wizard_story

Hey,look! Im upside down! laughed Sharee. She was setting the table in her home at Nelson Bay, when she happened to look down into the spoon and that's where it all began.

Sally, Ashley and toddy tried to peer into the spoon together.But, instead of seeing themselves they saw a girl they had never seen before. She was tapping as loudly as she could on the spoon's surface.

Who are you? asked Sharee. I am Olene from Topsy-Turvy Town,cried the girl. Rub the spoon and let me into your world and I'll explain everything. Sharee carefully rubbed the spoon and there, standing on her hands before them,was an upside-down girl.

Why are you upside-down? asked Sharee. Olene explained: A wizard in our town of Dervee cast a spell on our chickens-instead of laying more eggs they grew longer legs. Everyone laughed at him and said his spells were all topsy-turvy.

He was so angry that he stormed off threatening to make us all upside-down. When we awoke the following morning we found that the whole town was no longer our town called Dervee, it was Topsy-Turvy Town! We all had to walk on our hands!

How dreadful! said Sharee. Did you ask him to reverse the spell? No-one can get near him, replied Olene. He lives behind a fence with padlocks all over the gate. Is'nt there anyone who can help? asked Sharee.

Olene looked up at Sharee. Only a person born in November, she said hopefully. That is the month when the wizard cast the spell. Why, that's me! cried Sharee. My birthday is in November. Olene smiled. This is topaz, your birthstone. She handed Sharee a small smooth stone. If you rub it your wishes will come true.

Sharee shut her eyes. She rubbed the Topaz until it felt quite warm. I wish I could help Olene and the people of Topsy-Turvy Town, she whispered. When she opened her eyes they were all standing in the main street of the town. People were walking on their hands and carrying their bags with their feet. And most amazing of all, the houses were upside-down!

Where is the wizards house? asked Sharee. Just follow me, said Olene. It's not far from here. It was funny to see all the people doing everything topsy-turvy,but they did not look at all happy.

Near the edge of the town they were stopped by a high fence. The gate was securely locked with big padlocks and there were nasty spikes on top of the fence. This is it! said Olene. Now rub that stone and wish us over the fence to the wizard's house. In a flash they were standing outside a large right-way-up stone house.

Carefully they crept to the window and stood on tiptoe. Peeking inside, they could see a large cauldron bubbling away over a fireplace. On the floor lay an enormous book. There was no sign of the wizard.

I'll try the door, whispered Sharee. Ever so quietly she turned the handle. It opened and she crept inside. Olene, Sally, Ashley and Toddy were close behind her. They tiptoed towards the large book.This must be the wizard's book of spells, said Sharee. Sally, Ashley and Toddy, you keep watch for the wizard while Olene and I look for the spell.

Olene watched as Sharee knelt beside the book. Carefully Sharee lifted back the heavy cover. She flipped the pages over and over until she found a picture of a large spoon. I think I have found the right page, whispered Sharee.

Stirring round and stirring deep

Change the people in their sleep

Stirring deep and stirring round

Make them all upside down

Did you hear that? asked Olene. Footsteps overhead! Sharee rushed to the cauldron and seized the spoon beside the fireplace. She touched the topaz in her pocket and whispered, Please help me undo this topsy-turvy spell. As the topaz grew warm Sharee had a wonderful idea. She read out the reverse spell using the dates of her birthday:

Stirring with a spoon of wood

Tweenty-three times, to see the good,

Stirring deep and stirring round

Then their feet will touch the ground.

The footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs. Chanting the reverse spell, Sharee stirred as quickly as she could. The footsteps stopped. The door slowly opened, and the wizard shouted, Who's there? What do you want?

Olene gave a gasp and fell to the floor. Stand up on your feet! called Sharee. Gradually Olene stood upright, smiling. Sharee pushed the book of spells into Olene's arms and wished as she rubbed the topaz: Take us away from here!

They found themselves standing in the main shopping area of Olene's town. It was no longer Topsy-Turvy Town. Everyone was laughing and cheering, now they were right-way-up in Dervee again! Oh, how can we thank you? smiled Olene. Just keep that book of spells safely out of the wizard's reach, said Sharee. She rubbed the topaz for the last time and wished...

Sharee found herself sitting at the table back in her home at Nelson Bay with Sally, Ashley, and Toddy. What a wonderful topsy-turvy adventure! Sharee smiled at the upside-down face in her spoon. This time it really was her own topsy-turvy smile!

Author: Julia Wilson