01 Dark and Rainy

Good Morning, Gorillas

1 Dark and Rainy Tap-tap-tap. Jack sat up in bed. Rain tapped against his window. His clock said 5 A. M. It was still dark outside. Annie peeked into his room. “ Are you awake?" she whispered. “ Yep, " said Jack. “ Ready to find some special magic?” she asked. “ Maybe we should wait, " said Jack. “ It's so dark and rainy. ”

“ No waiting, " said Annie. “ I'll get an umbrella. You bring a flashlight. Meet you downstairs. " “ Okay, okay, " said Jack. He jumped out of bed. He pulled on his clothes and put on a jacket. Then he grabbed his backpack and flashlight. Jack slipped downstairs and out the front door. Annie stood on the porch in jeans and a T-shirt. The air was chilly and breezy. “ Don't you need a sweater or something?” said Jack. “ I'm okay, " she said. “ Let's go. ” Annie raised the umbrella. Jack turned on the flashlight. They followed a circle of rainy light down their street into the woods. They headed through the Frog Creek woods. The flashlight lit up the trees-the wet leaves and dark branches. Then it shined on a dangling rope ladder.

Jack raised the flashlight beam. “ There it is, " he said. A circle of light lit the magic tree house. “ Morgan's not there, " said Annie. “ I can tell. " “ Maybe she left us a message, " said Jack. Jack grabbed the rope ladder and started up. Annie put the umbrella down and followed. When they climbed inside, Jack shined the flashlight around the tree house. Morgan le Fay wasn't there. But the scrolls from their trip to old England were. “ Here's proof we found a special magic yesterday, " she said. “ Yeah, " said Jack, smiling. “ Theater magic. " He had great memories of acting in a play by their friend William Shakespeare.

“ Did Morgan leave us a new secret rhyme?" asked Jack. He shined the flashlight on a book lying under the window, A piece of paper was sticking out of the book. “ Yes! " said Annie. She picked up the book and pulled out the paper. Jack shined his light on the paper while Annie read aloud: Dear Annie and Jack, Good luck on your second journey to find a special magic, This secret rhyme will guide you: To find a special kind of magic in worlds so far apart, speak a special language, talk with your hands and heart. Thank you, Morgan

“ What kind of language does she mean?" Jack asked. “ I guess we'll find out, " said Annie. “ Where are we going? Jack shined the flashlight on the cover of the book. It showed huge trees partly hidden by mist. The title was: AN AFRICAN RAIN FOREST “ Rain forest?” said Jack. “ Good thing we brought our umbrella and flashlight. Remember the rain in the Amazon rain forest? Remember how dark it was under the treetops?” “ Yeah, " said Annie. “ Remember the spiders and scary ants?” “ Well. . . , ” Jack said, “ not all rain forests have the same bugs. “ Remember the river snakes?" said Annie. “ And the crocodiles?”