Caution: Witch In Progress (13 page)

    Gertie saw this, and it gave her more hope. If Bertha could do
it, the little witch was sure she could too. With that belief beginning to
dawn, she had more success.

    By the end of the lesson, everyone’s pencil had at least been in
the air, even if only temporarily, and not very high. Gertie’s pencil had
managed a hover of a few moments over her desktop, which made her so pleased.

    Bertha’s pencil had risen almost as high as her mouth, which no
one but Bertha and Gertie truly understood.

    Bertha said she had actually found something that could be
useful to learn, for the first time since entering the Academy.

Gertie
awoke with the same confusion she had every other day. Even though she had been
at the Academy for a while now, her first thoughts on waking were still always
of her own room in Vile Vale. She expected the familiar sights to greet her as
she opened her eyes. It was at that point she remembered she would be seeing her
own room today! It was her Birthday. As yet, she didn’t feel any different for
being ten years old. Anyway, Ma and Gran would soon be on their way. In fact,
maybe they’d set off already. Even Bertha’s ma had been persuaded to make an
early start and miss her usual lie-in. There would be no going back to bed
after breakfast for Bertha today!

    Gertie had decided she didn’t need to take any clothes home with
her, because she would be coming back to the Academy tomorrow. She had left
enough at home for a change of clothes. Owl would go with her, but Wart was
being left with Lily. He probably wouldn’t even notice she’d gone, because she
went to visit him before breakfast and would be back to see him later on
tomorrow.

    Gertie was so excited she could hardly eat her breakfast. Bertha
was pleased to help. She wished Gertie a Happy Birthday, and said her ma was
bringing her present along. Even Bertha seemed quite excited about a visit to
Vile Vale. Her ma would take Jasper home with her for the weekend.

    Both girls were stood outside the Academy with Jasper as soon as
breakfast was over, their eyes fixed skywards looking for any signs of
broomsticks. Gertie knew Owl wasn’t far away.

    Gertie didn’t have long to wait before she saw two brooms fast
approaching. It was Ma and Gran. The older witch yelled ‘Happy Birthday,
Gertie!’ from high above long before the pair came in to land. Whether Gertie
was now in double figures or not, she still squealed and clapped her hands in
excitement while waiting for the brooms to swoop down. Birthday hugs and kisses
followed, accompanied by everyone talking at once. Gertie suddenly realised
that Bertha was standing quietly, being ignored.

    ‘You remember Bertha, don’t you?’ she asked Ma and Gran.

    ‘Who could forget,’ answered Gran.

    Bertha gave Gran a pointy toothed grin that made her face look
even fatter.

    Gran looked down as if she felt a bit guilty, but it wouldn’t last
long. Gran didn’t do guilty.

    Gertie thought that Gran misjudged Bertha, who was clearly so pleased
that Gran hadn’t forgotten her. She hoped they would be friends in time.

    Owl came flapping over and landed on Gertie’s shoulder.

    ‘Did you see that?’ asked Gran open-mouthed. ‘He didn’t check us
all to see which of us, if any, was Gertie!’

    Gertie excitedly told them both about auras, and bonds with
familiars. She then went on to tell them how Owl had learned to zoom in.

    Bertha joined in too by saying things like, ‘And Gertie even
turned the other way and muffled her voice to confuse him when she called him
back.’

    Gran listened and watched with interest on her face.

    Gertie was so happy to have her family and best friend here, all
together.

    They sat on a couple of benches to await Bertha’s ma. Well,
Gertie, Ma and Gran sat on one, and Bertha filled the other. No one looked more
surprised than Gran when Bertha’s ma arrived quite soon after. Gertie had heard
her moaning to Ma Grimthorpe that the day could well be nearly over before she
arrived.

    Ma Bobbit looked a little bleary-eyed, as people not used to
getting up early often do. She hugged Bertha, and then turned to Gertie with a
big box in her hands.

    ‘Here you are, Poppet,’ she smiled. ‘Happy Birthday! This is
from Bertha and myself.’

    ‘Oh, thank you!’ replied Gertie, with no idea what was in the
heavy box.

    ‘Well go on then,’ encouraged Ma Bobbit. ‘Take a look inside.’

    Gertie put the box down on the bench and took the top off. It
was crammed with chocolate bars, biscuits, cakes and sweets.

