A Chance Encounter with a Witch in the Forest

A WITCH IN THE ENCHANTING FOREST!

A Photo Story by Maplelea Fan, Shannon G.

Charlsea decided to take Theo down to the Enchanting Forest. She wanted to show him where she was going to build her treehouse. Even though it was about to get dark soon, Theo was all in, as he had not been to the Enchanting Forest very much. 

Charlsea led the way. They walked through the tall grasses in the dry swamp and were almost to go over the Trillium Bridge.

Charlsea announced “Here it is!”

There was already some lumber and what was looking like a ladder up the side of a tree. "Cool " said Theo, “Can I help right now".

"Oh no”, said Charlsea, “I am still collecting lumber.” Then she turned and started fussing with things.

Theo jumped back over the log. “I'm going to the other side of the bridge.”  But, Charlsea was still babbling on about her tree house and didn't notice he even left.

Theo actually went further than he planned.  

Once on the other side of the bridge something caught his attention deeper into the forest. It was shinning light.  He carefully walked down the path a little further and hid behind a tree.

Peeking out very carefully he saw a house, and a witch out at the front sweeping her walkway and she was humming.

“This is not right.” thought Theo. “Charlsea told me the Enchanting Forest is always very friendly, happy and safe. I don't know about a witch…”

The more he watched her the scariness got into his bones, and he found himself sneaking away backwards.  He dare not turn himself around and get a spell cast on himself. As soon as he felt safe to do it, he turned around and ran with all his might back to where he left Charlsea.

“A witch! A witch!” he said in a not very quiet whisper, and he got Charlsea's attention.

“No way!” said Charlsea. “I don't know of any witch here in the Enchanting Forest and I come here all the time.”

Theo made a big gulp and nodding his head yes, he was able to gesture the direction he had gone.

“Well .... I'll be a tomato”, said Charlsea.  “I've never heard of a witch in these parts. I must go and see.”

Theo reluctantly showed Charlsea the way back across the bridge.

They both stood behind the tree and sure enough, there was the witch and her house.

“Well”, said Charlsea, “I've got to check this out.”

Theo followed Charlsea as she made her way closer to the witch but stayed out of sight. They got pretty close, but still hid in a fern bush.

 “She looks really nice!” Charlsea whispered to Theo, “I'm going to meet her.”

“Noooo… Charlsea!”. Theo grabbed for her. “Witches cast spells!” But Charlsea was out of his reach and out in the open now.

“Hi!  I'm Charlsea,” he heard her saying with an outstretched hand for a hand shake.

Theo stayed hidden.  How was he going to protect Charlsea now?

The two started chatting right away.

Charlsea felt so relaxed that she sat herself down on the front yard soft moss.

When she heard a short but precise “Boo!”, it startled her, causing her to fall backwards with her legs in the air.

“Esmeralda!”, the witch scolded the ghost that Charlsea didn't even notice until that moment.

Then a very airy “Sorry” came from the ghost’s mouth.

“I'm alright!” Charlsea laughed, but the witch said "Is there something in the fern bush?" 

“Oh yes, that's my friend Theo.” 

“Theo, you can come out now!” Charlsea called, “Everything is alright.”

“This is just. Ummmm, I didn't get your name.”  “Oh I'm Whimsical. Whimsical Witch. Why don't you two come and see my house?”  Theo came forward reluctantly as he was worried about spells and stuff.

“She's got eyeballs,” Theo whispered into Charlsea's ear.

“Oh yes, I do.” answered Whimsical, "and I love them."

"They grow like mushrooms and they watch my house for me."

Whimsical Witch continued on, “I'd like to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Candy Corn."

"I'm pleased because they have so many children and by the time of Halloween they will be just right, and we can all eat them.”

Theo made a very big gulp. “I... I… think we better go home now Charlsea. It's getting pretty dark.”

Charlsea realized it was getting dark and that they should be home, so she agreed and started to say goodbye to Whimsical.

“Goodbye!” waved Whimsical.

“You know you are invited to my Halloween Party. I do hope that you will come. It's going to be so much fun,” Whimsical called out to Charlsea and Theo.

Now here is the question.  What do you think?  Will Charlsea and Theo and even more of the Maplelea kids go to Whimsical Witch’s halloween party?

To be continued….