wstory7

Miss Towle told me we were getting a visitor today she didn�t say who though. She said and I quote, �You won�t be happy if I told you.� So she�s keeping it a mondo secret, but everyone else knows.
There was a short man, about six inches shorter than Miss Towle was, in the art room when I got there. �Is that all?� he glanced around the room.
�No� uh� Here you go!� she pulled my wand out of my hand, but not without a fight first.
�Hey that�s mine, give it back!� I hollered as we tugged at either end of my wand.
�Colleen!� Miss Connolly whispered in my ear distracting me; long enough for Miss Towle to hand my beautiful wand to that short stubby man. �That�s the wand inspector he�ll have your wand for about a week.� A week, please tell me she did not just say a week!
�A WEEK, ARE YOU NUTS?� I yelled loudly.
�I told she�d go off the deep end.� Miss Jackman aphonied Miss Ball.
�Fine,� yielded Miss Ball, �Here�s the potion.� She slapped a sheet of paper into her hand. Miss Jackman took it eagerly with a broad smile.
�Calm down, deep breaths.� Mrs. Whall put her hand on my shoulder; she herself let in an out a couple of breaths making motions with her hands (from her mouth to the farthest her arm could reach). I can�t live a week without my wand.
I realized that Miss Towle had led the inspector out the door. I crossed my arms with a small frown when she came back. �I told you, you wouldn�t be happy!� she said and walked away.
I followed Miss Towle to the library, to meet up with the rest of everybody. When we got there I let it all out, �But what if something comes, you know while we don�t have our wands?�
�Don�t worry if something comes, I�ll see it�� Miss Connolly started.
Miss Jackman picked up, �Unless it�s a dranto you don�t see those coming!�
�I read that they come around while there�s no wands!� Mrs. Pipitone put in.
�You two honestly, the chances of that are about a jillion to one.� Miss Ball said.
�You know I don�t think jillion is a number. But don�t worry the most powerful team of witches can handle anything.� Miss Towle reassured me putting one hand on my shoulder.
�We�re the most powerful?� I inquired.
�Yeah we�re also the smallest group of witches in the entire United States.� She looked as if she was telling this to a little kid.
�Stop that.� I protested.
�Stop what?� she looked at me puzzled.
�Talking like that, I may be a student, and a trainee witch, but I�m not five.� I explained. �Please, talk to me like you would to them.� I span my arm out gesturing to the other witches.
�O.K. gees.� Miss Towle didn�t understand but oh well. �Actually the largest group of witches is 92 in a group.�
�Was that Washington witches?� Miss Connolly looked over at Miss Jackman.
Mrs. Pipitone answered her, �No that�s some Oregon town.�
�You�re both wrong,� Mrs. Whall told them, �It was Boston.�
�Oh.� Chimed Miss Connolly and Mrs. Pipitone simultaneously.
�Wait, I just thought of something, why are you Fremont witches since you don�t live in Fremont?� I asked.
�Well, there aren�t any Fremont witches except you of course, and Raymond already has 19, why make it 20?� Miss Towle sipped a cup of coffee.
�Brainiac here got kicked out of Kittery witch society.� Miss Connolly smirked and pointed with thumbs up to Miss Ball.
�Then why are you here?� I inquired curiously.
�I can tell you why, when she was kicked out she came with her!� Mrs. Whall told me.
I walked over and put a hand on both Miss Connolly, and Miss ball�s shoulders, �See I knew you two were friends!�
They looked at eachother and went �Ha.� In unison. Miss Towle rolled her eyes and shook her head. They�re always fighting, kind of like sisters I guess.
�Oh well, the spell is almost up lets get back to class.� Miss Towle volunteered.
I yawned, �Good idea.� We walked back to our classes. I was in Ms. C�s class I was sitting with Mary, Kevin, and Bryan.
The week flew by, I barely noticed I was without a wand. It was very slow, because nothing happened. Oh, sure we had our daily meetings and Miss Connolly told us what she saw or didn�t see. Her and Miss Ball fought as usual as Miss Towle lost her temper, you know the usual.
On the last day we had been in English, Miss Connolly slipped in while we were writing in our writing lab journals. Miss Connolly and Miss Ball began peacefully talking. At about that time a witch froze the school, and their peaceful talking turned into boisterous arguing.
I shook my head stood from my seat and walked over to them, �Are you gonna come with me, or keep on fighting?� They stopped as mysteriously as they started; they broke up and walked calmly one behind the other out the door, into the hallway.
You know I thought Miss Towle said fifth period, you know after lunch. How strange I thought since it was only fourth period and not yet lunch. �What�s up, you said fifth period!� cried Mrs. Whall, she had something going on in library, because she had Danielle�s class and Danielle told me they were doing something special.
�Honestly, I�m getting to it, keep your shirt on.� Miss Towle answered, and then explained, �The wands, you see aren�t coming back seventh period, (Miss Jackman, Mrs. Pipitone and I groaned) no, no they�re coming back fifth.�
�Cool.� Stated Mrs. Whall. The other witches smiled and began talking amongst themselves.
�Now wait a minute, the reason why I told you this period because we have to go somewhere to get them. Which means we�ll have to leave the school, and heaven only knows where we have to go.� Miss Towle went on. �But the inspector says he�s gonna send some type of transportation to fetch us a little later.�
�A snirt?� Miss Jackman asked eagerly.