    ‘I thought you needed building up a bit,’ explained Ma Bobbit. ‘You’re
so thin, you don’t look healthy.’

    Gertie didn’t take any offence as she knew the smiling witch
meant well. She heard her Ma hush Gran, when she hissed. ‘Did you hear that?’
Fortunately Ma Bobbit was chatting away to Bertha paying them no attention.

    ‘Never mind,’ whispered Ma. ‘Gertie doesn’t look hurt. Just see
how happy she is.’

    Gran appeared pacified when she turned back to look at Gertie’s
excited little face beaming at her, so bit her tongue.

    ‘It will take me to next birthday to eat all these,’ said Gertie
with a happy smile.

    ‘Oh, I’m sure Bertha will help you to eat them,’ replied Ma
Bobbit.

    ‘I bet she will,’ muttered Gran.

    ‘Oh yes, shall we start now?’ asked Bertha, hope in her piggy
eyes.

    ‘How about taking them to your room for when you come back, so
we can set off for home?’ suggested Ma.

    ‘Yes, I so want to get home,’ agreed Gertie. ‘Won’t be a min.’
Leaving Owl with Ma, she turned to run off to her room with the box. She then
saw Bertha’s face fall.

    ‘Now, Bertha,’ said her ma. ‘Don’t look like that. You know I’ll
bring your box for the week here when I’m on my way to collect you tomorrow.
I’m sure Miss Wick will let me pop it into your room with Jasper until we
arrive back.’

    Bertha still sulked that they couldn’t at least make a start on
Gertie’s. She didn’t have long to sulk however as Gertie handed a bar of nutty
chocolate to her before heading off with the box. ‘Here, Bertha,’ she said. ‘I
know this is one of your favourites.’

    ‘Now isn’t that nice,’ she heard Ma Bobbit say. ‘What a kind
friend you have, Bertha.’

    ‘Hmm,’ replied Bertha through a mouthful of chocolate bar.

    Gertie was back in no time. ‘Let’s go home!’ she squealed. She
climbed onto Ma’s broom behind her, and Owl travelled with Gran.

    ‘Follow us,’ said Ma with a smile at Ma Bobbit, and off they
flew. Gertie turned around to watch Ma Bobbit take off with Bertha on the back,
clutching Jasper and her overnight bag. She wondered how both witches would
even fit on one broomstick, never mind get off the ground. It was quite a large
broom, but Gertie still doubted they would get into the air. They did, easily.
Miss Black knows her stuff, thought Gertie. She’s right. Size doesn’t matter.

    She then turned to face front again. She was going home. Gertie
felt the wind whistling through her hair as they began the journey she had been
so looking forward to, the flight back to Vile Vale.

    Arriving back at the village was a wonderful feeling for Gertie.
She could see all the houses and buildings she knew so well coming closer and
closer as Ma went in to land in their garden. Grothilde spotted them, and
called out ‘Happy Birthday, Gertie luv, see you later!’

    ‘Thank you, Grothilde,’ Gertie called back, cheerfully waving.

    Bertha and her ma landed quite gracefully, considering their
combined weight. They followed Gertie into the cottage. The little witch
breathed in the dusty smell of home with her eyes closed. It was so good to be
back. Ma Bobbit stayed for a devil cake (or three) with a cup of tea, and then
set off home with Jasper, telling Bertha she would see her tomorrow.

    At last, Gertie was left with her family, and best friend.

    ‘Well now, my Gertie,’ said Ma with a smile. ‘I think it’s time
we gave you your birthday presents, don’t you?’

    Gertie clapped her hands in glee ‘Oh Mummy, it’s so exciting!’

    Ma gave her a small black box.

    ‘Can I open it now?’ Gertie asked.

    ‘Oh yes, do, do,’ called Bertha with enthusiasm.

    Gertie didn’t understand Bertha’s interest, because the box
didn’t look like it could hold anything to eat. Nevertheless, she opened it
with trembling fingers and peered inside. There, winking at her from a bed of
red velvet, was a beautiful shining silver pentacle. ‘Oh, Mummy!’ she squealed.
‘I love it! Put it on for me, please.’

    Ma carefully hung the chain around Gertie’s neck and fastened
the strong clasp. ‘It’s made of real silver,’ she said. ‘That’s the metal of
the moon and psychic forces. It’s a witch’s special symbol of protection.’

    Gertie thought for a moment, and then said, ‘I think I feel all
protected already.’

