by Ronald Craig
The Little Witch
and the Lost Boy
Book 1
Ronald Craig
Copyright © 2016 Ronald Craig
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-1503068858
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
The Little Witch and the Lost Boy
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Prologue
Chapter 1 | The Whosley’s
Chapter 2 | The Red Dawn
Chapter 3 | The Frozen Woods
Chapter 4 | The lost boy
Chapter 5 | Return to safety
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DEDICATION
For my daughter
I came up with the idea for this story after my daughter was born. I had thought long and hard about my daughter’s future and how she will manage her new experiences, and I decided to write this story for her. The writing process incorporated tools such as mindfulness, labelling and understanding emotions, as well as my own life experiences. The Little Witch tells the story of a young girl growing up, and was inspired by the learning process my family went through after her birth. Join Nina as she discovers what it means to be a young girl, while also struggling to become a witch. There will be challenging experiences and new friendships along the way.
Chapters
1. The Whosley’s
2. The red dawn
3. The frozen wood’s
4. The lost boy
5. Return to safety
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I have been writing an adult book since 2010 called The Black Path. When my daughter was born, I began to think about what she would experience as she grows. Thoughts and ideas taken from my adult book helped me process what I think it means to be a young girl growing up. My academic training in post-traumatic stress disorders, social care, equality and diversity helped me understand new emotions and life experiences as I was writing. This is the reason The Little Witch came about.
This book would also not be possible without the help of my daughter, who is my inspiration, and has given me new experiences and emotions from the day she was born.
Publishing is such a daunting experience and the support. Thank you to Odyssey Books, who walked me through the process and handled all of my professional editing needs.
I’d also like to particularly thank my partner who spend the time answering my numerous questions and ever ending tinkering with notes and illustrations also my mother, who not only gave me feedback, but spent years reading children’s books to me, and taught me about the diverse world. Finally, I would like to thank my primary school teacher, Mr. Handley, who spent years inspiring his classes through books and stories, making learning fun.
Prologue
I'm only known as grandfather to a granddaughter I am yet to know, I will tell you of our story and especially about my granddaughter as she grows. The story I am about to tell you is a secret that you must not share with anyone. In a peaceful little village in England, there are many rumours of witches and wizards. There have been stories of strange happenings, but no one knows if they are true. People are said to disappear without a trace, leaving an animal behind in their place. But these are not normal animals. The cats are without whiskers, the bats without wings. The village is said to be swamped by frogs, rats, bats and toads. Also, living there is a quiet family called the Whosley’s, who might know why this happens. Their manner is as friendly as a family could be. But some have started to wonder if this is merely a trick so that you do not discover their secret.
Chapter 1
The Whosley’s
The Whosley’s may have been a peculiar family, but at first it wasn’t clear how. They looked as normal as any family ever does. The father, Reginald, was a tall man with jet-black hair. He had a kind manner and a jovial nature. His wife, Ruby May, possessed a warm smile and a gentle presence. Their son, Relck, was sharp-witted, with a firm resolve and a caring heart. But there was more to him than met the eye. He had a special bond with his sister, and was always there for her when she needed him most. Relck got his looks from his father and his unfamiliar name from a secret family tale.
Sophina was the youngest of the family, and her name meant ‘strong-hearted girl’. She was often called Nina for short. Nina was born with a witch’s gift that allowed her to change the colour of her hair and eyes, astounding her parents. Her mother would smile down at her and wonder who her little girl would turn out to be.
The family lived in an average house on a street called Lime Grove. The children loved their neighbourhood, but rarely had friends over to visit. It is very difficult to keep magic hidden, especially when you have an owl as a friend!
One of these was Relck’s best pal, named Raspy for the strange hoot he made. With feathers, as black as the night sky, splashed with the brightest yellow and green, he was a large and intimidating animal. Nina had grown up with her own owl, and they were also the closest of friends. Toots was small for his kind, but his brown outer feathers hid an amazing autumn-coloured plumage underneath.
The Whosley’s were no ordinary family, and they guarded their secret closely. Those who discovered it would find themselves turned into a frog, a bat, or a toad. The family worked for the secret Order of the Feathers, helping people all over the world. But it was easier said than done. Together they always tried their hardest to bring joy and safety to the world – it was what they did best.
Chapter 2
The Red Dawn
Our story starts early one Sunday morning. Nina’s bedroom was dark and cold; only a sliver of morning sunlight peeked through the curtains. A clunk, a drip and a glug broke the silence as the heating pipes began to warm the house. Nina stirred from her slumber, listening to the hustle and bustle of the kitchen downstairs. She loved this time of the morning, and the warm feeling of love and safety she felt from her family. But she was also excited about the day to come, and the adventures it would bring.
Toots slept silently on his perch, and the dawn illuminated the wonderful colours of his feathers.
‘You truly are a wonderful owl,’ Nina thought to herself.
He began to stir, ruffling his feathers. This made him look as if he had a fire that glowed from within, which ran across every feather, down to his very tail.
