Chapter 12

After Maggie and Bob had finished eating their breakfast, they went to the stable to feed the magical animals. Maggie was giving grain to the old, white unicorn when she heard someone call, “Hello! Is anyone here?”

Shutting the stall door behind her, Maggie hurried to see who was there. It was Stella, holding her goose, Eglantine.

Bob finished scooping grain into buckets and turned around. “Who is it?” he asked, joining Maggie at the door.

“Stella and Eglantine,” said Maggie. “Stella is the girl. Eglantine is her goose.”

“Are you the man who helps magic animals?” Stella asked him.

“I am,” said Bob. “Is something wrong with your goose?”

Stella nodded. “She hurt her foot, but she won’t let me look at it.”

“Ah!” said Bob. “Let me see what I can do.”

At first the goose wouldn’t let him touch her webbed foot, but when he used a soft voice and gentle hands, she finally let him hold it. “She has a tiny thorn in her foot,” Bob said.

“Can you take the thorn out?” asked Stella.

“Of course,” Bob replied. A moment later he had the thorn in his hand and was showing it to Stella. “I have some ointment you can put on Eglantine’s foot, but it might be sore for a day or two. Stay here and I’ll get the ointment.”

When Bob hurried off, Stella turned to Maggie. “I can’t believe Eglantine held still for him like that!”

Maggie smiled. “Bob has a way with magical animals.”

“Do you live here, too?” Stella asked her.

“I do now,” said Maggie.

“If you two are just going to stand around gabbing, would one of you mind brushing my back? I have an itchy spot I can’t reach,” said Leonard.

Stella looked startled. “Did that horse just talk?” she whispered to Maggie.

“That’s Leonard,” said Maggie. “He’s a talking horse.”

Leonard snorted. “What did she think I was, a talking butterfly? So, are you going to brush me or not?”

“You should be happy that I fed you first today,” said Maggie. “I’ll brush you after I finish feeding everyone else.”

“This place is wonderful!” exclaimed Stella. “I have to take Eglantine home as soon as I get the ointment from Bob, but do you think he would mind if I came back someday?”

“I don’t think he’d mind at all,” Maggie told her. “Maybe you can help me teach the piglets how to fly.”

“I’d love that!” said Stella. “You’re lucky you get to live in such a wonderful place!”

“I know!” said Maggie. “And it’s all because of a fish!”