OrleansJack was asleep. He was dreaming that he wassleeping on a boat. It was rocking back and forth,back and forth....
"Jack."Jack opened his eyes. It was just getting lightoutside. Rain was tapping against the window-pane.
Tappity -tap-tap.Jack closed his eyes again.
"Jack, get up."Jack opened one eye and looked up. Annie stoodnext to his bed. She was already dressed.
16She was even wearing her raincoat. "They're here,"she whispered.
"No, they're not," Jack said. He closed his eye.
"Yes, they are," said Annie. "They're waiting for us.""How do you know?" Jack asked.
"I dreamed it," said Annie.
"Oh, you dreamed it." Jack turned over and pulledthe covers over his head. "Go back to bed. It's-reallyearly, and it's raining.""Come on, Jack," said Annie. "I saw them. Theywere wearing their cloaks and looking out the treehouse window.""Great," said Jack. "I just dreamed I was sleeping ona boat.""But mydream was real, Jack," said Annie.
Jack pretended to snore.
"Okay," said Annie. "I guess you want me to gothere all by myself. You want me to have a greatadventure while you just lie here, dreaming aboutsleeping. If that's really what you want, I'll leave youalone."17"Good," said Jack. "Have fun.""Don't worry, I will," said Annie, and she left Jack'sroom.
Jack lay still for a moment, listening to the rain falloutside. Darn,he thought, what if she's right?
Jack heaved a sigh. Then he climbed out of bed. Hepulled on his clothes and grabbed his backpack. Heslipped down the stairs, put on his rain boots andraincoat, then headed out the front door.
Annie was standing on the porch, waiting for him.
"Ready?" she said.
Jack just grunted. But as he and Annie took off intothe cool, rainy dawn, he woke up completely. As theycharged up the sidewalk, Jack's heart pounded withexcitement. By the time they headed into the FrogCreek woods, Jack felt like he'd dreamed Annie'sdream, too.
Raindrops tapped on tree branches. Jack and Anniescrunched over fallen red and gold leaves until theycame to the tallest oak. Jack looked up.
"Ta-da!" said Annie.
The tree house wasback. And Teddy and Kathleenwere dressed in their dark cloaks, looking out theirwindows.
18[Image: Annie, Jack, Kathleen and Teddy.]
19"Good morning!" called Kathleen. "We dreamedabout you!" said Jack. "At least Annie did."Teddy and Kathleen smiled, as if this news didn'tsurprise them at all.
Annie and Jack started up the rope ladder. Whenthey climbed inside the tree house, they hugged thetwo young enchanters. "Welcome," said Kathleen. Herbeautiful sea-blue eyes sparkled.
"Do you have a new mission for us?" said Jack.
"Indeed," said Teddy, smiling. "Just like last time,Merlin wants you to help a creative person bring hisgifts to the world.""And thiswill help you," said Kathleen. She pulleda book from her cloak.
"Great!" said Jack. He took the book from Kathleen.
The cover showed a street parade with musiciansplaying trumpets and trombones. The title was AHistory of New Orleans Music.
"New Orleans?" said Annie.
20"Yes, New Orleans, Louisiana," said Kathleen. "Youwill love this city," said Teddy. "Cool," said Annie.
"And here is your magic flute." Kathleen picked upa gleaming silver flute from the corner of the treehouse. It was the magic flute Jack had played on theiradventure in Vienna, Austria. "Only this time ..."Kathleen tossed the flute into the air. It hovered for amoment, then began to twirl around and around.
There was a flash of blue light--and the flute wasgone! Floating in its place was a shining brassinstrument.
Kathleen plucked the instrument from the air. "Thistime you will play a magic trumpet," she said.
"Oh, man," breathed Jack. "That's incredible.""Yeah," said Annie. "I've always wanted to play thetrumpet."Kathleen laughed. "Well, this is your chance," shesaid. "The trumpet's magic will make you a brilliantperformer."21"But the magic can only happen once," Teddyreminded Jack and Annie, "just as on your lastjourney with the magic flute. Play the trumpet onlywhen you face your greatest danger.""And while one of us plays, the other has to makeup a song, right?" said Annie. "And whatever we singwill come true.""Precisely," said Teddy.
"Um ... what danger will we face in New Orleans?"asked Jack.
"Perhaps none," said Teddy. "But keep the magictrumpet with you just in case. And remember, afteryou have played it, the magic will be gone and it willbecome an ordinary trumpet.""Got it," said Jack. He took a deep breath.
"Okay," said Annie. "Ready?""Wait," said Jack. "Can you tell us what kind ofcreative genius we're looking for?""We can do more than that," said Kathleen with asmile. "We can tell you his name. It is LouisArmstrong."22"Louis Armstrong," repeated Jack. He knew thatname.
"He is the King of Jazz," said Teddy.
"The King of Jazz?" said Annie. "Cool!""Yes," said Kathleen. "But Louis Armstrong won'tknow that when you meet him. It is your job to puthim on the right path.""To give his gifts to the world," said Annie. "Got it.""Good," said Teddy. "And now you should go.""Right," said Jack. He pointed at the cover of thebook. "I wish we could go there," he said. "To NewOrleans!""To meet the King of Jazz!" said Annie.
"Good luck!" said Teddy as he and Kathleen wavedgood-bye.
The wind started to blow.
The tree house started to spin.
It spun faster and faster.
Then everything was still.
Absolutely still. |