The Little Crooked Shed 2: Where is Mendy? 🧙‍♀️

In this rainy-day story, Harriet, James, and Hazel return to the portal for their second adventure in Tanglewhim Hollow 🌧️

Designed to spark imagination and help kids wind down, perfect for bedtime, car rides, quiet time, or any moment when little listeners need a relaxing break.

Transcript

0:21

Where is Mindy? It was a Saturday morning after a busy week for the three children, Harriet, James, and Hazel. All week long they had talked about nothing else but the things they had seen inside the magical portal and the people and animals they'd met. They still had so many questions they wanted to ask, and they all wanted to go on another adventure as soon as possible. They had knocked on the shed door every afternoon since their last adventure, hoping the badger doorkeeper, Mr. Cobble Twig would open it again, but he hadn't, there seemed to be nobody home all week. Where had he gone? All they found was an ordinary door with a rusted doorknob and an ordinary, crooked garden shed. Still, something about today felt different. Their tummies felt fizzy with the type of anticipation that only comes when there might be a new adventure nearby. It was pouring with rain outside. It dripped down the windows, and huge puddles were forming in the back garden. Dad did look pretty puzzled when Harriet James and Hazel appeared to be so unbelievably excited to be putting on Welly boots raincoats, and heading off into the back garden under a dark gray sky. Nothing would put them off trying the door again. Off they went. Their boots splashed the water everywhere. As they made their way down the winding path to the very end of the garden where the little wooden shed leaned, sleepily to one side, the three children stood in front of the door in a little row. The nervous excitement was too much to bear. James and Hazel looked up at Harriet as if waiting for her to do something. She was the oldest and usually knew what to do. Well go on then, said James to Harriet, giving her a gentle nudge with his elbow, please do it. So after a moment, Harriet did. Three clear knocks on the crooked door. They waited but heard nothing. Then click around. Peephole slid open in the middle of the door, just as before. Two twinkling eyes framed by spectacles. Peered out. Ah, if it isn't Harriet, James and Hazel, a familiar voice rang out from behind the door. The children were so excited to see that Mr. Cobb Twig was home. Tap, tap, tap, rain on your head. Magic is waiting right here in the shed. Mr. Copel Twig announced The children looked down and saw that the doorknob was now shiny and golden. Harriet grabbed the doorknob and turned it confidently to the left. The door creaked open and there stood Mr. Cobbled wig. The badger in his buttoned waistcoat, holding an umbrella over his head. Mind the puddles Dreadful weather. They stepped inside shaking off the damp. The waiting room was just as they remembered, rugs layered on the floor, shelves stuffed with books, tables stacked full of interesting objects and ornaments. Except today, a booklet sat in the middle of the cozy room beside Mr. Cobbled wigs favorite chair, catching a steady flow of water, pouring in from the ceiling. Your roof is leaking, said little Hazel. Mr. Twig gave a sigh. Indeed, it is. I've tried everything to fix it myself, but nothing has worked. I need to ask Mindy Bromwell for help. She can fix anything. She's extremely busy, though, always hopping from place to place. She's known far and wide, so there's always something to fix for somebody. He handed each of them a steaming cup of lemon tea and settled into his squishy chair, avoiding the soggy bit. The four chatted happily for a few minutes. The badger didn't mention where he had been all week and before the children could ask him, he got to his feet again. He led Harriet James and Hazel to the long purple velvet curtain at the back of the waiting room, which they remembered was to cover the magic portal. The badger pulled it aside with one of his furry paws. The children were nervous and so excited they could burst. Everything looked blurry behind the curtain, on the count of three, they all stepped through together, the children holding onto each other's hands very tightly. Suddenly the world in front of them changed and they could see clearly again. They were standing in front of a beautiful white cottage. The garden was filled with brightly colored roses. Wind chimes were hanging from tree branches. The breeze blew through the garden and they made delicate music. Where are we? Whisper James. This is Tango Wim Hollow, or to be more precise, this is the home of Mindy Bromwell said, Mr. Cobbled wig, let's see if she's home, shall we? He walked up to the front door and rang the silver bell that hung there. They waited no answer. Hmm. This is a puzzle. Said Mr. Co twig scratching his badger head. Okay. Not to worry. He decided and took out a small piece of brown parchment and a pen from his waistcoat pocket. He wrote in very neat writing. Dear Mendy, rain pouring in. Can you help Mr. Cobbled wig? The was very small, so not much else could be written even if the badger had wanted to explain further. He slid the parchment under the cottage door turned swiftly and off. He sat down the garden path. The children followed closely behind him. One more place to try before its tee time again. The badger announced he led the children to the purple curtain, which was now hanging from a tree outside Mindy's Garden. Everyone ready? He asked. The children all nodded enthusiastically. Mr. Cobble Twig pushed the curtain to one side revealing a blurry scene. They all counted a three together this time and took a giant step forward. Through the portal. Molly cried. Little Hazel. Standing right there in front of the mall was Molly Broom. Well, she was Mandy's older sister and the kindest witch anyone could imagine. She was standing beside her floating broom, her blue cloak billowing in the breeze, and her tall witches hat slightly tilted to one side as starlings. I've been expecting you, Molly beamed at the mall. I see you're looking for mendy. She's not home. As you quite discovered she must be off fixing an enchantment gone wrong, a pixie trick gone backwards or some other mishap. No doubt I simply could not have you visit Tango Whim Hollow without being offered a nice cup of tea. It simply would not do. Before Harriet, James and Hazel could take another breath. Molly had flicked her wand in the air down, flew a picnic blanket from thin air, and neatly arranged itself on the grass. In front of their astonished faces, well do sit, sit. She invited them all as a large picnic basket, unloaded itself from her broom and flew down landing with a thud in the middle of the blanket. The children's mouths dropped open as a parade of picnic treats, twirled and glided outta the basket, one by one sandwiches, cut into little triangles, toffee apples, cakes, and many other things that children couldn't even name if they'd wanted to. They all waited for the teapot to finish pouring a hot cup of tea for everyone. Molly smiled in. Thanks and winked at the teapot. Now, for goodness sake, please all help yourselves just as they were spreading thick jam on their scones, the picnic blanket gave a gentle rustle, and before anyone could say a word, it rose smoothly into the air. Lifting them all right off the ground. Opened up. They went higher than the head rows until they could all see Tango Whim hollow below them. There were winding paths through dark woods and puffs of chimney smoke curled from little cottages. The children couldn't believe their eyes. They sat and joined the View for quite a while while they ate lunch. There was no sign of Mendy anywhere in Tangle Whim Hollow, The blanket then gave a gentle sigh and began to float slowly downwards until finally landing back on the grass. Well, thank you very much for the surprise picnic said Mr. Copel twig to Molly. As they all walked towards the purple curtain, the badger pulled the curtain aside so he and the children could step through once more. They instantly arrived back inside the cozy waiting room. They could once again hear the rain pouring down on the roof outside. Look. Said James. Running over to a round wooden table there sat a small piece of parchment that read. Sorry I missed you. Got your note. Leak fixed, have to run. To see a goblin about a wonky disguised charm, mendy, Not a single drip remained almost as if the bucket and the leak had never been there at all. Mr. Cobbled twig, beamed, splendid work. All of you, the world feels brighter and drier. All of a sudden. Back in the garden, the children waved goodbye to the badger. The rain had not eased, so they ran all the way up the stone path. Their boots splashed in every puddle, but they didn't mind. They could see their dad waving at them from the kitchen window. They'd only been gone for five minutes or so. He thought the end.