Ch1-A Beautiful Word

MAGIC TREE HOUSE #43 Leprechaun in Late Winter

CHAPTER ONE A Beautiful Word It was a chilly afternoon in late winter. Annie was doing her homework on the computer in the living room. Jack sat on the couch and stared at a blank page in his small notebook. He heaved a sigh. "What's wrong?" said Annie. "I have to write a story for school," said Jack, "and I'm stuck."

"Well, you'd better get unstuck," said Annie. "Mom and Dad said we have to get our homework done before we go to the theater with them tonight." "I know," said Jack. "But I can't think of anything to write about." "Why don't you do what you love to do?" said Annie. "Go outside and write down some facts about what you see. Then turn them into a story." "Hey, that's a good idea," said Jack. "Thanks." He jumped up and grabbed his coat from the hall closet. Then, taking his pencil and notebook with him, he headed outdoors. The early March weather was sunny but cold and windy. Jack looked around. Then he wrote

down some facts in his notebook: old snow in yard sun sparkling on sidewalk Jack looked up again. Treetops swayed in the March winds. Jack started to write about them. But when he looked down at his notebook, he nearly dropped his pencil. On the page were two large, fancy letters: TK "Oh, man!" whispered Jack. He dashed back in the house and into the living room. "Annie! Look!" Jack held up his notebook. "Look at this!"

Annie stared at the page. "Old snow… sun sparkling… Nice.…" "No, not that!" said Jack. "The letters!" Annie looked at Jack like he was a little crazy. "Uh… what letters?" she said. Jack looked back at the page. "They're gone!" he said. "A big, fancy T and K!" "T and K?" said Annie. "Yes! For Teddy and Kathleen!" said Jack. "The letters just appeared on the page when I was outside! They were there! Really!" "I believe you," said Annie. She jumped up from the computer. "Let's go."

"Wait, I have to get my backpack from upstairs," said Jack. "Forget it! Come on! The tree house must be waiting for us!" said Annie. "Okay, okay," said Jack. He quickly shoved his notebook and pencil into a pocket of his coat. Annie grabbed her jacket. "Mom! Dad! We're going to take a little break from our homework!" she called. "Okay, but make it short! We have to leave for the theater by seven!" their dad called from the kitchen. "We will!" said Jack. Jack and Annie headed outside. They ran over the melting snow in their front yard and up the