by Sara Pascoe
Just before they sat down to the sumptuous Turkish meal, Bryony asked Angie if it was all right to open a back window for Oscar.
‘Of course.’
Bryony reappeared in the front room and took her place at the table. ‘He wanted to come but was running a bit late, so I told him he could catch us up.’
There was lots of passing of food and eating more, loads of conversation, usually a few happening at once. There was a thud, followed by a few garbled swearwords and a knocking from inside the toilet door.
‘I told him the KITCHEN window.’ Bryony disappeared down the short hallway. She and Oscar returned, arguing like an old married couple.
Bryony patted the empty chair stacked with thick books, next to her. Oscar jumped up and nodded his hellos because he was holding something in his mouth. He dispelled the contents on the table, a jumble of chain.
‘Raya, happy birthday. I was trying to wrap it, but it’s hard with paws. Hope you don’t mind.’ He tapped the heap with a paw.
Raya repeated what Oscar had said for the benefit of those who didn’t understand cat. She untangled the necklace. A nazarlik, the good luck eye amulet on a silver chain. Abbas and Macide laughed the loudest. Raya burst into tears.
The party wound down, after more food than any of them needed, and Emma’s scrumptious carrot cake. Pavel, Emma, Ian, Macide and Abbas headed back to the train for London. Bryony walked home across the field, but Oscar decided to hang out with Raya and Jake a little longer.
* * *
Raya docked her phone in the living room and turned on some ‘good washing-up music’. They had a great time, belting out songs and wiggling around as they did they washed the dishes. Oscar bopped his head. As Angie put some leftovers into the fridge she said, ‘I see we’re out of milk. Raya, would you mind nipping down to the shop and getting us some for tomorrow?’ Of course Jake was going too – this was the Chakmas’ shop – where he worked before and now after the accident. Oscar decided to ‘come along for the ride’.
Ice ran down Raya’s back. She hadn’t thought about Tony in ages, and now she was about to face the poor couple he terrified so badly that they sold the petrol station and reopened this village shop instead. She took a deep breath and followed Jake and Oscar who had already trotted ahead. Once she caught up, Jake rattled on about how he’d told the Chakmas all about her and her natural talents, but not the time travel part because Pavel told him that was the one thing they tried to keep amongst the professionals, ‘and me of course’, he said with a proud grin. ‘Come on,’ he said and ran ahead.
As they neared the shop, Raya recognized two old schoolmates, a girl and a guy, leaning against the wall. One was drinking an energy drink, the other was smoking a cigarette. They nodded their hellos. She couldn’t believe she used to hang out with these guys – they looked boring to her now.
The bell on the door jangled as Jake and Raya entered. It was empty except for Mr and Mrs Chakma.
‘Oh my goodness, Piyali, look who’s here,’ Mr Chakma said to his wife.
Mrs Chakma leaned forward across the counter. Does she know I knew Tony? Does she think I had anything to do with that horrible idea?
‘You must be this Rachel Jake keeps telling us about,’ Mrs Chakma said. She extended her hand.
Raya used all her integrator skills to read Mrs Chakma and the situation. But she couldn’t get a thing, not her thoughts, past, or future, not what she had for lunch. Nerves.
Raya shook her hand and smiled meekly. ‘Very nice to meet you. I’ve heard such lovely things about you. We’re all so grateful for what you’ve done for Jake,’ she said but was interrupted by Oscar rubbing her ankles. ‘Oh yes, and for Oscar of course.’
‘Oscar! Where is my furry friend?’ Mr Chakma said coming out from behind the counter rattling cat treats. Oscar meowed his sweetest. What an actor.
Mrs Chakma tilted her head and looked warmly at Raya. ‘Our son, Genko, he has integrator skills too,’ she said conspiratorially. ‘Not like you from what I hear. I understand you’ll have the option of academy when the time comes – congratulations, young lady.’
Raya’s splutter was genuine, her blush honest. ‘Oh thanks, but well, it’s all new to me really.’ The sparkle in Mrs Chakma’s eyes and her warmth, as well as her age made Raya wonder if she’d be a nice friend for Macide, if they could ever move down here.
‘Stop it, Piyali, you’re embarrassing the poor girl,’ Mr Chakma said.
‘Don’t be silly, she’s not embarrassed. Are you embarrassed?’ Mrs Chakma asked but didn’t wait for an answer. ‘Like I was saying, our Genko’s a lawyer in London now – uses his skills in that too – human rights law,’ she beamed.
‘Oh wow – I’m doing a GCSE in law!’
