Caution: Witch in Progress (previously published as 'Gertie Gets it Right eventually') by Lynne North (books under 200 pages txt) 📕

        ‘I’ve not used a stool in a spell since. I’ve heard others say they usually prove to be pretty stupid. They’re not really cut out for much more than sitting in a corner looking wooden.’

        Even though Gertie loved being at Grothilde’s, today she couldn’t wait to get home. Once there, she rushed to her room and looked around in anticipation. Frowning in concentration, she tried to spot something to experiment on. She had been advised to try something small.

        ‘Oh, what can I use?’ she asked, feeling frustrated. Nothing sprang to mind. Gertie sighed, sitting down heavily on her bed. There was a thump as something fell off. Leaning down, Gertie picked up her umbrella and placed it back on the bed. She had reached it out earlier to take to Grothilde’s, but the rain had stopped before they set out. Gertie stared absent-mindedly at the umbrella. It was a special one, shiny black with a wooden handle that ended in the shape of a bat’s head.

        ‘Oh!’ Gertie exclaimed, ‘I know, I’ll make you talk! You can chat happily to me when we go for walks in the rain. You can tell me jokes and make me laugh. Oh we’ll have such fun! You can be my friend.’

        The wooden head stared blankly at her.

Publication Date: 12-31-2009

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