Chapter 1 NICE PLAY!

  “Class, I have a surprise!” Ms. Mizzle announced.

  Henry Heckelbeck and his friend Dudley Day were very worried. Sometimes a class surprise was not a good thing.

  Henry raised his hand. “Is it a mega pop quiz?” he asked.

  Ms. Mizzle shook her head.

  “Is it a homework assignment the size of a HOUSE?” asked Dudley.

  Ms. Mizzle shook her head again.

  “Did you invent a grade higher than an A-plus?” asked Max Maplethorpe.

  “No,” the teacher said with a laugh. “Those ideas may be a little too magical.”

  Henry sat up when he heard the word “magical.” Nothing is TOO magical, he thought. He was a wizard, after all.

  “We are going to put on… a play!” said Ms. Mizzle. “In fact, we are putting on four short plays written by students in this room!”

  The whole class cheered. This was a surprise!

  Ms. Mizzle put four lists on the board at the front of the room.

  “Here are the teams,” she said. “Everyone can get up from their desk and look now. But remember not to run.”

  The children speed-walked instead.

  Henry, Dudley, and Max searched the lists. Then they spied their names. Henry and Dudley were going to act in Max’s play!

  The three best friends looked at one another and whooped.

  They were on the same team! How rare was that?!

  Chapter 2 STAR WIZARD

  Ms. Mizzle let the class work on their plays outside. This was a very special treat.

  Team Max found a sunny spot between two maple trees. They sat on the grass.

  Max handed a copy of her play to Henry and Dudley. She was the writer and director, so she had planned everything.

  “Henry, you will be my star actor. This role was MADE for you,” Max said with a wink. “And Dudley will be… an owl. Plus, you’ll also be Henry’s understudy.”

  Dudley raised his eyebrows. “What’s an understudy?” he asked.

  “If Henry can’t do the play, then you will take his place,” Max explained.

  Dudley nodded and said, “Got it! Now tell me more about the owl, because I need to know WHO he is.”

  “You’re going to love it,” Max said. “The play is about… a wizard!”

  “A WIZARD?” Henry gulped. “Why do you want me to star in a play about a wizard?”

  “I guess you just look like a wizard,” Max said with a shrug.

  “Does that mean I look like an OWL?” asked Dudley.

  Then he flapped his arms like wings and pretended to fly.

  Max and Henry cracked up at that. Dudley always knew how to make things better.

  “So, will you both be in my play?” asked Max.

  Dudley crash-landed next to them. “YES!” he cheered.

  “I guess OWL be in the play too!” said Henry.

  Chapter 3 MOTOR MOUTH

  Heidi Heckelbeck was Henry’s older sister, and she never stopped talking at dinner.

  Like… ever.

  “Let me tell you about my totally bonkers day!” she said. “First, I lent Bruce Bickerson my feather pencil, and he wiped it across his nose about a hundred times. GROSS!”

  Henry nodded, but Heidi kept going.

  “Then he flicked his eraser crumbs with it, like it was his personal feather duster! EW!” she squealed. “And then, at snack time, Lucy Lancaster played a game of trash-ket-ball with a granola bar wrapper. She missed and hit Stanley Stonewrecker in the head! The gunky wrapper got stuck in his hair!”

  Mom and Dad shook their heads.

  “What a day!” said Mom.

  Henry wanted to tell his story, but his sister kept blabbing.

  “Then Melanie Maplethorpe laughed at Stanley,” said Heidi. “So he chased her with a smelly sock he had in his lunch bag.”

  Henry cleared his throat loudly and said, “Heidi, I love you, but please give your motor mouth a rest so everyone else can talk.”

  Heidi rolled her eyes.

  “Okay, Henry,” she said. “Tell us about your day!”

  Henry made sure all eyes were on him. Then he said, “Max wrote a play and asked ME to star in it!”

  “Bravo, Henry!” said Dad. “What’s the play about?”

  Henry held out the play to show his parents. “It’s about a wizard and an owl,” he said.

  “That’s fun,” said Mom.

  “I can help you practice,” said Heidi. “I mean, I can’t have you mess up in front of the whole school. That would make ME look bad.”

  Henry frowned and said, “Gee, thanks.”

  “Let me see the play,” said Heidi.

  She took the pages from Henry and read them.

  “Hmm,” Heidi said. “These magic words are made up.”

  Henry nodded.

  Then Heidi gasped. “They want you to wear a robe? Wizards should NEVER wear robes! They could trip and fall!”

  “I think Henry just needs help learning his lines,” said Mom.

  “Okay, but just heed my warning,” Heidi said in a wizard-like voice. “Bad things happen to wizards in robes!”

  Chapter 4 WIZARD LESSONS

  At school the next day the class took turns practicing their plays onstage.

  Team Max had to go last, so they worked on their set backstage.

  Mr. Doodlebee was the art teacher. He helped them make a cardboard tree.

  Henry painted the tree trunk and branches.

  Dudley painted the leaves.

