SEVENTEEN

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READY? Ready to do the spell and make these elephants go back to their home?” Eve asked April.

April stood up. Her heart started beating faster. She walked over to the plastic bag. She bent over to pick it up. As she stood back up, she felt a little light-headed. With another deep breath, her head cleared. She walked over to her bed and lay down. She swallowed hard.

Grace and Eve stayed sitting on the rug. They turned around to face the bed where April lay. Eve was nervously playing with the corner of the page of the Book of Magie. April heard the sound: flick, flick, flick. April’s palms were sweaty. They were making the handle of the plastic bag slippery.

April blinked quickly. She took another deep breath then closed her eyes. She could not figure out how she was going to fall asleep. After all, she had just woken up and she was so stressed about all that she had done. She heard Grace and Eve whispering but could not make out their words. Then, the spell popped into her head as if she had known it all her life. That freaked April out a little; but she kept breathing deeply and tried to be as calm as possible.

She let out a large exhale and said:

“As I lay down to sleep,
A sleep that is very deep,
I make a wish to un-do,
The spell I did as I flew.”

April took another breath. Her eyes stopped fluttering. They remained closed. Her heart stopped beating so fast. She felt her face relax.

“As I lay down to sleep,
A sleep that is very deep,
I make a wish to un-do,
The spell I did as I flew.”

Silence. She did not hear anything. No more elephants walking. No more Grace and Eve whispering. Nothing. April repeated the words over and over and over again in her head.

Poof! She was back in her dream where she was flying over the elephants. She felt the wind caressing her face. Her hair was blowing in the warm breeze. Looking down, she saw the trees and swaying grasses. She saw lots of adult and baby elephants roaming on the land. The clean, dry air filled her nose as the sun warmed her skin. She smiled.

I want the elephants to be protected in their natural habitat. I want them to be safe here and roam in their own land. I don’t want anyone to hurt them. As she flew, the air glided over her fingertips. She gestured at the elephants and thought, I hope they are safe here on their land roaming free. I want them to stay here but be protected. She repeated this thought over and over again. She took another deep breath, looked up and focussed her eyes. Where am I?