While Benny drove, Maisie looked out the window at the passing shops. Some part of her wanted to get out so she can look around to see what there was. She wondered about what kind of books existed here, what ice cream flavors they had, what music they listened to...

"It's not polite to stare," Marnie whispered to Dylan.

"Polite?" asked Dylan. "Let's talk about how legal it is to drive with no eyeballs."

"He's got a point there," Maisie agreed.

Benny asked, "So, first time in town for you kids?"

"Yeah," Marnie said. 

"We just got off the bus," Maisie said. "It's so cool here."

"Yeah," Benny agreed. "It's a pretty nice place. Better than a lot of graveyards I've hung out in, but that don't mean you kids can go running around here by yourselves."

Maisie asked, "Which graveyard is the nicest?" Dylan made a show of rolling his eyes and groaning at her question.

"The one next to a river, it has an oak tree smack dab in the middle of the graveyard. You can't miss it," Benny told her, like he was recommending a high-end restaurant.

Marnie asked, "What do you mean that we shouldn't be running around here by ourselves?"

"Well, let's just say, there are characters around here that ain't the most savory," Benny explained. He motioned out the window, "Like that kid – Luke." There was a human looking boy talking to what looked goblins.

He wore attire that reminded Maisie of Jack, but Jack's hair was at least shoulder-length and blond.

Marnie asked, "Who is he?"

Benny explained, "Ah, he's just a local punk. Thinks he's a big shot just because he got a nose job and a couple of warts removed. Claims some shadow creature gave it to him. Ha!" He pulled up to an iron fence that had Cromwell on it. Sophie's mouth dropped open at the sight of the mansion. "Here we are. Chez Cromwell."

"Cool," Marnie said as she, Sophie, and Dylan got out of the cab.

Maisie reached into her pockets and took out a dollar that she didn't know she had. She handed it to Benny, "Sorry, this is all we got."

"It's fine," Benny said. "Free of charge. Catch me in the next life, ha!"

"Thank you for the ride," Maisie said as she got out of the cab. 

"See ya, kids," Benny told them, reversing.

"Bye," Marnie said, as they waved at him.

Dylan said, "He's probably animatronic. Disneyland is full of stuff like that."

"Yeah, well, when Mr. Lincoln drives me to the store, we'll talk," Marnie said, taking Sophie's hand and going to the gate. 

There was a padlock on it. Dylan looked at it, "Well, it's locked. Better head home." He started walking away and Maisie grabbed his arm. 

"No," Maisie told him. "We stick together. Besides, I'm sure Grandma has a good reason for padlocking the gate."

"Yeah, this is the perfect chance for me to try my powers," Marnie said.

"Powers?" asked Dylan, "What powers?"

"Well, I don't know," Marnie replied. "I haven't tried them yet." She cleared her throat, "Uh, abracadabra." 

Dylan had his arms crossed and gave Marnie a look.

"Open sesame," Marnie said.

Maisie asked, "Isn't it supposed to be 'open says me'?"

Marnie shrugged, "Uh, let's see...big iron lock that keeps us out, open your big iron mouth!"

"You call that a spell?" asked Dylan. "Out and mouth don't even rhyme."

Marnie said, "Will you be quiet?" 

"You couldn't even open a can of dog food with a spell like that," Dylan told her. 

Maisie watched them.

"Look, I'm trying to concentrate here," Marnie told him.

There was a snapping sound and the gate creaked open.

Maisie asked Sophie, "How did you get the gate to open?" 

"I pushed," Sophie said. "Plus, I wished the lock would turn into a frog."

They ran up to the mansion, but started walking. The mansion was huge, and everyone would definitely have their own room.

"This place is awesome," Marnie said.

The door opened as soon as they walked up to the door.

"There she is," Marnie said.

"Hi, Grandma," Sophie said.

"Oh, my stars," Aggie said, kissing each of them on the cheek. "How did you get here?"

"On the bus," Sophie said.

"We came to start our training," Marnie explained. 

"Your training? Oh, it was you outside the kitchen," Aggie said. "I thought I heard people listening in. Well, I suppose I could assume your mother doesn't know you're here. I dare say, that she's going to be very upset when she finds you're gone."

Maisie grimaced at the thought. Oh, she will be very upset and there's going to be words. Man, she's going to have words. 

Dylan asked, "Can't you just call her?"

