The Enchanted Forest: The Wish

 Adalynn had been studying really hard to be a good little witch. She had done almost everything the Principal and student teacher of the Good Witches school had told her to do. She already had earned her magic broom, but in order to reach the goal of completing everything on their list for her to do was taking a long time, or so she thought. She had even confided in her little friend Anna, the hummingbird that maybe she wasn't cut out to be a witch after all. She was almost three hundred years old and still had one thing left on the list. She had to do a good deed and once that was done she would graduate and be a good little witch. "I just don't think I can do this. It is just too hard. Anna whispered in her ear, "Make a wish on the seeds of a dandelion. I'm sure that will do the trick." She flew away leaving Adalynn all by herself. 

"I wonder if it would work. She walked and walked until she came upon a meadow that was filled with dandelions that had gone to seed. "Okay, little dandelion. Anna says if I wish really hard and blow your seeds to the wind my wish will come true. Okay, here I go!"

"Dear little dandelion please make Lightfoot a happy little horse and make it so he doesn't bite people, and let me have a birthday party for him, and that's all." She blew as hard as she could and the seeds blew to the wind. Little did Adalynn know it, but her wish had been granted, but will she be ready for the really big test? In order to make Lightfoot a nice and happy little horse, Adalynn will have to battle the wicked witch.

The Principal and the student teacher of the Good Witch school had heard Adalynn's wish as it was carried through the enchanted forest by the wind. They decided that Adalynn's wish was a good one, but it would take all three of them to overwhelm the wicked witch who was watching Lightfoot in her crystal ball. They thought the birthday party for Lightfoot was a really big wish all by itself, but Adalynn had also wished for him to be a good little horse. This was going to take some high powered witch craft that only good witches can stir up.

The Wicked Witch had also heard Adalynn's wish because the wind blew around and around in her crystal ball. She put her hands on it and sure enough there was Adalynn making a wish. "No way little one! He shall not have a birthday party. I have never had a birthday party, so neither will that naughty little horse. I shall see to it!" 

The Wicked Witch's cackle could be heard throughout the forest. The wildlife was safely hidden in the ferns and in their nests, but the farmer's wife listened to her sister's laugh and silently shook her head. "Whatever happened to you, dear sister? Why did you leave us? You could have been rich too and would have been part of our family forever. The chicken the traveler gave our mother wasn't an old stewing hen. It laid one golden egg. It has kept our family with a nice house and food to eat. If you would have just waited even one more day you would be surrounded by people that love you. Princess Marlee would have loved to know you. Maybe someday I will find you and we can be friends again. However, we will have a serious talk about all the tricks you play on people and animals. Not a good thing, dear sister. We need to have a visit and soon.

The Enchanted Forest; The Dwellers

 Ever since Felix was put in the pound the neighborhood pets had formed a committee to keep watch over the neighborhood. Tiger, Patches and Belle were an active part of the committee. They had night duty because of their keen eyesight at night. Felix had been making his rounds but on a short leash because his human was not going for his nonsense as she called it. She decided that there would be no more spoiling him. No more crystal food dishes, lobster or tuna. Nothing more for him than a comfortable bed and good food to eat; nothing fancy. Plus she and her husband were both keeping a close eye on him. No more breaking into Marleewood for him.

"Look, there he goes! He is making a break for it. He is going into the forest. I'm sure he is going to see the witch. What shall we do now?"

"Well, to tell you the truth, I'm afraid Felix is going to get hurt in there. There are some animals that live in the forest that aren't particularly fond of cats. Plus I've heard that a witch can put a spell on a cat and make him quack like a duck. Yes, I think she could make Felix do that. I think we should break into Felix's house and wake his humans up, said Patches." "No, maybe we would get locked in there, said Tiger."  "Well, what's your bright idea then? asked Belle.  Mouse reached up and turned off the light. It was time to go to bed. There was much meowing and discussing, but nothing got done that fateful night that Felix disappeared.

 Felix had not come back out of the forest, but the dwellers of the forest all knew that he had walked right in without asking permission and without a human. Mr. and Mrs. House Finch were really upset, especially Mrs. Finch. She made it a point to tell her husband that by no means was that cat getting anywhere near their babies. Even though her husband had built their nest and fed their babies all by himself, she was the boss of the family and he quietly listened because he knew she was right; this time at least. He managed to get in a 'Yes Dear, 'No Dear.' He knew what he had to do. He was quickly on his way to tell Anna, the hummingbird. She would alert all the small animals and Adalynn the young good witch in training. She would tell her teachers and all would be well.

