Jennifer Jane and the treasure 5/5

Jennifer Jane lifted the broomstick and ran forwards. Reaching up, she started to tickle Clarence under his wings.

"Tee hee, oh ho, stop it, stop it," he laughed and fell over on his side waving his legs in the air. He was laughing so much that tears were running down his cheeks.

"Can I take my Dad's box?" said Jennifer Jane. "I won't stop tickling until you say yes!"

"Oh, please stop, I can't stand it," giggled Clarence weakly.

"Promise you'll let me go afterwards," said Jennifer Jane.

"Oh yes, yes."

"And you won't come and try to take it back again?"

"No, no, no."

"Right," said Jennifer Jane and put the broom down.

Clarence stood up and wiped the tears from his eyes.

"It's a rotten little box and not worth much anyway. I only took it because I haven't had anything new for so long."

He reached up to the top of his pile of treasure and handed over the box to Jennifer Jane.

"Thank you," said Jennifer Jane. "When I get back, I'll make sure that the very first available cloud comes out here with some food for you."

"Dashed decent of you, young lady," said Clarence, "I quite enjoyed it really, but don't you ever try and steal any of my real treasure in the future. We dragons learn from our mistakes, you know."

"Of course not, I wouldn't dream of it," said Jennifer Jane.

"Right then, I'm off to sleepy byes. Chin, chin old thing,” Clarence curled up on top of his treasure and closed his eyes.

"Now that's all over, perhaps we can go home and have some tea," said a rather sarcastic voice from just outside the cave.

Jennifer Jane went out and gave the witch back her broom. Then they set off home.

"Actually, I thought you did rather well in there," said the witch.

"I remembered reading a story about a knight in the old days who killed a dragon by finding the only soft place in his armoured scales," said Jennifer Jane. "I guessed that a soft place would be ticklish."

"Well, you're jolly lucky you were right. Now then, how about tea and chocolate Swiss rolls with me in the Refectory? And then you can meet the other witches. By the way my friends call me Abigail."

"Yes please, Abigail!" said Jennifer Jane, as the broom dived back into the shed beside the Witches' Home, "I'd love to come to tea and meet the others.”

"We're just a little bit late," said Abigail, as they walked to the house, "I hope they've left us something to eat."

She needn't have worried. As Jennifer Jane and her new friend walked into the dining hall, all the other witches stood up cheering and clapping.

"Well done, Jennifer Jane! It's not often these days that a human meets a dragon, let alone gets back any of their treasure."

There was lots of food left and there was a special chocolate Swiss roll each just for Jennifer Jane and Abigail. They were soon tucking in and had a lovely meal.

"That was a very nice tea, thank you," said Jennifer Jane politely, "the chocolate Swiss roll was especially good."

"Now I'll fly you back to your home and I think we'll call it a day," said Abigail.

Jennifer Jane arrived at the end of her garden just as it was getting dark. "I've got your box back, Dad," she called, before anyone could ask her where she'd been all afternoon.

"Oh, well done, Jennifer Jane," said her Father, "Mr Saunders will be pleased, he was so disappointed when he couldn't see the box or what was in it. Now, don't tell me. I expect your friends in the woods helped you find it."

"Yes, they did, actually," said Jennifer Jane.

"Yes dear and I expect your umbrella had a lot to do with it as well," smiled her Mother.

"Yes, of course but how did you know?" asked Jennifer Jane.

Her parents just laughed.

"I don't know what you get up to in those woods with your umbrella," said Dad "but I must admit that you very often manage to bring home the bacon."

They both laughed again.

Jennifer Jane wasn't quite sure what Dad meant but he was obviously very pleased with the return of his treasure.

Early next morning, Mr. Saunders came round to Jennifer Jane's house and everyone gathered round eagerly to watch him open the box.

The hinges were so rusty that he had to break them to get inside but he was very careful to do as little damage as possible. At last he took off the lid and lifted out a small leather parcel tied up with string. Although he tried to undo the knots, the string was too old and brittle and it broke. Very carefully, he unfolded the little parcel and everybody crowded round to see what was inside.

He held out his hand with the treasure for everyone to see. It was a small gold chain with a charm.

"Well," he said, "it's very old but not very unusual. I don't think the museum would want to put it on display, so I think it would be quite in order for you to keep it."

Mum looked at Jennifer Jane. "I don't think your Dad would want to wear it," she laughed. "I think we ought to give it to Jennifer Jane to keep."

Jennifer Jane was ever so pleased. She'd noticed that the little charm was made in the shape of a goblin and she thought it would be a nice surprise to show her goblin friends.

And so it was, as you'll see in the next story.