I have made some changes which some of you suggested especially Tom the black cat who is now called Midnight.
In the middle of a forest stood a tiny cottage made of logs. It had a crooked chimney and thatched roof. Inside the cottage lived a witch called Imogen and her black long haired Persian cat called Midnight. Imogen felt she was not the cleverest witch. Each time she tried to cast a magic spell, she just could not get it right. .
One time, she wanted to make a fish pie for Midnight as a special treat for tea. Instead of a fish pie, Midnight got a fish tie! He didn't want a fish tie for tea.
When Imogen wanted a pair of new boots she checked her magic spell book. With a flick of her magic wand she read:
"Old boots, old boots, make me a pair of nice boots,"
Zap! bang! Alas - there on the floor stood a brand new pair of mice boots! The boots began to squeak and then started to clump around the room.
"Clump! Clump!" they squeaked loudly.
Midnight spotted the mice boots and licked his lips.
"Yum," he said. "I think I will have them for my tea."
Jumping down from the window sill he chased the mice boots out into the garden.
"Oh dear," sighed Imogen, as she sat on a stool. "I cannot seem to get a single spell right, no matter how hard I try."
As she wondered why her spells didn't work, a robin flew in through the open window and landed right onto her shoulder.
"A letter for Imogen ," the little robin cheeped pointing to his bag with his right wing.
"A letter for me?" she asked, amazed.
The robin nodded and removed the bag with the letter inside. Imogen thanked the robin, reached for the letter and
opened the envelope.
Imogen's face lit up and she jumped for joy.
"My good friend Wizard Jack, is inviting me to stay with him! "Whoope! A holiday," she said.
The last time she`d visited Jack, he`d given her a book of spells. Unfortunately, none of them seemed to work for her.
"Maybe Jack can figure out the problem," she said. "I will take the book of spells with me."
So she got up from her stool, and went to get the spell book from top of the book shelf. Imogen brought it down, it was big and very heavy.
"Phew," she panted as she carried it and plopped it down onto the table with a bang!
Dust flew off, making Imogen cough and splutter. It had been a long time since she dusted.
That afternoon, Imogen packed her suitcase. She packed the book of spells and a change of clothes, gathered her broomstick, picked up Midnight -who was still chasing the mice boots and off they flew to Jack the Wizard.
Jack lived in a log cabin by a stream at the edge of the forest. Imogen flew down and landed right on his doorstep. She knocked. Jack opened the door. Seeing Imogen he smiled , because he was so pleased to see his friend. Imogen stayed and during her stay she told Jack all about her spells that kept going wrong.
That evening while Imogen was fast asleep, Jack looked at Imogen`s spell book. He noticed at once that on the front cover splashes of potions had smudged some letters off the title.
It read: "A W*****`s book of magic spells."
Jack removed the smudge carefully with a damp cloth. The letters appeared and the title of the book.
It now read: "A Wizard `s book of magic spells."
"No wonder those spells didn't work for her. She is a Witch," said Jack. "I gave Imogen one of my wizard books instead."
The next morning after breakfast, while Midnight was outside chasing some toads, Jack took Imogen into the living room and asked her to take a seat. Then, rather shyly, he explained his silly error,
"No wonder you couldn't make your spells work Imogen - I gave you the wrong book by mistake."
"Thank goodness! I really thought I must be the worst witch ever, and that I would never be able to cast a proper spell."
Imogen said and started to laugh, then Jack laughed. They laughed and laughed until both of their sides ached and their eyes watered.
Eventually they calmed down and Jack got up.
"I will go and get your book which you left behind. I was having trouble doing the spells myself, look,"
he said pointing to the clock on the wall. The hands on the clock were spinning around very fast and it chimed every few seconds. A little grey mouse kept going up and down. It looked tired and exhausted.
" I have been trying to stop old Hickory, Dickory, for days and now I can stop the clock at last."
Imogen nodded in agreement. The poor mouse looked like it could do with a rest. So Jack said some magic words,
"Hickory Dickory, Dock. Let the mouse run up the clock. When the clock strikes one. Hickory Dickory, stop, "
The clock stopped immediately, and the little grey mouse stopped running. Jack gave the mouse a piece of cheese and a drink of water. After it had finished eating and drinking, it curled up and went to sleep.
Jack said he was sorry and handed her a brand new book of spells.
"Please take this and visit me again soon."
Imogen thanked her friend, Jack and collecting Midnight in her arms, she sat on her broomstick. With a shout of,
"Goodbye, see you again soon," she soared into the air. Off she flew back home with Midnight.
When she arrived home she couldn't wait to try out the new book. Opening it she read the first spell. It was called "How to make a fish pie."
That evening Midnight had a lovely fish pie for his tea.
"Yummy," said Midnight. "Much better than a fish tie."
Imogen then tried the next spell.
"How to magic up some new boots."
Following the instructions she placed her old boots in the middle of the floor. With a flick of her wand she chanted the words from her spell book.
"Old boots, old boots. Disappear, disappear. Bring me a pair of new boots."
Zap! Bang! The old boots vanished in a thick cloud of dust and when the dust, had settled, there before her stood a pair of new boots. Imogen was so happy. She had done it at last. Imogen tried on her new boots and was delighted as they fit her perfectly. She danced around happily.
"Now that I have the right book. I won't be mixed up ever again."
Midnight said nothing. He was fast asleep on the floor rug, purring softly, and dreaming of things like fish pie, and chasing mice boots.