Snookataria

Snook sat on her porch drinking some appleade. Watching the day drift off to sleep and the stars awaken to sparkle in the depths of the night sky. As the twilight relinquished the last of light and surrendered its last breath of light in the sky to nighttime, Snook went indoors and prepared some appleade for visitors tomorrow.

Snook poured herself another glass of appleade and moved to the living room. She sat in her armchair by the fireplace. She did not light the fire it was way to warm for a fire. But she did light two candles and place them in the fireplace. She liked the ambience a fire gave off. She turned the lamp on beside her chair and sat back to read her book. Dreams and Wishes, by Izry Draw. She liked to read for an hour before bed. As she closed the book before going to bed, she noticed, Izry Draw was an anagram of Wizardry. She wondered how she had not noticed that before.

Snook woke about half 12 and was wide awake as soon as her eyes opened. Still she wanted a coffee before she began her day. This was going to be an ad-lib day, dealing with things as they come as no one can predict what kids will do. So long as there was no tears, she could handle anything. Taking a sip of coffee and placing the cup down, Snook said to the coffee cup. "Tears are banned today."

After getting herself ready for the day. She decided to have a look outside. It was still early and she was not expecting to see anyone out there. Coo-ee she said to the empty meadow, testing if anyone was hiding behind the tree's. No one replied. Then she noticed a type swing hanging from one of the tree's and a slide on the other side. Jack she thought, that had to be Jack, wonder when he did that her mind carried on.

Jack was the first to arrive. He got to Snook's at 1:30. "Appleade?" Snook asked.

Jack. Yes, sure drop a spoonful of sugar in it, I could use the energy."

Snook. "Look's like you were up early and busy. You put the swing and slide up I take it."

Jack. "Yea about 7 this mornin'." Jack took a sip of his appleade and carried on. "Didn't sleep much last night. This coat has pockets in pockets and pockets up the sleeve that go to the pocket on the side. I put my keys in a pocket and it took me 10 minutes to find them again in the pocket."
"And hey look at this. I can put a coin in this sleeve and lift my arm and it rolls down into this pocket, how cool is that."
"By the way whats with the flowers on the trees?"

Snook. "Oh, you are getting the blame for that. That's what happens when you send stuff to another realm by the apple tree, especially if it's an apple."

Jack. "Huh? oh right the disappearing apple."

Snook. "Oh their coming." " I need to finish getting ready"

Jack. "Finish getting" Before Jack had finished his sentence Snook was half way back to the house and gone from ear shot. "ready?" Jack walked over past the trees to have a look along the pathway to the side of the house. Looking down he seen a convoy of kids coming toward the meadow. "How did she know they were coming?" She has better hearing than me I guess, he thought to himself as he walked on back toward the house.

As the kids rounded the tree and came into view, Jack could hear Bliss telling the story of the disappearing apple. How jack had threw it in that direction as she pointed back past the apple tree, and it was nowhere it had just gone. Indy finished off the story with saying yea and I seen a flash, like a tiny star and then it was gone. Bliss echoed yes I seen it too.

Jack turned his head so they would not see him laugh at the story.

Bliss and Indy left the group and ran over to Jack. The rest of the kids followed but at a distance. Bliss spoke low as if to keep a secret and told Jack. "We didn't tell anyone you were a wizard, only our best friends."

Jack. "Cool, we don't want everyone knowing" " Nice to know you guys can keep a secret."

Bliss's eyes grew twice the size and awe dressed her face. She was staring right past Jack. Jack look behind him and seen Snook coming out of the house. He knew then what she meant by finish getting ready. Snook had changed and put some wings on. She looked like a real fairy. He almost believed she was a fairy himself.

"Hey Kids and mom's and dad's." A few parents had accompanied the kids, unsure of what the picnic was all about. They brought along with them picnic baskets and some bottled water to help out with snacks drinks during the day.

From the back of the group a small voice shouted. "fairy Snook, Fairy Snook. There's flowers growing on the apple tree."

Snook. "Oh let me go take a look" Snook walked over to the tree and said "Oh my, Oh my, so there is, somebody must have done magic here for this to happen. I wonder who could have done that."

All eyes turn toward Jack. Who put a finger to his lips and gestured Shusssh. One kid dropped his hand straight away. So not to get Jack in trouble. Jack thought to himself, well they can half keep a secret, tell each other but not grown ups.

Snook. "You guys go play some and I will go get you some refreshments."

Some went off to the slide and others to the tyre swing. A few stayed by the tree with the flowers growing on it. The few adult went to talk with Snook and Jack, asking if there was anything they could do to help. Snook told them to be a kid for the day. Jack told them, just relax and enjoy the peace and break from parenting.