Page 34 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“That’s all we can do!” She squeaked, throwing her hands in the air, the first normal display for her age. “Oh and don’t touch Douglas.” She skipped into the brightening room ahead.

“Douglas? Who’s Douglas?”

The kitchen was beautiful. Bright white cabinetry accented with wooden counter tops and brass knobs. A large island was currently occupied by a brass hanging pot rack, a line of ghosts were attaching the cleaned pots onto the hooks before returning to the pile of washed dishes.

The ghost I’d seen my first day was showing another how to knead dough when the girl in the waistcoat hurried over to her.

“Wilma! I brought a straggler for food.” She tugged at the lady’s rolled sleeve. The lady looked down, clapping her flour covered hands into the little girl’s face, the powder falling like snow, gently rested on the girl’s face for a moment before passing through.

“You’re getting better, Cat. Soon you’ll be able to help in here.” She patted the girl on the back before looking at me. “So, you missed the feast?”

“I did, I was at an appointment but it started late ‘cause Allard’s class went late.”

“Okay that’s fine, I don’t really need the story.” She went to another cupboard pulling down some spreads. “Have any nut allergies, lovely?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Alright then,” She grabbed a loaf of bread from a box before whistling and yelling, “Douglas!!” A large ghost hound came barrelling down the opposite hallway, his tongue lolling out. “Grab me a bread knife, won’t you dear?” He jumped onto the island, passing through the pots, jumped to the opposite counter before pulling a knife slowly from a block. He jumped down and pranced over. Wilma grabbed the knife from him whispering, “clever boy,” before patting him on the head. Douglas let ghostly drool pool at his feet as he watched Wilma put together a sandwich. I kept my hands clasped, worried about what might happen if I touched him.

“Here you are.” Wilma held out a paper bag, “try to get to dinner earlier if possible, okay dearie?”

“Thanks Wilma. I’ll try my best.”

“That’s all we can do!” she said winking at Cat who repeated it again, “that’s all we can do.”

Now to see if I could make it to tutoring with Adeline in time.

Eighteen

Adeline

She was late. And here I was thinking that she’d be like a modern day Nancy Drew. I paced in front of the window as I waited.

“You have a puppy?” Her voice carried across the music room.

“Firstly, he’s not mine, he’s one of my room mates. Secondly, he is fully grown.” I watched as her eyes followed the little Yorkshire terrier as he pranced over to the footstool and curled up in a ball underneath. So lazy. Lillian spoiled him rotten, “…And thirdly, you’re late.”

Completely ignoring me she crossed the room with a sappy look on her face.

“Absolutely not!” I stepped in her path, stopping her in her tracks.

“I was just-”

“I know very well what you were about to do, don’t,” I warned her, again.

“Err, why not?” She asked, looking down at the sleeping dog with longing.

“He’s asleep, he doesn’t need mollycoddling.” I snapped.

“Sorry, I…”

I held my hand up to halt her excuses, “I’m not interested. Punctuality is something I take seriously, if you don’t then I’m afraid we will find ourselves at an impasse and our time together will come to an end.”

“You’re in a mood today… more than usual. Did you have a bad weekend?” She asked, looking at me closely, too closely.

“Did you bring The Bible?” I asked, ignoring her question. She nodded eagerly, rummaging around in the bag she still had slung over her shoulder. After removing eighteen completely irrelevant items she finally produced the book.

“So what now?” She asked, handing it over.

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