The Motorway Protest 2/7

The roadworks continued very slowly because the Clerk of the Weather kept the rain falling day and night. Jennifer Jane kept asking her Dad what was happening.

"I think our daughter's getting a social conscience," said Mother, "she's become very interested in the local environment."

"More likely she wants to keep her free run of the woods," laughed Dad "but either way, she's certainly watching progress."

That night, there was a knock on the door. Dad answered it and then came back into the sitting room with a policeman.

"Now, sir, I believe you recently led a local protest group against the motorway."

"That's right," said Dad "but the Council wouldn't listen to us and they're going ahead anyway."

"Well, it seems that last night, some person or persons removed all the machinery from the motorway site and drove it into the old gravel pit. Now sir, would you or any of your friends know anything about that?"

"Of course not," said Dad indignantly. "We're all law-abiding citizens and we have made our protest. None of us likes the result but we have to abide by the Council's decision."

"Very right and proper sir," replied the policeman. "There's some funny goings on back there. There are no track marks leading to the gravel pit but there are a set of huge footprints between the pit and the woods. If I didn't know better, I'd have said a giant picked up all those machines and threw them into the pit."

Everybody laughed, including Jennifer Jane, although of course she was laughing because all the work had stopped.

Her Father showed the policeman to the front door but just before he left, Jennifer Jane heard him say "It won't stop them, you know; they'll have new machines inside a week! Good night, sir."

Poor Jennifer Jane didn't know what to do next. It looked as if the woods would be spoilt and none of her friends would be able to live there any more.

She decided to go to bed and sleep on it. Mum always said that things always looked better in the morning.

Sure enough, the next day she realised that there was only one thing left to do. She would have to see if Abigail could help with some magic.

As soon as she could, she went to the wood and wished to see Abigail. She had taken her umbrella, just in case she wanted to see the roadworks but to her surprise, a puff of wind took her to the Wish Warehouse before she had a chance to open it.

"That's strange," she thought, "the last time I was sent home by the wind, I didn't have an umbrella either."

Lieutenant Moonshine was waiting for her.

"Hello, Jennifer Jane," she called, as Jennifer Jane arrived with her usual bump. "Things are getting rather serious. We've all watched your efforts with interest and you're quite right, the witches are going to have to stop the motorway. Abigail has particularly asked if you would like to help."

"Yes, please," said Jennifer Jane. "Can you send me there right away?"

"Not directly," said Lieutenant Moonshine. "I'm afraid the Witches' Home is too far away for ordinary wind puffs. I'll send you back to the giant's pool and Barnacle Bill will meet you there."

"Before I go, please can you tell me why I don't have to put up my umbrella any more to have a ride on the wind?"

"Of course," said Lieutenant Moonshine, "you've been a regular with us for so long now, that we know exactly the strength of wind we need to get you to any destination. Your umbrella had to be open before so that it would work rather like a parachute."

Jennifer Jane only just had time to say, "Thank you for telling me," when she was lifted off her feet and whisked away to the giant's pool.