Mr. and Mrs. Bald Eagle also lived in the forest. He had the biggest and highest nest there. Mr. Eagle kept watch along with Moss. They were good friends and had kept peace there for many many years. Mr. Eagle looked down and watched as Felix made his way towards the witch's house. He just shook his head. "You are going to be ever so sorry, cat. You should have stayed home where you lived the good life. I had better let the rest of the dwellers know that you have entered into a dangerous situation. If I can fly high enough, I might be able to see Moss and give her the house cat alert. She has shooed many a dog and cat out of the forest to keep them safe.

When Sammy, the squirrel, and Bobby, the bear saw the eagle take flight they knew that trouble was brewing. They didn't know what, but they trusted their friend, Moss, to keep them safe. They went deeper into the forest.

Mama Deer and her baby were not feeling safe when they saw the eagle fly over. She knew that her baby needed her to protect her at all costs. She hurried her baby into the forest where she could find a place to hide. She hoped her husband would come home soon. She could sure use some help.

She quickly told her baby to be very very quiet and not to move. She heard laughter not far from the nest of leaves and twigs she had made. She had heard that cackle before; the wicked witch!

The Enchanted Forest: The King

One day after her friends had gone home Princess Marlee went to her father, the King, and said she wanted to talk to him. He said, "Of course, my dear. What's on your mind?"

Princess Marlee said, "Well, how come we have such a big beautiful castle and my friend, Charlie, has just a little house. She has to do chores and I don't. We have fancy food to eat and Charlie and her family eats plain food. My clothes are fancy and beautiful, but Charlie's aren't."

The King sat back in his throne and sighed and said, "I knew that someday you were going to ask these questions and I guess you are old enough to hear some of the answers. Charlie is your cousin. Her mother is my sister. I haven't seen her for years and years, but she is a very nice lady. A long time ago when we were children our mother, your grandmother, was tricked by a peddler. We had very little water or food, but she gave him a drink of our precious water for what she thought was a magic rock. He had laughed at her and told her after he got his drink that it was worthless. She again was tricked by another traveler for a drink and she also fell for his trick. He told her that if she would give him a drink he would give her a chicken that could do tricks and the chicken would make her rich. After he got his drink he too laughed at her and told her the chicken was old and couldn't even lay eggs to eat.

My oldest sister was very angry and left the farm. I've never seen her again. Charlie's mother married a nice man and they have a small farm with some animals just like we did when we were young."

"But how come we have a castle and jewels, and swans and everything we could wish for?"

"Well the day that your grandmother realized that she had been tricked into giving away our water for a worthless rock and an old chicken was the day that she realized how foolish she had been. She cried and cried and told our father how sorry she was. She was so sad that my sister had left. She felt so ashamed. It was very hard for me to watch so I went outside and happened to see the rock she had thrown on the ground. I thought it was kind of pretty. I turned it over and over in my hand. I thought I saw something glitter as I turned it. As young boys do I spit on it and rubbed away the dirt. Marlee, it was a gold nugget, it wasn't just a rock. I ran as fast as I could into the house and showed my parents that the rock really was valuable. So after that we went to the forest to look for my sister. We never did find her, but we built this huge castle and were able to have everything we wanted ever since. That has been many many years ago."

"Well, do you own the forest too?" asked Marlee. "No, not the forest. The forest belongs to everyone to enjoy. I'm sure there are people living here that I don't even know about. It is a beautiful and peaceful place for people and animals alike to enjoy. So that's the story, Marlee. Now you don't have to wonder any more."

The laughing tree in the forest had listened to every word that the King told his daughter, Princess Marlee. Oh how he laughed. "Oh she will find out the rest of the story, Your Royal Highness. Yes she will. The Forest will make sure of it! The Forest has many voices that reach a thousand ears."

