Princess Josie felt all sorts of funny. She wasn’t at all sure she wanted her little brother turned into a slug. But she felt like now she’d complained, she didn’t want to disappoint this strange little old man.

“Okay…” she said.

The little old man held one finger to his nose, winked and nodded.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” he said.

Then he disappeared, right in front of Princess Josie’s eyes!
The next day, Princess Josie looked out of the window all morning, waiting for the funny old man to come up to the gate. But he didn’t come.

She kept looking anxiously at her little brother, who cooed in his cot. She wandered up to him and peeked in. Her little brother was sucking his fist. When he saw her, he gave her a great big smile.

Princess Josie suddenly felt very bad.

“Mummy! Daddy! Close the door!” she cried out. “Lock it, please!”

“Why do you want us to close the door? It’s such a lovely day outside,” said Mummy.

“Funny bunny,” said Daddy, ruffling her hair.

They didn’t want to close the door.

They had lunch and then baby brother went to sleep. He looked so sweet with his eyes closed, his lovely eyelashes and the little curls of hair flat against his head. Princess Josie was suddenly sure that she didn’t want him turned into a slug.

As the afternoon grew later, she looked out the window and finally saw the funny old man walking up the road towards the castle. Oh no! Princess Josie grabbed her baby brother from the cot and held him tightly to her chest.

The funny old man came to the door. He poked his head around the corner.

“Are you ready to turn your baby brother into a slug?” he queried.

“No!” cried Princess Josie. “I mean, I’ve changed my mind. Please don’t turn him into a slug.”

“Oh, but I’ve already prepared the spell,” said the funny old man. “I have to turn someone into a slug.”