High Tide in Hawaii Page 3

  Jack hugged Annie. He hugged Kama and Boka and their parents—and lots of other people he didn’t even know.

  Finally, the hugging and crying and laughing died down. The villagers started walking back to their huts.

  Jack and Annie followed Boka, Kama, and their parents.

  “We felt the ground shaking,” said Boka and Kama’s father. “We knew a big wave might follow!”

  “Jack saved us!” said Boka. “He read in a book and found out about the big waves.”

  “What’s a book?” asked his mother.

  “Show them,” Annie said to Jack.

  Jack reached into his pack and took out their research book.

  “It tells about the big waves in here,” he said. “Books give lots of information.”

  “Ah,” said Boka and Kama’s mother. “A book is a good thing.”

  “Books tell stories, too,” said Annie.

  “That is impossible,” said Kama. “The book cannot move its feet or wave its hands. It cannot sing or chant.”

  “That’s true,” said Jack, smiling.

  “Now we should do the hula,” Boka said to Annie, Kama, and Jack, “and tell our story.”

  “I’ll watch,” said Jack, stepping away.

  Boka and Kama’s father called for music.

  The villagers gathered around. A man started to play a pipe. A teenage boy knocked two sticks together. Some women began shaking rattles.

  Boka, Kama, and Annie waved their hands in time to the music. They stepped from side to side. They swayed their hips.

  Kama chanted about going out into the water. She, Boka, and Annie waved their hands to show how they paddled out to sea.

  Kama chanted about how Jack had warned them. She and the others waved their hands to show how they rode their surfboards to shore.

  Then Jack surprised himself. He waved his hands to show how he rode his surfboard like a bird soaring through the air. The next thing he knew, he was stepping from side to side. He was swaying his hips. He was doing the hula!

  Kama chanted about how the water had pulled away from the shore—and how they had climbed to safety—and how the giant wave had crashed against the cliff.

  As Kama chanted the story, all the villagers joined in the dance. The tall grasses swayed. The palm trees swayed. And all the hula dancers swayed, too.

  When the story ended, everyone clapped.

  “Thanks for helping us,” Boka said to Jack and Annie.

  “We’re a good team,” said Annie.

  “We are best friends,” said Kama.

  “Yeah,” said Jack. “I’m sorry I said mean things.”

  “We’re sorry we laughed at you,” said Boka.

  “I’m sorry I grabbed the book,” said Annie.

  “Our mother says friendship is like riding the waves,” said Kama. “Sometimes you ride low, gentle waves. Sometimes you ride high, rough ones.”

  Annie gasped. She looked at Jack. She repeated Morgan’s rhyme:

  To find a special magic,

  build a special kind of ship

  that rides the waves,

  both high and low,

  on every kind of trip.

  “Friendship! That’s the ship!” said Jack.

  “And we built it!” said Annie.

  She and Jack burst out laughing.

  Boka and Kama looked a little confused, but they laughed, too.

  “We have to go back to our own home now,” Annie said to Boka and Kama.

  “It’s time to say good-bye,” said Jack.

  “We never say good-bye,” said Kama. “We say aloha when we greet our friends. And we say aloha when we leave them.”

  “Friends are always together,” said Boka, “even when they are far apart.”

  “Have a good journey in your magic tree house,” said Kama.

  “Thanks,” said Jack and Annie. They waved to all the villagers. “Aloha!”

  “Aloha!” everyone called back.

  Then Annie and Jack started through the meadow. Tiny yellow birds and orange-and-black butterflies flitted about them.

  At the edge of the meadow, they came to the grove of palm trees. They climbed up the rope ladder into the tree house.

  Out the window, Jack saw the tall mountains, the small village, the flowery meadow, and the ocean. The water was peaceful again.

  “I still have my lei,” said Annie.

  She took it off. Though the red flowers were wet, they were still a little fluffy.

  “It’s proof that we found the special magic,” said Jack. “The magic of friendship.”

  Annie put the lei on the floor next to the play scrolls, the twig, and the corn seeds. Then she picked up the Pennsylvania book.

  “Ready?” she asked.

