The Golden Acorn Read Online Free

clump of dandelions. He was just about to go over and pick it up when a sudden movement, a flutter of wings, distracted him. From the corner of his eye he saw the big black bird he’d seen earlier. It landed on top of a dustbin which was underneath the open kitchen window of the Club House. He watched in fascination as it leaned in and helped itself to a rather large sandwich. Once it was securely in its beak it dropped back down onto the grass. With a hop, skip and a couple of jumps the bird made its way towards Jack with its prize. The snatch hadn’t gone unnoticed and the alarm had been raised from inside the kitchen.
    ‘Shoo him off Jack!’ shouted the older woman as she leaned out of the window. ‘Shoo that thieving crow away!’
    Jack stood up and started flapping his arms as he ran towards the bird. It didn’t fly off or look in the least bit frightened.
    ‘You’ll never fly like that,’ it said through a beakful of sandwich, ‘and I’m not a crow.’
    It skipped unhurriedly across the field, finally taking off and landing in one of the large trees opposite the cricket ground.
    Jack stood rooted to the spot. He hadn’t taken his eyes off the bird. He was stunned. Had he imagined the whole thing? Birds don’t talk. Maybe the odd word and a few squawks but not proper sentences. Perhaps he was coming down with a bug, he did feel a bit hot; maybe he’d got a temperature. From the pavilion he could still hear the women complaining.
    ‘Put his head right inside the window, if you please! Bold as brass! Took that sandwich right off the plate.’
    ‘Never seen anything like it,’ the other replied. ‘Better close the window. He might try it again.’
    As the window slammed shut Grandad appeared in the doorway.
    ‘He was a cheeky chappy,’ he laughed.
    Jack was still worried.
    ‘Can ravens talk, you know, like parrots?’
    ‘I’m not sure,’ Grandad replied. ‘Why don’t you ask Nora? She knows a lot about birds. She knows a lot about everything.’

    The front garden of Ewell House was a blaze of colour. There were flowers everywhere. Grandad opened the gate and gave him an encouraging smile.
    ‘I’ll be off now. See you later, have a good time.’
    Jack hesitated, took a deep breath, then closed the gate and set off down the path. On the wall by the front door was a green circular plaque with a large tree embossed on it. Ewell House was spelled out above it in capital letters. Jack looked for a bell to ring but could only find a knocker. It was decorated with three oak leaves and two large acorns. Apart from the colour, the similarity between the two acorns and the one in his pocket was unmistakable. His heart began to beat rapidly; his hand trembled as he lifted the knocker.
    Elan opened the door. Jack felt a bit better knowing he wasn’t going to be alone with Nora.
    ‘Come in, it’s this way to the kitchen.’
    He followed Elan down a dark passage. It was an old house like Grandad’s. The floors, walls and ceilings were all uneven. At the end of the hallway they entered a large kitchen. The smell of freshly baked bread was still in the air. Nora stood by a large range, stirring the contents of a pot. Sunlight streamed in through the windows lighting the whole room. He liked it better than the strange place he’d sat in yesterday afternoon. There were more bookshelves full of the same kind of leather-bound books he’d seen in the herborium. Two large patio doors were open and Jack could see the garden beyond.
    ‘Before we have tea,’ Nora began, ‘there’s someone I’d like you to meet.’
    Jack looked around the kitchen expecting to see another person.
    ‘No, not here,’ laughed Elan.
    ‘We’re going to have to go into Glasruhen. It’s not too far.’
    Jack looked puzzled as Nora continued.
    ‘Glasruhen begins just beyond the hedge you went through yesterday. It’s a very old forest. You might see and hear some strange things this afternoon but I don’t want you to be