The Widow's Broom
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The Widow's Broom (1992) is a children's novel by the American author Chris Van Allsburg.
[edit] Plot summary
The story involves a widow named Minna Shaw. One evening, a witch in falls into the field near her house after her broom loses its ability to fly. The witch is allowed to stay in Minna Shaw's house to heal. Eventually she heals, and calls another witch by creating a blue fire. The two witches leave the old broom behind. Later on, Minna Shaw discovers the broom is still in her house and leaves it alone. Later in the evening, she discovers that it has a life of its own. She is scared at first, but discovers that the broom is harmless, as all it does is sweep all day long. After some time, she teaches it how to feed the chickens, chop wood, and play the piano. The Spiveys, next-door neighbors, discover this. While most of the women and children are comfortable with its work, many of the men are concerned on the fact that it belonged to a witch. Sometime later, two boys of the Spiveys begin to harass it. The broom, apparently angered, beats them and flings their dog(Fritz the bull terrier from Van Allsburg's other books) over the forest. The Spiveys march into Minna Shaw's home and demand that the broom be burned at the stake. Minna Shaw surprisingly agrees, and the broom is burned. Things pretty much return to normal, that is, until the broom's phantom-white ghost begins stalking the Spiveys' house. The Spiveys, now afraid, pack up and leave the house. Minna Shaw can now be alone and listen to the broom(not a ghost, just painted white; the Spiveys had apparently burned Minna's ordinary household broom by mistake)play music on the piano.
A movie version has been announced, directed by Sam Weisman.
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