Wizards

Fourth story in the Fantastic Dreams collection.

JD and Vin fell asleep on the sofa watching a fantasy movie with Uncle Ezra. Chris and Buck were out of town visiting an ATF unit in West Virginia so Ezra had offered to baby-sit the boys.

Vin had insisted that they watch this film and Ezra had agreed, knowing that the boys would fall asleep before the end rather than if they played a video game, staying awake all night playing it.

JD woke up upon hearing a bird squawking near his ear. "Go 'way, I'm tryin' to sleep," complained the little boy angrily.

"At mid-day, Master JD?" asked the raven in the voice of Uncle Ezra.

"Oh, I overslept," said JD, surprised that no-one had awakened him.

The little boy stood up and found that he wasn't in his bedroom - he was in a field covered in flowers and also a lot of weeds; and hedges instead of fences except where there was a gate out of the area.

"This isn't my room!" stated JD, clearly surprised to be in this location.

The raven seemed to not hear him, instead flying to JD's shoulder and perching on it.

"That tickles," said JD through his giggles.

"JD, this is no time for fun and games with birds - we've got to weed the field," said Vin, walking in front of the younger boy.

"I am not just a bird, Master Vin - I am your Uncle Ezra and I would appreciate not being called a bird," replied Ezra sounding amazingly human, speaking through the raven's beak.

"Why are you a raven?" asked JD curiously.

"Because JD, I am a wizard and find it far easier to get about if I fly as a winged creature. Also I can watch anyone without them knowing I am more than just a raven," replied Ezra.

"But why a raven?" asked JD impatiently.

"I would rather be a raven than a common sparrow or blackbird."

"JD, we have to weed this field before nightfall," complained Vin who stood waiting for JD.

"I wanna play though," whined JD.

"I'm not doing all this on my own," moaned Vin, gesturing toward all the weeds growing in the field.

"I'm not pulling up nettles," said JD, looking toward a group of stinging nettles at the edge of the area.

"We have to, JD; our master said that we must get rid of anythin' that's growing here that ain't meant to be."

As Vin was talking, a man with a long black cape and a pointed black hat appeared from nowhere. "If you don't do all this, I will turn you both into dust," he threatened.

The raven disappeared from JD's shoulder, reappearing nearby in his human form and stepping toward the evil wizard. "You dare touch one hair on either of my nephews' heads and I will turn you to something far worse than dust," he threatened.

"Who are you to challenge me?" asked the evil wizard.

"Ezra P. Standish - I am their uncle and will protect them always."

The man laughed a deep, terror-filled laugh and pointed his hand toward Ezra. Ezra was faster though and the wizard disappeared from view as soon as he pointed at Ezra.

"Where's he gone?" asked Vin in awe of his uncle.

"You'll pay for this," said a small squeaky voice that sounded like it came from the ground.

JD knelt down and picked up the miniaturized evil wizard. "You don't scare me now you're all tiny." JD closed his hand around the man and squeezed.

"No JD, don't squash the man," shouted Vin.

"What did you say Vin?" asked Ezra, looking toward his nephew who was talking in his sleep, but Vin continued sleeping.

Ezra sighed; he was used to the strange things that his nephews said when they were asleep and nothing they ever said would surprise him.

The End
Next story: 'Toons