The Witch's Apprentice 2/4

The witch turned out to be Abigail. She flew up close to the giant and hovered level with his shoulder, then she held out her hand to Jennifer Jane.

"Hop on the back of my broomstick. Careful now, hold tight" and with a cheerful "see you soon," to the giant, she flew off again back the way she had come.

Jennifer Jane looked round and waved to the giant, who waved back and then disappeared into the trees as he sat down to get on with his work.

"Where are we going?" asked Jennifer Jane.

"To the Witches' Home," replied Abigail. "We're going to have a meeting to discuss what to do about Lieutenant Moonshine and I expect you'll be able to put your side of the story if you want."

Very soon, they were flying along the river, which led to the Witches' Home. As they approached, Abigail flew lower and when she came level with the house, she turned and flew up the garden. There was a large banner hanging between the upstairs windows, which said 'Witches' and Wizards' Convention' and across the front of the shed where the flying brooms were kept was another banner which said 'Strike Committee'.

Jennifer Jane began to feel a bit embarrassed. Such a lot of people concerned just because she'd had a nasty dream.

There seemed to be rather more witches than she remembered from her previous visit and they were all dressed up in their best witch clothes. They wore long cloaks decorated with strange signs and were wearing tall pointed hats. Jennifer Jane spotted several who also had long beards. It was the first time she'd ever seen a wizard.

"Please, Abigail, I don't think I could tell all those people about my dream, I’d feel too embarrassed."

"That's all right," said Abigail, "if you like, I'll speak for you. What do you think we ought to do about Lieutenant Moonshine?"

"I don't want to cause any more trouble," said Jennifer Jane, "I must have frightened her quite a lot, going off on your old broom and I realise now that it was very dangerous. I would like everything to go back to normal as soon as possible, please."

"Very well," said Abigail, "I'll see what I can do for you. Just come inside and wait while I go in to the meeting."

She hadn't been gone for very long before the witches started to come out of the meeting room. Abigail came across to where Jennifer Jane was sitting. She had a big smile on her face, so Jennifer Jane knew that everything was going to be all right.

"Strike's over," said Abigail. "The Grand Wizard said you were a very kind-hearted girl and he thought that both you and Lieutenant Moonshine had probably learned a lesson without us having to take any more action. Now we're going to work overtime to re-stock the Wish Warehouse and get things back to normal. Would you like to help?"

"Yes, please," said Jennifer Jane eagerly.

"I'd better explain what we're going to do," said Abigail. "We use magic to make up the wishes that are going to be stored in the Wish Warehouse until they're wanted. Lots of the simple standard wishes are made by the apprentices. For example, we make lots of puffs of wind for moving people short distances."

Jennifer Jane laughed. She knew exactly what Abigail meant.

"How do the fairies know which wishes to use and how do they use them?" she asked.

"It's quite simple really," said Abigail, "most of the wishes we prepare don't work until they're brought out into daylight. When the spell has been cast, we pop it into a little wooden box and put the lid on, then one of the apprentices puts a label on the box to show what's inside. Now then, come along to the stores and you can help me make up some spells."

Abigail wrote out a list of the things she wanted and handed it to a witch behind the counter. In a few minutes, she was given several small parcels and Jennifer Jane helped her carry them along a corridor and down a flight of stairs to the basement.

She followed Abigail along another corridor: every few feet on both sides there was a door with a witch's name on it. At last they stopped outside one labelled 'Abigail'.

"Here we are," she said, and went into the room.