The Jupiter Twins & The Secret Spell-ing Club 🤫 🪄 Magical Bedtime Stories For Kids

[00:00:11] Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, a podcast of original children's bedtime stories and meditations designed to make bedtimes a dream. We are opening up the KoKo Club tonight for a whole bundle of you. Can you count how many different countries we've got here?

[00:00:30] We've got, first of all, Grace and Daisy, who are in Ayr in Scotland. We have Waylon in Portland, Oregon, USA. Ruby Turner's next. She's in Gloucester in England. And, ooh, we're going over to Sydney, Australia to welcome Athena. Hiya!

[00:00:48] Then we've got Anna, Jackson and Walker, who are in New Hampshire in the US. We've got Zanda and Emmy from Dallas, also US. Abby and Ollie from Perth in Australia. Charlotte from Atlanta, Georgia in the US. And finally, back to Australia to say a big good day to Isla, who is in Gisborne.

[00:01:10] Oh my word. Thank you all for joining the KoKo Club, for subscribing for the year and supporting us. We love that you have decided to take out the subscription. So, thank you. Enjoy all your extra stories now. And, of course, the ad-free listening. And don't forget to tell all your friends about us. Thank you. Thank you.

[00:01:31] Now, I wonder, have any of you ever joined a club at school or set one up? So, if you did, what did you learn or teach? We'd love to hear all about it. I ask because we are meeting up with Jake and Lily tonight as they're settling into life in Lower Starry School. And they're finding it quite different from the Leora Academy. They're also missing their magic lessons.

[00:01:55] But they have a great idea of creating an after-school club and it becomes the perfect cover for something much more magical and totally top secret. So, let's join and see what they're up to, shall we? But only once you've got yourselves all cosy in bed. Jump in, perhaps stretch, shuffle, wiggle, whatever it takes to get all relaxed and in the snoozy mood.

[00:02:19] Because I am ready to start The Jupiter Twins and The Secret Spelling Club by Luke Prendergast. Now then, said Mrs Fudge, the English teacher at Lower Starry School. Next up we've got the word community. Who would like to have a go at spelling that, hmm?

[00:02:49] Mrs Fudge's eyes scanned the classroom. A handful of students had their hands raised, but she passed over them because those students had already spelled a number of words each. At last, her eyes landed on Jake Jupiter. How about one of our newest students? Jake, why don't you have a go at spelling the word community? Um...

[00:03:15] Jake, who had been daydreaming a little, suddenly sat up straight in his chair. Community? He said. Is it... C-O-M? U-N-I-T-Y? Mrs Fudge gave him an encouraging look. That's very close, Jake, but you were just one letter off. Who might be able to tell us the missing letter?

[00:03:45] Lily Jupiter, sitting beside her brother, thrust her hand into the air. Ooh, me! She said. Pick me! And then Mrs Fudge nodded at her. Lily said, It has a double M, so C-O-M-M-U-N-I-T-Y. Very good, Lily, said Mrs Fudge. Jake glanced at his sister, who caught his eye and smiled. Jake rolled his eyes playfully.

[00:04:15] No matter where they were, Lily ended up being the teacher's pet. That was how it was at the Lior Academy of Magical Arts, and that was what it was like here, too. Several weeks had passed since Jake and Lily had moved from Leeds to lower starry skies, and they'd landed with quite a bang.

[00:04:36] A missing spell book and some unruly magic occurring around the non-magical village had got them in serious trouble with the authorities. They had almost had their memories wiped, so they would no longer have any recollection of their magical pasts. But everything had turned out okay in the end. Better than okay, in fact. They'd not only solved the case of the missing spell book, they'd saved lower starry skies from danger.

[00:05:05] And they'd been given permission to still use their magical abilities, but only on one condition. That they did it in secret. Plus, they'd made some great friends in their cosy new home, like Maggie the magician and her white rabbit assistant Marshmallow. How are you enjoying the new school? Maggie asked them one break time in the playground.

[00:05:31] She was wearing a black magician's top hat. It seemed she never took it off. It's brilliant, Jake told her. Everyone's so friendly, Lily added. We feel right at home. But, Jake admitted, it is a bit of a change getting used to the new lessons. No more plant magic. No, we got science instead.

