The full grown oak 9/9

She caused quite a sensation as she entered the bar dripping wet. The landlord gave her a towel to dry herself and then took her into a back room, where his wife gave her a hot cup of tea and a change of clothes.

Her scooter was still where she’d left it, so having quickly explained that she’d been shanghaied from this very spot and only just managed to escape, she flew off to the Witches’ Home as fast as she could.

“Don’t bother explaining now,” said Abigail, “I’ll take you home at once and then you can tell your parents what happened this time. You’ve been gone rather longer than usual and they’re beginning to get worried.”

She was flown right up to the back door of the kitchen. “Nobody will see us at this time of night.” Then Abigail twiddled her fingers to open the door and went quietly inside to wake up her parents.

Mary burst into tears as soon as she saw Jennifer Jane, while her dad stood there grinning all over his face.

“Do you know, I hardly recognised you,” he said, “you look very brown and fit and I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen you in a dress!”

Jennifer Jane sat happily with her family, describing her adventures while they all drank hot cocoa and ate chocolate biscuits.

“And after all that, I was promoted to Able Seaman, earning two pounds ten shillings a month and all found. Which reminds me, I think I’ll buy the captain and the mate a digital watch each to leave at the timber yard? I still don’t know who’s behind all this but at least they didn’t hurt me and all’s well that ends well!”