What the Witch Left Read Online Free PDF Page B

house is ruining the neighborhood,” said Mr. Hellman.
    “Well, she does have too many animals in that apartment,” said Mrs. Hastings. “I’ve asked her not to feed all the stray cats, but I think she still does. It’s very annoying.”
    “That’s not all she does. That woman raises rats ,” said Mr. Hellman.
    “Rats! I know she has snakes and birds and dozens of cats, but rats!” Mrs. Hastings shook her head.
    “She raises them and puts them in my store,” said Mr. Hellman. “She even tried to take my cat away, but I’ve got him back now. He’ll get rid of those rats.”
    Mrs. Hastings nearly dropped her shopping bags. “Oh, dear, rats! Whatever shall I do?”
    “I’ll tell you what to do, Mrs. Hastings,” said Mr. Hellman. “You call the Department of Health. They’ll give her a summons and make her get rid of those animals.”
    “I will,” Mrs. Hastings said. “I’ll telephone this afternoon.”
    Nora didn’t wait to hear any more. She ran out of the store. She went to the delicatessen on the next block to get the potato salad.
    As soon as she got home, Nora toldTad what she had heard. “Now is the time to use that fudge we’ve been saving,” she said. “I’m going to give a piece to Mrs. Hastings. That will make her like animals so much she won’t mind how many Maggie has in her apartment. She won’t call the Health Department, because she won’t want them to make Maggie get rid of the animals.”
    “But won’t she call just as soon as the fudge wears off?” asked Tad.
    “I’ll keep giving her fudge. I know she likes candy.”
    Nora went up to her room and unlocked her desk drawer. She took one piece of fudge out of the plastic bag and locked the drawer again. Then she put the fudge on a plate and went next door to ring Mrs. Hastings’ bell.
    Mrs. Hastings was surprised to see her. “I’ve brought you some fudge,” said Nora.

    Mrs. Hastings took a good look at the fudge. It had not been improved by its long stay in the desk drawer. It was dry and shriveled and white around the edges.
    “It’s nice of you, Nora.” Mrs. Hastings took another look at the fudge. “But I’m on a very strict diet, and I’m not allowedto eat candy. Thank you anyway.” She shut the door.
    Nora went home and back to her room. She had to think for a while.
    Tad came in to ask her to help him with his homework. Nora showed him where he could find the answers in his book. Then she told him what had happened when she tried to give the fudge to Mrs. Hastings.
    “Why don’t you mix it with her coffee?” said Tad.
    “I’d have to get into her house to do that.” Nora heard a scratching in the closet. She opened the closet door just in time to see a little gray mouse squeeze through the crack under the baseboard and disappear.
    Of course! Nora thought. There must be a way to go next door—through the walls. But only a mouse could do that.
    Quickly, Nora went to her desk drawerand unlocked it. She took out a piece of fudge. “Can you crush this to a powder, Tad?”
    Tad ran out of the room and came back with a hammer. Nora wrapped the fudge in a handkerchief and Tad pounded on it with the hammer.
    “What’s that banging up there?” Mrs. Cooper was calling up the stairs.
    “I’m fixing something,” Tad yelled down.
    Nora went to the kitchen for a plastic sandwich bag. She put the powdered fudge in it and twisted it into as small a package as she could. Then she tied it with button thread.
    Tad watched her. “What are you going to do?”
    Nora unlocked the desk drawer again and took out six pieces of fudge. She gave two pieces to Tad. “Eat them,” she said.
    Tad started to nibble. He made a face. “It tastes terrible, Nora. Maybe the magic has gone out of it.”
    “Oh, Tad, we have to try it at least. All right then, you don’t have to eat the fudge until after I do. Then you’ll know if the magic is still working. And you must eat both pieces. Promise!”
    “Sure,” said Tad.