A Basket Full of Magic
Read by Rachel Lynn Anderice
Written by Karen Backway
Chapter 5 - Magic Afoot
“KOAD,” said Spunky. Spunky read off the letters.
Δခ𝛜ώ - K-O-A-D
“Koad. I wonder what that means?” asked Abby.
Molly was already flipping pages in a Motch - English dictionary she found in the basket library.
“K-O-A-D, Koad sounds like toad. You’re right Abby, it does mean magic, but a special kind of magic,” said Molly. “Magic you can only share with your friends.”
“Are we supposed to share our buttons with the porcupine tornados?” asked Abby.
“I don’t think so. They are not our friend,” answered Molly. “They are thieves.”
Spunky wrapped his big floppy ears around his cat friends and said, “DOAK - share love with friends.”
“We three are best friends,” Abby said smiling. “As long as we stick together, everything is going to be okay.”
“Yes. We three are a team,” agreed Molly.
<<SNAP>>
“What was that?” asked Molly, interrupting their delightful snuggle.
“Is it the thief?” asked Abby.
Spunky lifted his head, knocking over the little table.
“Shh…” whispered Molly, walking over to look between the cracks of the basket. She saw two porcupine tornados arguing in the clearing.
Molly heard a deep voice grumble.
“I know this is the right place, Rock. I saw them. Two small cats and one huge dog,” said one of the porcupine tornados.
“The great big paw prints head this way, Wart,” said Rock, walking directly toward the basket.
“Oh!” Molly gasped and held her breath. But Rock stomped right past the bush.
“No they don’t. They go this way,” argued Wart, who stomped right past Spunky’s den.
“I know they were here. I can sniff magic,” said Rock.
“You can’t sniff magic,” said Wart.
“I can so! Better than you,” argued Rock.
The two intruders walked toward the river.
“Wait here,” insisted Molly. Molly climbed out of the basket and silently followed them.
“You lie!” said Wart, and he punched Rock.
“Don’t punch me!” grunted Rock, shoving Wart as hard as he could.
Wart tripped and fell backward. As he fell, he grabbed Rock and together they fell into the river and were washed downstream.
Molly ran back to the basket. Spunky was sniffing around the clearing and Abby was looking over the edge of the basket.
“The closer they got to the river, the faster it flowed. They were fighting and fell into the river. They’re gone!” Molly huffed out of breath.
“Molly, how dare you run after those thieves!” Abby scolded. “That was reckless!”
“I don’t think so. Something is protecting us,” explained Molly. “One of them stomped straight toward the basket but didn’t see it. The other stomped right past Spunky’s den. I think it’s magic.”
“It is,” said Spunky. “They want to steal it.”
“You know these thieves?” asked Abby.
