickly. "Oh, but when I'm gone she might take you. Crystal Ball, Crystal Ball, I must take you with me. But you're so big!" The boy was stumped. Then he thought out loud. "You need to be small enough so I can take you with me. Crystal Ball, Crystal Ball, get smaller!"

And, of course, it did. It got as small as a pea. A split pea. You know, the kind your mother makes soup with?

Johnny had to look closely. He searched with his flashlight. "But how do I carry it, Crystal Ball? It might fall out of my poc... No, I don't have any pockets in my pajamas. How can I carry it?"

The ball answered, "You could put it on a ring. Then it will always be with you."

"Good idea!" said the boy. "Crystal Ball, Crystal Ball, give me a ring with you on it so tight it will never fall off."

Poof! went a cloud of black. And the ten year-old's wish was fulfilled.

"Yahoo! No, Banjo, take me back to the cave of Witchy-Boo. I must see if she can take you and the ring from me. To Witchy-Boo's!"

A cloud of violet puffed and the booomstick said, "Okee dokee!" And Johnny found himself facing the mad witch.

And WAS she mad! She screamed, tore her hair, stomped on the ground, and threw empty bottles. Then she noticed Johnny

floating in the air on Banjo.

"You thief! You brat! You stole my magic!" Then she screached the worst word she could think of. "YouBOY!"

Now Johnny knew that the old witch couldn't touch him. That he could keep the Crystal Ball and the broom, and no one -- not the witch or anyone else -- could take it away from him. Johnny smiled. Which made the witch even madder.

"I'll get you, you BOY," she screamed. "And I'll curse you for a hundred, a thousand, a million years too!"

Calmly Johnny said, "Banjo, take me home. I don't want to lose my sleep over a dirty ole hag."

Well, don't you just KNOW that we haven't heard the last of the old witch? That she will do anything in her power to get her magic back? And as long as she tries, Johnny Carmel MIGHT lose his?

We'll only know what Witch-Boo tries when we hear the next story. Because this is

TO BE CONTINUED ...