Witchy-Boo and the Wand

Johnny experimented with Banjo, the magic broomstick, and asked questions about magic of Crystal Ball. And all the time Witchy-Boo got madder.

You see, she thought all the magic things were hers because she'd had them for a long, long time. Like a thousand years or more. But the Rule of Magic said that any kind of magic, whether it was a broomstick or crystal ball belonged to the one who held it, not who had held it. And right now Johnny Carmel held both the broomstick and crystal ball. So they weren't hers at all. Still, she thought they were and wanted them so badly that she forgot the Rule.

After Johnny had zoomed out of her cave on Banjo grabbing Crystal Ball out of her gnarly ole hands, Witchyy-Boo thought of everything she could to get them back. You see, broomsticks and balls aren't the only magic a witch has. But the ball, especially, is the MOST powerful.

The second strongest magic Witchy-Boo had was a wand. She called it Zobie. To make it work she simply repeated the magic words three times. It was almost as powerful as Crystal Ball, it was portable, and it always worked.

Ms Boo wanted her crystal ball back in the worst way. So she turned to Zobie. But no matter how hard she tried, how perfectly she repeated the magic words, she couldn't get the ball.

She shrieked, "Zobie, I am your Master. I ORDER you to get me Crystal Ball --- NOW!"

But the wand bent limply as if hanging its head.

"I can't. My magic is not strong enough. That BOY must have ordered Crystal Ball to cast a spell on it -- or me -- because nothing happens when I try."

"Spell? Spell? I, Witchy-Boo, am the one who casts spells. Oh, Zobie, I'm doomed. That brat-BOY, what's-his-name, has found the deep power of Crystal Ball and protected himself. I MUST find a way to get my ball back. I must, I must, I must!"

Just then two gargoyles rolled in front of the caldron, one chasing the other.

"Ah, ha!" shrieked the witch, so excited that the hair on the wart on her hooked nose waved in the air." "That's it! I will make you creatures invisible with the magic of the wand -- you can do that, can't you, wand?"

"Yes, Master Boo."

"Then I'll send you to the house of the BOY and you can steal like the evil gargoyles you are.That'show I can get my crystal ball back!"

Witchy-Boo said "Wunginell" three times. "Make these ugly creaturess disappear. Now!" And she waved the wand at the ugly beasties. Instantly they disappeared.

"Now," she continued excitedly, for she thought her plan was the best in all of Witchdom, "you gargoyles, wherever you are, get on this broomstick," and she dusted the cobwebs off a spare. "Go to the house of the BOY -- what's-his-name -- and sget me my crystal ball. Bring it back to -- immediately!"

The witch had spoken so harshly that the gargoyles feard for their lives. They hopped onto the broom like cowboys on a horse and the witch heard them say, "To the BOY'S house!"

A cloud ofugly, black smoke appeared, the broomstick said, "Okee dokey," and zoom! it disappeared maagically through the wall of the cave. Witchy-Boo yelled after them, "And get Banjo-Broomstick while you're there!"

Now you might wonder how the broom knew where to go. You won't be surprised if you understand magic. You see, all magic is the sameunderneath. that is, the magic that runs a broomstick is the same that makes a crystal ball work and those are the same as what gives power to a magic wand. It's just that some magic is stronger than others. But underneath they all work the same. So Witchy-Boo's spare broomstick knew exactly where Johnny lived. That's one of the neat things about magic.

And now the gargoyles stood in the room of Johnny Carmel. He was at school doing his Show and Tell with the pencil-sized broomstick. The ugly beasties thought that would make it all the easier to find the crystal ball.

But no matter where or how hard they looked they didn't find it. Well,weknow why, don't we? Because Johnny had Crystal Ball use magic and make it small enough to put on a ring. As for Banjo, he was performing at Show and Tell so they couldn't find him either.

The gargoyles were mad. But then, aren't the ugly beasties always mad? They were also afraid. Afriad of what Witchyy-Boo might do to them if they returned without either things. So they tore Johnny's room up to be sure it wasn't hidden.

When the creatures retuurned empty-handed, Witchyy-Boo was furious. She was also puzzled. "Where could my toys be?" she cackled.

When Johnny's mother went into his room she was furious. "Why, that son of mine keeps the messiest room in creation!" You can see that she'd never been to Witchy-Boo's cave!

When Johnny got home didheever get it!

Naturally the ten year-old ordered Crystal Ball to clean the room. Why should he work when he had magic? He also wondered how it got so bad.

Meanwhile, back in Witchy-Boo's cave, the wart-nosed hag pulled her hair. She was beside herself. She'd lost her all-powerful crystal ballandher favorite broom. And even though she used magic she couldn't get them back.

"Oh," she cackled miserably, "I'm doomed. Doomed as a witch. And all becaue of that thieving, brat-BOY!"

But don't we know that what Witchy-Boo does next is another story? So ithas

TO BE CONTINUED