  Jack sighed. “I love Hawaii,” he said.

  “Finally, you admit it,” said Annie. She pointed at a picture of the Frog Creek woods. “I wish we could go home now.”

  The wind started to blow.

  The tree house started to spin.

  It spun faster and faster.

  Then everything was still.

  Absolutely still.

  Jack opened his eyes.

  The sun was setting beyond the woods. No time at all had passed in Frog Creek.

  “Welcome back,” said a soft, lovely voice.

  Morgan le Fay was in the magic tree house.

  “Morgan!” cried Annie. She threw her arms around the enchantress.

  Jack hugged Morgan, too.

  “Look, Morgan,” said Annie. “We have proof we found four special kinds of magic!”

  “Yes, I see,” said Morgan.

  Morgan picked up the play scrolls that Shakespeare had given Jack and Annie in old England.

  “You found the magic of theater,” she said.

  Morgan picked up the twig from a mountain gorilla in the African cloud forest.

  “And the magic of animals,” she said.

  Morgan picked up the pouch of corn seeds from their trip to the first Thanksgiving.

  “And the magic of community,” she said.

  Finally, Morgan picked up the wreath of flowers from Kama and Boka.

  “And you discovered the magic of friendship,” she said.

  Morgan looked at Jack and Annie for a long moment. “Listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you,” she said.

  “Yes?” They both leaned forward.

  “You are now Magicians of Everyday Magic,” said Morgan. “You have learned to find the magic in things you encounter on earth every day. There are many other forms of everyday magic. You never have to look far to find it. You only have to live your life to the fullest.”

  Jack and Annie nodded.

  Soon you will be called upon to use your knowledge of Everyday Magic in the realm of fantasy.”

  “The realm of fantasy?” said Jack.

  “Are we going back to Camelot?” said Annie.

  Before Morgan could answer, a shout came from the distance. “Jack! Annie!”

  “Our dad’s calling,” said Annie.

  “You must go home now,” said Morgan gently. “Rest—and get ready to test your powers. Your most exciting challenges are yet to come.”

  “Good-bye, Morgan,” said Annie and Jack.

  They hugged the enchantress. Then Jack took the Hawaii book out of his pack and gave it to Morgan. He put on his backpack and followed Annie down the ladder.

  When they stepped onto the ground, there was a great roar above them. Jack and Annie looked up. A swirl of sparkling light lit the top of the tree.

  Then the light was gone. The tree house was gone. Morgan le Fay was gone, too.

  Jack and Annie didn’t speak for a long moment. Then Jack broke the silence.

  “Our most exciting challenges are yet to come?” he said. “What do you think Morgan meant by that?”

  “I don’t know,” said Annie.

  “It sounds a little scary,” said Jack

  “That’s okay. We can handle it,”
said Annie. She smiled. “We’re Magicians of Everyday Magic.”

  Jack smiled. “Yeah,” he said. “I guess we are.”

  They walked out of the woods as the sun was setting. Down the street their mom and dad were standing on their front porch. They waved at Jack and Annie.

  Jack felt a surge of happiness. There’s another kind of everyday magic, he thought, the magic of family.

  In that moment, it seemed the best magic of all.

  MORE FACTS FOR

  JACK AND ANNIE AND YOU!

  Tsunamis were once called “tidal waves.” Scientists no longer call them that because the waves have nothing to do with tides.

  The Pacific Tsunami Warning System alerts the public of earthquakes or other disturbances that take place at sea. It puts out warnings on radio and TV. Sirens may also sound warnings. The warnings alert people to stay away from beaches and move to higher ground.

  When the first Polynesians arrived in the Hawaiian islands 1,500 years ago, they brought the custom of riding surfboards with them.

  According to one ancient Hawaiian legend, hula dancing began when Pele, the goddess of volcanoes, told her younger sister, Laka, to dance. Laka is now known as the goddess of song and dance and as the patroness of hula dancers. Today, the hula is studied and practiced by people from many different cultures.

  Because of Hawaii’s isolation, many of its plants and birds and insects are found nowhere else on earth. Sadly, many of them today are on the U.S. endangered species list.

