The Weird Sisters: A Coop, Some Goop, and a Sandwich
Two by two children sat on the sisters broom and with a flash from Hildegurp's wand FOOSH the broom sparked to life circling up up up then down down down The children squealed with delight Next to the Flying Broom was the petting zoo managed by Jessica Nibley the sisters nine-year nine-year old friend Among the animals were Jessica's goat and Leona Swapnik's prized chickens and from their pet emporium the sisters had lent frogs bats and spiders Every time Yuckmina flashed her wand the chickens squawked the goat bleated and the frogs croaked in protest The spiders and bats were naturally silent FOOSH B'cawk FOOSH Ma a a FOOSH No o ope Jessica was happy for this responsibility because she could enjoy time with the animals while also watching over the sisters They sometimes needed 12
guidance in using their magic appropriately Unfortunately Graymalkin was not happy She had tried to nap curled up on the floor of the chicken coop napping is what cats do best But all the fooshing and bleating and squawking and croaking was keeping her awake She stretched out her forepaws scratching at the wood planks and yawned Old bits of claw fell away leaving them fresh and sharp She slunk away to find another place to sleep Hildegurp leaned over the fence Jessica 13
Nibley she called have you seen Graymalkin Jessica scanned the petting zoo She's not in the yard Let's see if she's napping in the coop with the fowl Did you say foul Yuckmina asked sniffing for odors as they headed toward the coop Fowl are birds that people often eat Jessica explained Like chickens geese and ducks We aren't eating these ones though These are Leona's show chickens All chickens are part of the same species Gallus gallus domesticus even the unusual looking types Jessica pointed to each of the birds Eggatha Christie here is a Silkie Susan B. Henthony is a Polish and Ruth Bader Ginsbuck is a New Hampshire Red We have show chickens at the carnival Yuckmina mused Hildegurp scrunched up her face Fair fowl she corrected 14
CHAPTER 2 Big Bird Cosmo Keene pried open the beak of his yellow bird suit and took a bite of black licorice He had agreed to promote Chelsea Oh's food stand Chelsea's Chick'n Mart by wearing a large feathered costume I'm trying a new plant based food Chelsea had said I'll make you a sandwich if you promote my Chick'n Mart around the carnival That's fair Cosmo had replied Chelsea rolled her eyes Carnival fair same thing she said 15
