The Broomstick

The lads parked up their bikes by the oak tree in the park. Hal tried out his singing while the other lads hit the beer. He knew that soon they would be too drunk to criticize him - he did not mind that.
The park-keeper's wife could see the boys from the lodge. She came out with her besom and swept away the leaves from her front porch. The boys looked over to Mrs. Morpurgo and could see her brushing away, and as she brushed they saw millions of coloured stars float up from the brush and into the air. It was an aquaspirelle of carmine, emerald, amethyst and yellow gold.

* * *

Hal continued singing - the other lads sang the backing tracks. They wanted to be big stars - meet Simon Cowell. Tomorrow they were expecting a letter from a record producer in London.
Shining silver stars rushed from Mrs. Morpurgo's brush and they then settled above their heads. It seemed to be a good omen !

* * *

Hal got up the next morning and raced downstairs to the letter box. There was a letter on the mat. He opened it carefully. They wanted to see the boys for an audition. Back in the park Mrs. Morpurgo took her broom and swept the main path beneath the chestnut trees. No stars issued forth from the broom.

* * *

At the record producer's in London the boys were making a good impression.
"So, Lads, I think we have a deal. We will take you on and introduce you to Simon Cowell. Cheryl Cole is interested in you too."

* * *

That night the boys were back in the park. The lodge where Mrs. Morpurgo lived was lit up with fairy lights for Christmas. The boys had their guitars with them and started to sing. Eventually Mrs. Morpurgo appeared, only now she was dressed in black and had a witch's hat on; she carried her customary broom with her. As she climbed onto her broomstick many-coloured stars issued forth again from the broom. The wind was getting up and slowly but surely she took to the skies. She seemed to travel for miles and miles in the black canvas of the night, until she eventually became a constellation - the witch with the broom of stars.The boys looked on dazzled and amazed by what they saw. The magic had started.

* * *