10 Under a Spell

10 Under a Spell Violet ran behind the slide. She really didn't want Pix to see her. But Pix didn't notice Violet at all. He was too busy playing! He ran to the sandbox. He jumped in. He threw sand in the air and laughed. Violet climbed up the ladder of the slide. A little girl sat on top. She looked about five years old.

Violet tugged on the girl's shirt. "Listen to me," she said. "You're under a spell. That pixie wants you to play forever." "I'm having fun!" the little girl said. She slid down the slide, away from Violet. Violet slid down after her. Maybe some of the other kids would listen.

She walked to the merry-go-round. Two boys her age were pushing it. "You're under a spell!" Violet told them. "Turn your jackets inside out. Then wear them backward. You can break the spell!" "Who cares?" said one of the boys. "Yeah, we're having fun!" said the other. They jumped on the merry-go-round. Violet didn't know what to do. No one wanted to listen to her. They were all under Pix's spell.

Violet stopped. She looked around her. The kids looked tired and sweaty. One little boy was leaning against a tree. He looked so worn out! I have to do something, Violet thought. But what? Then she heard the sound of bells behind her.

Bells? Did Pix find me? she wondered. "Violet, duck!" Sprite yelled before she could turn around. At the same time, pixie dust shot up out of her pocket. It tickled her nose! Violet sneezed. Violet looked down at her pocket. Sprite's head peeked out. He looked worried.

"What just happened?" Violet asked. "Pix was about to tap you!" Sprite said. "I sprinkled pixie dust on you, so you would sneeze and duck your head." Then Violet understood. Sprite's idea had worked! Her sneeze kept Pix from tapping her. Pix had almost put her under his spell! "Thanks, Sprite, Violet said. But then— "Watch out!" Sprite yelled. Pix jumped off a swing. He started to dance. He danced closer and closer to Violet. "Soon you'll play with me forever!" Pix said in a singsong voice.