Baby brother 8/9

The next day had been put aside for the prize giving and evening entertainment. All the parents including Dave and Mary had been invited. The proceedings weren’t due to start until after supper, but everyone could go to the Witches’ Home early if they wanted, to have a look round.

Mary was always happy to take the opportunity for a chat with Abigail, so after lunch the whole family put on their best clothes and walked along the garden to sail to the Home in the lugger.

It just so happened that Eve their next door neighbour, was cleaning an upstairs window as they left.

“Adam come up here quickly!”

Her husband rushed up the stairs thinking that something terrible had happened to his wife.

“Now try and tell me that they’re going for an afternoon walk in the woods all dressed up like that!”

“It does seem strange I must admit. Have you ever tried following any of them?”

“Yes and they always manage to disappear. I’m still certain that there’s something funny about that family, especially the girl!”

“Well we know it can’t be magic in spite of what you say, but I have to agree that it looks suspicious. I’ll try and think of a way of finding out what’s going on.”

Naturally enough none of the Bells had any idea that they’d been seen. Within half an hour the lugger had tied up to the quayside at the end of the Witches’ Home lawn. Jennifer Jane rushed off to the notice board to see if the results had been posted.

She was very pleased to see that she had managed to pass well up in the order. Indeed the whole of her class except for two had passed. One of them she saw, was the boy who had teased her earlier about not being good enough to become a third year apprentice.

Once she knew that she’d passed, she was able to relax and enjoy a chat with her friends. Every now and again she could see her mum talking to one or other of the witches and once she went outside to the workshop, where as she expected, she found her dad and Robert discussing something technical. In her spare moments she was going through ‘Baby Brother’ in her mind. Then at last it was time for the presentation to be followed by the entertainment.

A short speech welcoming the new year-groups to their studies was made by the Grande Dame of the Home, then one at a time the successful students went up to be given their new stripes. Finally the platform at the end of the Refectory was cleared and the new third year was asked formally to entertain the assembly.