The Enchanted Forest: The Wicked Witch

 The Wicked Witch had not always been wicked and naughty. Years ago she and her sister and brother grew up together on a wonderful little farm. She had loved the animals there. She had a cow with a baby calf and some ducks. She didn't even mind cleaning the barn. Her brother had a horse that he cared for and her sister took care of the dog and cat. They all lived happily together with their mother and father for forever or so she thought. 

One day a peddler came down the road. He stopped and asked for a drink of water. Water was very scarce in those days. The creeks was almost dry, so her mother had told him she didn't have any to spare. She was very sorry and told the peddler so."

The peddler became angry and thought, "I will show that old hag a thing or two. I am so much smarter than she is. I will tell her that I will trade her one of my rocks for a drink. I will tell her that it is magic and will make her rich, but in fact it will do nothing. She will have a worthless rock and I will have had a cool drink of water."

The witch's mother had thought and thought about trading away any of her precious water, but also knew that she and her family needed food to eat. The garden wasn't growing because they had no water, the cow wasn't giving milk because she had no grass to eat and the dogs and cats were becoming mean because they were hungry. "If I don't do something we will all be homeless, she thought. I will trade you a drink of my precious water if you promise that the rock will make me rich so I can feed my family." The peddler promised the woman and drank thirstily from the cup of water she had given him. He soon laughed and said, "I tricked you old woman. I am on my way and you have a worthless rock. What a silly woman!"

The lady was very angry. She had been tricked by a peddler. What would her husband say when she told him what she had done. She decided that she wouldn't tell him. She would try the same trick on someone else as soon as someone passed by.

It wasn't long before another traveler stopped by and asked the woman for a drink of water. She told the young man that she didn't have any to spare, but if he would give her something valuable she had a magic rock that she would trade with him. The woman didn't know that the peddler and this man were friends. The peddler had told his friend that she had given him water for a worthless rock so he should give it a try as well. They had a good laugh about the silly woman and then they each went on their way. This turn of events, however, made him think fast. He had to trick the woman out of water. What should he do? Finally he told the woman that he had a trained chicken that he would trade for a cup of cool water. He didn't want the rock. When the woman started to refuse he told the woman how smart the chicken was and that it would make her rich. Well the woman decided to once again part with her precious water for a chicken that could do tricks. She would be rich. As she shooed the chicken to the coop where the ducks were she heard the traveler laughing. "Aha! I tricked you just like the peddler did. Soon you will have no water only a worthless rock and a hen that is old and no longer lays eggs. Try feeding your family with a rock!"

The woman's daughter watched her mother trade away the little water that they had for a rock and an old stewing hen. She was very very angry at her. She said, "If I had my way I would leave this farm and live in the forest. I am tired of being tired. I am tired of being thirsty and hungry. I am tired of this old farm. She picked up her few belongings and walked deep into the forest and never looked back. She would start a new life and be so much happier. "Who needs them anyway?" she thought.

The daughter lived in the forest for years and years. She was getting old. Her dress was the same as she wore the day she moved to the forest. It had become black and dirty. Her hat had turned black as well. Her fingernails were long and dirty. She didn't care. She had no one to talk to. No one to laugh with. She had no one to love. She hadn't heard about her family. She didn't know if their farm animals survived, or if her brother and sister still lived. If they did she had no idea where. She no longer cared.

One day she heard two little girls talking as they walked through her forest. She didn't like people in her home. It belonged to her and the animals. But wait...What were they saying? A king? A princess? Farmer? Where? This must be little girl nonsense. No one lived in her forest but her. She would know if they did. King, princess. Silly notions of little girls.

Moss Needs Some Help

 Moss had lived in this forest for a thousand years. She loved it here. She had made friends with all of the animals in the forest. She loved the chipmunks, birds, and squirrels. She adored the big eyed deer that often made their way to the soft pine needles that surrounded the tree that Moss made her home. Lately she had been troubled. The Wicked Witch was at it again it seemed. She had watched her take Myla's invitation away from the messenger. She had heard her cackle happily when Lightfoot bit the farmer the day that he was born. What she was concerned about was the farmer's daughter, Charlie. Charlie was kind and beautiful. She was a good friend of the King's daughter, Princess Marlee and made frequent trips to the castle. She sighed thinking about the witch. "Hopefully she will let well enough alone and leave those little girls be. I'm a little tired today. I think I will take a short nap."

