Free Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne Page A

(Mass.)—History—17th century—Fiction. 4. Time travel—Fiction.]
I. Murdocca, Sal, ill. II. Title. PZ7.081167 Th 2002 [Fic]—dc21 2002010907
    Random House, Inc. New York, Toronto, London, Sydney, Auckland
    RANDOM HOUSE and colophon are registered trademarks and A STEPPING STONE BOOK and colophon are trademarks of Random House, Inc. MAGIC TREE HOUSE is a registered trademark of Mary Pope Osborne; used under license.
    v3.0

For Bill, LuAnn, Mickey, and Alan—

Thanksgiving friends for many years

 

One summer day in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, a mysterious tree house appeared in the woods.
    Eight-year-old Jack and his seven-year-old sister, Annie, climbed into the tree house. They found that it was filled with books.
    Jack and Annie soon discovered that the tree house was magic. It could take them to the places in the books. All they had to do was point to a picture and wish to go there. While they are gone, no time at all passes in Frog Creek.
    Along the way, Jack and Annie discovered that the tree house belongs to Morgan le Fay. Morgan is a magical librarian of Camelot, the long-ago kingdom of King Arthur. She travels through time and space, gathering books.
    Jack and Annie have many exciting adventures helping Morgan and exploring different times and places. In Magic Tree House Books #25–28, they will learn the art of magic … .

“Come on,” said Annie. She stood in the doorway to Jack’s bedroom. “Let’s check the woods.”
    â€œBut it’s Thursday,” said Jack. “We’re going to Grandmother’s soon.”
    â€œI know,” said Annie. “But I have a feeling the tree house might be back. I think Morgan might have sent us a new rhyme.”
    Jack trusted Annie’s feelings.
    â€œOkay, but we’ll have to be quick,” he said.He threw his notebook and pencil into his backpack. He followed her downstairs.
    â€œBe back soon!” Jack called to their parents.
    â€œ
Very
soon!” their dad said.
    â€œDon’t forget—it’s Thursday,” said their mom. “We’re leaving for Grandmother’s at nine!”
    â€œI know!” said Jack.
    â€œWe’ll be back in ten minutes!” said Annie.
    They hurried out of their house. They ran across their yard and up their street and into the Frog Creek woods.
    Jack and Annie ran through light and shadow, until they stopped under the tallest oak.
    â€œYay!” said Annie.
    â€œYou were right!” said Jack.
    High in the tree was the magic tree house.
    Jack grabbed the rope ladder and started up. Annie was right behind him.
    They climbed into the tree house. Sunlight slanted in through the window.
    â€œGood, our gifts from our last trips are still here,” said Annie.
    She pointed to the scrolls from Shakespeare’s theater and the twig from the gorillas.
    â€œProof we found the magic of the theater and the magic of animals,” said Jack.
    â€œLook,” said Annie. She pointed to a book lying in a dark corner. A piece of paper was sticking out of it.
    Jack pulled out the paper.
    â€œIt’s from Morgan,” he said.
    He read:
    Dear Jack and Annie,
    Good luck on your third journey to find a special magic. This rhyme will guide you:
    To find a special magic,
    When work and toil are done,
    Gather all together,
    Turn three worlds into one.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 
Thank you,

                
Morgan
    â€œSo who do we gather with?” wondered Jack.
    Annie held up the book. The painting on the cover showed a basket of corn on a wooden table. The title said
A Feast to Remember.
    â€œWe gather at a feast,” she said. She pointed to the cover. “I wish we could go there.”
    â€œHold on,” said Jack. “What kind of feast? Where and
when
?”
    But the wind had started to blow.
    The tree house started to