From acorn to sapling 8/13

Jennifer Jane stopped at the guardhouse to pick up her scooter and then followed Ermintrude to the dam. The villagers hadn’t exaggerated, by now the water level must be much higher than a tall tree.

If all that water burst the dam, the whole village would be swept away including Gordon’s bridge and possibly even the timber yard. It was far too big a job for her to think about, so they returned to the Witches’ Home as quickly as they could and asked to see Abigail.

Ermintrude went back to Esmerelda’s cottage, while Jennifer Jane took Abigail on the scooter’s pillion to see the dam for herself.

“Oh crumbs, I should have listened to you earlier! It’s far too big for us to deal with by magic. I thought it was only a large pond to help the villagers grow more crops on the other side of the river. The amount of energy needed to tidy up this lot, would do as much damage as any flood it might cause”.

She paused to think for a moment. “If it’s growing at the rate you say it is, then there must be magic involved, so I’ll have a word with the senior witches, but I think this is going to have to be tidied up by mechanical means. I suggest you have a word with Fundin or your dad, to see if they can think of something.”

Jennifer Jane mentioned that Erm had got lost trying to find her in her own world and told her that Eve was asking questions about Lurbridge. Abigail was obviously too worried about the problem with the dam to give her a proper answer and just told her to have a word about it with Esmerelda before she went home.

She left Abigail at the Witches’ Home, then flew along the path to the cottage in the gathering dusk. In spite of her worries, she had to smile to herself, remembering the last time she had flown this way at night-time. Dulcibella had seen her arrive and opened the door to let her in.

“Erm’s told us what she did at your place and Esme’s cooked up a special to sort it out for you.”

Jennifer Jane was surprised on two counts. Firstly Dulce had actually spoken more than a couple of words in one sentence. Secondly she was impressed that a cure had been found for any troubles she might find when she got home.

She was wondering what on earth it could be, as Dulce took her into the room where Esme and Erm were still eating their supper.

“I won’t ask you to stop for a bite,” said Esme, “I think you ought to get home as quick as you can and try and catch your neighbour before she goes back to her house. Give her a cup of tea with a couple of drops out of this bottle in it. Whatever you do, don’t you or your parents drink any yourselves! It won’t hurt her; it’ll just make her forget what’s happened tonight! You can bring back the bottle when you come for tomorrow’s lesson”

Jennifer Jane was so worried, that when she got back to the Witches’ Home, she asked if she could save time by flying her scooter all the way back to her house. She was even more worried when the witch at the guardhouse gave her permission at once. Things must be getting very serious, if the seniors had already given their permission for her to break the rules!