�I hope so, those are too cool.� Mrs. Pipitone and Miss Jackman smiled in each other�s direction.
�A snirt?� I asked looking puzzled. I glanced first in the direction of each witch sitting in a circle in front of me; finally my gaze landed upon Miss Jackman who met my gaze.
�It�s a really fast bus thingy.� Miss Jackman told me.
�Thingy is not a real word.� Mrs. Pipitone pointed out.
�Makes no difference.� Miss Jackman added, as Mrs. Pipitone rolled her eyes.
�But wait, won�t the freezing spell wear off, and what if someone we know sees us not at school and�� I rambled.
�Slow down, sweets; it�s fixed so that, that doesn�t happen.� Miss Ball explained. I let out a deep breath.
�Are we ready ladies?� called a voice from the hall. �The snirt�s all ready.� Miss Jackman let out an eager squeal, which was followed by a puzzled look of the driver.
We walked out through the lobby and out onto the front lawn, �What the heck�� I was confused at what I was seeing. I saw a long, light brown vehicle.
�Ready ladies?� asked the driver leaning out the window.
�I got back.� Yelled Miss Ball rushing for the door.
�Not if I get there first!� and with that Miss Connolly took off after her and indeed got on before Miss Ball. Of course Miss Ball protested greatly, she yelled like she was in fourth grade.
�Hey no cuts, Miss Towle she cut me, she cut me.� Miss Ball shouted through the window just in front of the last seat. Miss Connolly laughed, as she leaned over the seat. They make me laugh.
�After you.� Mrs. Whall stepped aside I grabbed a railing and pulled myself onto the snirt. As I stepped in I was hit by an air conditioning, it felt so good.
�You can sit with me,� offered Miss Connolly, �These seats are made for two people.�
�Wait there are seven of us, confuzledness.� I put my hands on the sides of my head.
�Chill, it�s okay!� she told me. I sat down next to Miss Connolly; I buckled the seat belt that hung at my side.
�Comfy?� asked Miss Jackman leaning over the seat where she had come to rest with Miss Ball. I nodded. I glanced around and Mrs. Pipitone and Mrs. Whall were sitting together. Miss Towle was leaning over talking to them, I heard Miss Towle mention �the book�. We haven�t used the book much lately, not since my test on Husack (which was a witch headquarters, there was a hospital, the only one that can treat witch wounds, not to mention it�s in the clouds)
�How come you let her sit with you?� Miss ball whined.
�Simple, I like her.� Miss Connolly looked her right in the eye as if staring her down.
�Not that I like you or anything.� Miss Ball retorted her voice cracked, Miss Connolly�s stare worked. You know actually, I don�t think either of them dislike the other, I really don�t!
�Ready?� asked the driver. He didn�t wait for response, I guess it was more a warning than a question. It lifted up from the back, and took off in about a couple seconds.
I tightly closed my eyes, and gripped the sides of my chair. I heard Miss Jackman screaming, as if on a roller coaster. I really didn�t have time to stop feeling scared to enjoy the ride; it only took about a minute. After all, it is almost directly above our school and the snirt goes REALLY fast.
We landed and I unbuckled and rushed for the door, I was afraid of the snirt. Miss Jackman came up behind me; �Do you know what kind of cloud this is?�
�Uh� Cumulus.� I was a bit confused, but not really.
�What kind of weather is associated with cumulus clouds?� She went on.
I sighed, �Fair weather.� I started walking, looking all around me, like a small yet very amused child. This was really cool.
�Come now.� Called Miss Towle, less to me than the rest of the witches. Out of some strange coincidence I walked in the same direction of Miss Towle, while everyone else wondered off the other way. Silently we walked into the building and down a corridor. At the end of the corridor was a fork it branched off three ways.
�It�s that way.� Miss Ball said pointing to the left.
�No, it�s to the right.� Miss Connolly put her hands on her hips.
�You�re both wrong, it goes straight, you know that way.� Mrs. Pipitone corrected, for some reason she always liked to think she was the head witch.
�Actually, the door is right here.� Miss Towle opened the door; they all looked at eachother with shear confusion. Sometimes I think Miss Towle likes to watch them fight, there have been plenty of times where she could have easily stopped them, yet she never does.
I shrugged for no good reason, and followed her in. The little man looked up and took off his glasses. �Hello ladies, your wands seem to be in order, well except one.� He stood and crossed to a file cabinet.
�Bet it�s yours.� Miss Ball whispered to Miss Connolly who thought for a moment.
�More likely it�s yours, you�re the one who can�t do any spells right.�
�That�s not the wands fault, no wait�� Miss Ball retorted. Ha, I was right, Miss Towle liked to watch them fight she grinned and covered her mouth.
�Ft-13, Ft-13 ah here they are.� I knew that Ft-13 was the name of our little branch. They were bundled in a piece of blue terrycloth tied with a piece of red silk. The bundle was handed to Miss Jackman who was closest to the filing cabinet in the corner.
Each witch took her wand out of the bundle I leaned over the cloth, since all the other witches were bigger, or at least stronger, I didn�t make it �til the end. My jaw dropped at the inside, it was empty.
�My wand, is not there.� I shouted. �It�s gone, where�s my wand.�
�We found some irregularities young lady, in your wand I mean. We have to keep it for further study. I was steaming, but my expression changed to a getting ready to whine face.
