Page 49 of The Neighborhood Witch

“Now the basics—” Alice began.

The broom lurched forward and bucked toward the sky like a horse throwing a rider. Hugo let go of the handle and fell backward. The rich, earthy smell of damp leaves wafted over Hugo’s nose as he hit the ground with a thud. His limbs sprawled out in every direction. He was momentarily stunned. The broom flew into a loop-the-loop before stopping above Hugo.

“Broom! We talked about this. Be nice to Hugo,” Alice scolded.

The broom turned around and nudged into Alice. She held his chin and scratched his head.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. But! Be nice.”

She leaned over, looking at Hugo’s face staring up into the night sky. Her head obscured Hugo’s view of the crescent moon.

“Are you done horsing around?” She extended her hand to help him up.

“Funny,” Hugo replied, accepting the gesture.

He stood up, wiping away the wet leaves. He hesitated for a moment before delicately wrapping his fingers around the hickory branch. Hugo clutched the stick with his other hand for stabilization, not wanting to fall for its tricks again. He swung his leg over the seat and sat back.

“Now what?”

“Lean forward when you want him to go,” Alice said, mimicking the movements. “Lean back when you want him to stop. Lean into the turns. Lift up to go up. Push down to go down.”

“Seems simple enough,” Hugo replied.

“The most important thing to remember is you’re working as a team. Together. You aren’t controlling him. You’re guiding him. You have to be on the lookout for where to go, and he’ll do the rest,” Alice finished her instructions. “When you’re ready, lift your feet and lean forward.”

Hugo repositioned his hands, lightly tapping the handle with his fingers to find the right spot. He squeezed, but too tight. He leaned forward with his eyes focused. His heart raced. He pausedand smiled at Alice. “I know what I’m going to name him,” Hugo said.

“Oh?”

“Galahad,” he replied before kicking up his feet. “Yah, Gally. Yah!”

The broom shot forward, increasing speed as it lurched toward a tree.

“Pull up,” Alice’s voice was frantic. “Pull up!”

Hugo pulled back on the broomstick and climbed into the sky. Branches of trees clawed out in their attempt to contain and snare the pair. The branches snapped off after striking Hugo’s leather jacket. He leaned left and right, zigzagging his way through the myriad of ash, oak, and sycamore tree limbs. Hugo leaned forward, hugging the handle as closely as possible. Their pace quickened. Hugo focused on a small opening that appeared ahead. Their escape.

He gently pulled the handle closer to his chest, rising further into the sky. His heart beat faster and faster with every second. The whacks and snaps of tree branches quickened. A sharp pain hit his cheek from some unforeseen object. He tucked his head closer to the chest. The opening approached.

They burst through the tree lines. The chilled air rushed past his reddened face. The crescent moon bathed them in a faint, bluish-white light as they continued their climb to freedom.

Hugo leaned back, slowed down, and allowed himself a moment of reflection. The soft yellowish glow of the town center appeared off in the distance. The unmistakable peak of St. Jude’s steeple. The bell tower of city hall. Small luminescent orbs dotted the landscape from porch lights left on to turn back the darkness.

The night air was quiet, peaceful. Hugo released his grip, sliding his hands back along the broomstick. He sat up to take it all in. His eyes closed, allowing himself to savor a moment of joy. He leaned back and tugged on the wooden handle.

The broom bolted higher in the sky. The inertia caught Hugo by surprise, and he fell further backward. They climbed higher. Theinvisible hand of gravity latched on to Hugo’s shoulders. He slid back along the smooth leather of the bicycle seat. His hands could no longer hold on. The broom shot higher into the sky. Hugo’s eyes widened, and he let out a barbaric yawp at the sudden realization that he was no longer ascending with the broom.

Hugo tumbled through the air, but the dark sky hid its secret.

“Hugo!” Alice shouted.

The trees swayed back and forth, obscuring his view of her.

His body tumbled over and over in a dizzying display. Streaks of purple energy shot out and fought back against the darkness from the woods below him. Energy crackled as the purple sparks hit their targets below. He wondered if she was trying to clear a path to save him. He hoped.

The broom vanished in the night sky. His body continued its descent toward certain doom. Hugo was shouting, but couldn’t hear himself over his fear. The treetops grew closer and closer.

The barren limbs continued to sway back and forth. They stretched as far into the sky as they could, waiting to snatch their prey. He could not see Alice below, only more streaks of purple energy. Hugo closed his eyes, not wanting to see his impending doom.

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