The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker by E. D. Baker Page B

magic in the song; everyone there could feel it. When it was over, they sighed as if something wonderful had happened.
    â€œThat was beautiful,” someone whispered, but because it was still so quiet, everyone heard it.
    Then someone began to clap, as hard as she could. It was Marjorie, seated off to the side. Soon everyone wasclapping, including the ogres, who never, ever clapped for anyone. After that, the band played other songs that they had made up together. And the ogres loved each one. Cory and her friends played “June Bug Jamboree,” one of the first songs they’d written as a group. The ogres laughed and swatted at each other, as if the room really was full of june bugs. Then the band played “Storm-Chased Maid,” “The Last Flight of Silver Streak,” “Heat Lightning,” and “Shooting Stars.” When they played “Dusk in the Meadow,” some of the ogres actually began to cry.
    By the time they finished playing, Cory and her band were tired but happy. They had played songs that they enjoyed and made other people happy, too. The people who had been eating dinner when the music started were still there, which meant that there hadn’t been tables for anyone else. Late arrivals were standing in the back of the room.
    â€œWe’ll have more tables next time,” the Sprats told Olot as the band put away their instruments.
    â€œThat song they played, the ‘Morning Mist’ song,” Cory overheard one restaurant patron tell another, “when I closed my eyes, I felt as if I was in a meadow on a beautiful spring morning. I swear I felt the mist on my cheek and could smell the flowers!”
    â€œI know! Me too!” said her friend as they walked away.
    â€œThey were right,” Johnny Blue said, coming upbehind her. “That’s a great song. I think your band puts magic into your songs when you play like that.”
    â€œThey’re just songs we’ve written,” said Cory. “I’m glad everyone liked them! You know, I was about to go looking for you to say thanks. If it weren’t for you, tonight would have been a disaster. Those ogres were about to turn ugly!”
    â€œYou mean they weren’t already!” Johnny said with a laugh. “Seriously though, you don’t need to thank me. I didn’t do anything special. You would have turned them around soon enough.”
    â€œHey, Johnny!” shouted one of the ogres standing in the doorway. “Me and the boys want to buy you a berry juice!”
    â€œListen, you all played really well,” Johnny told Cory, Daisy, and Cheeble, who had come over to see him. “I just wanted to congratulate you.”
    â€œJohnny!” the ogre called again.
    â€œI’ve got to go. Someone has to keep an eye on them when they get like this,” Johnny told Cory and her friends before heading to the door.
    As Cheeble went to talk to Olot, Cory tried to find Daisy in the crowd. She finally spotted her talking at a table of young elves. When Daisy took a seat with them, Cory decided not to interrupt or wait around for her. Feeling oddly alone, Cory left for home.

Chapter 10
    It was sprinkling off and on when Cory woke the next morning. The sky looked gray and dreary, and she was still tired from being up late the night before. She wished she could stay in bed, but Suzy was expecting her. Crawling out from under the covers, Cory made herself get dressed and staggered into the kitchen, yawning.
    â€œWhat are your plans for the day?” her uncle asked as he set a cup of juice by her place at the table.
    Cory pulled out her mushroom stool and slumped onto it. “I got a job helping a woman named Suzy do inventory. She’s selling everything in her seashell shop and moving to Greener Pastures.”
    â€œI have a friend who moved there,” said Micah. “It’s supposed to be a very nice retirement community.”Thunder rumbled and