�Uh-oh, there she goes again.� Mrs. Whall stated.
�What kind of irregularities, don�t you know witch work is impossible without a wand? Don�t you know, I have been patient for the whole week, looking forward to today when I can finally get my wand back?� I glared.
�It is highly advanced actually, it is capable to do far more things than hers.� He pointed to Miss Towle�s wand.
�You know, none of that matters to me at all, I want my wand and I want it now.� I protested.
�A wand capable of such things shouldn�t be limited to use by a trainee witch.� I wanted to scream; you know what I say, �if a person wants something bad enough she ought to get it.� And that�s exactly what I did.
When I did all the witches clapped their hands over their ears. �I won�t always be a witch in training you know, some day I could even be head witch.�
�You know, a witch of your status hardly has the right to talk to an NMI like that, now I want you out of my office.� He pointed to the door.
�You haven�t heard the last of my high pitched screams I can be just as loud outside as inside.� I stated and sat down out in the hall.
�She will whine and whine and whine�� Miss Towle started.
�And we�re the ones who�ll have to put up with her.� Finished Miss Ball.
�Shut-up.� Miss Connolly shouted.
�You, shut-up.� Miss Ball she shouted back.
�Make me, what are you going to do, throw your wand at me, you can�t do anything else with it!�
�You�re dead.� I can only picture what happened next I�m guessing that Miss Ball lunged at Miss Connolly.
�STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!� yelled Mrs. Pipitone, and (I know it was Mrs. Whall, because she can whistle the loudest I�ve ever heard) whistled.
�You two out of My office too!� The wand inspector insisted in his pushy shrill voice. They both moped out of the office.
�This is all your fault.� Miss Connolly told her.
�MY fault, you started it, Miss Priss!� she was talking in a normal voice, and she had a hand on her hips.
�Who are you calling Miss Priss?� Miss Connolly joined her by putting her hands on her hips too.
�If the shoe fits wear it!� Miss Ball was beginning to raise her voice.
�I can�t you got there first and bought them all.�
�Stop it.� Miss Towle said deep within the office, not raising her voice above regular speaking.
�Are you saying, I�m an obsessive shopper.� Miss Ball was now almost fully raised, voice wise I mean.
�If the shoe fits.� Miss Connolly said in a sarcastic voice.
�I said, stop it.� She leaned out the door, by the time she did Miss Connolly and Miss Ball had these real innocent looks about them and were looking at her like �what ever do you mean?� They�re like that a lot.
I listened intently to the conversation that came next in absolute horror. �Oh well it�s just, a wand, you can keep it.� Mrs. Whall stated, I leaned in to look. The rest of the witches had confusion mixed with worried expressions.
She walked out of the office and down the hall; everyone else was at a loss for words and gawked all the way to the snirt. She got on first I had by then caught up to her. I sat next to her, for a while thought about what I was going to say, and not being able to reach any sensible conclusions blurted out.
�What�s the matter with you?�
�Well, first off I�d like to tell you not to be so rude, to a teacher, or a superior. I have an idea, we�ll sneak back up there at night when it�s closed and take it back.� She was looking forward and the driver had stepped out for a moment, and he was talking to Mrs. Pipitone who had been a straggler.
�Have you gone positively batty?� I stood up and looked down at her.
�What did I just say about being rude?� She said as calmly as possible barely moving a muscle. I just got up saw an empty seat next to Miss Towle. I sat down put on a pouty face, crossed my arms and sat low in the seat.
�Upset about your wand?� she said at last. I lifted myself up.
�No actually, I�m worried about Mrs. Whall, she gone off the deep end.� I was looking in her direction as Mrs. Pipitone sat down with her.
�Whatever are you talking about?� I could tell I was confusing her.
�She said we�re to come back and steal the wand after it�s closed.� I looked at Miss Towle this time, she looked expectant.
�Yes, go on.�
�That�s it she says we�re to steal it, why aren�t you getting that?� I started getting confused at her, �That right there is two offences, breaking and entering and stealing.�
�Actually you know in witch world stealing isn�t considered an offence breaking and entering yes, but not for a witch, there are so many ways to get out of a situation like that.� Miss Towle seemed just as calm if not more than Mrs. Whall.
�You�ve all gone batty, positively batty.� I stood just when the snirt was about to take off. I flipped backwards over the seat in back of me. I fell oddly enough into an empty seat to the left of Miss Connolly.
�How�s your head?� she looked down at me as I buckled my seat belt.
�Frankly it could be better.� I rubbed my head with my eyes closed. I shook my head, �Do you believe that they want to come back and steal my wand?�
�Well you do want your wand back don�t you?� Miss Jackman leaned over the seat.
�Yeah I mean we can�t be charged with breaking and entering unless they catch us, in there and if the wand is in your possession it can�t be taken away from you, it�s the perfect crime.� Of course Miss Ball had to join in, she enjoys conversation.
�There is no such thing as a perfect crime!� Miss Connolly I think wasn�t just trying to be disagreeable I think she meant that (I know these things).
�Yes there is, this one!� She argued.
�It�s not official yet!� Miss Jackman always takes my side; I�m not complaining or anything but all the time.
�Yes it is, Miss Towle says �go� so it�s official. Just like when you guys were debating whether or not to show me the spirit and�� I stopped when I realized I was listening in on that conversation and I had no part in it.