Suddenly the silence was broken as their mother called up the stairs.
‘Come on you two, time to get up. Breakfast is ready.’
Nina jumped up at once. ‘I wonder what will happen today?’ she cried.
‘It’s a Sunday,’ Toots moaned under his breath.
Nina smiled. ‘Come on lazy bird, there’s a beautiful red sky this morning.’’
Toots turned to Nina, looking wide-eyed, ‘A red sky in the morning is a warning from Mother Nature,’ he hooted.
Nina considered what her friend said, but then dashed off to wash up.
She grabbed Toots and ran downstairs for breakfast.
Nina opened the kitchen door to the noise and smell of breakfast.
‘Good morning,’ said Reg, with a loving smile for his daughter. ‘You’ll need to hurry up and eat your breakfast. Relck is waiting for you – you’re both needed at the Order.’
Nina looked at Toots with excitement in her eyes, wondering what was going on.
NOW FULLY AWAKE WITH breakfast finished, Nina hugged and kissed her parents as she hurried upstairs. She had a naturally sunny attitude, and she couldn’t wait to see what the Order had in store for them.
Back in the bedroom Nina studied her wardrobe. ‘Hmm,’ she muttered, ‘what to wear?’
Toots sighed. ‘Just put on something casual, you kn
ow that choosing clothes is a waste of time. When you travel through the magic mirror to the Order of the Feathers, the journey through time and space disguises the witch or wizard, so that no one will be aware.’
Nina smiled at her impatient friend. ‘I know,’ she said. ‘But I still like to choose.’ She grabbed a pair of jeans and a jumper, throwing a coat over her arm just in case.
The two friends turned to look at the mirror, which stood next to the window. Toots, who hated traveling through the mirror, tucked himself in Nina’s arms.
‘I’m here with you,’ she said as she grabbed her wand and witch’s pouch, reassuring her best friend.
As she touched the mirror Nina spoke the secret words of the Order and reached into her witch’s pouch to sprinkle magic dust.
‘Witchy Witchy Woo, hear my cry Mother Nature. I offer you the eye of a frog and the wing of a bat. Take me to the Order, past the darkness and into the light.’ With a swish, a swoosh and a spark from her wand, they were gone.
It was as if they flowed into the mirror like liquid. Through time and space their bodies twisted and turned, as light and darkness flashed past their eyes. When they arrived at the Order, Nina found she was now dressed in her witch’s cloak. They stepped out onto the hard, cold stone floor. There was no warmth in the air, only the emptiness of the Great Hall, which was eerily dark. A few candles lit the dim corridor and the smoke from a dying fire filed their nostrils.
Toots was nauseated after passing through the mirror. He took a moment to compose himself, and then they both looked around for somebody to greet them. However, the room was empty and silent.
Toots was annoyed and a little afraid. ‘Let’s look for Raspy,’ he screeched, stretching out his wings as he hopped onto Nina’s shoulder. Almost immediately he wished that he had remained in the safety of her arms. He felt vulnerable without the warm embrace. They walked along the long, long, silent corridor.
‘He will be in the Inventor’s room, on the left at the end of the corridor.’ Toots hooted as quietly as he possibly could.
Nina was both excited and scared as they ventured forward, holding their breath in anticipation of the unknown situation ahead.
Suddenly they heard a deep, slow hoot. The closer they got to the Inventor’s room, the louder the hoot became. They were relieved to know they were not alone. Nina knocked on the worn, red wooden door and peered inside. With a screech, it opened to reveal Relck and Raspy watching the Inventor work. The room was dimly lit with candles and only a small coloured window let in any natural light.
This was the first-time Nina and Toots had visited the Inventor’s room, and they could barely contain their excitement. The walls were filled with books and inventions of all shapes and sizes. Some were even hidden under sheets, kept away from prying eyes.
The Inventor was a short man with a rather large belly. He looked up at them with a warm, friendly smile.
‘Come in, come in,’ he called. We have been waiting for you.’
Relck greeted them with a half-smile. Nina knew that he was hiding something, which only made her more curious.
‘We have a job for you two,’ said Relck as he handed them a scroll,
‘but only if you’re brave enough!’
Relck knew that Nina would rise to any challenge he could set. He looked at Toots carefully. ‘This task may concern your grandfather’s disappearance,’ he said gravely.
Toots had heard many stories about his grandfather, the Great Owl and Head of the Order of Feathers, who had vanished when he was very small. His disappearance was a mystery – all anyone knew was the Red Witch and a black cat with green eyes had been spotted at the same time.
‘This is an important assignment. You two had best be off,’ said Relck, with a nod of dismissal.
Nina took the hint and scooped up Toots in her arms. The pair returned to the hallway in silence, wondering what adventures were to come. Toots felt sick just thinking about what could happen. The Great Hall was now full of witches and wizards going about their daily duties. Lit candles shone brightly on the dark wooden walls, and the black and white marbled floor cast strange reflections. Looking at the magic mirror from this side was slightly daunting. It stood ten feet tall, hanging on a small frame as if by magic.
