And since I was being crazy-brave, I decided I would ask MM straight-out about her face. The one with the creepy feathers and snake eyes that Amanita saw in the mirror at the Full Moon party.
MM burst out laughing. ‘That wasn’t my face!’ she said. ‘That was just a little mirror spell! Your friend was staring at me, and I didn’t like it. I only did it to put her off.’
Hahahahahaha!!! Isn’t that perfect?! Amanita got totally fooled by a mirror spell! I can’t wait to tell her.
Best of all, I looked at Phoebe, and saw her laughing along with us. Her eyes were shining, and she looked happier than I’d ever seen her. Her air of watchful caution was gone, her shoulders relaxed, her head high. Bright, curious, hopeful: a brave new witch on the cusp of great discoveries. Ah, to be a witchling again! Just imagine what extraordinary things she might do!
Monday 31 March
Home! Hooray! And who do you think dragged his sorry pelt in through the bathroom window this afternoon? Barnaby! My dreadful, awful, darling cat!
He came in all sheepish and sorry, but within half an hour he was lying in my bed like an emperor, spreading toast crumbs through the sheets and hogging all the pillows. He’s back to his old self, down to the last detail.
I don’t know how I did it, but I must have thrown some brilliant magic at him on that slide. It takes a fair bit of witch-power to pull off a perfect reversal like that. Even Mother is impressed. He is missing a tooth and a few patches of fur, but otherwise bad old Barnaby is just the same as he was before. Which is to say, an evil-tempered, inconsiderate, embarrassing little beast.
My class is going to love him.
Nicki Greenberg is an award-winning author and illustrator. Her books include critically acclaimed graphic adaptations of The Great Gatsby and Hamlet, (winner, CBCA Picture Book of the Year 2011). She has also written and illustrated a range of books for young readers, including the popular The Naughtiest Reindeer series. In her past life, Nicki worked as a lawyer.
www.nickigreenberg.com
The Cursed First Term of Zelda Stitch. Bad Teacher. Worse Witch. Page 9