Olivia Nibblesqueak’s Messy Mischief

Chapter Five Mrs. Taptree’s Library

As the sun rose, Jess, Lily, and Goldie all headed for Mrs. Taptree’s home.

“Here we are,” said Goldie, stopping by a door in the broad trunk of a chestnut tree. As she knocked, the door flew open and a woodpecker popped out.

“Goodness, Goldie,” she said, “you’ve brought Jess and Lily back to my library!”

“Hello, Mrs. Taptree,” said the girls.

“Come in,” said the woodpecker. “Quick! Quick!”

Jess and Lily had visited Mrs. Taptree’s library before, but they still couldn’t believe how much bigger it was on the inside than it looked on the outside!

Jess peered around for Mrs. Taptree’s chicks. “Where are Dig and Tipper?”

The woodpecker pulled back a curtain of ivy leaves. There were her two chicks, fast asleep!

“They’re tired out,” said Mrs. Taptree. “That dreadful squeaking kept them up all night. Did you hear it?”

“That’s why we’re here,” said Lily. She explained what had happened to Olivia. “We’d like to search your books for a way to break Peep’s spell,” she finished.

“Of course!” said Mrs. Taptree.

Jess went to the corner where three magical ladders stood and climbed on the first one. “Hamsters!” she said.

Jess felt a thrill of excitement as her ladder magically moved on its own, sliding sideways into the “animal” section. On the shelves, she spotted several books all about hamsters.

Goldie told her ladder, “Witches!”

Lily stood on the third one and said, “Bats!”

But as their ladders slid along, a loud “squeeeaaak!” came from above. It was Peep and Olivia, sitting up on a shelf!

“They must have snuck in after us!” cried Lily.

Peep flung a book to the ground. “Squeeeaaak!” he said happily.

“Please don’t do that!” Mrs. Taptree begged, flapping her wings anxiously.

Olivia threw a book, too. “Making a mess is fun!” she giggled, and pushed a whole row of books to the ground.

Mrs. Taptree grabbed a broom and took off, chasing Peep around the library. “Get out!” she squawked. “Leave my books alone! Quick! Quick!”

At last, Peep picked up Olivia and flapped out through the doorway. Jess, Lily, and Goldie started searching again.

“There’s nothing about a bat spell,” sighed Goldie.

“Wait!” Lily said, reaching for the last book on the shelf. “I’ve found it!” she cried. “Purple spark transforming spell!”

She jumped off the ladder and flicked to the right page.

“And here’s how to undo it! A spell to turn you back to your normal self.” She read it out loud:

“Hooray!” said Jess. She hugged Lily. “You’ve found the way to break the spell!”

She copied the spell into the little sketchbook she always kept in her pocket. “Now let’s stop Grizelda’s plan!”