Miranda Witch cackled more than ever this morning because the falling leaves and chilly winds meant that Halloween was drawing near. Halloween was a witch's favourite holiday and Miranda started gathering the ingredients for her witch's brew.

 In order for the brew to taste the best, one needed the finest of turtle's toenails, wisdom teeth from a snowy owl and the hairs from a squirrel's tail. Mixed with her special sauce, the brew turned as black as night and bitter as sour lemons.

 Smells drifted from the old cave where Miranda lived with Smokey Bat. Smokey Bat, who was sleeping hanging upside down, put his wing across his nose as the aroma drifted into his corner. Phew! That stuff smelled terrible.

 Unknowledgable of all these events was Speedy Cheetah. Speedy Cheetah was chasing an antelope across the dry plain. What had started out as a search for prey turned into a good-hearted race as the antelope doubled back and zapped back and forth. Tiring of the game, Speedy Cheetah swung away and being hot from his racing, decided to go into a cave to cool down.

 The cave was dark and musty smelling, but also there was another smell that filled his nostrils. It was a strange scent, but that was soon forgotten as Speedy Cheetah's eyes tried to adjust to the dark. Suddenly, two shiny eyes glowed out of the darkness and Speedy Cheetah sprang back, fearing a bear or skunk.

 "Who's there?" asked Speedy Cheetah, with a voice shaking and squeaking.

 "Just me!" said Smokey Bat, swinging back and forth.

 "Doesn't hanging upside down like that give you a headache or a nosebleed?" asked Speedy Cheetah, thinking that upside down was a very weird way to sleep.

 If Speedy Cheetah hadn't been so intent on Smokey Bat, he might have seen the witch as she slipped up behind him and grabbed him by the tail.

 "Cheetah hair will be a fine touch for my brew," said the witch with a voice as dry as bones in the desert sun.

 Speedy Cheetah tried to tug and pull himself from the witch's grasp, but the witch held tight, laughing as some cheetah fur gathered on her hands.

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 "Zippy do, zippy cat

 "I turn you, cheetah, into a bat!"

 In a swirl of red flashing dust, Speedy Cheetah found himself hanging upside down from the roof of the cave. His head started to throb and he feared his feet would let go of the roof, sending him crashing to the floor. He could see the witch stirring his fur into the brew cooking over an open fire.

 "What's that awful smell?" asked Speedy Cheetah, looking frantically to Smokey Bat.

 "You don't want to know," said the bat.

 "I can't stay like this, I'm a cheetah," said the cat, that was now a bat. "Change me back!"

 Smokey Bat watched the witch as she stirred her brew in a large caldron.

 "I need another turtle's toenail," she cackled.

 The witch scuffled out of the cave in hunt of the toenail and Smokey Bat quickly flew to the large book beside the jars of strange ingredients. Quickly turning the pages, the bat found the spell he was looking for.

 "Alla bo, alla bee,

 Change from a bat into Speedy."

 With a swirl of red dust, Speedy Cheetah turned back into himself and ran from the cave.

 Question about the story: What did Speedy Cheetah fear was in the cave?

 Send answers to Storytime, c/o Verna Dunlop, RR#1 Moser River, NS BOJ 2KO or e-mail the answer to the question to vernadunlop@yahoo.com. Names will be drawn for prizes.

posted on 11/03/09