Sadie's Story Read Free Page B

mountains?”
    â€œNevertheless.”
    â€œOnce Wilson was missing for two days. I thought he was gone forever, but he was just locked in a neighbor’s garage. He was fine. Except forknocking over the potting soil. He thought it was kitty litter.”

    Stroking Wilson’s back all the way down to the tip of his tail, the witch said, “You’re right, dear, I should think positively.” But she sounded so droopy and sad that Sadie couldn’t stand it for one single second longer. “You know what? We should find Ethel and Onyx.”
    â€œWell, as I told you, I’ve tried.” Suddenly the witch’s face brightened. “But I do have a new idea. Just being around someone like you gives me so much energy!”
    Gently she scooted Wilson out of the way, reached into her black bag, and began taking out things. Little pouches of things. Little vials of things. Little boxes of things. Little pinches of things.

    Sadie watched with growing delight. “Are all those magical?”
    â€œWhat in the world isn’t magical? Nobody understands electricity. Not really. And look at penicillin. It grows on bread! You think that isn’t magical?” She shook one of the baggies. “These are herbs, mostly. Borage for courage. Wolfsbane for invisibility.”
    â€œI’ve always wanted to be invisible,” said Sadie. Although, she had to admit, sometimes she felt invisible already. Like she could stomp her feet, hold her breath untilshe turned magenta, and no one would notice. Okay, Maya might notice. Might say a few comforting big words. Still, that wouldn’t stop her from linking arms with Jess and going away.

    â€œBeing invisible would help,” the witch mused. “We wouldn’t frighten Ethel when she landed. She doesn’t know you, and she’s shy. The thing is, I can never find the wolfsbane.”
    The witch reached deeper into the bag. “But it works. I think. I have an acquaintance named Zelda who’s always saying how invisible she is, but it’s inevitably after the fact. She’s all, ‘Oh, I was so invisible yesterday.’ Or, ‘You should have not seen me last week.’ Here it is!”
    â€œYou found the wolfsbane?”
    â€œNo, but I found what I was looking for,” the witch said, her arm still buried.
    â€œOh, good! Is it a book of spells handed down from forever?”
    â€œNot exactly.”
    â€œIs it a wand made from an enchanted tree?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œBut it will help us find Ethel and maybe Onyx?”
    â€œOh yes. Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”
    Her palms prickling with anticipation, Sadie did as she was told.

Chapter 6
    The Park
    â€œR eally?” Sadie stared at the binoculars in her grip. “No spells or potions? No eye of newt or tongue of toad?”
    The witch waved her hand dismissively. “Been there, done that. And between you and me, eye of gecko is cheaper and just as effective.”

    She lifted a second pair of binoculars, pointed them out the window, and adjusted the focus. “I’ve been a bird-watcher all my life, and I can tell you, the most powerful magic is something anyone can do. It’s called paying attention.”
    â€œBut why look for Ethel here?”
    â€œWell, since she’s a ditz about directions, she could have ended up anywhere. Here seems like as good a place as any. Shall we go for a walk and see what we can see?”
    â€œBoth of us?” Sadie asked, eyebrowsraised. “Out in the neighborhood? Um, together?”
    â€œOf course. There’s a lovely park nearby. I’m sure you know it. We could start there.”
    â€œI’ll be right back,” Sadie said finally.
    She found her father in the study, yelling at his laptop. “Helvetica Bold! Who told you to change the font to Helvetica Bold?”
    She tiptoed through the maze of books and papers scattered across the floor and