Johnny's Birthday and the Magic Ring

One party seemed to lead to another. First there was Witchy-Boo'ss two-thousandth, then Jeanie's nineth. In another week it would be Johnny's. He would be eleven.

Johnny had gone to Witchyy-Boo's cave on Banjo, hsi magic broom. He'd invited the ole witch to his party. Why not? She'd asked him to hers and she'd gone to Jeanie's. It seemed like the natural thing to do.

Johnny though Witchy-Boo would be pleased to be invited. Sjhe'd seemed so happy at the others. But instead she was grouchy. She snapped like a wicket witch -- the way she did before Johnny met her.

Not only was she angry but she also seemed sad. Well, he invited her. If she didn't come that was her business.

The reason Witchy-Boo felt bad was that something big was happening inside her. She'd been a witch for so long -- how many years? -- that she'd gotten very used to it. Used to everyone being mean and mad, used to being filthy, used to being as ugly as your worst nightmare. I mean, how many people do you know have a hair sticking out of a wart on the end of their nose?

But ever since Johnny had found her broomstick in the

Vacant Lot she had changed. After losing her favorite broomstick, then having her crystal ball snatched right from under her crooked nose, andthenlosing her magic wand -- why, it was one thing after the other she had to change!

Heady, the Head Witch, told her what was wrong. That she'd lost so much of her magic that she was becoming more and more like a PERSON. So much so that Heady was about to zap her out of the Witch Society.

And that was another thing that bothered the two thousand year-old: Johnny himself. When he'd found the broomstick Witchy-Boo saw him as something to hate. When he took the crystal ball he was something to hate with all her might. But the more magic she lost the more she had to look outafter herself. And then thatveryJohnny gave her powers back. ISt confused her badly. Just when she'd at the bottom he raised her.

But now there was a greater problem: Jeanie. Although the witch saw the problem as liking and being liked by a little girl.

Jeanie had treated little Bousonicely that when she went back to being a witch she shuttered. "That filthy ole cave," cackled Witchy-Boo. "Look at it. Full of ugly gargoyles and trolls and all sorts of creatures and beasties. And that stinking brew fromn the bubbling caldron. Oh, what civilized person would guzzle down boiled bat's eyes and cat's guts and lizzaard's tongues? And these filty clothes -- why, I've been wearing the same dress for two thousand years!"

When Bou saw in the mirror that clean little girl in the pretty dress and the next moment the wart-nosed witch, she cried.

And now this Johnny! Asking her to another party. A party

where she'd have to dress as a little girl again. And be liked. And pretty. It was too much even for a witch.

But there comes a time when we have to face change, don't we? I mean, we don't stay little boys or girls all our lives. And right now Witchy-Boo was at that point. Her ugly head was being bombarded by questions. Should she go to the party? Should she act like a girl again? Or should she forget all this PEOPLE stuff and put a curse on Johnny and be done with it all?

When Bou was feeling the worst she looked on the wall. She saw a white envelope stuck in a crack. It was from Jeanie. And it smelled so sweet.

Without thinking the two thousand year-old read the note. Jeanie said how much fun she'd had with Bou; how much a friend she felt she was; and how much she wanted to come to Johnny's party.

Witchy-Boo broke down. For the first time in her long life she cried. Ist was a horrible sight. You see, witches don't cry. They get very, very mad, and sad too, and they shriek and screach and yell a lot. But crying they leave for PEOPLE. And when she cried poor Boo was shocked. She screamed, "Does this mean I'm ... becoming ONE OF THEM?"

It took two days for the ole hag to recover. And in those two days she cried more than all witches through all time.

She also pulled out more hair from under her pointed hat than three angora goats have. Finally, her tears dried and she stopped being mad. And confused. You see, she'd decided to Johnny's party.

Since Johnny had halp make his sister's party a success, Jeanie

now did eerything to make his great. She hung decorations, put frosting on the cake, and fed Chester in the basement so he wouldn't bark.

As for presents, Johnny knew he didn't need any; he had all the magic any little boy would want. But he decided to say thank you when people gave him something.

Then Witchy-Boo appeared. Rather, Bou, the nine year-old in her pretty dress.

Bou radiated happiness. However sad the witch might hafe felt before, it had vanished. Now she was all girl. She and Jeanie played, held hands, and were very happy to be with each other.

When Johnny opened the presents Bou whispered, "This time I remembered." Then she laughed outloud, "It's not much, Johnny, but you should like it -- it's magic." Everyone laughed. But Johnny knew that the ring he heldwasmagic. He couldn't wait to get in his room and find out what it would do.

As soon as the guests left he wondered, "I wonder how you get it to work?" So he asked Crystal Ball.

"Oh, Johnny," said Crystal Ball under the blanket, "Carl ring possess great magic. Just think of what you want changed, hold your hand above Carl, and the c hange will occur. But one warning: once you nake the wish you cannot change it. What is done is done forever."

At first Johnny was happy. But quickly it changed to fright. He sensed that if he misused Carl he could get into a lot of trouble. What if it was hot July and he wished it was cold January? All the plants would die. And thousands of people would go without vegetables and fruit. Johnny wasn't sure this

was a great present after all.

Bou stayed late. She and Jeanie played happily in the room next door. Iit was as if the two girls were sisters.

"Too bad you can't live next door," said Jeanie. "Wouldn't that be PERFECT?"

"But," said Johnny to himself, "Bou's a witch, and there's no way she could keep it a secret for long. The only way for it to work would be for Witchyy-Boo to change into a little girl permanently. I almost wish ... "

Johnny jumped. Quickly he took off Carl ring. "Oh, I'm glad I didn't put my hand above him!"

Johnn knew there was only one thing to do with the ring. He whispered, "Crystal Ball, Crystal Ball, take Carl."

Thre was a poof of white smoke and the familiar, "Okee dokee" and Carl vanished.

"After all," said Johnny maturely, "if the witch turns into a girl thenshe'sgot to do the chanaging, not me."

And don't we know that that very subject just has to come up again? But not here. So we have to say

TO BE CONTINUED