�Wait a minute, how did you know that the majority said �no� but it went because Miss Towle said �yes�?� Miss Ball looked at me suspiciously.
�Lay off her.� Miss Connolly demanded.
�You going to make me?� She tried to stand up, but she was still buckled and it didn�t really work that well.
�Nevermind.� Miss Jackman tried to make peace. It worked they stopped and slunk down in her seat they crossed their arms and looked in another direction. The snirt gave a lurch and landed softly on the ground. Not quite as soft as if we had landed on the cloud, but hey.
�Finally.� Mrs. Pipitone stood up and when the door opened she rushed for the door. She, I noticed, gave the driver a look. I unbuckled, Miss Connolly got up before me I followed her I was the last one off.
�To the art room.� Miss Towle said as I jumped off the last step of the stairway leading off.
�Uh-uh I have a class, I have 7B in there.� Miss Connolly shook her head disapprovingly. �I do believe the science room is vacant, unless I am mistake.�
Miss Jackman looked at Miss Connolly then to Miss Towle, �Yeah sure.� Miss Jackman began to lead the way and the rest of them followed.
I on the other hand didn�t follow as I was most likely expected too. I watched the cloud drift slowly away. I thought about it, it was stealing, be that as it may, I wanted my wand back. Since they said, sneak back at night, I wonder how they proposed to do so.
I wandered towards the back of the school following not too far the whole way from the cloud administration thing. I heard a loud creaking noise, which made me turn with a start.
�Are you coming in or are you going to watch the sky until 2:15?� It was Miss Connolly. I let out my breath and walked towards the door. I put my hand to my head; all of a sudden my head ached something awful. �Are you O.k.? You don�t look so well?�
�Yeah� I�m fine.� I looked toward the door and back toward the hallway. I started feeling dizzy my legs I felt, couldn�t hold me. I was getting lightheaded, and my vision was doubled.
�You are looking rather pale.� Miss Jackman commented as we were walking towards the science room. She said something else but I didn�t hear it. I started not seeing anything and I just fell.
�Get another cold cloth for her head.�
�That�s my wand give it back.�
�It most certainly is my wand.�
�Your wand is in your back pocket!�
�Oh.� I let out a small-unintended whimper and as near as I could tell they all crowded in towards me. I could tell it wasn�t Miss Connolly and Miss Ball fighting because neither one of them would say �oh� after that.
I felt cool air on my face, �Is that better sweets?� That of course was Miss Ball, she always says �sweets�.
�Are you well enough to sit up?� Miss Towle asked me gently. I sat up almost immediately I mean it�s not like I�m going to die here, I just fainted!
�Drink this.� Miss Jackman said putting a vile into my hand. I eyed it suspiciously it was purple and I wondered what it might do to me. I curled my lip at the thought. �Go on drink up.�
�What is it supposed to be?� I held it up to the light and continued my investigation. �Oh well, bottoms up!� I held it as in a toast.
�Chug, chug, chug.� Miss Ball snickered at Miss Jackman�s little outburst. They really are strange people. Mmm it was very good; I made sure to get every last drop. �Yes, medicinal potions have always been my strong point.�
�Mmm. Maybe I should pass out more often.� I said as I handed the vile back to Miss Jackman.
�Oh, please don�t.� Miss Towle pleaded. I smiled, and then suddenly wanted to know how long I was under.
�How long have I been asleep, so to speak?� I asked swinging my legs over the side and standing up.
�About three hours.� Mrs. Pipitone glanced at her watch.
�What time is it?� Miss Jackman moved closer to look at her watch.
Mrs. Pipitone pulled away and replied, �It would be 2:15 if things weren�t frozen.�
�Look I�ll tell you what, the building closes at 3:00 and the school day ends at 2:15 so all of you,� she gestured to the teacher witches, �will stay here then I�ll either go myself or send someone to freeze your house and bring you back. Back to your classes Miss Jackman can unfreeze things.� I walked back to Art silently with Miss Connolly.
�Excuse me if I�m wrong but you were falling out of your chair, when it was frozen.� Miss Connolly said while trying hard to assume the same position.
�Silly me.� I stated as I tried start falling. Then I lost control and really did fall but luckily just then it unfroze. You know it�s really loud all of a sudden, oh-no I started feeling dizzy and light headed again. �Miss Connolly?� I stood up to go find her, but everything was dark again. My legs couldn�t hold me, and my thoughts weren�t clear. I can tell I went, you can tell when you go.
I know it was a dream, I just do. But I was in this small room and there was a telephone on a table, I was walking to it but I started floating in the air I flipped and then landed with a thud on my back. I screamed but nothing came out.
I looked at the wall and holes opened. I tried to scream again but nothing came out yet again. Water came pouring out of the holes. I woke and sat up abruptly.
�That�s not what I gave you the water for, it was for her to drink when she woke up.� The nurse explained.
�Oh well, it worked any way.� Proclaimed Mary, I gasped. The rest of the day was kind of slow; I didn�t go home, because the nurse said I seemed fine.
When 2:15 rolled around I climbed on the bus as any other day and sat with Danielle as any other day. �What are you doing?� Stephanie asked leaning over the seat, referring to my velvet bag, I usually carry my wand in. I didn�t of course have it with me though I wish I did.
