《神奇树屋》 第四十一册 Moonlight on the Magic Flute 09 Me and the Clown

　　"Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart," said Annie.



"Yeah," Jack 1 sighed. "And right now he's just a littlekid.""So I guess we did our mission," said Annie.



"Remember what Wolfie said to Nan? He said wemade him love music again. So I guess we put himback on the path to giving his gifts to the world.""Yep, and now we can leave," said Jack. "Whew."He was ready to get out of his fancy clothes and wigand go home and have a good dinner.



"Let's go say good-bye to Wolfie," said Annie.



90As Jack and Annie started toward Wolfie, HerImperial Majesty 3 was laughing at something he hadsaid. "You are truly a young magician, my littleWolfgang Mozart!" she said.



"No, not me," said Wolfie. "Jack and Annie are thetrue magicians!""Who?" said Her Imperial Majesty.



"Over there," said Wolfie, pointing across the room.



"Jack! Annie!" he called.



All eyes turned to Jack and Annie.



"Look! It's Jack of Frog Creek 4!" said one of theimperial children.



Jack froze, horrified 5.



"Jack is a clown," said Wolfie. "And he plays magicmusic on his flute 6. And Annie sings beautiful magicsongs. I just heard them.""Really?" said Her Imperial Majesty. She raised hereyebrows. "Well, Jack and Annie. Perhaps you willperform for all of us here as well?"Everyone was silent, waiting for an answer fromJack and Annie.



91"Um, well, you see ...," Jack began.



"Sure," said Annie with a big smile. "We'd love toperform for you."Oh, no!thought Jack.



"Yes! Sing for us! Play for us!" said Wolfie, clappinghis hands. He ran to Jack and Annie and pulled themtoward the front of the room.



Annie leaned close to Jack. "You play; I'll sing," shewhispered.



"But the flute won't make magic anymore," Jacksaid out of the corner of his mouth.



"Do the best you can," whispered Annie. She smiledat the crowd.



Jack could hardly breathe. This is worse than facingthe leopard 7 and bear!he thought.



"Me, then you," Annie said to him.



Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out thesilver flute. Annie started singing:



We came in a coach,In a wig 2 and a gown.



92We came to Vienna,Me and the down.



Annie turned to Jack. As everyone watched him, heheld the instrument in a playing position. Hedesperately hoped a little magic still lingered in theflute. He blew air over the mouthpiece.



No sound came out. All anyone could hear wasJack's huffing and puffing 8.



Wolfie giggled 9. "See! Jack's a clown!" he said.



Everyone laughed.



Okay,thought Jack, if they want a clown, I'll be aclown. Jack put on a goofy face. He looked into theend of the flute, as if searching for its missing sound.



He jerked back his head, as if something had shot outof the flute and hit him in the eye.



Everyone laughed harder.



Jack liked hearing their laughter this time. He madea big show of wiping his eye. Then he gave Annie asilly grin.



Annie shook her head and sang:



9293My brother's a fool,He's always around.



Why is it alwaysMe and the down?



Jack pretended to bonk her on the head with hisflute. He tried playing again, but again no soundcame out. He turned the flute upside down and shookit, as if he were trying to shake out some music.



Annie rolled her eyes, to show she thought Jackwas hopeless. Then she nodded at him, motioning forhim to walk with her. As they moved away from thefront of the room, Annie sang the last verse of hersong:



It's time to go,It's time to leave town.



Good-bye from me, andGood-bye from the clown.



Crossing the room, Jack put the flute to his lips94again. As he followed Annie to the door, he lookedat the crowd and winked 10. Then he started to make uphis own flute sounds. "Tweetle-tweetle-tweetle!" hesang. "Toot-toot-ah-roo!"The audience laughed. When Jack saw Nanlaughing hard, it spurred him on, and he did a littledance step. "Peep-peep-peep-ah-lee!" he sang,pretending to play the flute. "Peek-peek-a-boo!"95

96At the door, Jack and Annie stopped. Jack held theflute to his side and bowed. Annie curtsied at thesame time. The audience laughed and clapped.



Together Jack and Annie waved to the crowd.



"Bye, Wolfie!" shouted Annie. She blew kisses tohim. "Keep making music!""Have a great life, Wolfie!" shouted Jack.



"Bye, Jack! Bye, Annie!" yelled Wolfie. "I promise Iwill never forget you!"Jack bowed very low, and Annie curtsied again.



"Rise," said Her Imperial Majesty, laughing.



Jack and Annie straightened up, waved one lasttime, and slipped out the door.