Abracadabra! Magic with Mouse and Mole (4 page)

Mouse and Mole watched the sun set.
They headed back to the oak.

Poink!
An acorn plunked
Mole on the head.
"Ouch!" he cried.
"See that nut?" Mouse pointed.
Mole picked up the acorn.
"Who is being silly now?
"
Someday,
" said Mouse,
"that nut will grow into
a magnificent oak!"

Mole gazed in awe up the tree trunk.
"How long is—
someday?
"
Mouse nibbled her tail.
"Ten years, I should think—
no rushing Mother Nature."
"TEN YEARS!"
exclaimed Mole.
"I need magic NOW!"

Mole jammed the acorn into his pocket.
He marched downstairs in a huff.

TAP-TAP-TAP.
Mole heard a knock at the door.
"Why, it's nearly midnight!" He yawned.
"I wonder who
that
could be?"
He crept out of bed
to investigate.
A sheet of paper had been
slipped under the door:

Midnight Magic
TONIGHT ONLY
DON'T BE LATE!

Mole ventured a peek outside.
Someone had set a stump in the yard.
Mole looked about. He sat down
on the edge of his seat.
"
Tickets, tickets, please!
" called a voice.
PLOP!
Mole toppled right off the stump.
A white rabbit snatched
the paper and ran off.

He returned dragging a table.
Snap, snap, snap, snap
went the legs.

Another rabbit, this one brown,
came by with a tablecloth.
FWOOMPH!
The brown rabbit
flipped the cloth
high in the air.

"It is midnight on the dot!" announced
the rabbits. "Please welcome...
MOUSE the Marvelous!
"
Out stepped Mouse from
behind the oak. She had on
her moons and stars dress.
The orange cloth was
wrapped around her head.

Mouse carried a glass jar and wooden spoon.
She set the jar on the table.
It looked empty.
Mouse undid the orange cloth.
She laid it over the jar.
Mouse waved the wooden
spoon in circles.
"
Eeny, meeny, miny ... MO!
"
She tapped the jar three times,
then yanked the cloth away.

The glass jar began to shimmer.
It grew brighter,
and brighter.

Mouse unscrewed the lid. The tiny
lights flew up and into the night sky.
"Thank you, fireflies!" Mouse waved.
Mole rubbed his eyes in wonder.
"Bravo, Mouse!" he cheered.

"A volunteer?" asked Mouse.
Mole looked to his left.
Mole looked to his right.
He was the only one there.
Mouse handed Mole a flashlight.
"Follow me," she said.

They stopped in front of a mimosa plant.
"
Eeny, meeny, miny ... mo,
" whispered Mouse.
She tapped the branch
with her spoon.

The fernlike leaves
snapped shut.
Mole nearly
dropped the flashlight.
"How did you do that?" he gasped.
Mouse winked. "A magician never tells!
And now..." squeaked Mouse,
"the GRAND FINALE!"
The two rabbits folded the table legs:
snap, snap, snap, snap.
They tilted it
up on end.

"As you know, Mole," Mouse began,
"there is a
hole
in this table."
She stuck her head
through the trapdoor.

"Do not be silly," said Mole.
"As you can see," continued Mouse,
"there is nothing in this hole."
"Except your head." Mole chuckled.