�Nothing.� I sighed as I shoved it into the front part of my backpack. I put my head in my hands and closed my eyes. Trying to think what might happen if we do get caught, although it�s bad luck to think negatively. Not that I believe in any kind of luck.
�You�re too quiet today, talk to me.� Danielle smiled and made a sour face. I just waved her away and continued to sulk in the corner. �Wait a minute��
�What is it this time?� I turned to her.
�I don�t think we�ve ever been down this road.� I sat up and looked out the window nervously. I watched the forest go by and I saw a sign in the distance I squinted, although it was obvious I�d have to wait for it to be closer.
Finally I could make it out it read, �Now entering Raymond�. �Danielle we�re in Raymond!� I said in a panicky yet soft voice.
�Shh!� Josh sat with us, �There�s an emergency exit window, that�s broken and we can slip out, not too many kids can go though without being noticed I mean.�
Danielle followed Josh out the window. I got to the window, I looked down and felt sick, but not to get too far away from Danielle I jumped. I twisted around a lot, no damage done. Surprisingly when I stood up I didn�t have any cuts or scrapes.
I looked down the road to see who else jumped out, but I didn�t see any one, not even the bus. �Come on.� Danielle yelled to me, I jogged over to her. We walked down the road for a distance and we came to a trail in the long stretch of forest.
�Don�t you think there�s bears in these wood?� Danielle cowered a she stared suspiciously at the canopy.
�Danielle, you�re just being paranoid.� I promised her, �The trees are what you have to worry about.� She whimpered. Josh was being exceptionally quiet.
�Whatcha doin�?� she looked over at him.
�Shh. Do you hear that?� He asked with his finger to his mouth, slowly withdrawing it.
�Hear what?� I listened to see if I could figure out what it was he was talking about. Then all of a sudden I heard a steady thudding noise. There was a puddle on the ground that pulsated. �Oh-no.�
I looked down the other way and a large black bear charged at us. �Run!� Danielle shouted and both her and Josh ran.
�Wait that�s not a good thing to do.� I called but for some reason the bear paid no attention to them. He moved closer to me. I turned really quickly and hit a tree, I fell. �Ooh, that was not a smart thing to do.� But considering I was on the ground any way I stayed there and played dead.
I kept my eye�s slightly opened and watched the bear sniff around. I sat up and saw him waddle away. I felt my head and I could feel a bruise forming. My bump throbbed but I figured sitting on the ground getting dirty wouldn�t help it get better.
I walked down the trail I had been following before, and it stopped at a small dirt road, probably incapable of holding two cars the same time. I saw that the trail continued again at the other side. The road to the left was a sharp turn and you couldn�t see the rest of the road.
I stepped out and was about to the middle of the road when a car turned down the small stretch of road. I screamed and jumped I rolled on the hood a little, the car stopped and I rolled off.
I figured out the driver was Miss Towle, she had a very worried look on her face. �Colleen!� She screamed as she slammed the door shut.
�Don�t worry, I didn�t dent the hood.� I told her. She came over and she hugged me.
�Colleen, are you O.K.? I�m really sorry!� She explained.
�Don�t worry, you worry too much. Chill out, I can go to the place now.� I pulled away towards the car.
�Oh.� She put a hand gently on my head; �You have a bump.�
�Actually, I got that running into a tree, can we go now?� I asked spreading my arms.
�Mmm hmm.� Was all she said, before we got into the car? �Are you sure you�re alright, you look a little flushed?�
�Yes I�m fine, stop worrying.� I pulled the seat belt around me and it snapped into place.
�You know if I recall, that�s what you looked like a half hour before you passed out.� She turned to look at me.
�Miss Towle,� I screeched, �Watch the road!� I put my hands on the dashboard. Miss Towle swerved back onto the road, because she had gone off it a little.
�Don�t worry, you worry too much.� She mimicked.
�Ha ha very funny.� I smirked and crossed my arms.
�See you are worried, I was right.� She paused. �That�s something you don�t let me say often.�
�Leave me alone.� I laughed slightly they do that to me all the time, it�s a conspiracy I tell you!
�Hold on, I have to turn around, I took a wrong turn.� She spun the wheel and the car turned. Then she took a sharp right onto Main Street.
�Geez!� I took a breath. �When was the last time you took a driver�s test?�
�Oh come on, I�m not that bad.� She looked at me. �Are you absolutely sure that you�re O.K.?�
�Miss Towle, the road?� I pushed.
�Don�t worry we�re almost to school.� She told me.
�No we actually are pretty far away.� I told her, and then she turned again, which jostled me about. �Now where are we going?�
�A long cut.� She told me she twisted the steering wheel again.
�Wait a minute didn�t you stay at school? Because if you did you wouldn�t have gone down the road where I was, that was in Raymond.�
�My, my you�re awfully inquisitive, for someone who�s not O.K..� she didn�t look at me this time, which made me glad.
�I TOLD YOU I�M FINE!� I pushed. �Please just answer my question.�
�Oh I went to the seven eleven to get chips.� She reached in back to show me, �I�m all out at home.�
�I see.� I just turned away and looked out the window. �Aren�t we going off the road again?� I asked her.
�Yup, � she said as she turned the wheel, �We�re supposed to.� We were going straight towards a tree.
�Miss Towle the tree.� I shouted. I looked over at her; she was calm, no let me restate that, she�s gone off the deep end! Just as we hit the tree it vanished and we weren�t on anything but air.
