The following morning, Nogdorf was awakened by Sammy Squirrel again scratching his glass window. He had planned to sleep in today and was a little annoyed. Sammy was insistent and didn’t stop until Nogdorf opened the window. “ Misser Noggy, you not know, but Miss Lily Boar acting funny.”

  At the mention of Lily, Nogdorf gave his full attention to Sammy. Lily was dear to his heart and he remembered her home had been blown up by Lucent and realized this was a concerning situation for her, having Alzheimers. “What is she doing, Sammy?”

  “Come see, Misser Noggy,” Sammy commanded as he took off through the trees. Nogdorf had no recourse but to follow Sammy. Sammy might have been a baby, but he was fast. Nogdorf ran to keep up with Sammy, glancing up frequently. They came up upon a huge oak tree and while Nogdorf walked up to it, he saw Lily Hog bump into the trunk of the tree and then, after shaking her head, do it over again.

  “Good morning, Lily. How are you doing this fine day?” Nogdorf asked.

  “Nogdorf, I can’t get in,” Lily said.

  It took him a minute to realize what she meant. She had been living in the trunk of a tree for many years and didn’t realize her tree had been destroyed. She thought this big tree was her tree and was trying to get inside. Nogdorf thought before he replied to Lily. “Honey, you need to rest and we will get your door opened.” He conjured up a fleecy blanket, laid it on the ground a little ways from the tree and settled Lily down. He also got a bowl and filled it with food for her. He knew she would sleep better with a full belly.

  Nogdorf thanked Sammy for bringing the situation with Lily to his attention and left to get Lester. “Lester, we have a problem and need your help. We could clear out the trunk of the tree to make Lily a new home by having a small fire, but that will take too long. I want to teach you a new spell to make this task faster.

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  Lester groaned and said, “Nogdorf, you said we would start the clean-up in two days. Can’t we please just rest today? I’m a grandpa and I ache all over from the battles.”

  Nogdorf didn’t say anything, but started gathering some herbs from around them. He started a small fire and set a pot of water on for tea. He fixed Lester a cup of tea, made of turmeric and white willow, sweetened with honey. Lester drank it down, stretched and declared, “Nogdorf, I feel much better. Let’s get going.”

  Nogdorf gave Lester a pair of gloves and put some on himself. Lester soon realized why when they walked up to a briar patch. They each picked a bundle of briars and took them to the old tree. Nogdorf taught Lester the words to the trunk carving spell. But before Lester could start his spell for Lily, Nogdorf took a chainsaw and cut a door into the trunk. With a crowbar, Nogdorf pried out the door and set it aside. He gestured at the opening and Lester stepped up.

  Lester took off his gloves after placing the briars in front of the opening and said, “claw and scratch, ratchedy ratch, claw and scratch, ratchedy ratch. By the time he started on the third round, the briars were already lifting and headed toward the tree. Lester got excited at seeing the spell work and said for the third time, “claw and scratch, ratchedy ratch.” And to increase the speed of the briars, he said, “Pascamagoula, ardintarthritis, colinfreund arithmatitis!” It was truly exciting to see the briars carving out the trunk of the tree.

  Nogdorf had fully intended to have Lester do all of the spells for Lily, but after the trunk was finished, he realized it would soon be dark and it would take much longer to teach Lester, so he should finish the spell himself to get Lily inside for the night. It is important for Alzheimer patients to be in a familiar surrounding, he had discovered. So, Nogdorf set to work, designing the inside to look like Lily’s old house. JJ fixed hinges on her door and a doorknob. When Lily woke from her nap, she happily wandered into her new house with a big smile on her face. Nogdorf glanced over at Lester, who looked very pleased with himself.

  Sammy Squirrel came and sat by Nogdorf and put his little arm around him. “We helpted her, Misser Noggy. It feel good. I helpted my daddy make our home again, too. We faster tho than Misser Noggy.  Nogdorf smiled at Sammy. All of a sudden they heard a huge crash. They jumped up and started running in the direction of the incredible noise.