“Ahem!” said Smorefedore and everyone fell silent. “It is now time for you to meet the source of our magic, the Magical Shrub.” The crowd parted to reveal the Magical Shrub

It didn’t look any sort of plant Jeremy had ever seen. It was a mass of brightly coloured endless spirals that seemed to bloom from its centre of whirling disco lights. It made Jeremy feel a little dizzy just looking at it.

Smorefedore slowly and solemnly took Jeremy by the hand and they walked over to the weirdest most colourful shrub that ever could be.

“Hello” said the shrub, “I think you should know that I am not the source of the huboboloolaabas’ magic, I am the source of all magic.”

The shrub had a most ridiculously snooty sounding voice.

“Oh, ” said Jeremy “O.K.”

“And who are you?” asked the shrub.

“I’m Jeremy.”

Smorefedore moved in closer to the shrub and whispered, respectfully but audibly, “It’s the Great and Mysterious Stranger, O Magical One”.

“Mysterious, eh? You don’t look that mysterious to me. So tell me why do they call you mysterious?” asked the Magical Shrub.

“I don’t know” replied Jeremy.

The shrub rustled its spirals for a minute. “Hmm, yes that is most mysterious indeed. So what is your wish then?”

“My wish?” asked Jeremy.

“Yes your wish” said the shrub “You’re not going to come to a magical land and speak to the source of all magic and not even ask for a wish. Come on now, no one is that mysterious!”