  Max painted a large black spot in the tree. She also glued a picture of an owl body on the black spot.

  Then Mr. Doodlebee cut a hole where the owl’s face should be.

  Max and Dudley stood the tree on a cardboard stand.

  “Why did we cut a hole in the tree?” Henry asked.

  Dudley walked behind the set piece and stuck his face in the hole. “So I can be Dudley the Owl!” he cheered. “Don’t I look OWL-some?”

  Henry and Max laughed.

  When it was their turn, they slid the tree onstage and took their places.

  “Before we start, I have props for Henry,” Max said.

  She reached into a shopping bag and pulled out a green bathrobe, a black cone-shaped hat, and a wooden spoon for a magic wand.

  Henry folded his arms. “Wizards don’t dress like THAT!” he said.

  Max laughed. “And how do YOU know how wizards dress?” she asked.

  Henry backed off. He didn’t want Max to think he knew anything else about wizards.

  Luckily, Max backed off too.

  “Don’t worry,” she said, handing the robe to Henry. “The REAL costume will be better. This one is only for practice.”

  Henry felt silly dressing up, but better to feel silly than to give away his secret.

  Then they began to rehearse. Max gave Henry tips on how to be a wizard.

  “Crouch when you walk!” she coached.

  Henry hobbled like a wise old wizard. Max clapped.

  “Perfect,” she said. “But you need a staff! And you should have a book of spells and mutter magical words too!”

  Henry nodded and tried to keep up. He read his lines and followed Max’s directions. It was a lot of work.

  The only thing he forgot to do was pay attention to his long, trailing robe.

  Whoops!

  Suddenly Henry tripped over the fabric and fell right off the stage.

  BUMPITY! BONK! BONK!

  Chapter 5 BREAK A LEG!

  “OW!” cried Henry.

  Max and Dudley ran to Henry. Ms. Mizzle raced over too.

  “I’m okay!” Henry said.

  Then he tried to move. “OUCH!” he cried. “My leg!”

  “Henry, please keep still,” said Ms. Mizzle. “Dudley, please get the school nurse.”

  Dudley returned with Mrs. Foster in no time.

  She moved Henry into a wheelchair, and then they all went to the nurse’s office.

  Mrs. Foster helped Henry onto a cot.

  “What if my leg is broken?” he asked.

  “Well, a broken leg means your play must have been going well!” said Mrs. Foster.

  Everyone’s eyes grew wide.

  “For real?” Max asked.

  Mrs. Foster laughed. “Not really for real. It’s an old saying,” she explained.

  “Before someone goes on the stage, you always say ‘break a leg’! It means good luck!”

  Henry sat up. “So my leg IS broken?” he asked.

  “You’ll need an X-ray to say for sure, Henry,” said Mrs. Foster. “We’ve called your mother, and she’s coming to get you.”

  Henry moaned. “Why did this have to happen?”

  Dudley sat on a chair beside the cot. “Don’t worry, Henry. You’ll be okay,” he said.

  Henry frowned. “But what about the play?” he asked.

  Luckily, his friends didn’t have to answer his question, because Principal Pennypacker walked in with Henry’s mom.

  Mrs. Foster and Mom helped Henry back into the wheelchair. Then Henry waved good-bye to his friends.

  How could the saying “break a leg” mean “good luck”? Henry wondered as Mrs. Foster wheeled him to the car. That would only make sense on OPPOSITE day.

  Chapter 6 DR. TALUS

  Mom pulled the car up in front of the hospital.

  “I hope I don’t have a broken bone,” Henry said. “I like my bones just the way they are.”

  “I know, honey,”

said Mom. “Let’s go see what the doctor says.”

  A nurse wheeled Henry into the building. The waiting area had magazines, books, and puzzles.

  Henry looked at magazines while his mom filled out all the paperwork. Henry spied a black cat, a skeleton, and a plane drawn upside down.

  He forgot about his leg until the nurse called his name.

  The nurse wheeled Henry to the X-ray room. In the middle of the room stood a table that looked more like a bed because it had a pillow at one end.

  The nurse helped Henry lie down on the table. Then she slipped a heavy blanket over Henry’s head. It covered his whole body except for his hurt leg.

  “Now I’m going to take a picture of the inside of your leg with this special camera,” the nurse said, pointing to a big machine above Henry. “And I promise it won’t hurt at all.”

  Henry nodded.

  Then the nurse pushed a button, and the giant camera machine moved into place. It stopped right above Henry’s leg!

  “Ready?” the nurse asked.

  Henry wasn’t sure if he was ready or not. Would there be a loud noise? Or a bright flash of light? He didn’t dare ask.

  “Ready,” he said.

  The nurse left the room. Click! Beep! The nurse walked back into the room.

  “I’m going to take two more pictures at different angles.”

  Click! Beep! Click! Beep!

  The X-rays were all done.

  The nurse helped Henry back into the wheelchair and moved him to another room.

  “Wow, that was EASY!” said Henry.

  “That’s because you were a very good patient!” she said. “You and your mom can wait here until Dr. Talus looks at your X-rays.”

