The trouble with elves 1/10

Jennifer Jane’s mum got down from Frosty’s cloud and waved as he flew back to a height where he would feel nice and cold again. Then she turned and walked across the lawn to the Witches’ Home. She had been recognised as she flew in, so Abigail had been sent for and was there to greet her as she came into the building.

“We weren’t expecting to see you so soon,” said Abigail with a smile, “I hope everything‘s alright at home?”

“I came over to see how Jennifer Jane was getting on with her summer school; I thought it was only going to be for two weeks. We’re into the fourth week now and we haven’t heard a word from her as to her progress, or even when she’s likely to come home again.”

Abigail stopped smiling, “I’ve got a funny feeling she’s managed to disappear again,” she said, “she left for home just over a week ago. She’d done jolly well with her studies and was also going to tell you that Megan’s egg had hatched.”

“Blow Megan’s egg! Have you got any ideas as to what may have happened to her this time?”

“There’s two things we can check. Let’s go up on the battlements on the other side of the Home and while we’re on our way, we can see if she booked out her broom to go anywhere!”

They went along the corridors leading to the castle side of the Home and Mary waited while Abigail checked out the last entry in the book used to log Jennifer Jane’s flights in the alternate world.

“She booked a flight to Timber Creek on the last day of term, just over a week ago,” said Abigail rather grimly, “she hasn’t returned here and if you haven’t seen her either there may well be a problem. At least her protective spell hasn’t been used, so she should be alright. Let’s go up on the battlements and see if I can sense her anywhere.”

Abigail closed her eyes and rotated slowly while Mary watched her anxiously. “Not a thing,” she said finally, “goodness only knows where she’s got to this time. Let’s go down to the Refectory and have a cup of tea and a chocolate swiss roll or two, I always find that helps me think more clearly”

Abigail quickly told Mary the events of the summer school fortnight. “Then one of the pupils made everyone in the class grow ears like a donkey, even including the teacher. We couldn’t find out who’d done it until Jennifer Jane suggested a way of trapping the culprit, who turned out to be an elf’s son. We had to send him and his mother away to another home, where the discipline is rather stricter. He won’t be able to get away with that sort of behaviour... oh crumbs!”

Abigail’s face changed and she began to look rather worried. Up until that moment, both adults had been wondering where Jennifer Jane could have gone, rather than what might have happened to her.

“You look as if you’ve just had a rather unpleasant thought!”

“Well it is only a thought,” replied Abigail, “even so I think it’s worth checking out. I don’t want to worry you too much, but elves have a reputation for seeking revenge against people who have upset them. I’m sure the boy doesn’t have the power to do anything, but if he’s told a story to his father, then we could be in a lot of trouble. Fortunately the father married one of our witches and she may be able to talk to him and find out what has happened. We’ll just hop on my broom and go off to the other witches’ home I mentioned and see if we can get any answers.”