  Here’s a special preview of

  Magic Tree House #29

  (A Merlin Mission)

  Christmas in Camelot

  Available now!

  Excerpt copyright © 1993 by Mary Pope Osborne.

  Published by Random House Children's Books,

  a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

  CHAPTER ONE

  A Royal Invitation

  Sunlight had faded from the late-afternoon sky. Puffy snow clouds were moving in.

  “Let’s hurry. I’m cold,” said Jack.

  He and Annie were walking home from school. Their Christmas vacation was just beginning.

  Cooo—cooo.

  “Wait,” said Annie. “Look.”

  She pointed to a white bird sitting on a bare tree branch at the edge of the woods. The bird was staring straight at them.

  “It’s a dove,” said Jack.

  “It’s a messenger,” said Annie, “from Morgan.”

  “No,” Jack said, afraid to get his hopes up. They hadn’t seen Morgan le Fay in a long time. He really missed her.

  “Yes,” said Annie. “She has a mission for us. I can feel it.”

  In the hush of the cold twilight, the dove spread its wings and flew into the Frog Creek woods.

  “Come on!” said Annie. “The tree house is back!”

  “You’re just hoping!” said Jack.

  “I’m knowing!” said Annie. She ran into the woods, following the white dove.

  “Oh, brother,” said Jack. But he took off after Annie.

  Even in the growing darkness, they easily found their way. They zigzagged between the bare trees and ran over the frozen ground until they came to the tallest oak in the woods.

  “See?” said Annie, pointing to the top of the tree.

  “Yeah,” whispered Jack.

  There it was: the magic tree house.

  “Morgan!” shouted Annie.

  Jack held his breath, waiting to see the enchantress at the tree house window. But Morgan did not appear.

  Annie grabbed the rope ladder and started up. Jack followed.

  When they climbed inside the tree house, Jack saw something lying on the floor. It was a scroll, rolled up and tied with a red velvet ribbon.

  Jack picked up the scroll and unrolled it. The thick, yellowed paper shimmered with large gold writing.

  “Wow, Morgan sent us a really fancy note,” said Annie.

  “It’s an invitation,” said Jack. “Listen.”

  “Christmas in Camelot!” said Annie. “I don’t believe it!”

  “Cool,” whispered Jack. He pictured a beautiful, glowing castle lit with candles and filled with knights and ladies feasting and singing.

  “We’re going to celebrate Christmas with Morgan and King Arthur!” said Annie. “And Queen Guinevere!”

  “Yeah,” said Jack. “And the Knights of the Round Table, like Sir Lancelot!”

  “Let’s go!” said Annie. “Where’s the book?”

  She and Jack looked around the tree house for a book about Camelot. The only book they saw was the Pennsylvania book that always brought them home.

  “That’s strange,” said Jack. “Morgan didn’t send a book about Camelot with the Royal Invitation. How does she expect us to get there?”

  “I don’t know,” said Annie. “Maybe she forgot.”

  Jack picked up the invitation. He read it again. He turned it over, hoping to find more information. The back of the scroll was blank. He handed the invitation to Annie.

  “She must have forgotten,” he said.

  “Darn,” said Annie, staring at the gold writing. “I really wish we could go to Camelot.”

  The tree branches rustled.

  The wind began to blow.

  “What’s happening?” said Jack.

  “I don’t know—” said Annie.

  “Wait a minute,” said Jack. “You were holding the invitation, and you made a wish.… ”

  The wind blew harder.

  “That must have made the magic work!” cried Annie.

  Jack felt a surge of joy.

  “We’re going to Camelot!” he said.

  The tree house started to spin.

  It spun faster and faster.

  Then everything was still.

  Absolutely still.

  HAWAII TIMETABLE

  Millions of years ago, volcanoes rose from the Pacific Ocean to form the islands of Hawaii.

  Around 1,500 years ago, Polynesians came to Hawaii. They were the first people to discover the islands. They traveled over 3,000 miles in wooden canoes from other islands in the Pacific.

  In 1778, an Englishman named Captain James Cook made the first recorded European visit to Hawaii.

