Ch1-A Book of Magic

Carnival at candlelight

CHAPTER ONE A Book of Magic Dawn was breaking in the Frog Creek woods. Jack saw a light shining up ahead. He ran toward it. He ran so fast, he couldn't hear his feet hitting the ground. He couldn't feel the frosty winter air.

As Jack got closer to the light, he could see the magic tree house at the top of the tallest oak. A girl and boy were looking out the window. The girl had dark, wavy hair and sea-blue eyes. The boy had tousled red hair and a big grin on his face. As the two kids waved at him, Jack felt incredibly happy. "Jack, wake up!" Jack opened his eyes. His sister, Annie, was standing beside his bed. She was wearing her winter jacket. It was barely light outside. "I just had a dream about the tree house," she said. "Really?" Jack said sleepily.

"I dreamed we were running through the woods at dawn," said Annie, "and when we got to the tree house, Teddy and Kathleen were there waiting for us." Jack sat up. "I just had the same dream!" he said. "Meet you downstairs," said Annie. Annie left Jack's room. Jack jumped out of bed, put on his glasses, and threw on his clothes. He grabbed his winter jacket and his backpack. Then he slipped quietly down the stairs and out the front door. Annie was waiting on the porch. The February air was chilly. Frost sparkled in the

grass as the sun rose over the Frog Creek woods. "Ready?" asked Annie. Jack nodded and zipped his jacket. Without another word, he and Annie hurried up their street and headed into the woods. They ran through the long shadows of early morning, between the bare winter trees. Then they stopped. The tree house was back, just as Jack had seen it in his dream! It was high in the tallest oak tree, shining in the cold morning light. "Wow," breathed Jack. "Dreams can come true." "Yep," said Annie. "Teddy! Kathleen!"

No one answered. "I guess only part of this dream came true," Annie said sadly. She grabbed the rope ladder and started up. Jack followed. Annie climbed into the tree house. "Oh, wow!" she said. "What is it?" said Jack. "They're here!" said Annie in a loud whisper. Jack climbed in behind her. Their friends Teddy and Kathleen, apprentices to Morgan le Fay, were sitting under the tree house window. Wrapped in heavy woolen cloaks, they were both fast asleep. "Hey, sleepyheads!" said Annie. "Wake up!"