‘Well, you’ll have to meet him sometime – I’m sure he’d be happy to tell you all about it.’
‘That would be great,’ she said. She had to look away and swallow a few times to check the tears that had welled up. The Chakmas were so kind and open to her. To think that all this was right here all the time baffled her. She must have been running so fast, the scenery had blurred.
Mr Chakma was paging through a stack of old science magazines showing Jake the articles he thought he’d like.
‘And their daughter Nima’s a proper engineer, like I told you,’ Jake said without looking up.
‘I remember. I hear she’s the type that builds bridges – right up Jake’s street, as I’m sure he’s told you,’ Raya said and rolled her eyes.
Mrs Chakma laughed. ‘Oh, just a few times.’
They finally remembered they’d come for milk. Mr Chakma gave them each a chocolate bar, then walked out of the shop with Raya, Jake and Oscar.
Outside, Mr Chakma made a fuss over the moggie once more.
‘Watch out – that cat will probably end up in a curry.’ It was that girl, the former friend against the wall.
‘Yeah, do you want cat Korma, or cat Jalfrezi?’ the boy chimed in.
Jake stood up straight, clenched and unclenched his fists. Raya watched carefully.
‘Just ignore them. That’s the best way,’ Mr Chakma whispered.
‘But–’ Jake said.
‘Shush. Can you imagine if I reacted to every stupid comment? Go home you two. I’ll see you soon,’ he winked and went back into the shop.
The boy classmate left his spot on the wall and towered over Jake. ‘Paki lover, you are. We see you over there all the time. Wish you WERE one, don’t you?’ the guy said.
‘Yeah. Bet you want to wear pyjamas all the time like they do, too,’ the girl said.
Jake stared straight ahead, his eyes brimmed tears. Raya knew he was no good at fighting, and was on strict orders NOT to, given they’d recently opened up his skull.
‘You’re not going to let them get away with this, are you, Raya?’ Oscar asked from his perch on the fence top, fully coiled, tail twitching.
‘Come on Raya, you big old witch, go ahead – turn me into a toad, why don’t you?’ the guy said, leaning too close to her.
The girl stepped up to them, circled Raya like she was sizing her up. ‘I dunno, Raya. If you’re so powerful, why don’t you make yourself better looking? Give yourself a decent pair of tits!’ The girl guffawed.
‘Do something! Don’t just take it!’ Jake pleaded.
A man walked by with his dog and averted his gaze. A sedge warbler sang its staccato song from a field. Raya thought about it. This would have been just the sort of opportunity to mouth off she used to relish. But more to her surprise was that she used to consider these kids friends – think this sort of rubbish was OK, even funny.
Then she thought about all she’d seen and been through this summer. The powers she didn’t used to believe in, but now has. The people she’d met, the new family she’d formed. Then there were the things she’d done, even if they were by accident. Some she was proud of, and others – she didn’t know if she could ever forgive herself. She wondered what she might be capable o
f doing – on purpose.
‘Come on, Jake. Let’s go home.’ She started off down the road, with Jake and Oscar in tow. She ignored their protests about her lack of action. The two former friends continued to heckle them. She paused, turned towards the two kids once more.
‘It’s Rachel. Just call me Rachel.’
Thank you for reading!
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed reading Being a Witch, and Other Things I Didn’t Ask For half as much as I enjoyed writing it! I’d love to know what you thought, what you enjoyed, or even hated. And let me know if you’d like information on any of the historic figures including Kâtip Çelebi, Turhan Hatice Sultana, or Matthew Hopkins. You can write to me at [email protected] and see more about me and upcoming projects on www.sarapascoe.net.
A lot of people ask how I came up with the story. It all started with a skinny, balding stray cat in our village. He was so shy, I thought he was feral. Then, one day as I was gardening, he came up to me and gave a very sweet meow for such a large cat. That was that, he was ours. Although this was in a small English village where everyone knew not only each other, but each other’s animals, no one knew who Oscar belonged to, or where he’d come from.
So, my husband came up with a theory: ‘He must have fallen off a witch’s broom as she flew over the field next door.’ Thus, the seed was planted. At the time, I was working in my former profession, as a psychologist with children, and the plight of foster kids has always gripped me. But rest assured, besides Oscar, all non-historic characters are completely fictitious.
Finally, I need to ask a favour. It would be great if you could post a review online, especially on Amazon (links provided on my website) or Goodreads. Good, bad or neutral, getting reviews can make or break a book – it’s in your hands!
Thank you so much again for spending time with Rachel, all the other characters, and through them, me.
With warmest wishes,