[00:05:57] And instead of predicting the future in prognostication, now we study the past in history. Maggie gave him a sympathetic look and touched a finger to her chin. I bet you miss studying magic in school, she said. Jake nodded. Just a little bit though. It was true. As much as Lily and Jake loved their new home, their new school, their new friends,

[00:06:25] at night they shared the same dream. They were standing in a classroom with a chalkboard and wooden desks with lift up lids, whispering spells that made the furniture jiggle and dance. The following week, at the end of English class, Mrs Fudge adjusted her round spectacles and cleared her throat. She had an announcement. The time has come to set up this year's after school clubs.

[00:06:54] And, as per usual, we leave it up to our students to suggest and organise them. I wonder if we can rustle up something even more impressive than Nick's Knitting Club from last year. Mrs Fudge raised her hands to show off her orange woolly mitts. Anyone who wants to set up a club, come and see me in the next couple of days. All right, off you go.

[00:07:21] Out in the playground, Lily and Jake were playing hopscotch when Maggie sidled over and gave Jake a nudge with her elbow. So? She said out of the side of her mouth. Are you going to set one up? Set what up? Jake asked. A club, of course. Jake frowned. What kind of club?

[00:07:49] A magic club, of course. Jake and Lily stopped mid-hop and stared at her, open mouth. Weren't you saying that you missed doing magic in school? Maggie asked. Well, here's your chance. Of course, you'd have to be teachers rather than students, since you're the only ones around here who know how to do witch and wizard style magic.

[00:08:17] But I can think of a few kids who'd love to learn magic. Kids who already seem to shimmer with magic. Untapped magic potential. I know I'd love to learn, that's for sure. It's time I learned a trick that doesn't involve pulling poor Marshmallow out of a hat. As they'd listened to her, a pair of identical smiles had spread their way across the Jupiter twins' faces. Teaching magic.

[00:08:47] That was a pretty awesome idea. Then Lily sighed. We can't just set up a club like that, though. She said. What are we gonna call it? Magic club? Where everyone can come to learn spells and incantations? Jake and I are supposed to be keeping our magical abilities secret. Especially from all the unenchanted grown-ups around here. Hmm.

[00:09:17] Maggie scratched her head through her black top hat. Well then, we'll need to pretend it's another kind of club then. Like a disguise so as not to draw attention to ourselves. But I don't know what. What?

[00:09:36] I think that was a good thing. So this is a great thing.

[00:10:04] A spelling club, Jake said. After all, I do need to get a little bit better at spelling, don't I? Mrs Fudge clasped her hands together in delight, making the sleeves of her floaty purple dress billow. Oh, Jake, what a wonderful idea. It makes me so terribly happy when students have self-improvement top of mind.

[00:10:32] Your spelling club has been approved with great pleasure. As Jake stepped back out into the corridor, he smiled to himself. The truth was, Mrs Fudge would never know just what kind of spells they'd be doing. Over the next few days, Jake and Lily bowed their heads together before bed every evening,

[00:10:58] discussing what kind of spells they would teach the secret spelling club members. They would have to start with something easy, of course. Perhaps a simple glowing charm, or learning how to mend a torn piece of paper good as new. And then, later on, they could do more complicated spells. Oh, Jake, Lily said, wrapping her arms around her brother. I can't wait.

[00:11:28] This is going to be fun. The evening of the first secret spelling club was balmy. Not a single cloud could be seen in the purple twilight sky. Jake and Lily headed to the classroom that had been allocated for their club and waited. But the clock ticked and ticked, and no one arrived, not even Maggie.

[00:11:55] They exchanged a worried glance. Maybe nobody wants to join our club after all, Jake said. Lily walked to the door and glanced up the corridor one way and then the other. Then, she heard a whispered, there was Maggie at the far end of the corridor beckoning her. Lily frowned with confusion.

[00:12:25] But she and Jake went up the corridor to see her. What's happening? They asked, as Maggie led them around a corner. We can't be doing magic in a classroom, can we? Said Maggie. That will raise too much suspicion. For a secret club, we need somewhere secret. Somewhere like here. Lily and Jake looked around. In the corridor?

[00:12:54] Jake asked. Next to all the lockers? Added Lily. They were still confused. Maggie just grinned at them. He might be the first witch and wizard at Lower Starry School, she said, rather mysteriously. But that doesn't mean this place doesn't have some magic of its own. Maggie reached out and opened a nearby locker.

[00:13:24] Lily and Jake peered inside and gasped. They had expected to see the normal bits and bobs that students stored in their lockers. Textbooks and pencils and a class timetable. Maybe a poster of their favourite pop star. Instead, the locker opened up into a tunnel with soft padded walls and ceiling.

