The Magical Adventures of Fred Potato-Head

Mr. Gardenpot closed and locked the door to his home.  Fred saw that they were now in a long cave that had stairs leading up.  The stairs seemed to have been carved right into the stone.   And as they began their journey up Fred saw the most beautiful things.  There were cones of stone that hung from the ceiling of the cave, and others that grew from the floor.  There was a section of stairs that went through a large cavern where the candlelight bounced off of thousands of tiny crystals that looked like diamonds.  It was as if thousands of little eyes suddenly opened and stared as they passed.  The steps sometimes became paths and the paths, steps.  They crossed an underground river and a large chasm that disappeared into the darkness.  Up and up they climbed.  Finally their trek through the caves came to an end.  They stood in front of a stone wall.   

Mr. Gardenpot raised his hands into the air.  He chanted a chant.  He called out to the wall.  Fred thought he had the look of someone casting a great spell, or summoning some great event!  Fred knew something exciting was about to happen.  He could not look away as Mr. Gardenpot took in a large breath of air and threw his hands at the wall!  Fred blinked.  Nothing was happening.  Fred was still blinking.  Nothing was still happening.  Mr. Gardenpot coughed.  He lowered his hands.  He placed his hands on his hips and tapped his foot.

“Anytime now,” said Mr. Gardenpot mostly to himself.

“Mr. Garden…”

“Shhh!” said Mr. Gardenpot.  And then, suddenly…there was a doorknob on the wall where there was no doorknob before.  “Ahha!” he cried.

Fred looked at the doorknob.  “That’s it?” he asked, a little disappointed.

Mr. Gardenpot gave Fred that unimpressed sort of look that adults often give children.  Then he reached down and turned the knob.  A great stone door swung open and light burst into the cave.  Fred had to squint for a moment.  Mr. Gardenpot stepped out into the light leaving the candle behind. 

When Fred stepped out of the cave, through the strange stone door, he found himself on the side of a grassy hill wondering what was in store.  A thick forest of trees rested in the valley below dressed in the colours of fall: reds, greens, browns and golden yellows.  The air was cool.  Fred adjusted his glasses.  The sun was just rising.  In a field not far away was a herd of large animals grazing. 

Fred was staring at the animals when a gust of wind ruffled the grass like a wave along the shore.  Some of the animals looked up, and then quickly, they took off!  They literally took off!  Fred had thought they were horses, or deer, but that could not be!  Most of the creatures unfolded wings and leapt into the air!  Others ran through the tall grass like the wind!  They moved like a flock of birds!  They were flying and galloping right at Fred and Mr. Gardenpot!  The beating of the wings and the pounding of the hooves were like thunder.  One large creature was bounding right for Fred.  Fred’s heart skipped a beat.  As the creature sprang into the air Fred fell over backwards.  The underbelly of the creature looked furry and feathery at the same time.  Finally adventure! 

“What was that?” asked Fred, talking up to the clouds.

“Hippogriffs,” said Mr. Gardenpot, who had barely taken notice of the creatures, “Quite harmless.  Come along now, we have someone to go see.”

Hippogriffs?  These creatures did not look anything at all like hippos.  Fred got up and noticed Mr. Gardenpot had already walked quite a ways down the hill.  Fred chased after him calling out, “Mr. Gardenpot, wait!  Where are we going?”

It was then that Mr. Gardenpot began to talk about what was about to come, what was going to happen.  Mr. Gardenpot started talking about a great moment soon to arrive, a moment of destiny.  He told Fred he should be preparing himself to meet someone very special, very important, and very dangerous.  Mr. Gardenpot spoke of a creature of awesome power, a soothsayer, a fortune-teller, a