Here is the first part of a story that was written for my eldest two when they were 6 and 8 years old. I think I have 4 of the stories left I wrote about some mice who lived in Bluebell Patch. This was the first. I would love some feed back as I was considering reviving them and seeing if they were publishable.
Susie Spellmaker to the Rescue
Joshy and Zach lived in a small hole at the bottom of the Great Oak in Bluebell Patch. They were cobblers, making all the shoes for the village. It was a lovely place to live and all the mice were very friendly. Joshy and Zach were always getting into mischief. Or rather Joshy enjoyed playing pranks and Zach had to sort out whatever trouble Joshy had caused.
There was one small problem. Joshy and Zach had a good friend call Susie Spellmaker. Susie was a witch. Not horrid witch, but she could do magic, so the other mice of Bluebell Patch were afraid of her. Joshy and Zach were not frightened. They knew that Susie was a very kind mouse.
One night Joshy rushed into the house. He was very excited.
"I've done it. I've done it. I've solved Susie's problem." Joshy was squealing with delight. He danced round and round his brother.
"What problem? I didn't know Susie had a problem." Zach was alarmed. He stopped cooking and looked at his brother.
"No-one will be afraid of Susie ever again. Everyone in the village will love her now." Joshy giggled.
"Joshy what have you done, now?" Zach asked quietly.
"I - I put a spell on the blue shoes and red shoes. Now the twins have to be good, and cannot run away from Ma Muddles." Explained Joshy.
"Oh No!” wailed Zach. “How? What Magic? And did your magic work?"
"Oh, not yet. But it will. Susie's magic always works. And I used her book." He assured his brother.
" Do you want Susie to be banished?" He asked crossly.
Joshy shook his head. "No."
Susie banged on the door very hard. She looked quite flustered. Her hat was falling off and her hair was very messy.
"I've been on the big east branch watching those ghastly Muddles twins. They're being really naughty tonight. They just won't stay still. Everyone is getting cross with them, and Ma Muddles doesn't know what to do." She said very quickly.
"Oh No." Zach rushed out.
They all went up to the big east branch and looked down at the clearing below. They were just in time to see the Muddles twins jumping into a deep muddy puddle. Poor Mrs. Longtail was splashed from head to foot. But before she could raise her paw to waggle her finger at the naughty boys, they were gone.
They scurried across to the other side of the clearing running round and round Mrs. Baker who was carrying a large seed cake for Mr. Harvester’s birthday. They frightened her and she dropped it.
What a horrid mess it made.
The twins stopped long enough to snatch up a small piece of cake before they were off again as fast as their feet could carry them.
The twins rushed straight into the nettles that were growing at the edge of Bluebell Patch and disappeared from sight. Poor Ma Muddles tried to follow her sons.
"Those twins are being so naughty tonight." said Susie, "It’s almost as if their feet have a mind of their own."
Zach and Joshy went home. Zach shook his head and sat down on one of the small toadstools and thought and thought.
"You'll have to tell Susie the truth." He whispered to Joshy.
"Can't I just get shoes back and destroy them?" asked Joshy in a small voice.
"No", said Zach firmly. "The magic has to be removed. You know that. And only Susie can do that." ......
Mini