Caution: Witch In Progress (24 page)

    ‘Who? Our Gertie?’

    Ma nodded.

    ‘Don’t you think she knows?’ Gran asked ‘Alright, she might not
have put a name to it yet, but she believes she’s a witch now. That much is
obvious, what she did with Owl and the like. She also knows she’s different.
Always has been, and always will be. No. Let’s leave her to develop just as
she’s intended to, shall we?’

    Ma smiled. ‘As always Mother, you’re right.’

    Both of them beamed over at their little white witch. If their
pride had been any stronger, it would have burst them right open at the seams.

    Being back in Vile Vale could have seemed like a bit of an
anticlimax after all the excitement of the last few days, but it wasn’t. Gertie
loved to be in her own room again, and to know Ma and Gran would be the first
people she would see when she awoke. She missed Bertha, but it wouldn’t be long
before they went to visit her for the party. It would be such fun. She would
miss her favourite teacher too, and Mervin. Gertie was determined to visit them
before too long. She practiced her broomstick flying every day now, under the
watchful eye of Ma.

    Gertie didn’t have time for much thinking about the Academy,
because they had a constant stream of visitors to their cottage. Gertie had the
distinct impression that Gran had something up her sleeve. It was something she
had made sure the whole village knew about. Gertie knew she would explain it to
her too, when she was ready.

    Grothilde was here today, listening to Gertie chatter on about
Owl’s sight.

    ‘Eh, that’s grand, Lass!’ Grothilde exclaimed when Gertie had finished,
all excited and flushed. ‘Who’s a clever little witch then, eh? I’ll tell you
now, if I ever get anything wrong with me, I’ll be over here like a flash!’
Grothilde smiled, with one eye fixed on Gertie, and the other staring at Owl.

    ‘But…’ Gertie began, only to be silenced by a gentle nudge from
Ma.

    Once Grothilde had left, Gertie spoke to Ma. ‘But Ma, maybe I
could help Grothilde to see straight if I studied really hard!’

    ‘I know, dear,’ replied Ma. ‘If you put your mind to it, I’m
sure you could. But, you see, it’s all Grothilde has ever known. Seeing like
that is natural to her. Maybe she would hate to only be able to look in one
direction at a time.’

    Gertie thought about it. She decided she had a lot to learn
about witches, as well as about witchery.

    Nods, points and whispers greeted Gertie wherever she went in
the village. Gertie didn’t mind. Ma had bought her some lovely new robes as a
present for passing her term. She thought that everyone was admiring them. And
they all knew she had won the Golden Spider Award too! For the first time in
her life, Gertie felt she could be proud about whatever comments they might be
making, and she was right.

    Gertie had learned, and cast, a keep clean spell on her new
robes. Now, any mud or dirt slid off! Nothing would stop her from trudging
through the muddy grass of their garden everyday to visit Wart and Lily at the
stagnant pond. Not even new clothes! Wart seemed pleased to be back in his own
pond, and Lily was settling in nicely. In fact, Lily was looking quite fat of
late. Gertie decided she must be eating too much. At least that meant she was
happy in her new home.

    It wasn’t long before Gran told her the real reason. Wart was
going to become a dad. Gertie was so excited she thought she could almost burst.

    Bat was still being…well, he was just being Bat. He could be a
real pain, but Gertie had grown fond of him and his odd little ways. She took
him out a lot, trying to make up for his time spent stuck in the wardrobe. Bat
now lived on Gertie’s window sill at home too. He could watch all the comings
and goings that way. Gertie had to warn him to talk quietly if he was saying
anything insulting about anyone walking past. After all, Gertie’s window was
permanently left open for Owl. Actually, Bat wasn’t insulting people quite so
much now. He was no longer miserable, and it made a difference. Gertie could
see good in everyone, and sometimes, just sometimes, they proved her right.

    Owl was seeing his own wood, and village, as if for the first
time. Gertie could tell he was loving every minute. Life was good, and he was a
very happy Owl. Gertie had the strong feeling he was proud of her. They seemed
to be almost sharing thoughts as time went on.

    Despite all that had happened and all the attention she was now
receiving, Gertie was still just young Gertie. That’s all she wanted to be. Now
though, she felt taller, and walked more proudly. She really belonged in Vile
Vale, and had an increasing confidence she had never felt before. She was
growing up.

    Gertie’s future was spreading before her, bright and full of
promise. She was happy, truly happy. Though she’d wondered if it would ever
happen, Gertie really had got it right (eventually).

Lynne North
lives in a countryside area in the North West of England. She has a lifetime
love of books and reading, and has always longed to have a book published. She
divides her time between a full time job as a data analyst and writing fantasy
novels. Somewhere in between she sometimes finds time to eat and sleep.

Lynne North - April 2013)

Find out more at
www.ghostlypublishing.co.uk

And connect with me on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/GhostlyPublishing

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