"Did you read that right?" Sprite asked.

"I think so," Violet said. She squinted at the tiny type. " It says we have to get them both to obey."

Sprite fluttered in front of Violet's face. "That won't be easy," he said. "Dwarfs can be very stubborn."

Violet looked at her watch. "It's getting close to lunchtime," she said. "Aunt Anne will be looking for me. We can figure this out at home."

"Right!" Sprite said. He sprinkled them with pixie dust, and they were in the back yard in a flash.

Violet's cousin Leon was waiting for them. He stood in front of the oak tree with his arms folded in front of him.

"Were you pixie tricking without me?" Leon asked. He hated to be left out of anything.

Leon and his mom, Violet's Aunt Anne, lived in the same house with Violet and her parents. Leon was the only other person who knew about Sprite and the pixie secret. Violet was always afraid that Leon would mess things up. But she had to admit that he had helped them a number of times.

"We weren't exactly pixie tricking," Violet told her cousin. She explained how they had gone out to find Brittany's dog. Instead, they had found Greenie and Meanie.

"They're stealing dogs?" Leon cried. "Let's get them! How do we trick them, anyway?"

"The Book of Tricks says that we're supposed to make them obey us," said Violet.

" No problem," Leon said. "I'm sure those dwarfs won't want to mess with a guy like me. I'll bet they'll do anything I say."

Sprite flew up to Leon.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Sprite said. "Meanie is pretty tough!"

"I'm not scared," Leon said. "I can take on any pixie!"

Violet sighed. Her cousin always tried to act brave. But she knew Sprite was right. Meanie was tough. And his name sounded, well, mean!"