1 CACKLE COUNTY Crimson Twill was a little witch. A little witch with a BIG imagination. She lived in Cackle County and was always thinking of unique ways of doing things. Like brewing lemonade in her cauldron. And decorating with bright blooms instead of withered roses. And imagining fun new clothing designs to send to Vera Fang, the fashion designer.
Not long ago, during a trip to New Wart City, Crimson had accidentally ended up in Vera’s
fashion show.
Right now, though, Crimson was imagining something else. The perfect day.
Today her friends Mauve and Wesley and Dusty the broom were coming to visit her. They lived in New Wart City and had never been to Cackle County. She had spent all week planning, creating a list of her favorite things to do with them.
And now everything was almost ready. Crimson’s mom was inside, putting the final touches on the house. Sweepy, her sweeping broom, looking festive in a bow, was dusting the dirt path that circled the farm. And Crimson was waiting on the lawn, wearing her favorite hat that was crimson like her name, and her polka-dotted dress with the spider-shaped buttons. The one that had been a sensation at Broomingdale’s.
Whoosh! Crimson heard a broom overhead.
But it wasn’t her friends. It was Granny Twill, swooping through the clouds.
“Granny, what are you doing here?” called Crimson.
Granny landed in the yard. Her broom hovered beside her. Granny had a carrot sticking out of her hair and bits of onion peel on her cloak. She smelled like a cooking spell.
“I brought this for the big day. It’s been marked on my calendar for ages,” she cackled. She pointed to a giant pot that was floating beside her. It was
really giant! And it was filled with stew. “No need to be nervous as long as you are all ready.”
“I am,” said Crimson. “I’m wearing my favorite dress.”
“Dress . . . ?” Granny looked puzzled. “That’s not
quite what I meant.”
What Granny
did mean, Crimson didn’t find out because Crimson’s mom came hurrying outside. “Oh, is that stew for us? How wonderfully wicked of you, Granny Twill.”
Like Crimson, she was flustered. She was hosting Mauve’s and Wesley’s parents. She had been untidying the house and hanging extra cobwebs all morning. Unlike Crimson, she was a traditional witch.
“I haven’t had a chance to spell up anything to eat,” she went on. “I
knew I was missing something important.”
Granny Twill looked concerned. “Food is the most important thing. Now, don’t forget . . .” she started.
“To put a cooling spell on the stew, of course, of course,” said Crimson’s mom, sending the pot inside with a flick of her wand. It was so big, it was going to take up their whole kitchen!
“I do hope that stew is enough,” Granny Twill said as she got on her broom.
Enough? Crimson was confused. There was
too much. How many guests did Granny think were coming? But Crimson didn’t have a chance to say anything because, at that moment, Granny took off and—
“Watch out!” cried a voice.
Granny, now airborne, swerved quickly. She disap-peared into the clouds just as another broom, an extra-long one, appeared.
“Hello! Hello!”
Crimson’s friends. They were here!
Copyright © 2023 by Kallie George; Illustrated by Birgitta Sif. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