"No, no, dear," Aggie said. "I'm afraid we haven't worked out long distance calling, between worlds yet. No, I'll have to take you home myself."

"But we're here to help you fight the bad thing," Maisie told Aggie.

"Or the force field, whatever it is," Marnie said. "You said you needed another Cromwell witch. That could be me and Maisie. You can train us."

Aggie was biting her thumb nail, thinking it over. "Yeah, well, I suppose it would be all right if you could stay a little while. As long as we get you home before it's midnight in the Mortal World."

"But that's only two hours from now," Marnie pointed out.

"Well, don't panic, dear," Aggie said. "You see time works differently in Halloweentown. Two hours there might be two days here. Or two weeks, if we're on vacation."

Maisie was curious to see a Halloweentown vacation. What did that entail? She pictured a goblin sunbathing on a beach while laying on a beach towel, with sunscreen on it's nose. She smiled at the mental image.

Aggie led them into a different part of a room with a giant cauldron.

"What's this, Grandma?" asked Dylan. 

"Ah, you've discovered witch's glass," Aggie told him. She waved her hands over it, "It's been handed down through the Cromwell clan over many generations. I've been using it to keep an eye on things." She waved her hands over the glass again, speaking in a more terrified tone, "Now the glass shows me that some evil force is at work here in Halloweentown."

A man with a green appeared laughing manically. Maisie stared at the man, not liking him one bit.

"Also, the worst is yet to come," Aggie added. 

Marnie asked, "What can we do to stop it?" 

"I'll show you," Aggie said. She went to get a box and returned with a box, "Follow me." She led them into the kitchen as she explained, "Merlin himself used this talisman to end the Dark Ages over in the Mortal World and I think it's just the thing to tackle our troubles here in Halloweentown."

The microwave beeped and Aggie went to it.

Sophie asked, "Are you cooking chowder, Grandma? I like chowder." 

"Oh, no, dear," Aggie corrected. "This is witches brew. It's a little recipe that I picked up in the sixth century, around King Arthur's time."

"King Arthur?" asked Marnie, stunned. 

Maise wondered how old Aggie was. Was she going to live that long? 

"How's this stuff going to help?" asked Dylan. 

"Oh, by bringing this talisman back to life," Aggie told him, opening the box and taking out the talisman and holding it up.

"Pretty," said Sophie.

Marnie, with a big smile, asked, "Are you going to use your magic to raise some spirits, have a big séance, and call on the forces of darkness to get it going?"

"No," Aggie said. "I'm just going to fill it up and see if the light goes on."

Maisie felt the disappointment roll off of Marnie in waves. 

Aggie unscrewed the lid and started laddling brew in it. "If I can get it lit and install it properly, it should suffice to drive away this force that threatens us."

"That's it?" asked Marnie, still disappointed. "You just fill it up?"

"I do have to say a spell over it," Aggie told her. "That's why I came – to ask your mother to help me. You see, spells are much more powerful when more than one witch joins in."

That made sense to Maisie.

"Especially if they're Cromwells," Aggie added.

"Well, we'll help you," Marnie said.

Aggie said, "That's very sweet of you dears, but you haven't been trained yet, and since your mother isn't of the mind to help, I guess I'm just on my own." She put the cap back on the talisman and began to say a spell. She sprinkled something on the orb as she spoke, "Bet y March, Bet y Guythur, Bet y Gugaun, Cledyfrutm Anoeth Bid."

The orb flickered before going out.

"Oh, drat," Aggie said. "That's what I get for trying to use instant." She looked at the talisman, "It just doesn't work like it does when you make from scratch."

"Well, that's something we can help you with," Marnie said. "We can cook."

"Only Maisie is the only one capable of cooking and she makes brownies from the box," Dylan said.

"Well, let's look at the original recipe," Aggie said. "Come, come, come over here." She led them to a podium with a spell book on it. "Now, let's look. Let's all look. Quick. Now see....that's it." She looked at it, "Vampire's fang, hair of a werewolf, sweat of a ghost. I suppose we could get these ingredients in town. But we have to be careful not to reveal our true purpose. I can't be certain who to trust anymore."

"Let's do it," Marnie said.

"Yeah," Sophie agreed.

"It's a piece of cake," Maisie said.

They looked at Dylan, who hadn't agreed. 

Dylan sighed, "All right."

They put their hands together. 

It'll be fun, Maisie thought, going shopping with Grandma. At least she can see the rest of the town.