Outside in the Slaphappy’s backyard, Virginia flew around and around, skimming the colorful vegetable patch, weaving in and out of tall trees, and trying to avoid hitting the house. Her blond hair flew back off her face, revealing a look of intense concentration. After five laps around the yard, she slowed down and descended to the finish line, marked by a yellow rope.
“Phew! What’s my time?” inquired a breathless Virginia.
“Three minutes, twenty two seconds! That’s almost two full minutes better that last time!” Charlotte replied after checking a green stopwatch.
“Get ready, I’m going to try to beat it,” said Virginia as she began to mount her broom.
“Hold on!” cried Charlotte, grabbing Virginia’s sleeve. “That was your fifth time! You need to rest and have something to drink.”
“Okay,” replied Virginia, reluctantly. “Hold on, I’ll get some water. Be right back.” She opened the back door and started towards the kitchen. In a minute, she returned with two full glasses of ice water. Virginia gave one to Charlotte, who was sitting on a deck chair, and took the seat across from her. While drinking, the girls chatted about school, books, and TV. Soon, Mrs. Slaphappy poked her head out the back door and told the girls it was time for Charlotte to go home. “Awwww!” both girls chorused.
“I know, but we have some errands to run, and I’m sure Mrs. Sparkglow wants her daughter back. You two can get together again soon. Now Charlotte, would it be okay with your parents if I flew you home on my broom? Both Ginny’s dad and I know how to appear and disappear, but brooms are more comfortable.”
Charlotte replied, “Brooms are perfectly fine with them. Thanks so much for taking me home.”
“No problem, dear. We better be off. I have to take Smoky to the doctor. It’s allergy season, and Smoky has bad ones.”
“Okay.” Charlotte followed Mrs. Slaphappy inside, with Virginia trailing behind them. Mrs. Slaphappy walked through the house to the front door and from a closet in the front hall, pulled out a large broomstick. The three stepped outside and Mrs. Slaphappy and Charlotte mounted the broomstick.
“Bye Charlotte!” exclaimed Virginia.
“See you Monday!” replied Charlotte.
“Be back in a jiffy,” said Mrs. Slaphappy, and she kicked off, flying above the houses. Within moments, she had zoomed to the end of the street and around the corner.
Sunday morning, Virginia woke up bright and early, and after eating a yogurt and a banana berry muffin, raced outside with her broom to begin practicing. All day long, she practiced, and only took breaks for water, and one for lunch. By dinnertime, Virginia was exhausted. As she sat with her family eating pasta, her eyes began to droop lower, and lower, until...
“Ginny? Sweetie?” said Mr. Slaphappy as he stared at his daughter, who had fallen asleep in her dinner. Mrs. Slaphappy gently shook her shoulder until her eyes opened.
“Wh-wha-whhhyyy am I...” Virginia sputtered, confused and tired.
“Why don’t you just wash your face and go to bed?” suggested Mrs. Slaphappy kindly.
“Okay,” agreed Virginia. Yawning, she stood up, and stumbled her way upstairs. After washing the tomato sauce off her cheek, she promptly collapsed into bed without even changing into pajamas.
The next morning, Virginia woke up feeling rested. She dressed and started to walk down the stairs, wondering why she felt like she had something to do. It hit her as she reached the bottom of the stairs. She still had to sign up for the broomstick competition! Only 10 could be chosen from basic level classes. She couldn’t show Melanie if there was no more room to sign up! She tumbled down the stairs and into the kitchen.
“I gotta get to school!” she yelled. Dashing around the kitchen, she managed to scarf down a yogurt with granola, grabbed her bag and broom, and yelled,”Bye Mom! Bye Dad!” to her shocked parents. She was out the door and flying in the blink of an eye. In less than five minutes, Virginia was speeding downwards to her school. She screeched to a stop, and rushed inside the school. Hastily, she twirled the lock on her locker. She was in such a rush, she messed up and had to try again. Tossing her broom coat and backpack inside, she stumbled into her classroom, carrying her books and lunch.
She tossed the supplies on her desk, and rushed up to Madame Godmother, who was organizing some papers on her desk.
”Is there still room to sign up for the broomstick competition?” she asked nervously.
“There is! Would you like to sign up?”
“Yes please!” replied Virginia happily.
“Okey-dokey!” said Madame Godmother as she scribbled Virginia’s name on a list. “The competition is Friday. Here is a paper with details.” She passed a blue handout to Virginia. “Now, you should start working on your warm up.” Virginia walked over to her desk and began a worksheet about sleeping spells. She could barely concentrate, though, because her mind was focused on winning the gold.