While Moss took a nap the Wicked Witch was busy. She was very unhappy that Princess Marlee had friends, especially Charlie. She knew just what she would do. She would devise a plan to take all of Charlie's chickens away. She knew just what she had to do. She got out her magic cauldron and heated a brew of magic herbs and leaves of stick tights and cactus leaves.  She threw in a bit of mustard and a bit of ketchup for color and some garlic for lasting smell.  Oh she loved it. Soon she started to dance around and around her big black pot and started chanting. She was getting old so her voice sounded more like a frog croaking and a cricket's legs rubbing together. Abra Cadabra chickens in the coop! Oh dear pot let them all be soup! Now a big rabbit will do, He will make a great tasty stew! Zap! All the birds and the animals stopped their chirping and visiting. They had been through the Witch's anger before. Something bad was going to happen.

**

Charlie had had such a wonderful day at the castle with her friend, Princess Marlee. The swan rides were so much fun. As she walked through the forest she hummed a little song. Soon she was back to the little farm where she lived. It was just about time to feed her chickens. It seemed strange she couldn't hear them clucking and fussing at each other. They were so funny. She didn't see them when she walked into the coop so she started calling them Henrietta! Pricilla! Veronica! Where are you? Chick! Chick! Here, Chick! Come get your food you silly chickens. She was met with silence. What she saw coming out of the chicken coop was a complete surprise. A rabbit! Oh no! Where were her chickens? She didn't want a rabbit. A rabbit couldn't lay eggs to sell or to eat. Oh she had to find her father right away! Where were her dear little friends?

Mother Nature shook the tree that Moss was resting against. "Moss! Wake up! There's trouble brewing. I think this time it's bad trouble. There are animals in danger. The Wicked Witch is at it again. Go with the wind and help the farmer and his daughter. Hurry!"

 "Moss! Please help us. Myla didn't get her invitation to the castle to ride the swans. It's the only thing that Myla wants for her birthday. Please come with us and help." Moss was waking up from a nap. She was being pushed and pulled in two different directions.. The first thing she did was smile at the two little girls and said, "You will have to wait your turn, but I promise I will see what I can do to get you that swan ride, Myla. Right now I have to hurry to the back of the forest to see a witch about a spell or for a spell, or something like that. Mother Nature? What's happening? I need some help please!"

The Enchanted Forest: Lightfoot

 The night that Lightfoot was born was a happy night for the wicked witch in the Enchanted Forest. She cackled with glee while she watched the little pony bite the farmer. "Oh little one, you will be my servant! You will bite and nip and buck your way through life and have a grand time. You will make the farmer angry and his sweet little daughter cry. Oh this is the best day of my life!"

The farmer yelled, "Ouch! You needn't bite me little one. I will be the one to continue to feed you when your mama is finished. I will provide shelter for you when Mother Nature makes the rain and the snow come. I will give you the loving care of my daughter, Charlie. She loves animals. She will be so happy to see you in the morning. I will call you Lightfoot because you are so tiny and have little feet and will someday be able to run really fast. I'm sure we will be good friends."

The Principal and the Student teacher of the Good Witch School watched Lightfoot as he grew. They had an idea. He had no friends in the forest. When anyone came near him to pet him or feed him, he continued his naughty ways of biting and bucking. He spent his life alone just because of his bad behavior. Lightfoot started to feel very lonely. His birthday was coming soon and no one even talked about it; not even his own mama.

 The Wicked Witch continued to watch him through her crystal ball. She would laugh in glee when he was naughty. "Soon, little Lightfoot you will be mine. You will help me take what should be mine. We will succeed, Lightfoot. You and I will rule the forest. Not the king, not the princess, but you and I. We will live in the castle. You will have the best of grains and fruit to eat, I will have everything that should have been mine for years. Yes, we just have to wait a little while longer."

The castle grounds were ringing with little girls' laughter! Oh what fun they were having. Charlie and Princess Marlee were getting swan rides. The swans were trained to circle the castle then land on the pond. The girls were having such fun. Everyone except Myla. Myla had whispered her wish to the first fish she caught three days ago. She was assured her wish would be granted because she was such a good little girl, but no one had invited her to the castle. She was very sad.

