Snook watched as Jack danced out of sight and then returned to bed. Not setting an alarm she knew she would wake in a couple of hours. Closing her eyes, sleep was evasive now. Watching Jack with the two kids had her mind thinking. After a half hour of turning from one side to the other. Snook decided to get up. Sleep just wasn't going to happen.

It was going to be a long night. A long night because Snook was up early. Maybe she could get a nap in later. Snook put the kettle on for a coffee and went to take a shower. All freshened up and sitting at the table drinking coffee with no cookies. Blasted Jack, he could put those cookies away double time. Snook wondered what she would do so early in the day. Before she had consciously decided. Snook was baking cookies and apple pies.

Before long Snook had baked three heaped plates of cookies, three pies and still had cookies and two pies in the oven with still more mix for a couple more.

Snook sat down to a coffee and took a slice of pie. She noticed the time 6.30 and thought the day went quick. Jack would be here soon with her groceries. Looking at the plates of cookies. Let's see him go through those she thought. No sooner the thought when three knock's came on the door.

Snook invited Jack in for a coffee. Jack would rarely refuse a coffee from Snook. Though you would never see cookies at Jack's house, cause he knew he would live on them instead of cooking a proper meal. He would eat them when at others and he knew Snook had cookies cause he brought them with the groceries.

Snook ushered Jack to the kitchen. While the waited for the water to heat, Snook asked Jack how his day was.

Jack. "Pretty much quiet, same old stuff... Looks like you had a busy day though.

Snook. "Told you I had things to do today."

Jack. "Opening a bakery? Don't know how you cooked all that in that small oven in one afternoon." "Must be a magic oven." Jack was laughing inside, not letting on that he knew the kids called her Fairy Snook. "So, is there a picnic going on I don't know about?"

Snook. "Picnic, oh now there's an idea. We should have a picnic tomorrow. Why don't you come over around 2? Not before 2 Jack." Snook realised after she invited Jack to the picnic he would turn up at 9 AM to get things set up. "Remember not before 2" "I'll put a note on the tree saying picnic at 2. Word will get around."

Jack. "Yea sure, I can make that." "Those cookies are looking lonely right now though. That coffee ready?"

Snook finished making the coffee and put a plate of cookies on the table. "Save some for tomorrow, don't eat them all tonight" With a smile on her face Snook said "I seen you today you know."

Jack. "Yea, I called in to ask if you needed anything from the shop. You see me a few times a week."

Snook. "No silly I seen you outside. Taking two apples and getting interrogated. So you are a wizard eh?" " You do know those kids are going to pester you to do magic every time they see you now." "Nice the way you made the apple disappear."

Jack reached into his pocket and retrieved an apple. "Forgot I put that one there. Took that one for the walk home" "What's the deal with one apple a day? They are great apples too by the way."

Snook. "It keeps them from making the tree bare and leaves an apple for someone else. I have no idea were they got the Fairy Snook from though." "You are going to have to find some magic though."

Jack. "Yea, this wizard thing I am going to have to put a bit of thought into. Didn't think this trough before I said it. Ah, we'll see what happens. Their kids, by this time tomorrow something else will be on their minds and they'll have forgotten about me being a wizard."

Snook. "Don't count on it, I was asked was I a fairy two years ago and now they all call me Fairy Snook. Just out of the blue, Young Penderis asked me if I was a fairy for no reason. All I said was fairies never tell. Now the whole village calls me Fairy Snook. I even heard some of the parents call me Fairy Snook."

I have just the thing for you. Snook left the room and came back with a coat for Jack. "You should wear this tomorrow. It has lots of hidden pockets you can hide things in."

A quietness fell into the room. It was not unusual for Snook and Jack to sit and not talk, this felt a little different though to Snook. "Everything okay Jack, you seem like you are off somewhere else."

Jack. "Eh huh? yea, just you know Julies shop, the one that sells the second hand stuff, Like a thrift shop type thing. Word has it she is selling the shop. Shame to see that shop go. She loved that shop and I liked that shop. Wonder why she would sell. She wasn't around today when I was down there, Wanted to ask her why she was selling. If I had the shilling I would buy that shop myself."

Snook. "Oh that's interesting. You know Blarney's Bar. That's getting sold too I hear. I wonder what's going on people selling their business."

Jack. "I'll do some digging tomorrow and see what I can find out." "Right now, I'm going to get myself off home and think about being a wizard. See if I can magic up some magic"

Snook walked Jack to the door. Jack paused a moment, then said, "Two years eh? Didn't you only move in two years ago?"

Snook. "Well yes, Why do you ask?"

Jack. "No reason, I just can't remember who lived here before that, come to think of it, I can't even remember this house being here before that."

Snook. "Well it was here when I moved in"

Jack. "Yea I guess so. Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow for the picnic. Thanks for the jacket"

Snook. "See you then Jack" Snook watched as Jack walk out of sight. Then remembered her note for the picnic. She pinned a note to the tree which read. Picnic here in the meadow, Today 2 PM.

Oh now that's an idea she thought to herself. Snook began picking some flowers from the meadow. After collecting a heap load in a basket she got a tub of sticking gum from the house and began dipping the slower stems into the gum and placing them on the apple tree. This is sure going to make the kids wonder she thought and she would tell the kids someone must have contacted the magic realm close to the tree for that to happen.