Caution: Witch In Progress

by Lynne North

  Mervin was slapping his scaly hands down on the surface of the moat, sending stagnant water flying in all directions. ‘Yo, Gertie, way to go, Pipsqueak!’ he yelled.

  Even Wart and Lily probably knew something was going on, though they couldn’t be sure what. It would just sound like everyone was as happy as they were.

  Gran was going totally frantic, waving a yelling Bat the umbrella over her head. She stood on her chair as she whistled and hooted, saying ‘That’s my Granddaughter, you know, that’s my Granddaughter.’

  Gertie saw Ma try to restrain her, but it was far from easy. She finally gave up. Let Gran have her day. Gertie felt worth gloating about right now. She knew Ma watched her approach the platform with her eyes blurred by proud and happy tears. This was so much more than any of them could ever have hoped for.

  Owl flew straight and proud beside Gertie, looking right and left, as he protected her. He probably wasn’t sure what was going on, but he seemed aware that she was his witch, and she was important. That meant he was too.

  Gertie received her Golden Spider Award with such pride. She would keep it always as a reminder of her time at the Academy.

  ‘Well done, Gertie,’ announced Miss Wick as she handed over the glittering prize. ‘I hope we’ll see you back here next term.’

  ‘Thank you, Miss,’ replied the young witch. Would she be back? Gertie still wasn’t sure. There was so much to learn though, and everyone was being nice to her now. Maybe she would talk it over with Bertha at the party, and see what her friend intended to do. For now, she wouldn’t worry about it. This day was for her, and she was going to enjoy every minute of it. Owl could see, and Ma and Gran had good reason to be proud of her, at last. That was all Gertie had ever wanted. She was a true Grimthorpe, and she was happy.

  After the ceremony was over, all the pupils and their families strolled around the grounds. A huge buffet had been set up in a grand black marquee on the lawn. Gertie watched Gran having a great time as she kept going back and forth to fill her plate. The only ones heading back more often than her were Bertha and her ma. Between the Bobbits and Gran, it was surprising there was anything left for anyone else. The table still looked so full even now, almost as if by magic.

  Once Gran had eaten her fill, she stood with Ma watching Gertie talking and laughing with Bertha. Gran had been quiet for some time, and not just because her mouth had been too full to speak. Even now, Gran was staring at Gertie with a thoughtful look on her face. She took another sip of Witches Punch, her eyes far away.

  ‘What is it, Mother?’ Ma finally asked. She had to know what was on the old witch’s mind.

  ‘Uhm?’ asked Gran, suddenly aware Ma was speaking to her.

  ‘You’re so quiet,’ replied Ma, ‘and that’s not like you at all.’

  ‘Aye, I suppose I am,’ Gran said after a pause. ‘I’m mulling something over in my mind. It’s something I’ve wondered about for quite some time, but now I think I know.’

  ‘What?’ asked Ma when Gran didn’t continue. ‘You’re worrying me, Mother! Whatever’s wrong?’

  ‘Oh, nothing’s wrong,’ replied Gran, pursing her lips. ‘It’s just, well, you know. I’ve always said our Gertie is special.’

  ‘Of course she is,’ agreed Ma, still puzzled.

  ‘No, I don’t mean special to us, I mean Special with a capital S…’

  ‘Yes?’ said Ma, encouraging Gran to go on.

  ‘Well, now I think I know what her Special gift is,’ continued Gran.

  ‘You do?’ asked Ma.

  Gran nodded sagely. ‘Think about it,’ she explained. ‘Has Gertie ever done anything bad, despite all the encouragement we’ve given her?’

  ‘Well, no,’ pondered Ma.

  ‘Yes, I know,’ continued Gran. ‘There was Grothilde’s barn. But that was just a mistake due to lack of training. What I mean is, has she ever done anything intentionally bad?’

  ‘No. No she hasn’t,’ agreed Ma.

  ‘Well then,’ nodded Gran. ‘There you have it, then.’

  ‘What!’ exclaimed Ma. ‘Please do get to the point, Mother!’

  ‘What we have here,’ Gran said, as if there had been no interruption, ‘…we have ourselves a White Witch in the family.’ Gran nodded again, winked, and stared back at Gertie.

  Ma was dumbstruck.

  ‘Well, think about it’ continued Gran. ‘White witches only ever do good things, just like our Gertie. And consider how clever she is with cures and the like.’

  Finally Ma said, ‘A White Witch? Mother, do you think so? But, there are so few born. We’ve never had one amongst the Grimthorpes. In fact, I don’t think we’ve ever had one in Vile Vale. That would make her very Special’

  ‘Like I always said, wait and see,’ replied Gran, looking very pleased with herself.

  ‘A White Witch!’ repeated Ma, staring at her carefree little girl in awe.

  ‘You’re talking about Gertie, aren’t you?’ asked Miss Fiendish, who happened to be passing by.

  ‘We certainly are,’ said Gran, in a voice that dared her to contradict their verdict.

  Miss Fiendish smiled. ‘Yes, I think you’re right. I’ve thought so myself for some time now. She has all the signs. Young Gertie has a long way to go, and lots to learn, but I too believe that you have a fine White Witch in the making.’

  ‘SEE!’ shrieked Gran. Ma knew there was nothing she liked better than to be proved right.

  Miss Fiendish walked on with another smile.

  ‘Do you think we should tell her?’ Ma asked.

  ‘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).

  About The Author

  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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