Nina opened the scroll and read their instructions carefully. ‘We have to go to the cottage in the woods and look for a secret,’ she told Toots, ‘one that will reveal itself without our knowledge.’
Toots raised his eyelids and tutted, expressing his annoyance at such a vague clue.
Nina smiled at him and continued to read the scroll. ‘It says that the cottage will be nestled in dense woodland, in an unknown environment.’
Nina was apprehensive, worried at where they might end up. She took a deep breath, wanting to get on with the task and not be afraid. She shot a nervous glance at Toots and saw that he was also worried.
With a deep breath, Nina touched the mirror and whispered the magic words. ‘Witchy Witchy Woo, hear my cry Mother Nature.’ Reaching into her witch’s pouch, she sprinkled her magic dust. ‘I offer you tail of newt and a whisker of rat. Give me the power to travel through dark and light, take me to the cottage where I seek a secret that may not be understood.’
With a swish, a swoosh and spark from her wand they vanished into the unknown.
Chapter 3
The Frozen Woods
A bright light hit the adventurers straight in the eyes and they struggled to adjust to the sunny day. They looked around and began to shiver as a blast of frozen air roared across the woods they were now standing in.
Nina was now dressed for winter in a large fluffy coat and matching snow boots. The trees around them were spiny and bare. Even though it was midsummer, not a single leaf was growing. An eerie white mist rose from the hard, frozen path, as if it chilled everything it touched. Mother Nature herself seemed to have cursed this place, holding back the summer growth. There were no blooming flowers, only the wintry frost remained. As Nina and Toots gazed into the distance, they spotted a small cottage at the end of a mud road.
Already the pair felt an urge to return home to their family immediately.
Toots hooted, ‘I bet there’s no mirror in that cottage, it’s a trap!’ He was unnerved, but wanted to keep up a brave face. ‘How would we escape?’ he hooted worryingly.
Nina nodded in agreement. ‘I don’t know, but we have to be brave.
We don’t know what we will find inside.’
‘Will you turn them into toads?’ Toots hooted nervously.
‘You want me to turn everyone into a toad.’ Nina chuckled. ‘We must go inside to look for clues.’
Although she urged Toots on, Nina was also feeling nervous. An uneasy panic was gathering inside her.
Mustering her courage and determination, Nina started forward. Toots flapped his small wings and took flight, keeping close to her side.
As they walked down the frozen dirt road, the cottage inched closer. Nina glanced.at Toots, knowing that she was leading him into the unknown. The garden that surrounded the cottage had frozen over.
Deprived of the summer sun, the plants and flowers had withered. Nina opened the gate and led them up a stone path, pausing at the brown door. There was a plaque on the wall, but the name was obscured by ice. Even when Nina wiped it, the frost remained frozen solid. Pointing her wand at it, she whispered the secret magic words.
‘Witchy Witchy Woo, hear my cry Mother Nature.’ She reached into her witch’s’ pouch and sprinkled her magic dust. ‘I offer you the ear of a bat, and the toenail of a rat. In darkest night and warmest day, give me the power to burn.’
After a swish, a swoosh and a spark from her wand, a glow rose from the core and the frost slowly melted away to reveal the name Foster.
‘This is a cursed place,’ Toots hooted.
‘Foster must be the family name,’ said Nina. ‘I wonder what has happened here? There could be bad magic about.’
Nina and Toots peer
ed through the window, not knowing what they would see. The house was dusty and almost empty, except for a large grandfather clock.
‘The hands are missing,’ Toots noted. ‘I can see a door ajar on that cabinet.’ He narrowed his big, bright eyes, straining to get a better look. ‘There’s a handle on it, go push the front door!’ Toots cried enthusiastically.
Nina walked to the front door and turned the handle. The frozen door opened with a crisp crack. It sounded as if glass had shattered on the floor. The startled pair stepped inside. A chill touched Nina’s neck and sent a shiver down her spine. She sensed a presence and immediately became more alert. The cold breeze stopped abruptly and silence filled the air.
Both the living room and the kitchen were as bare as the trees outside. The grandfather clock stood proudly next to the staircase.
Nina looked at Toots. ‘This is the only clue there is, but what on earth could it mean?’
‘Check inside,’ Toots instructed.
‘Why not you?’
‘This is a job for hands, not wings,’ he smirked.
‘Some excuse!’ Nina complained.
‘Okay, I will look. Have your wand at the ready,’ Toots chirped.
As they pulled the door wide, they noticed that the pendulum was missing. Nina opened it wider, wand held high. They kept the door at arm’s length, just in case. Their mouths fell open as the door revealed a hidden room. Nina lit the room with her wand. It was cold and empty.
Nina turned on her heel. ‘Well this was a waste of time.’
Toots’s wing cuffed her shoulder and he whispered at her to look up.
A huge cage hung in the air.
Nina looked at Toots. ‘You must fly up there,’ she instructed.
‘Me?’ he squawked.
‘I only have arms, not wings,’ she smirked.