  On August 21, 1959, Hawaii became the fiftieth state of the United States.

  Today, over 6 million tourists from all over the world visit Hawaii every year.

  Are you a fan of the Magic Tree House® series?

  Visit our

  Web site

  at

  www.MagicTreeHouse.com

  Exciting sneak previews of the next book.

  Games, puzzles, and other fun activities.

  Contests with super prizes.

  And much more!

  Guess what?

  Jack and Annie have a musical CD!

  For more information about

  MAGIC TREE HOUSE: THE MUSICAL

  (including how to order the CD!),

  visit www.mthmusical.com.

  Discover the facts

  behind the fiction with the

  Magic Tree House® Books

  #1: DINOSAURS BEFORE DARK

  #2: THE KNIGHT AT DAWN

  #3: MUMMIES IN THE MORNING

  #4: PIRATES PAST NOON

  #5: NIGHT OF THE NINJAS

  #6: AFTERNOON ON THE AMAZON

  #7: SUNSET OF THE SABERTOOTH

  #8: MIDNIGHT ON THE MOON

  #9: DOLPHINS AT DAYBREAK

  #10: GHOST TOWN AT SUNDOWN

  #11: LIONS AT LUNCHTIME

  #12: POLAR BEARS PAST BEDTIME

  #13: VACATION UNDER THE VOLCANO

  #14: DAY OF THE DRAGON KING

  #15: VIKING SHIPS AT SUNRISE

  #16: HOUR OF THE OLYMPICS

  #17: TONIGHT ON THE TITANIC

  #18: BUFFALO BEFORE BREAKFAST

  #19: TIGERS AT TWILIGHT

  #20: DINGOES AT DINNERTIME

  #21: CIVIL WAR ON SUNDAY

  #22: REVOLUTIONARY WA
R ON WEDNESDAY

  #23: TWISTER ON TUESDAY

  #24: EARTHQUAKE IN THE EARLY MORNING

  #25: STAGE FRIGHT ON A SUMMER NIGHT

  #26: GOOD MORNING, GORILLAS

  #27: THANKSGIVING ON THURSDAY

  #28: HIGH TIDE IN HAWAII

  Merlin Missions

  #29: CHRISTMAS IN CAMELOT

  #30: HAUNTED CASTLE ON HALLOWS EVE

  #31: SUMMER OF THE SEA SERPENT

  #32: WINTER OF THE ICE WIZARD

  #33: CARNIVAL AT CANDLELIGHT

  #34: SEASON OF THE SANDSTORMS

  #35: NIGHT OF THE NEW MAGICIANS

  #36: BLIZZARD OF THE BLUE MOON

  #37: DRAGON OF THE RED DAWN

  #38: MONDAY WITH A MAD GENIUS

  #39: DARK DAY IN THE DEEP SEA

  #40: EVE OF THE EMPEROR PENGUIN

  #41: MOONLIGHT ON THE MAGIC FLUTE

  #42: A GOOD NIGHT FOR GHOSTS

  #43: LEPRECHAUN IN LATE WINTER

  #44: A GHOST TALE FOR CHRISTMAS TIME

  Magic Tree House® Research Guides

  DINOSAURS

  KNIGHTS AND CASTLES

  MUMMIES AND PYRAMIDS

  PIRATES

  RAIN FORESTS

  SPACE

  TITANIC

  TWISTERS AND OTHER TERRIBLE STORMS

  DOLPHINS AND SHARKS

  ANCIENT GREECE AND THE OLYMPICS

  AMERICAN REVOLUTION

  SABERTOOTHS AND THE ICE AGE

  PILGRIMS

  ANCIENT ROME AND POMPEII

  TSUNAMIS AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS

  POLAR BEARS AND THE ARCTIC

  SEA MONSTERS

  PENGUINS AND ANTARCTICA

  LEONARDO DA VINCI

  GHOSTS

  LEPRECHAUNS AND IRISH FOLKLORE

  RAGS AND RICHES: KIDS IN THE TIME OF CHARLES DICKENS

  More Magic Tree House®

  GAMES AND PUZZLES FROM THE TREE HOUSE