Whizardy Witch and The Funny Bunny Whizardy Witch is always whizzing around. She is the fastest witch in the Land of Magic. “Zoomedy zoom, let’s go broom,” she squeals, making her broomstick go faster. Whiz, and off she whizzes. One day, Whizardy Witch was flying low across the meadows brushing over the tops of the flowering plants. She held out her hand to skim each one as she whizzed along. At the edge of a wood she saw a group of feeding rabbits nib- bling the grass. Strangely, one, stood high above all the others, laughing and jumping. Whiz skidded to a halt to find out what was going on. “What are you laughing about?” she asked innocently. The rabbit ignored her question and laughed harder. His tummy boun- cing up and down with each breath. Every few seconds he jumped high in the air, did a somersault and landed perfectly. Then laughed louder at his success. “He’s the Funny Bunny,” a rabbit, close by, said between mouthfuls of sweet grass. “Oh!” Whiz replied. “What does he find so funny?” “Everything!” another rabbit offered gloomily. “You probably!” a third giggled. “He laughs at the sun, the rain, the grass, the clouds, the wind and es- pecially anything new. Like you, for instance,” a fourth grumbled. “It drives me crazy, all that laughing.” “Has someone put a spell on him?” Whizardy Witch wondered. “Maybe,” replied the first rabbit . “Could you stop him,” asked the fourth rabbit hopefully. “I can’t take much more. I even thought about leaving the warren and heading off to find somewhere more peaceful.” “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a spell to stop rabbits laughing. I doubt there even is one. I mean, how many other laughing rabbits have you seen?” Whiz was genu- inely confused. “Well, none I suppose,” said the third thoughtfully. “Do you know anybody who could make a spell?” the first rabbit pleaded. Whiz didn’t like the idea of asking the Great Skyler. He was getting a bit fed up with her keep wanting his help. Suddenly she had an idea, “There is someone I know about. Well, some- thing actually.” “Something,” wondered the fourth rabbit. “Yes,” replied Whiz. “The Tree of Spells in the magical forest. He is so old and so very wise. He is bound to know.” “We would be so grateful, Miss Witch, if you could help us,” an old rabbit said poking her head out of the warren entrance. “Our Funny Bunny keeps us all awake at night. Laughing, joking, jumping and flipping.” Whiz nodded to them all. She took three leaves from her satchel, poin- ted them at the Funny Bunny, and sang the magic words, “Ringing Bells and Wishing Wells, Follow me to the Tree of Spells.” The leaves burst into green smoke with multi-coloured sparklers fizzing in the air. When the smoke cleared, Whiz and the Funny Bunny ap- peared at the clearing where the Tree of Spells stood. The Funny Bunny collapsed in a heap as he laughed so heartily, he could not keep his balance. In fall- ing over, he laughed louder still grabbing his wobbling belly to try to stop it moving. The Tree of Spells recognised Whiz immediately. The sight of the Funny Bunny was an unexpected distraction. “What is this Whizardy Witch? What have you done to this poor rabbit?” “It wasn’t me; I promise. I found him like this on the edge of the meadows. Someone else has put a spell on him, I think. I am not clever enough to undo the enchantment.” The Tree of Spells thought deeply for a moment. “No, I suppose not,” he agreed. “This is the work of a very powerful wizard. A laughing spell for a rabbit is unheard of.” “Can you cure him please?” Whiz pleaded. “Quiet!” the Tree scolded. “I am thinking…” After many impatient minutes, Whiz became fidgety and frustrated. She wasn’t very good at waiting. Just as she felt about to burst the Tree of Spells shuddered heavily. Ten col- oured leaves fell to the ground. Each one a different colour. Each one glistening brightly. “Take these leaves Whiz. Hold them tightly together and don’t let any slip from your grasp. Be careful, they will not want to be held. Press them on the rabbit’s head whilst I cast the spell.” Whiz took several minutes gather- ing the leaves. Each time she grabbed one, another tried to jump out of her hands. Finally, she had them all. They shivered and shook desperately trying to escape her grip. “Now get them to the rabbit,” com- manded the Tree. That was easier said than done. The rabbit was so amused by Whiz’s at- tempts to get all the leaves he was jumping higher with each breath. “I can’t do it,” squealed Whiz helplessly. The Tree of Spells huffed grumpily. He shook his branches and com- manded, “Heads will bump and Elephants trump, so freeze those legs now stop that jump!” The surprised rabbit froze to the spot, twitching painfully, as he tried to carry on laughing. “Now Whiz!” the Tree demanded. Whizardy Witch slammed the quiv- ering leaves on the Funny Bunny’s head. The Tree of Spells changed to an ancient language that Whiz did not understand. The powerful spell caused the skies to darken, light- ning to flash, the ground to shake and the land to fall silent. The leaves exploded silently in a flash of rainbow colours blasting Whiz off her feet and the rabbit high in the air. Instead of smashing into the ground, she and the rabbit disap- peared and returned softly to the rabbit’s warren next to the meadow. The rabbit was cured. He was no longer laughing. All the other rab- bits cheered and jumped for joy. Their laughter was louder than any- thing the Funny Bunny had every done. “Hurrah for Whizardy Witch, the cleverest witch in the Land of Magic,” they shouted. “Thank you Whiz,” whispered the Funny Bunny with a slight smile. “You are the best friend ever.” *** And that is the story of Whizardy Witch and the Funny Bunny.