The Apprentice of Charlie the Wizard

Charlie the Wizard and His Apprentice
by Robert Camp

Charlie the Wizard lay on the grass in his backyard in the hot afternoon sun. It was a beautiful summer afternoon and most six year old boys would be swimming or biking on a day like this. On this day Charlie had a problem, he needed an apprentice.

Everyone knows that all true wizards have an apprentice or two, and Charlie was a true wizard but did not have even one. His friend Connor, the boy next door, was away with his parent’s on summer vacation. Besides, Connor had no ability or skills in wizarding. His older sister Jenny said she was too old and didn’t believe in magic anyway. Charlie’s mother was always busy taking care of his three year old brother Andrew. His brother Andrew...

Charlie sat up with a smile. Andrew, not too old and not too busy–perfect!

At magic speed Charlie ran in the backdoor of his home and slammed the door. “Mom! Mom! Where is Andrew?”

“He was taking his afternoon nap,” echoed his mother from the living room. “He is probably wide awake now.” (Charlie’s mother was not angry. She was used Charlie waking Andrew up with his loud noises.)

“Sorry Mom!” Charlie shouted as he sprinted down the hallway. He skidded to a stop right at the end of the hall. It was his magic that kept him from running into the closet there. Taking a deep breath he slowly peeked into Andrew’s room.

Charlie was startled for a brief instant when he looked in Andrew’s bed and he was not there. There was just a large knot of blankets in the middle of the mattress where Andrew should have been. All at once the blankets started to move and a small grouchy face peeked from under the pile.

“Andrew!” exclaimed Charlie, “You can turn yourself into a pile of blankets!” Charlie smiled to himself--His little brother had magical powers. “Would you like to be my apprentice?” he asked. As Andrew became more awake he was happy to see Charlie there.

“Princess!” smiled Andrew.

“No, not princess. Apprentice Andrew. Say apprentice.”

“Print us!” beamed Andrew.

“Close enough.” mumbled Charlie. “Lets go.”

Charlie the Wizard and his new apprentice ran back to Charlie’s room. Charlie opened the closet and pulled out his magical traveling staff. He removed the magical sock that kept the staff from leaving by itself and trotted off to the playroom, with Andrew trailing behind.

When Andrew finally reached the playroom Charlie was already there sitting on the floor. He was meditating as most wizards do before working magic. Andrew tackled him and they both went sprawling on the floor.
“Andrew!” screeched Charlie, “Never interrupt me when I’m meditating!” Andrew looked about ready to cry. “Now go grab those magic blocks over there so I can teach you magic.” Andrew sat down by the blocks and began to spread them around. Charlie sighed.

Walking over to Andrew and the blocks Charlie thought that he wasn’t being a very good apprentice. Crouching down he began to stack the blocks in a tower shape and prepared his magic spell. Andrew thought that this was all part of the fun and began to knock the tower over. Charlie was mad.

“Mom! Andrew is wrecking everything!”

His mother peeked into the playroom and held back a laugh. Charlie was trying to keep his body between the blocks and Andrew while he knocked over every block that was stacked. “What is the matter Charlie?”

“Andrew isn’t being a very good apprentice!” Charlie said almost in tears.

“Princess,” echoed Andrew.

Trying not to laugh Charlie’s mother answered, “Maybe you need to be a little more patient with Andrew.” In her nicest mother voice she added, “Maybe you aren’t being a very good teacher.”

Charlie realized that she was right! All this time he had been trying to make Andrew be just like him instead of trying to help him learn. He gave his mother a hug and started playing with Andrew. Charlie stacked the blocks and Andrew would knock them down. Over and over a tower was built and smashed. Charlie was having so much fun that he forgot about wizarding and just played.

Then he realized that he left his traveling staff on the couch! It could be anywhere by now! As he looked at the couch for his staff he saw that it was still sitting there with the magical sock on top of it. Andrew had brought the sock along and placed it on the staff when he wasn’t looking.

Charlie looked at his little brother and smiled. “Maybe you will make a good apprentice after all.”