Cranky Hazel's Cake by SK Sheridan Page A

witch’s hat up. It had got stuck on her one, small wart, which stuck up on the end of her nose. Cranky Hazel was VERY proud of that wart.
    â€˜I’ve just had the most AMAZEBALLS idea. If Ellie can’t be with us here, we should go to HER. She’ll probably be really missin’ us by now, and she might need rescuin’ from her ridiculous mother.’ Cranky Hazel grinned triumphantly.
    Brainbox sighed and closed the book he’d been reading with his paw.
    â€˜Don’t you think Mr and Mrs Morgan might object if you and I suddenly turn up at Ellie’s grandparent’s house unannounced?’ He said. ‘They’ve probably been looking forward to a peaceful weekend ON THEIR OWN for ages.’
    â€˜A weekend of bossin’ poor Ellie around more like,’ Cranky Hazel growled. ‘Alright then clever clogs. If we can’t go and visit her what CAN we do? I’ve already counted my wands, rusted the cauldron, fed the spiders, toads and mice, polished my hat, rearranged my stripy stockings and practised my broom flying, not to mention makin’ you hundreds of boilin’ hot cups of tea. What else is there to do? She won’t be home for HOURS.’
    Brainbox looked up at the ceiling and blinked three times.
    â€˜I’ve got an idea,’ he said, sitting up. ‘Why don’t you make her a welcome home cake? That will keep you busy for a while.’
    â€˜Good idea,’ Cranky Hazel growled, jumping up. ‘I’ll go and magic one up in the kitchen.’
    â€˜Oh no, you can’t do that,’ Brainbox said quickly. ‘Ellie is a
human
not a witch. You’ll have to make the cake the HUMAN way.’
    â€˜Eh?’ Cranky Hazel stopped and scratched her head. ‘How do you do that then?’
    Brainbox rolled his eyes in different directions.
    â€˜By going to the supermarket, buying the ingredients, mixing them together, pouring the mixture into a tin, then baking it in the oven,’ he said.
    â€˜OK,’ Cranky Hazel growled, stamping off over the cracked floorboards. ‘Fine. Then that’s what I’ll do, it sounds easy peasy. And it will be the BEST cake Ellie’s ever tasted, so there.’ She disappeared out of the door then stuck her head back through. ‘Are you coming or not?’ She growled. ‘I’ve never been to the supermarket before. This could be fun!’
    â€˜Oh dear,’ Brainbox sighed, standing up and stretching. ‘I’m having second thoughts about this plan already.’

Chapter Two
Trouble At The Park
    â€˜Come on, keep up,’ Cranky Hazel growled over her shoulder. She was stamping along the pavement, her legs wide apart, her hobnailed boots crunching over the concrete. Cranky Hazel ALWAYS walked like that. She never walked normally, and CERTAINLY never in a dainty way. She’d rather eat her own boots that do that.
    â€˜I’m coming,’ Brainbox said, sauntering along behind her, tail held high. ‘Shall we take the short cut through the park?’
    â€˜Yeah alright,’ Cranky Hazel growled, swinging left through the two high park gates. She stamped off down the path that led round the duck pond and over the bridge, Brainbox padding along behind her all the time.
    â€˜Ooh look at that,’ Cranky Hazel pointed to a lush, green blanket of grass laid out in front of her. A low, white fence ran all the way around it. She stared at the bouncy moss and the beautiful flowers poking up here and there all over the grass. Cranky Hazel loved running across grass and she loved smelling beautiful flowers, they were two of her most favourite things to do EVER. ‘That looks MUCH more fun to walk on than this stony path. Look how soft and squishy it is. Come on Brainbox, follow me!’
    â€˜Remember what happened last time,’ the cat called, but it was too late. Cranky Hazel hitched up her robes, jumped over the fence and stomped over the