What Myla didn't know was that the Wicked Witch had snatched the invitation away from the special delivery person who was on his way to Myla's house. As Myla was walking through the forest she felt like someone was watching her. She looked behind her and there stood a little girl all dressed in sunflowers. "Hello! My name is Adalynn. I am a student at the Good Witch School. I am trying to pass some tests to get my complete good witch uniform. Are you sad? Is there something wrong? Maybe I could help you."

Myla said, "Well a few days ago I wished that I could go to the castle and have a swan ride with Princess Marlee. It's just something I've always wanted to do. I whispered my wish to my very first fish that I caught. It said that it would grant my wish because I always try to be good. But I haven't gotten an invitation. Can you help me get an invitation?"

Adalynn smiled and said, "I have an idea. Why don't you walk with me for a bit. I know a really nice lady. Her name is Moss.

The Enchanted Forest: Winston

 Anna had been perched up on a dead branch of a tree in the enchanted forest watching Adalynn pass the watermelon test. For four years she had watched this same test and saw the same frowning faces every year. She flew over to the principal and the student teacher of the Good Witch School. She flew around their heads and grinned when they batted at her and complained about her getting in their faces. Anna and the teachers were good friends, but she still didn't understand their silly tests. "Weren't you kind of hard on that little girl? Would you eat watermelon and pickle juice? I think not." Before she could continue they both smiled and said, "Oh yes we did. There are certain rules that you have to follow to become a good witch. One is being on time which Adalynn has great difficulty with. The second rule is the watermelon/pickle juice test. That shows us that if you want to do something badly enough you have the will to do it. My mother used to call it gumption. The third one is to conjure up a kindness spell, and the last, but not least is to help protect everyone that lives in the enchanted forest no matter what it takes. Come here and have a drink and behave yourself, Anna."

The wicked witch lived deep in the forest. She knew about the Good Witch School and the kindness they taught. Someday she would put a stop to all their foolishness. Life had not handed her an easy life, therefore she didn't think anyone else should have an easy way of it either. 

Even though Charlie was a farmer's daughter and Princess Marlee was royalty they were really good friends. Marlee's father would sometimes invite Charlie to the castle and they would have a grand time. Charlie loved animals and so did Princess Marlee. One day Princess Marlee was on her way to see Charlie on the farm. She met a little girl that was on her way to see Charlie too. So Princess Marlee thought it would be great fun to walk together.

 Winston, the little gnome, and Anna, the hummingbird watched from a distance. Winston was sure that something bad was going to happen. He had hidden behind the mean old witch's house and heard her say mean things about Princess Marlee.  Anna also knew that something bad was going to happen so she flew back to the Good Witch School and let the teachers know that once again the Bad Witch had a plan. They just didn't know what.

Sometimes Winston wished that he was bigger, but today he was really glad he was little. He could walk through the ferns and the flowers without being seen. He thought to himself, "All I ever wanted to do is a little traveling. I've been in a desk drawer for years. So I thought I would take the leap and do something for myself'; have a little adventure, well this is an adventure alright. Now what do I do?"

Winston needn't have worried because the beautiful Moss was also watching the young girls, the good witches and the bad witch. She had been on duty for thousands of years and wouldn't let anything bad happen. She and Anna were good friends and constantly patrolled the forest to make sure everyone was safe.

The Enchanted Forest: Adalynn

 The enchanted forest was  beautiful and dark and noisy. Adalyn loved her home. She had lived here for almost three hundred years. The colors and familiar noises made her feel warm and welcome. There were all shades of green. Some of the plants were such a dark green they were almost black. Some of the ferns were a light green that stood tall and made a beautiful backdrop for the trees that seemed to reach for the sun. Some of the birds were tiny little humming birds that drank the sweet juice from the flowers at the edge of the forest where the sun could reach. Those humming birds were tiny, but they flapped their wings so fast they sounded like a swarm of noisy crickets. She grinned. She had named one of her favorite humming birds Anna. Anna loved to zoom around and around Addison's head. She would giggle and run and sometimes sing. Her singing always scared Anna away. She couldn't figure out why that was. She loved to sing because she was so very happy.

Adalynn was in a special training program. She had been training for this big day ever since she was born. She was one of the very few chosen to be a good witch. If she passed only two more tests she would get her witch uniform instead of having to wear a t-shirt with W.I.T. on it. Oh how she wanted a broom so she could fly around the treetops. She giggled just thinking about it. 

