FLOATING SHORTS

 

  Heidi Heckelbeck started her day by daydreaming in bed.

  I wish I knew another witch my age, she thought. Then we could share magical secrets and cast spells together and…

  Scrape! Clump! Scrape!

   

  The sound of dresser drawers opening jolted Heidi upright.

  She watched as her dresser drawers opened all by themselves. Then her folded clothes swooshed out of her bedroom and into the hall.

  “That’s new,” said Heidi.

  She chased her clothes downstairs, where there was a full-blown tornado of outfits in the living room. Heidi fended off a pair of underwear with her arm.

  “What’s going on?” Heidi asked.

  Heidi’s aunt turned around as a pair of shorts landed in an open suitcase.

 

   

 

“I’m magic packing, silly!” announced Aunt Trudy. “Didn’t your mom tell you?”

   

  Mom poked her head in from the kitchen. “No, because I wanted it to be a surprise!”

  “Well then, surprise!” said Aunt Trudy. “We’re going to Castle Spell Cove. Your mom and I used to vacation there when we were your age.”

  With a snap, the clothes landed in the open suitcases. Then the packed luggage zipped itself shut and floated out the front door.

  “Um, what if the neighbors see our flying suitcases?” Heidi asked.

   

  Aunt Trudy waved her off. “Don’t worry. I put a shimmer spell around the yard. Our secret is safe. Now go get dressed so we can hit the beach!”

   

  Heidi ran up the stairs and nearly bumped into an egg-and-cheese biscuit floating in front of her.

  “Don’t forget your breakfast!” Mom called.

  Heidi shook her head. What’s with all the magic today?

   

  Her little brother, Henry Heckelbeck, snagged the biscuit in midair and took a big bite.

   

  “Don’t you love magic?” he said. “It’s so tasty!”

  “That was MINE!” Heidi complained.

  Then—POOF!—another breakfast sandwich appeared for Heidi.

   

  Her little brother might be a breakfast stealer, but he was right about one thing.

  Heidi did love magic.