Miss Towle put her hands behind her head and reclined her seat, �Isn�t this cool?� She looked over at me.
�Are you on some kind of medication?� I asked her as she unbuckled her seat belt.
�Look, I�m not teasing you this time, you worry too much.� She tossed me something. I caught it and opened my tightly closed hands; I pulled out a pair of sunglasses. I looked at them with a confused look, and then I looked at Miss Towle the same way. �They�re sunglasses.�
�Oh I know that, but uh� why?� I turned them in my hand numerous times.
�You need to have them for when we erase peoples memories they�re special glasses. Ooh here it comes.� She pulled her chair out of the reclining position and buckled back up.
�What ever do you mean?� I put my hands on the dashboard. But before she could answer me we landed with a thud. I closed my eyes and opened them we were on the first floor.
�Come on.� Miss Towle was already out of the car and at my side opening the door. I hopped out of the car. And up the old oak staircase where Mrs. Pipitone was waiting for us.
�Where�ve you been? It�s 13 minutes past three.� She scolded.
�I�m sorry Mommy, It�ll never happen again, I�ll go to my room.� Miss Towle teased and walked toward the library. I looked at Mrs. Pipitone who remained in her place and smiled after I turned away.
�Miss Towle you are just something else.� I commented passing her in the hall, hurrying to see Miss Connolly for some reason or another.
�So I guess the verdict is finalized?� I looked at her she was sipping something out of a wineglass, I figured it was wine.
�Yeah I�m afraid so. Want some?� She held up a glass bottle half full with bubbling liquid.
�Nah, I�m underage.� I looked at her. And she looked back at me funny, then smiled and said.
�No silly, it�s lemon lime soda, strange way to bottle it huh?� She picked up a glass and poured some I took it eagerly and sipped it.
�Mmm.� I held the glass to my mouth with two hands.
�Jen- Uh, Miss Connolly, be a dear and pour me some more.� Mrs. Whall held out her glass between her pointer finger and her middle one. She poured it halfway full.
�Just one question�� I began, �Why wine glasses?�
�Well, wouldn�t you know it Mar- I mean Miss Ball got the spell wrong, but before she came up with the wine glasses she came up with these.� She held up a pair of gold rimmed eyeglasses.
�Well if you didn�t want wine glasses, you can do the spell yourself.� Miss Ball cut in. Miss Connolly stuck her tongue out and Miss ball did likewise. They make me wonder what they were like as children.
�We should get going.� Mrs. Pipitone was saying though I think only Miss Towle and I actually heard her.
�I�m the head witch and I say when we go� you know we should get going.� She put down her glass, Mrs. Pipitone threw up her empty glass and blasted it in mid-air, she was annoyed.
�Wait a minute, review the plan again, how are we getting there?� Miss Jackman asked pulling on her coat.
�You�re not going to like it�� Miss Towle reached into a broom closet and pulled out brooms.
�Oh come on, witches haven�t flown on brooms for years, why start up again?� Miss Ball complained.
�Oh grow up.� Miss Connolly stated as she took one of the brooms. Mss Ball opened her mouth to say something back, but Mrs. Pipitone stopped her. Miss Ball reluctantly took a broom.
When it got to my turn I took a broom that was kind of crooked and had twigs as bristles. �Yeah, I got the old fashioned one.� I said and I actually meant it. I followed at least a two yards behind Miss Jackman.
�Wait, Colleen come back.� Miss Towle instructed. I walked over to her and looked at her expectantly. �You� uh� don�t know how to ride a broom do you?� I just looked at her waiting for her to go on. �Well you can either sit sideways on it or like a horse (each time demonstrating what she meant), when you want to go just kick off.�
I have a feeling it wasn�t intentional, but she kicked off and flew. I thinking quickly but obviously not straight grabbed the end of the broom. We were heading toward a doorway and I put my feet on either side. Which made me flip Miss Towle�s broom I did a back flip and let go.
I watched her disappear around the corner and back from the other hallway. �And just pull the front of the broom up and jump off.� She smiled but it held a tint of nervousness.
�I got it, thanks.� I retrieved my broom, and made my way outside. The wind was blowing, something awful. I sat sideways on the broom and got ready to kick off.
�I figure that it should be east by now.� Mrs. Pipitone was looking at a large blue sheet of paper. �So we�ll land on that cloud right there.� She pointed to a large cloud, just overhead.
I kicked off and twirl intentionally in the air. I did a couple of flips. �Look no hands.� I wrapped my legs around it and let go I twirled again. I put my hand on it and did a one-hand hand stand.
�Oh please stop.� Miss Jackman was riding by my side or trying at least.
�Lighten up, I�ll be fine, I swear.� I looked at her but I slowed so I could continue our conversation.
�I know you swear but that�s not what this conversation�s about.� I looked at her and decided to make her a bit more mad and did a few more stunts. I circled her a couple of times and dipped under and over her. �Get back here!� she zoomed after me.
�You�ve got to catch me first.� I shouted behind me at her. She was gaining speed and not far behind me. I was heading toward a really high tree behind the school and at the last minute tore upward, Miss Jackman however shot into the woods at full speed.
I was laughing my fool head off when I was confronted my Mrs. Pipitone. �That was a horrible thing to do.�
�Aw lay off, I�ll go get her, no biggie.� And with that I flew off in the direction Miss Jackman was seen last. I whistled, �Here Miss Jackman, Miss Jackman.� I darted in between tree after tree which I can only assume Miss Jackman did too.
