Once upon a time, there was a kind witch who had a cat and a very tall hat, and long ginger hair which she wore in a plait. With a contented purr from the cat and a grin on her face, they flew on her broomstick from place to place. The sky was clear, and the moon was bright as they soared through the peaceful night.
But the wind began to howl and blow with a fearsome, gusty might. It whipped the witch’s tall black hat right off her head and sent it spinning into the night. “Down!” cried the witch, and they flew to the ground to search for the hat, but it couldn’t be found.
Suddenly, from the bushes, a dog bounded out, holding the witch’s lost hat in his mouth. He politely dropped it at her feet, wagging his tail. The witch was so grateful she pulled it down snugly over her plait. The dog looked up with hopeful eyes and asked with a bark, “I am a dog, as keen as can be. Is there room on the broom for a dog like me?” The cat gave a little hiss, but the kind witch simply laughed. “Yes!” she cried, and the dog happily clambered on. With a tap on the broom, they were off again, soaring over the fields below.
They flew for a while, a happy crew of three, until the wind gusted so fiercely that it blew the bow from the end of the witch’s plait. “Down!” she cried again, and they landed near some trees to search for the little red bow among the leaves.
Just as they began their search, a green bird flew down from a tall tree, with the witch’s bow held neatly in her beak. She returned it to the witch, who tied it back onto her plait. The bird then chirped, “I am a bird, as green as can be. Is there room on the broom for a bird like me?” The cat scowled and the dog looked unsure, but the witch beamed. “Yes!” she cried, so the bird fluttered on.
Now there were four of them, flying high and fast, having a wonderful time. They flew over rivers and mountains, until the witch, with a sudden gasp, dropped her precious wand! “Down!” she cried, and they flew to the ground once more. They searched beside a reedy pond, but the wand was gone.
Then, a small, wet frog hopped out from the reeds, holding the shiny wand in his hand. He presented it to the witch, who was overjoyed. “I am a frog, as clean as can be. Is there room on the broom for a frog like me?” he croaked. The cat was furious, but the witch smiled warmly. “Yes!” she said, and the frog leaped on.
The frog jumped on the broomstick, and the witch gave a tap. But with five of them on board, the broom was overloaded. With a loud, sharp CRACK, the broom snapped in two! The cat, the dog, and the frog fell tumbling into a bog below, while the witch and the bird fell from the sky.
The witch landed right in front of a huge, fearsome dragon, whose scales shimmered in the moonlight. “Aha! Witch!” he roared, smoke puffing from his nostrils. “I’m planning to have witch and chips for my tea!”
The witch was terrified. She had no hat, no bow, and her wand was lost in the fall. Just as the dragon lowered his head, a terrible creature rose from the bog. Tall, dark, and sticky, the monster was covered in mud and weeds. It possessed four heads, multiple wings, and several legs, making a horrible, squelching sound as it moved. From its mouths came a combined voice that gurgled and growled, “Buzz off! That’s my witch!”
The dragon stared in horror. He trembled and backed away, stammering, “I’m sorry!” He spread his wings and flew away in a panic.
The muddy monster then fell apart, and out stepped the dog, the cat, the frog, and the bird. They had saved her! The witch was so grateful. She found her wand, and with a smile, she put a lily, a pinecone, and a twig into her cauldron and began to chant a magic spell. Poof!
A magnificent new broom appeared before them. It wasn’t just any broom—it had a special seat for the witch, a chair for the dog, a cozy nest for the bird, and even a little showerhead for the frog! They all climbed on, and with a happy cry, the witch tapped the broom. And whoosh! They were gone, flying happily and comfortably together into the night sky.
If you enjoyed Room on the Broom, we invite you to discover more magical tales in our Halloween Bedtime Stories Collection.