[00:13:49] The tunnel, extended back by a couple of metres, then seemed to go downwards. Is that a slide? Asked Lily. She was taken totally by surprise. A slide inside a school locker. Whatever next? Yup, said Maggie, grinning. A magical slide. Go on, in you get.

[00:14:16] Lily climbed into the locker first, crawling through the tunnel with Jake just behind her. Then, she tucked her legs under and pushed off. A moment later, she was sliding in a gentle spiral. Her fingers grazed the cushioned walls. Just behind her, she heard Jake let out a little laugh of enjoyment.

[00:14:41] And a moment later, she popped out the end of the slide, landing on her feet. They found themselves in a classroom. A classroom that looked uncannily like the one they'd been dreaming about. A blackboard with chalk, wooden desks with lift-up lids. And there, standing in a line, a handful of students.

[00:15:05] Welcome to the secret room at the end of the magical locker, Maggie said, spreading her arms wide. Core, whispered Jake. He turned around and saw a single open locker embedded in the wall behind him. The locker they'd just come through. He went to peer in and saw that a slide leading them back down the way they came.

[00:15:36] Wait, he said, frowning. Didn't we just come down a slide? Shouldn't you have to climb up to get out? How does that make any sense? Maggie shrugged. That's magic for you, I guess. She turned to the room. And these are our new spelling club members. You remember Alan, don't you?

[00:16:02] Maggie pointed at a boy with glasses and floppy hair. Of course we do, said Lily. Then she blushed. Sorry for accusing you of stealing our spell book when we first arrived in Lower Starry Skies, Alan, she said. Alan gave her a big smile. Totally forgiven, he said.

[00:16:26] Maggie introduced the twins to another student, Tina, who had two long plaits of red hair. And this is Charlie, Maggie said, pointing at a girl perched on the edge of a desk. She had a big mass of frizzy black hair and wore a hoodie with a panda on the front and a pair of bright blue trainers. Hey, said Charlie. So, you two are witches and wizards?

[00:16:56] Jake and Lily nodded. My Aunt Zelda's a witch, Charlie told them. Lily's eyes went bright. Is she really? She asked, delighted. She loved to discover more magical folks hidden around Lower Starry Skies. Yep, said Charlie. And I'm always doing magic and things at her house, so, like, I'm probably going to be the best in the class. It's not a class, said Maggie. It's a club.

[00:17:27] Right, yeah, Charlie said. That's what I meant, club. Lily smiled at all of them. Well, we're both very glad that you wanted to join our secret spelling club and learn some magic. There's just one rule. What's that? Asked Alan. We've got to keep the secret spelling club a secret, Jake said. Everyone in the room nodded. They were all on board with that.

[00:17:57] All right, said Lily. Today, we're going to start by learning how to make an orb of light. Charlie slipped off the desk. Sounds easy, she said. Let's do it. And so, the Jupiter twins gathered everyone around in a circle and began to teach them the light orb spell. Lily took charge. She was the strongest student after all.

[00:18:26] She taught them the words to the incantation and had them repeat them over and over again until they had it memorized. Orb of radiance, pure and bright. Answer now and bring me light. Then she had them focus their energies on the space in front of them. You really have to visualize the ball of light in front of you, she said.

[00:18:56] Half of magic is the spell and half of it is your intention. Like this. Lily stared at the space in front of her. Her eyes focused and whispered the magic words. A beautiful orb of pale golden light appeared in front of her. The spelling club members let out oohs and ahs.

[00:19:22] Lily snapped her fingers gently and the golden orb disappeared. All right, she said. Now it's your turn. One by one, the other kids focused their eyes and whispered the spell. But each time, nothing happened at all. The air in front of them stayed empty and totally lightless. Jake gave a kindly laugh.

[00:19:51] It's tougher than it looks, isn't it? He said. Even I still struggle with magic and I've been studying it for years. Like everything else, it just takes practice. Lots of practice. So, practice they did. For the next hour, the room was filled with the noise of incantations being muttered, sighs of disappointment, and the occasional gasp of success.

[00:20:21] By the end of the club's first session, Tina and Alan had made orbs of light appear, though Alan's orange orb was rather flickery to tell the truth. Maggie had made a beautiful pink orb appear, and sail around the room. It was only Charlie who'd not made any light appear. Don't worry, Jake reassured her. You'll get there in time. Me? Worried?