She had lots of friends in the forest. Sometimes she got busy playing with them and forgot that she had to study hard to learn her lessons. She especially loved Charlie. Charlie lived on the edge of the meadow. The meadow was a beautiful place. The grass was green and the flowers were beautiful; there were red, yellow, pink, and purple ones. She especially loved the peaceful quiet. It was so different from her noisy part of the forest. She smiled to herself. Her little friends were quite noisy, even the squirrels seemed to chatter all day. The only noise she heard at her friend's place was the soft clucking of chickens. Charlie loved her chickens and spent lots of time with them making sure they had enough to eat and fresh water to drink.

Charlie always seemed to be smiling when Adalynn dropped by. She was a good friend  and encouraged her to study for her tests that were coming up soon. Today she told Adalynn to beware of going too deep into the forest. She had heard of a bad witch making her home in the forest. She had heard that the witch could make herself beautiful or even change into the shapes of animals. She was glad she lived far away from her.

 Adalynn assured her friend, Charlie, that she would not go deeper into the forest. She thought she heard someone calling her name with an angry voice. "Oh dear. I probably forgot something again. I have such trouble keeping track of time." "Coming! she yelled. I'll be there as fast as I can."

When she got to her instructors they were both smiling. It was time for the watermelon test. When they saw Adalynn running towards them they said, "You are late! Once again you are late. If you do not pass this test you will not receive the magic broom." Adalynn's eyes got big when she saw the  Head Witch Principal sprinkle pickle juice over the slice of watermelon.

"Oh no. I can't do it. I think I might be sick." Then she thought about being a good little witch to all the animals and folks that lived in the forest. She could do this. She could do this. Yes! She could do this. And she did.

There was a little lost Gnome that witnessed the watermelon test and thought, "Oh why oh why would they do that to that sweet little girl? I need to find my way out of here and find Marleewood. I just know Faun is there visiting Grandma Lu. I don't think this is a good place for someone as little as me. Yuk! Pickle juice?"

Felix And Myla Both Make A Wish!

 Felix had never been so embarrassed in his life. He had been thrown in the pound! Just because he had sneaked into Marleewood. Well, that wasn't the worst part. The person that he always thought would have his back in any situation was his lady human. They called her Tracey. Every time he made a fuss she would make sure he was given the best food, had the softest bed and the newest toys on the market. Life was a bowl full of cherries or so he thought. When Mr. Whiskers called her to tell her there was a fine she had told him she wasn't going to pay it. She figured he could stay there for at least two more nights! No! This was not possible. He had tried to explain that the pound was a terrible place. Sometime on the second day the man from home came to get him. The man said he was so very sorry he had to stay in the pound and that he had a special treat for him when they got home.

Sure enough he served Felix his food in his favorite bowl and held him on his lap while he rested from his nightmare experience at the pound. He was never going back to Marleewood. He had learned his lesson, but there was someone else that needed a lesson learned as far as he was concerned; the lady of the house! He would get even with her the first chance he got. He would have to wait awhile because she had taken the day off to go boating with her friends. She had called and said she was having a wonderful time and not to expect her until late afternoon.

Myla was at the very end of the lake that very same day. It was the first time she had ever gone fishing. She was so excited! If she was lucky enough to catch a fish she had made a promise to herself. She was going to ask her fish for a wish. A really big wish. She just knew it was going to be her lucky day...

When Tracey got home she soon found out that her husband had bailed Felix out of the pound. She was not a bit happy about that. She thought he needed a longer stay to teach him a lesson, but she grinned to herself. She knew what she was going to do. She quietly put out some dry cat food in a metal pet bowl and put his old toy mouse in the middle of the dish. She was off to bed with a smile on her face. "That'll teach that little stinker. We spoil him rotten with the crystal dishes and the fancy food and expensive toys."

Felix was not asleep. He quietly watched his lady switch out his bowls and food and almost meowed out loud when he saw her put his favorite toy in the bowl. "Okay game on my dear. Someday when you least expect it I will have a surprise for you too. I have heard that there is a witch in that forest at the end of town. I'm going to break out of here as soon as I can and see if I can't get her to grant me a wish. I'm easy to get along with. It shouldn't be a problem....