The Magic Newspaper

The magic paper bag was quite miraculous - if you opened and blew it up - out popped a whole magnitude of super surprises ... a balloon that would never burst ... chewing gum that never lost it's taste ... a pen that never ran out of ink ... a wallet with as much money in it as you could ever wish for ... a gobstopper sweet that you could never stop sucking ... a rabbit that you didn't need to feed and a pair of glasses that never broke. If you wished to study, the paper bag could become a school satchel with textbooks and homework that was already completed. Or even a postman's bag - full of undelivered letters and airmail. Overnight, the magic paper bag turned into a backpack, full of a picnic of scrumptious salmon sandwiches and warm soup for a weekend trip out. If it was an overseas trip - an adventure further afield - the paper bag soon became a whole set of luggage in the lost and found of the railway station ... Then on Monday, the paper bag turned into a briefcase, full of official documents, ready to start work for the week. At breakfast, the magic paper bag contained bacon butties. In the evening, most elegantly, for a Cinderella festive ball, the paper bag became a clutch bag, full of diamond rings, pearl necklaces and a lace handkerchief. Finally at night, the paper bag turned into a sleeping bag - snug and warm, that you could tuck your toes into ... and sleep ... and sleep ... and sleep. Magic. recipe Fudge Paper Bags Ingredients 1/2 cup butter 2 1/4 cups brown sugar 1/2 cup milk 3/4 cup peanut butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and milk. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour over confectioners' sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth; pour into an 8x8 inch dish. Chill until firm and cut into squares.

© Jacqueline Richards 2005