[00:20:49] Charlie said, feigning shock. I'm not worried. No, sirry. I've made a ball of light loads of times in the past. Today, I've just got... Today, I've just got... I've just got a sore throat. She touched her neck and let out a little cough. Obviously, the words can't come out right. Of course, Jake said softly, and he watched her hurry away down the corridor.

[00:21:20] The following week, Lily taught everybody how to make a book levitate in the air. This was a much harder spell, she explained, one that took a lot more concentration than the orb of light. At the beginning of the after-school hour, the books lay in a line along the floor, as unmoving and heavy as if they were made out of stone. But by the end of the hour, a couple of books were flying around the room

[00:21:49] as though they'd grown wings, while a couple of others were sliding across the floor, which was good enough. Only Charlie's book had failed to give so much as a little twitch. Hmm, she said. I think my book's broken. The next week, Lily and Jake brought in several plastic pot plants in a bag of soil. When Mrs. Fudge saw, she frowned.

[00:22:18] Plant pots? she asked. For a spelling club? Um, said Lily, and then Jake jumped in. Today, we're learning how to spell the names of flowers, he said. Like tulip and chrysanthemum. We thought we'd bring these in as sort of, um, a visual aid. Mrs. Fudge's frown dissolved. Good thinking, Jupiter twins, she said.

[00:22:48] Very good thinking indeed. Indeed. In fact, the plant pots and bag of soil were not to help with spelling plant names at all. They were there to teach the members of the secret spelling club the blooming charm, which made flowers spring up from bare earth. Lily demonstrated the spell at the beginning, making a single white lily grow out of the pot.

[00:23:15] Then, she taught them the magical words, and the accompanying hand gesture for lifting the plants out of the soil. Now, off you go, she told them. As per usual, no one could perform the blooming charm at first, but after about 15 minutes, Maggie made a tiny purple crocus bloom in her pot. Then, Tina made a little yellow buttercup sprout its head up.

[00:23:44] She gave a satisfied sigh. Charlie, meanwhile, was struggling. No matter how coaxingly she muttered the spell, or how much effort she put into raising her hands up in the air, nothing would happen. Her pot of soil remained a stubborn pot of soil. When Alan finally made a daisy appear in his pot,

[00:24:11] a single frustrated tear rolled out of Charlie's eye. This is silly, she said. My Aunt Zelda's a witch, don't you know? I don't need to be part of this club. And before anyone could say another word, Charlie had climbed into the magical locker and slipped away down the slide. For a few seconds, everyone in the secret spelling club was quiet.

[00:24:41] Then Jake said, You'll carry on. I'll be back in a minute. And he followed Charlie down the slide. He found her in the corridor, looking rather sorry for herself. Are you okay? He asked. Charlie shook her head. Not really, she said. My Aunt Zelda really is a witch. I'm not lying about that. Magic runs in my family,

[00:25:10] which means that I should be good at it. But I'm not. I'm the worst. She gave a sniff. And I hate being the worst. Jake leaned his back against the wall next to her. Oh, I get that, he said. I bet you don't, Charlie replied glumly. I bet you're brilliant at everything. Jake shook his head.

[00:25:40] I'm actually not very good at spelling, he said. That's how this all started. Actually, I'm a bit rubbish at it. Charlie glanced up at him, a small flicker of brightness in her eye. You're not good at spelling? Jake shook his head. Well, I'm pretty good at spelling, Charlie said.

[00:26:07] I can spell the longest word in the whole English language, which is anti-disestablishmentarianism. Do you want to hear me spell it? Jake shook his head again. Maybe another time, he said. What I want is for you to come back in there and give the blooming charm one more go. I'll help you. Please? Charlie blinked at him a few times, as though weighing it up.

[00:26:38] Then, with a small smile, she nodded. Jake and Charlie crawled back through the tunnel in the magical locker, slid down the slide, and stepped into the classroom. Charlie's gonna give it another go, Jake announced. They stood in front of Charlie's pot of empty soil, and Charlie tried again. She muttered the spell and lifted her hands in the air. But nothing happened.

