Read The Golden Acorn for Free Online Page B

front of the patio doors. He hurried past everyone.
    ‘I’m afraid there’s nothing for you,’ said Nora. ‘I believe you ate earlier.’
    Camelin turned around and glowered at her.
    ‘That’s not fair. I knew I should have gone somewhere else to eat my sandwich. I’d forgotten what a blabbermouth that ash tree is.’
    ‘It’s a beautiful tree,’ replied Nora, ‘very reliable and always quick to inform me of anything which happens on the other side of the lane.’
    ‘Too quick!’ added Camelin sulkily. ‘It’s not easy being a raven when everyone pokes their nose into your business.’
    ‘Don’t you go taking any of Gerda’s food either,’ said Nora sternly when Camelin began shuffling towards the patio.

    Afternoon tea didn’t turn out to be tiny sandwiches or tea in china cups, as Jack had feared. Instead he enjoyed freshly baked bread rolls stuffed with cheese and a glass of Nora’s homemade ginger beer. Afterwards she sent him out into the garden to see Camelin.
    ‘Did you save me any cheese?’
    Jack shook his head.
    Camelin sighed and gave Jack a pathetic look.
    ‘They make really good sandwiches at the Cricket Club you know; big ones too, not like those tiny little triangular ones they have at the Village Hall.’
    ‘Do you steal food often?’
    ‘Well, I don’t consider it stealing. I like to think I’m doing them a favour, you know, like a tasting service. If the food isn’t any good I don’t eat it; they know there’s something wrong with it then.’
    Jack tried not to smile; food was obviously very important to Camelin.
    ‘How often do you leave anything?’
    ‘It’s only happened once. Last summer there was a Mexican night on at the Village Hall. I heard someone talking about a chilli and I fancied something cool, only when I tried a beakful it was red hot. Took me two days to stop my beak burning. Won’t be having any more of that in a hurry.’
    Jack had to laugh, especially when Camelin shook his head and made a disgusted kind of noise.
    ‘I’ve not been back to the Village Hall since then.’
    Jack thought that was probably a good thing.
    Elan came out carrying a small square book, which she offered to Jack.
    ‘This is for you.’
    ‘Thanks,’ he said, looking puzzled.
    It was handmade like all the other books he’d seen on Nora’s bookshelves. It was decorated with two trees. Their entwined knotted roots were made from twisted copper wire. In the middle, written in silver letters, were the words, Book of Shadows. It was like the one he’d seen in Nora’s herborium, only smaller, and at the bottom was his own name.
    ‘Wow! What’s it for?’
    ‘It’s for you to write in, not with a pen, with your wand.’
    Jack’s eyes became wide; he was going to be able to use his wand after all.
    ‘The first page is blank,’ explained Elan. ‘If you write my name or Nora’s at the top your message will appear in our books. We can write back to you the same way.’
    ‘But I don’t know how to use the wand.’
    ‘When you’re ready,’ said Nora, ‘take it in your right hand, wait until it transforms then instruct it to become your pen.’
    ‘What do I say?’
    ‘When your wand gets used to you, no words will be necessary. It will instinctively know what you want it to do, but for now try scriptum. Don’t get excited or you’ll have sparks flying again.’
    Jack had no idea how he was going to keep calm. To have a magic wand and be taught how to use it was incredible. He gave the book to Nora and took the wand in his right hand. The tip of his finger felt hot and soon the whole twig started to glow. It wasn’t long before the gnarled bark became smooth again.
    ‘Wow!’ exclaimed Jack.
    There was a crackle as sizzling lights erupted from the tip of the wand.
    ‘Not again!’ shouted Camelin and hurriedly skipped out of the way.
    ‘Take a deep breath,’ instructed Nora.
    Jack watched in fascination as he managed to bring the wand under control. His hand was