Chapter 1 MAGICALLY DELICIOUS!

     Henry Heckelbeck threw on his boots, ran out the back door, and jabbed a yardstick in the fresh snow. Whoa! It’s a whole foot deep!
   
   
     He raced back inside and waited for his friends Dudley Day and Max Maplethorpe. They were coming over to have an epic snow day.
     As soon as they arrived, Dudley and Max kicked their boots off and hung up their jackets.
   
   
     Henry smiled as Dudley lifted his nose into the air.
     “MMMMM, what smells so good?” asked Dudley.
     “Mom made her Magical Hot Chocolate Special,” said Henry. “Want some?”
     “You bet I do!” said Dudley. “Your mom’s hot chocolate is the BEST in the world!”
     Mom laughed. “How do you know? You haven’t had it yet!”
     “Oh, Henry pinkie swears it’s the BEST,” Max cheered.
   
     “Really? A pinkie swear?” Mom asked. “That’s a lot to live up to.”
   
     Mom set three mugs on the table. Each one had a circle of red and white sprinkles around the rim.
     “How’d you get the sprinkles to stick to the mug?” asked Dudley.
     “It’s all part of the magic!” said Mom.
     Then she poured hot chocolate into each mug, followed by mini marshmallows, whipped cream, and a candy cane.
   
     The kids stirred the whipped cream with their candy canes. Then they sipped the hot chocolate.
   
     “You should get an award for this hot chocolate!” Dudley announced.
     “LOTS of awards,” added Max.
   
   
     “Well, thank you! I’m glad like it!” Mom said.
     Henry and Dudley took another big sip, which made Max crack up.
     “Hey, wow!” she said. “You both have whipped cream mustaches!”
     The boys licked their upper lips and laughed.
     Then—slurp! slurp!—Dudley finished his hot chocolate and pushed his mug away. Henry and Max finished theirs too.
   
     “Now it’s SATURDAY SNOW TIME!” shouted Henry.
     The kids jumped from their chairs, suited up for the frosty weather, and raced out the door.