[00:27:08] Charlie looked dejected. It's no use, she said. It's never going to work. Raise your hands more slowly, Jake told her. Like, you're inviting the flower out of the soil, rather than pushing it out. You've got to be gentle with it. They're tender creatures, flowers are. The gentler you are with them, the better. All right,

[00:27:39] Charlie said, though she didn't sound convinced. She faced her pot of soil and held out her hands. Then, very quietly, she muttered the words of the blooming charm and raised her hands in a gentle motion through the air. And out of the pot rose not one, but a dozen beautiful daffodils. They swayed there,

[00:28:08] their yellow trumpets pointing at the ceiling, whispered the members of the club. Even Lily was impressed. I've never seen such a beautiful blooming charm before, she said. Those daffodils are extraordinary. Jake nudged Charlie with his elbow. See, he said, you're not the worst.

[00:28:37] Now you're the best. Charlie smiled at him shyly. Thank you, she whispered, and he gave her a hug. My, my, Jake, Lily said when everyone else had left. They'd stayed behind to gather up the plant pots. It turns out you're the best spelled teacher of them all. Do you think so? Jake replied. Oh yes,

[00:29:07] Lily said. That was some amazing teaching. And you've already got your own teacher's pet. Jake smiled at her. Charlie, you mean? Lily nodded. I think Charlie has a lot of magical potential, Jake said with a nod of his chin. Lily gave him a big smile. So do I, she said. So do I.

[00:29:37] They took the slide back into the school corridor and shut the locker behind them. Then they heard a little cough. They turned around to see Mrs. Fudge standing before them in her floaty purple dress. Well, I say, Jupiter twins, she said, pointing at the plant pots. You're not just spelling flowers, you're growing them too. There was a

[00:30:07] twinkle in Mrs. Fudge's eyes. If Jake didn't know any better, he'd say that Mrs. Fudge knew exactly what they'd been up to. Now, hurry along, their teacher said. Home time. I'll see you back here in the morning. Good night. Good night, Mrs. Fudge, they said, and headed out of the school. Evening had settled over lower starry skies.

[00:30:37] The sky was dark blue and already flickering with dozens of tiny sparkling stars. They walked their way home through the winding cobbled streets, the houses casting long shadows. Through every window, they saw families getting ready for bed. Cups of hot chocolate were brewing. Nightlights were being switched on. Bedtime stories were being

[00:31:07] told. Just seeing everyone else preparing for night time made them feel sleepy too. Jake let out a giant yawn. Golly, he said, teaching sure is tiring work, almost as tiring as learning. You bet, Lily said. A dozy firefly sailed lazily across

[00:31:37] the road and disappeared into a hedge. Far off, an owl hooted. They turned the corner of their street. At the far end, they could see the little cottage they called home, where their mum would be waiting for them with a warm meal and an open ear. Should be ready to hear all about their day. Do you know what the best thing about the secret spelling club

[00:32:06] is? Jake asked. Lily glanced at him and grinned. Getting to be the best at teaching? No, Jake said, shaking his head, though that is pretty good. Still getting to do magic at school? Lily asked. Still no, Jake said, though that is pretty good too. Lily frowned and pushed a

[00:32:36] strand of hair out of her eyes. What then? She asked. I think we found something pretty special, Jake said. What's that? Lily asked. For an answer, Jake spelled it out. C-O-M-M-U-N-I-T-Y. Lily smiled.

[00:33:06] Community, she sighed. You're right, we do have our own little community now, don't we? Then she blinked at him. And Jake, you've even spelled it right. Jake grinned. I know, I've been practicing. They had reached their cottage now. The low glow of golden light seeped through the windows and they could

[00:33:35] already smell the comforting scent of a home-cooked meal. Lily swung open the gate, let Jake step through and it shut with a gentle clink. Then together they walked up the little pathway. Flowers swayed sleepily in the beds and stars twinkled in the sky. Lily reached out to turn the door handle and they stepped into the

[00:34:05] warm embrace of the air inside. They were home. Jake and Lily ate their warm meal and drank a mug of hot chocolate each while they told their mum all about their day. She knew everything about their secret spelling club. After all, it was always good to confide in one adult about your secrets. And for the Jupiter twins,

[00:34:35] that adult was their mum. By the time they'd finished their story, Lily's eyes were drooping and Jake let out a big yawn. It was bedtime. They brushed their teeth, put on their pyjamas and slipped into bed. Silver starlight shone on the windowpane. Their duvets were so warm and toasty, their pillows

[00:35:05] so soft, that it wasn't long before they were drifting to sleep. And tonight, the Jupiter twins shared another dream, the same dream they'd shared before. When they closed their eyes, they saw a magical locker. They stepped in, slid down the soft slide, and dreamed of being back in their favourite

[00:35:34] secret club. They would have