I Lost My Wand

         I had failed one of the most simple rules of wizardry. "Don't lose your wand."

         One day I had misplaced it, when I was very tired. The next day, I couldn't find it anywhere. But then I found the note on my counter. I gasped as I read the fancy lettering.

         Wizard Drake, I have sent your wand to a different universe. If you ever want to see it again, you'd better figure out the magic word that means "Windy City".

         At the bottom, someone I didn't know had signed it - "The Viller". I knew I needed to figure out that word quickly if I was to find my wand before someone else did. I found a dozen old books about magic, but I still couldn't find the "Windy City" word. I decided to talk to The Old Wizard.

         Four hours later, I finally found out that the magic word was "Chicago".

         With a whirl, I was whisked away to the other universe. When I opened my eyes, I found that I was in a dark closet. I found a door and cracked it open.

         Outside the closet, I saw a baby dressed in purple, playing with a toy. Then it dawned on me what the toy was - it was my wand!

         I waited for the right moment, then snuck out of my closet toward the baby to take the wand. Then I would simply send myself back to my universe.

         But then suddenly, the baby blurted out a word that almost sounded like a magic word that I had read about in those old books.

         I found out soon enough what the magic word was, for that is the reason I am a frog as I write this. Now it'll be harder than ever to get that wand back.