Post on 18-Oct-2020
Deep in the woods lived a witch namedEzmeralda. She used her magic powers to turncats into flower stands and rabbits into plantsfor her garden.
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One day, she came up with a new idea for aspell. She would turn a princess into a frog!
Once she gathered the ingredients for herpotion, she called to her magic broomstick:”Abracadabra, vroom, vroom, vroom! Take meaway my magical broom!”
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But Broomstick was tired of the witch’s meantricks. She was always changing innocentpeople and creatures into things just becauseshe thought it was funny. And she blamed thebroom if anything went wrong!
So as they flew away from the cottage,Broomstick made a decision. He would notlisten to the witch any more!
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When the witch asked the broom to go right,he went left.
When the witch directed him to the equator, hewent to the North Pole.
The witch was becoming very angry with thebroom.
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”You will be my broomstick no longer!” thewitch cackled as she tossed the broom over asteep cliff.
The broomstick tumbled down the mountain.
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He found himself in a cold and snowy place hehad never been before. I’ve heard of this place,it is the arctic tundra! How will I ever survivehere on my own!
He tried to fly away, but the wind was so strongit knocked him down again.
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”I must find somewhere warm and dry tostay. This is even worse than working forEzmeralda!”
Broomstick trudged along in the cold snow,feeling lost and alone.
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Suddenly, a bigmusk ox came running towardshim.
The broomstick smiled, hoping to befriend theox.
But the ox was not interesting in stopping tohelp the broomstick.
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He tossed the broom up into the air with hisbig strong horns.
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Broomstick landed in a big pile of snow. Whenhe popped out and looked around, he sawmore angry oxen, and a big wolf. He realizedthe oxen were trying to protect their babies.
”I must have gotten in between that musk oxand its children. No wonder it tossed me outof the way!”
I should try to disguise myself, so no one elsewill try to hurt me. But what could I be?
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”What if I become a tree? I will just stick myselfin the snow upside down!”
But Broomstick did not know that trees do notgrow in the tundra.
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Soon a reindeercame and sniffed at Broomstick. He thoughtthe reindeer might be more friendly than theoxen, but it soon trotted away.
Broomstick began to fear he would be coldand alone forever in this strange new land. Sohe uprooted himself from the snow, and wentlooking for somewhere warm and friendly tostay.
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Soon, he found a cozy looking burrow. Hepoked his head in to listen.
”What is that strange sound? I hope it is notthe hissing of a snake!”
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But Broomstick had the biggest surprise yetwhen he did not meet a snake, but a whitearctic hare brewing tea!
”You are welcome to join me,” said the hare.
”Thank you so much,” said Broomstick. ”Howcan I repay your kindness? I only have a fewbristles to spare. Maybe you can use them inyour home?”
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”That would be wonderful!” said the hare asshe gave Broomstick a big hug. ”I can makesomething beautiful with those!”
Broomstick was shocked. No one had everthanked him before. Maybe he could helpother animals here on the tundra, and theywould be as kind as this hare.
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Broomstick soon met a polar bear who neededhelp crossing the river. Broomstick was happyto serve as a cane as they floated on an iceberg.
The bear was very grateful for Broomstick’shelp.
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As Broomstick cheerily waved goodbye to thepolar bear, he noticed some arctic moss hadlatched onto his bristles. It was looking for acozy place to grow.
Broomstick was happy for the moss to makehis bristles its home. The moss even helpedhim feel a bit warmer!
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Soon the sun began to set and Broomstickbegan searching for a place to rest forthe night. Suddenly, he realized he wassurrounded by all the animals of the tundra!
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Even though some of the animals had beenfriendly, others still seemed frightening.
”Wh . . . Wh . . . What do you want?” hestuttered.
A reindeer stepped forward and said, ”Wewould like to invite you to join a party we arehaving tonight. There will be a warm fire andfood.”
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Broomstick eagerly accepted the invitation.
That evening, Broomstick and the animalsshared stories, songs, and dancing.
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Broomstick knewhewould always be appreciated here, and havethe protection of friends who truly cared abouthim. The tundra was more special than he everimagined it could be. It was his new home!
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The End.
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Brought to you by
Let’s Read! is an initiative of The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asiaprogram that fosters young readers in Asia. booksforasia.org
To read more books like this and get further information aboutthis book, visit letsreadasia.org
Original StoryThe Magic Broomstick, author: Yamam Khartash . illustrator: SaraWafeeq. Published by 3Asafeer,https://www.digitallibrary.io/en/books/details/1365 © 3Asafeer.Released under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
This work is a modified version of the original story. © The AsiaFoundation, 2019. Some rights reserved. Released under CCBY-NC-SA 4.0.
For full terms of use and attribution,http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/