�There you are.� I said, relieved to see Miss Jackman. �Come one we�d better be getting back.�
�I�ve been trying, don�t you think I�ve been trying?� Miss Jackman was nearly in tears, although a few tears had escaped, trickled down her cheek and dropped with the utmost delicacy to the ground below.
�Can�t we fly up and see where we are that way?� I asked her, and her eyes lit up with delight, she smiled and wiped her face with the end of her sleeve.
�What a brilliant idea, Colleen you�re a genius!� Miss Jackman shrieked, I looked at her quite peculiarly.
�I wouldn�t say genius.� I curled my lip. �But I�ll go with you anyway.� We flew to the top, but the treetops were so tangled we couldn�t see the dark threatening rain clouds swirling overhead.
�It�s hopeless we�ll never get out of these woods, we�ll starve to death first�� She obviously this time wasn�t holding them back and her tears flowed don her cheeks, and her face was red with tearstains.
�It�s not hopeless Miss Jackman, it only looks that way.� I assured her, �You�re just thinking irrationally.�
�No, it is hopeless why bother let Mother Nature take it�s course, when you can help her along the way.� And with that she let herself fall from her broomstick. I zoomed as fast as I could and picked her up just before impact.
I landed gently on the ground next to where her abandoned broomstick lay. �Now you are being just plain crazy. What is the matter?�
�What difference does it make, now, we�re going to die any way?� Miss Jackman was sitting watching her feet. I guess the soda had a negative affect on her.
�Exactly, how much soda did you have?� I asked her leaning down to her. She held up her pointer finger, �One what?� I asked her.
�One bottle.� She burped, and patted her chest. �Excuse me.� Whoa a bottle, there�s the problem right there.
�O.K. Miss Jackman I�m gonna carry the brooms and we�re going to walk that way� to find a bear to devour us.� I helped her to her feet.
She sniffed, �Oh, Colleen you�re so sweet.� Whoa it must have really gone to her head. �Yeah that�s right slow steady pace, so the bear can catch us real easy.�
She walked at a slow pace and I carried the brooms when we came to a little clearing thing where there was a house with a little chimney with some puffs of black smoke.
An old man came out of the cabin. I screamed and screamed, but Miss Jackman looked at him and asked, �Do you have a knife or anything.� She was really, really tipsy like. Not actually tipsy, because she�d had a bottle of lemon-lime soda.
�Stop screaming eh? You tryin� to send me to an early grave?� He stepped forward at me. I screamed again and jumped into Miss Jackman�s arms. I put my head on her shoulder and shyly peeked out.
Miss Jackman put me down, �Hey is that fire in there?�
�What are those?� he asked pointing to the two brooms on the forest floor.
�What do they look like? They�re brooms.� I stated with a surprising amount of courage and confidence.
�Why you carryin� brooms through the forest?� He motioned to them and raised an eyebrow.
�You want to see, what we do with brooms?� I asked moving closer. I almost tripped over Miss Jackman who was sitting on the ground again. I took the Miss Jackman by the top of her arm and helped her to her feet. �Come on Miss Jackman, this gentleman would like you to show him how to use that broom.�
�That one right there?� she pointed to it.
�Yup that one.� I put my arm around her shoulder. She looked at me and smiled.
�I can do that.� I nodded Miss Jackman picked up her broom and I mine.
�Watch carefully or you�ll miss it.� I instructed. I mounted mine and so did Miss Jackman. Off we kicked. I looked back at the man who was extremely astonished. �I�ll race you, you know I�ll beat you to the cloud.�
We darted through the trees and finally shot out of the woods. We landed softly on the field in back of the school. Miss Ball was there waiting for us, I think.
�What kept you?� she asked looking back and forth at her and I.
�We couldn�t find our way back.� I picked up my broom because I had dropped it when I landed.
�Good, I thought it was the wine.� She let out her breath and made the �phew� motion with her hand.
�Wine?� I asked Miss Jackman. She shrugged and simultaneously we looked quizzically at Miss Ball.
�Oh yeah the bottle of soda she had, to calm her nerves, was spiked.� She said calmly. �I had drank two quarters of it bringing it here, so I added wine to the rest of it because I didn�t want it to look empty.�
�Well come on let�s go, uh Shellie a word?� Miss Ball didn�t budge and neither did I. �Um� I don�t know how to fly a broom.� She said softly so as not to be heard by me, it didn�t work.
�You still haven�t learned? It�s simple Kristine just showed Colleen and you saw her dart through the trees and all those flips and turns, and so on.� Miss Jackman was turning the other way.
�But I really don�t know.� She said, I think she was scared.
�Fine you can ride on mine with me, but you have to ride backwards to hold onto the end.� Miss Jackman told her. So Miss Jackman�s lemon-lime hangover must have cleared itself up. I kicked off before I could see them kickoff.
I flew until I landed next to Miss Towle on a dark gray cloud. Mrs. Whall was there too and out of the blue just said. �It�s going to rain.�
�We�d better do this quick.� Miss Towle agreed.
�Why, what�s the matter with rain?� I ask getting just a smidge nervous.
�Well it jams the brooms so they don�t move.� Mrs. Pipitone explained.
