Ch1-Winter Solstice

Winter of the Ice Wizard,

CHAPTER ONE Winter Solstice A cold wind rattled the windowpanes. But inside the house, it was warm and cozy. Jack and Annie were making Christmas cookies with their mom. Jack pressed a star-shaped cookie cutter into the dough. "Hey, it's snowing outside," said Annie.

Jack looked out the window. Huge snow-flakes were falling from the late-afternoon sky. "You want to go out?" asked Annie. "Not really. It'll be dark soon," said Jack. "That's right," said their mom. "Today's the first day of winter. It's the shortest day of the year." Jack's heart skipped a beat. "You mean it's the winter solstice?" he said. "Yes," said their mom. Annie gasped. "The winter solstice?" she said. "Yes…," their mom said, puzzled. Jack and Annie looked at each other. Last summer, Merlin the magician had called for their

help on the summer solstice. Maybe he would need them again today! Jack put down the cookie cutter and wiped his hands on a towel. "Actually, Mom, it might be fun to play in the snow for just a few minutes," he said. "Whatever you want," their mom said. "Just dress warmly. I'll finish up with the cookies and put them in the oven." "Thanks!" said Jack. He and Annie raced to the closet and pulled on their boots. They threw on jackets, scarves, gloves, and caps. "Be home before dark," their mom said. "We will!" called Jack. "Bye, Mom!" Annie shouted.

Jack and Annie slipped out of their house into the snowy cold. Their boots squeaked as they ran across their white yard and headed toward the Frog Creek woods. At the edge of the woods, Jack stopped. He couldn't believe how beautiful the trees looked. White powder covered the branches of the hemlocks and pines. "Look," said Annie. She pointed to two pairs of footprints that led out to the road and then back into the woods. "Somebody else has been here." "It looks like they were walking out of the woods—but turned back," said Jack. "Let's hurry!" If the magic tree house had come back today, he didn't want anyone else finding it first!

Jack and Annie walked quickly through the woods, following the two sets of footprints. "Stop!" said Annie. She pulled Jack behind a tree. "Over there!" Through the falling snow, Jack saw two people in long, dark cloaks. They were hurrying toward a tall oak—and high in the oak was the magic tree house!