  Soon Dr. Talus breezed into the room and said, “Hello, Henry!”

  Dr. Talus sat on a stool and gently examined Henry’s leg. She asked Henry to tell her where it hurt most.

  “Just my lower leg,” Henry said. “Is it broken?”

  Dr. Talus smiled and shook her head. “It’s not broken,” she said. “Your X-rays show you have a badly sprained ankle.”

  Henry’s face lighted up. “Cool!” he said. “So I can still be in the play?”

  “Well,” said Dr. Talus, “you will need a walking boot and crutches.”

  Henry hung his head. A walking boot AND crutches?! he thought. Now I’ve doomed Max’s play for sure!

  Chapter 7 A STAR IS BORN

  Henry planted his crutches on the kitchen floor and swung his body forward on one leg. He practiced walking on crutches until it was time to go to school.

  “No bus today,” said Mom. “I’ll drive you and Heidi to school.”

  “Yay!” cried Heidi. “Thanks for spraining your ankle, Henry!”

  Henry stuck out his tongue at his sister as he followed her to the garage.

  When Mom pulled into school, Dudley and Max were waiting for Henry.

  Dudley opened the car door. “Oh no!” he cried. “You have a boot AND crutches!”

  Henry frowned and handed his backpack to Dudley.

  Then other kids ran over to find out what had happened to Henry.

  “Did you break it playing soccer?” asked one boy.

  “Did you slip on a banana peel?” another boy asked.

  Henry laughed and said, “If you want to know what happened, then come to Max Maplethorpe’s play on Friday!”

  Max nudged Henry. “Why did you say that?” she asked. “You can’t do the play! You’re hurt!”

  The friends moved toward the building.

  “Maybe I can’t do the play,” said Henry, “but my understudy can!”

  Dudley stopped walking. “Who, me?! No way!” he cried. “I can’t be the wizard. I’m the OWL. Remember?!”

  “We can swap roles! It’ll be perfect,” said Henry. “You like magic tricks, and so do wizards!”

  Dudley rubbed his chin. “I DO have a few tricks up my sleeve,” he said. “Is this okay with you, Max?”

  “Of course!” she cried. “Our play is back ON!”

  And even though Henry was no longer the star of the play, Max gave him the red-carpet treatment all the way to class.

  Chapter 8 TONGUE TIED

  The three friends stayed after school to work on their play. Mr. Doodlebee helped Henry build a cauldron. Max sat in her director’s chair and worked with Dudley.

  “Ready to practice your lines?” she asked.

  Dudley nodded.

  “Okay, and ACTION!” Max shouted.

  “It’s time to cast my spelling homework into the Crockpot!” Dudley called out.

  But Max made a slashing motion across her neck.

  “CUT!” she cried. “The line is ‘It’s time to cast my SPELL into the CAULDRON.’ ”

  “Oh sorry! My bad!” said Dudley as he wiped his brow.

  Then he tried it again. Dudley waved his hands dramatically and said, “It’s time to CHASE my spell into the CLOSET!”

  Max jumped out of her chair and yelled, “NO! NO! NO! Did you even try to learn the lines?”

  Henry sat and listened from backstage. How is Dudley going to be ready in time? he wondered. I could help him with his lines, but it sounds like Dudley needs MORE than help. He needs MAGIC.

  As if it were waiting for him to call for it, Henry’s magic book appeared. He grabbed the book and held it open in the palms of his hands.

  “Magic book, can you help?” Henry asked.

  The pages began to turn. They stopped on an acting spell, but only for a moment. Then the pages turned again and again!

  How to Become a Famous Actor

  Is your dream to become an actor? Would you like to see your name in lights? If you want to be a famous star, then this is the spell for you!

  Ingredients:

  1 headshot, aka photo of yourself

  1 star sticker

  1 teaspoon of glitter

  1 breath mint

  Place the ingredients in a bowl. Put one hand over the mix. Hold your medallion in your other hand and chant the following spell:

  I want to be an actor!

  A star of stage and screen!

  Make me now a superstar—the best the world has seen!

  How to Cure a Sprained Ankle

  Do you have a sprained ankle? Are you tired of hobbling around? If you want quick healing, then this is the spell for you! (Note: For advanced wizards only—could make condition worse.)

  Ingredients:

  2 Band-Aids

  5 drops of glue

  2 pieces of tape

  Place the ingredients in a bowl. Put one hand over the mix. Hold your medallion in your other hand and chant the following spell:

  Hobble! Hobble!

  Moan! And groan!

  Mend my achy broken bone!

  Turn Back Time

  Do you wish you could stop something bad from happening? Maybe you failed a test at school? Or perhaps you’ve hurt yourself? If you need to go back in time for a do-over, then this is the spell for you!

  Ingredients:

  1 gold watch

  1 cup of sand

  A calendar with the date you want to go back to

  Place the ingredients in a bowl. Put one hand over the mix. Hold your medallion in your other hand and chant the following spell:

 

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