When Miss ball landed with Miss Jackman Miss Towle proclaimed, �Let�s go catch up with Miss Connolly and Mrs. Whall.� And with that she kicked off and so did the rest of us. We didn�t have to go very far to get to the place. When we got there Miss Connolly and Mrs. Whall were waiting.
�Sure took you long enough.� Miss Connolly stated.
�Come on we should go in.� suggested Mrs. Whall. Once inside we didn�t talk much, just in case of night guards. Miss Connolly, Miss Towle, and Mrs. Pipitone took off into the office where we were earlier today. They came out empty handed and confused.
Mrs. Whall Mrs. Pipitone and I went down the hall, we opened a pair of double doors and walked into a huge room. It had a dome ceiling and it was filled with boxes upon boxes of wands!
�Oh Colleen, we�ll never find your wand in all this mess!� Mrs. Pipitone commented.
�No, I see it it�s over there on top of those boxes.� I pointed to my wand it had a tag on it that said �Colleen� I put it on it myself so that I wouldn�t lose it.
�Well I�ll be darned!� Mrs. Whall stated. I started moving forward, but Mrs. Pipitone grabbed the top of my arm.
�That seems too easy, doesn�t it?� She looked at the wand then back at me. �I�ll get it.� She narrowed her eyes and slowly walked to the stack of boxes. She stuck out her hand but brought it back abruptly as if expecting it to bite her.
�Oh for heaven�s sake.� Mrs. Whall stated exasperatedly as she rushed forward and snatched. At the very same time sharp piercing alarm went off. We rushed out into the hallway, we saw Miss Connolly slide out of an office.
�I take it you found the wand.� She shouted up to me as we ran full speed out the double doors. But we stopped in our tracks turned tail and ran, for there was a man (luckily with his back turned).
We darted down a hallway that we�d never been down. A door opened which made us all turn. �Shellie?� said a terribly skinny short woman with glasses and long black hair. She screamed.
�Kimmie?� She looked at her, and returned the scream. They hugged eachother. �It�s so great to see you I heard you got a job here, didn�t know how truthful it was.�
�Well I�m here.� Kimmie said spreading out her arms.
�Yeah O.K. I�m glad you found your old friend, but you know with the felony in progress we need to get out pretty soon.� Mrs. Whall butted in.
�Oh well, I know a back way out. Go that way and the wall opens up and you can get out into the little furrow thing and that takes you right to the front.� Kimmie pointed.
�Thanks.� I shouted back to her as I ran you the wall. It lifted up just as Kimmie said it would. I dropped into it and Miss Ball dropped in behind me.
�Move.� She demanded and I pushed to the very back and felt for the button to open the other door. Aha, there it is I pushed on it as hard as I could the wall opened and I pushed out into thunderous rain.
�Try to fly.� Miss Towle yelled as she pushed through Miss Ball and Miss Connolly. She picked up her broom and kicked off. It actually flew quite well. I picked up mine and flew to the other side to watch.
One-by-one they kicked off and flew away. Although I noticed Mrs. Whall�s didn�t kick off. Then some men in suits walked over to her and crossed their arms. I flew off down I hovered over the school looking for an efficient place to land, spotting a dry patch under a treebegan to make my way down.
I was just about to land when the broom dropped out from under me and I hung on with both my hands to the sopping wet shingles. I whimpered and screamed; I also heard several nervous shouts from the ground.
�Help.� I said softly, I twisted my head to look at the ground the rain pounding on my back.
�Susan, I mean Mrs. Pipitone, levitate her down from there.� Miss Towle instructed.
�I can�t my wand�s malfunctioning.� Mrs. Pipitone banged her wand on her hand. Then out into the space in between her and Miss Jackman and sent herself flying backwards into Miss Connolly.
�Where�s Mrs. Whall?� Miss Ball looked around, Mrs. Pipitone shrugged.
�If you dropped do you think you could uh maybe land on your feet?� Miss Towle called up to me. I turned down to look at her.
�You�ve got to be kidding me!� I shouted back, and she put her hands on her hips.
�Well can you think of a better idea?�
�A few.� I shouted back. Miss Jackman smirked and put her hand over her mouth to stifle the laugh. Miss Towle turned to her with a disgruntled look about her. Miss Jackman shrugged and looked at her with innocent looking eyes. �It�s too slippery, can�t hold on much longer.�
�Hold on just a bit longer.� Miss Connolly yelled up to me. They shuffled around and talked amongst themselves. My fingers scraped along the shingles I could feel some blood trickling on either side of my fingers I looked at it, it was rather faded though because the rain washed it away.
I couldn�t hold on and I fell right into the waiting of arms of both Miss Connolly and Mrs. Pipitone. I slowly dropped down the ground. I looked at my fingers and shuddered at the sight. They had shingle rock things in them, some places were raw and others were cut and bleeding.
The next day� We were sitting quietly on the roof for no apparent reason at all. �Colleen what did you learn from our little adventure?� Miss Towle asked me licking an ice cream cone.
Miss Jackman handed me one, I looked at Miss Towle. �Never mix lemon-lime soda with wine.�
�Uh� no.�
�O.K. how about, never fly a broom in the rain?� She looked at me and shook her head.�
�Colleen I think she means, be honest, don�t steal and don�t run from the law.� Mrs. Whall pointed out.
�First of all it was all your idea any way and don�t you have some community service to do?� I retorted.