    Ma chuckled. ‘Good,’ she replied. ‘I will always protect you,
Gertie, and if I’m not around, my gift will do the protecting for me.’

    ‘Well, do you want your present from me now, you little imp?’
asked Gran.

    ‘Oh, I love presents!’ the young witch exclaimed, taking the
larger, square box from Gran. Lifting the black lid, she peeped in at a perfect
crystal ball sat amongst black silk. ‘Gran! My own crystal ball!’ said Gertie
excitedly.

    ‘That’s right,’ said Gran with a smile. ‘Just don’t try to
levitate it yet. Anyway, Miss Wick said you’ll be having crystal ball lessons
soon, so I thought you should have your own. No grandchild of mine is going to
have a borrowed one to practice on. Also, once you get the hang of it, it’ll
help your Ma keep an eye on you.’

    ‘How do you mean?’ asked Gertie, puzzled.

    ‘Well, not like those new fangled megaphone thingies that normal
folks use…’ began Gran.

    ‘Telephones, mother,’ corrected Ma.

    ‘Yes, them too,’ continued Gran. ‘Anyway, not like them, but
we’ll be able to see you every so often when you get the hang of it, and you’ll
be able to look in it and see us too.’

    ‘Really!’ said Gertie.

    ‘It’s a bit like wishing for what you want to see,’ explained
Ma. ‘It won’t be easy at first, but after a while you should be able to catch
sight of us. If you want to, that is.’

    ‘More than anything!’ said Gertie. ‘I miss you both so much when
I’m not here.’

    Ma looked sad and gave Gertie a big hug.

    Gran said, ‘No tears! It’s Gertie’s birthday, Why not show
Bertha your room while we start to get things ready for your party.’

    ‘Party!’ shrieked Gertie.

    ‘Only a little party,’ replied Ma. ‘Just us and your friend, and
Grothilde is coming over.’

    ‘Oh what a wonderful birthday!’ Gertie said with a huge grin. ‘Come
on Bertha, let’s go to see my room.’

    Gertie’s room looked surprisingly small to her, then she
realised why. It now contained an extra single bed up against the right hand
wall.

     Ma followed Gertie in and explained. ‘That’s for Bertha to
sleep in. I borrowed it from Grothilde’s spare room for the weekend.’

    ‘I hope it didn’t cause you a lot of trouble,’ said Bertha,
looking pleased they had made plans for her too.

    ‘Oh there was no problem getting it over to the house,’ Ma said.
‘Grothilde cast one of her animation spells on it. It walked out of Grothilde’s
cottage, sauntered through the village, and into our home. Just in case you
haven’t already guessed, Bertha, Grothilde’s favourite spells are animation
ones. If anything looks like it might be able to move, Grothilde gives it the
chance to. Whatever it is. Her home would be like a busy main road if things
decided to all move around at once. There’ll be no problem with your bed as long
as it doesn’t decide to walk back to Grothilde’s in the middle of the night,
complete with you’ said Ma. ‘Grothilde’s spells are known to be a bit
temperamental.’

    Bertha looked a little alarmed until she realised Ma was joking.
She stared around with a dreamy look on her face. ‘It’s really nice,’ she
finally said. ‘All friendly and cosy.’

    Ma returned to help Gran, and Gertie went to the wardrobe to
hang up her travelling cloak.

    ‘Oh, it’s you at last!’ began Bat, the second the door swung
open. ‘Where have you been without me? I hope you got bloomin’ wet, often, for
leaving me like that.’

    Bertha stepped forward to see what was making all the fuss.

    ‘Oh, a talking umbrella,’ she said. ‘Cool!’

    ‘WHOOA!’ exclaimed Bat. ‘Who’s the Fatso?’

    Gertie slammed the door shut again quickly.

    ‘I don’t like talking umbrellas,’ Bertha said quietly.

    ‘Hey. Come on. I’m only joking. Let me out,’ persuaded Bat
through the thick wooden door.

    ‘Come on, Bertha,’ said Gertie, thoroughly embarrassed by Bat
yet again. Now she really knew she was home. ‘Leave your bag there, and let’s
go back to Ma and Gran. Maybe the party will be nearly ready!’

    That did the trick. Just as Gertie had hoped, the thought of
lots of party food seemed to sweep any thought of Bat from Bertha’s mind. She
was out of the door so quick Gertie had trouble keeping up with her.