2. The Human Child

The following was written on Feb 01, 2008. A rescued story from my discarded blog.

Maggy Donut removed her pink-rimmed spectacles and rubbed her eyes. Then she peeped through the peephole again.

"My word..." she breathed. Right outside her oak tree stood a young girl clad in a red and black checkered skirt and a dark blue cardigan. Her dark brown curls were in a mess, and there was a scrape on one knee. As Maggy watched, the girl roughly wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve and shouted ," OPEN SESAME!!!"

Maggy studied her for a moment, then made up her mind. She pulled her wand from the wand stand and waved it around in a series of seemingly complicated wiggles. Outside, a long grey streamer of smoke appeared before the girl and formed itself into words: "What's the magic word?"

The young girl jumped as the smoke appeared before her eyes. Hesitantly, she said "Um...please?"

Maggy smiled approvingly. At least this human child knew her manners. She tapped her spectacles in a rapid staccato. A doorknob appeared on the bark of the oak tree. The girl strode determinedly in, though if one looked closely enough one could see that her fingers were trembling.

"How can I help you?" asked Maggy.

The girl looked at Maggy. "Is this...are you Maggy Doughnut?"

"Donut, dear, Donut." beamed Maggy. "Mistress of all miscellaneous magic. I suppose you're here on business?"

"I don't know about that," she faltered. "Someone told me I should come look for you when they, um, when they..." To Maggy's dismay, the girl's dark grey eyes filled with tears.

Tears made Maggy extremely uncomfortable. Witches don't cry. Maggy never did. She vented her emotions by conjuring the weirdest and most extraordinary items she could think off. It took her mind off her emotions.

"Ummm....want a chocolate?" she asked. A big fat tear rolled down the girl's cheek.

Maggy shuffled her feet. At that moment there came a rustling sound from behind the wand stand. A long black something waved in the air, and four tiny black shadows moved across the floor towards the girl.

"Oh!" said the girl. She bent down and looked around. "I felt something rub against my legs."

"That must be Twiggedo, my all-seeing cat," explained Maggy. "He's partially visible."

At the sound of his name, Twiggedo waved his black tail in the air and let out a purr. With a leap, four little black paws jumped onto the girl's shoulders. She managed a small giggle.

Before any waterworks could resume, Maggy invited her to go down to the shop.

"That's where I conduct all my business," she explained. "Twiggedo, do the honours."

Twiggedo obligingly broke into the song. 'Are yew going to Scarborough Fair? Paarsley sage, rosemaaary and thymee.Remember me to one who lives there...' ending the verse with a beautiful warble and a soft mew.

"Beautifully done, Twiggledo!" cried Maggy.

A spiral pathway appeared under their feet, along with a pile of cushions. Both ladies slipped onto the cushions and slid all the way

Down...
Down....
Down....

And landed in Maggy's Miscellaneous Magic.

In a careless, relaxed and calming manner, Maggy waved over two big plushy armchairs and a tea table. The mysterious young girl landed in the red armchair, Maggy landed in the brown one, and four black paws landed by the teapot. A black tail waved about indignantly in the air.

"Here, have some tea," said Maggy kindly. "It'll soothe your nerves. It's a famous SECRET blurgandy tea that's been taught to generations of Donuts past. And while you're at it have some of my tasty chocolate and camel cookies."

The young girl smiled and accepted the hovering cup of tea. At the first sip her face brightened.

"Now, tell me your business," said Maggy, leaning back into the armchair contentedly. Her eyebrows furrowed in interest. Twiggledo leaped on the the armrest beside her, his invisible ears pricked up.

"First of all, my name is Quantis." said the girl. "I was sitting in the living room back home with my father when..."

++ to be continued...