Ch1-Did You See That

MAGIC TREE HOUSE@ #44 A GHOST TALE FOR CHRISTMAS TIME

CHAPTER ONE Did You See That? Jack and Annie were walking home from soccer practice. It was four-thirty in the afternoon. Sunlight was fading quickly. "November has really short days," said Jack. "Yeah, but it has really beautiful skies," said Annie.

The horizon glowed with the orange light of sunset. Suddenly a streak of light blazed over the Frog Creek woods. "Whoa!" said Jack. "Did you see that?" "See what?" said Annie. "A streak of light!" said Jack. "Like a shooting star!" "Over the woods?" asked Annie. "Over the woods!" said Jack. He started to run. "Run!" said Annie. "I'm running!" said Jack. Jack and Annie ran down the sidewalk and into the Frog Creek woods. Their feet crunched through fallen leaves as they raced among the

shadows. Finally they came to the tallest oak in the woods. The magic tree house sat high in the branches. Teddy and Kathleen were looking out of the tree house window. The two young enchanters seemed to glow in the fading daylight. Teddy was grinning and waving. Kathleen's long dark hair blew in the breeze. "Hello!" Teddy called. "Hello yourself!" Annie shouted back. "Come up!" called Kathleen. Jack and Annie hurried up the rope ladder. They climbed inside the tree house and hugged Teddy and Kathleen.

"We haven't seen you guys in so long!" said Jack. "What have you been doing?" "Oh, learning more magic—and practicing it," said Teddy. "Turning frogs into boys." "And boys into frogs," said Kathleen, smiling at Teddy. "Yes, I rather enjoyed being a frog for a day," said Teddy. Jack and Annie laughed. "We missed you!" said Annie. "We missed you, too," said Kathleen. "We were both delighted when Merlin told us it was time to send you on a new mission."

"Does he want us to help another great artist give their gifts to the world?" asked Jack. "Yes," said Teddy. "So far you have helped Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Louis Armstrong, and Lady Augusta Gregory. Now your mission is to travel to Victorian England and help Charles Dickens." "His name sounds familiar," said Jack. "But I can't remember why." "Me neither," said Annie. "I am sure you will know a great deal about him by the end of your mission," said Kathleen. "In the meantime, here is something to help you." She reached into the folds of her robe and pulled out a book.