Witches Under Way Read Online Free Page A

girl.  I couldn’t have done that nearly as quickly.
    More scowls.  Didn’t do anything.  Do I really have to listen to that opera crap?
    Jennie knew better than to answer a question like that.  And she didn’t plan to stick around to see if Elsie figured out how neatly she had just been herded. 
    Much to her surprise, her plate of bacon and eggs had managed to disappear without causing serious stomach upheaval.  A good morning’s work all around.  “I know you’ve both got things to do today, so I won’t keep you.”  Jennie reached into her bag.  “But I have a small gift for each of you before I go.”
    She handed the first two pictures to Elsie.  One taken the day she’d arrived—professional, polished, and empty.  The second was from karaoke night, sitting in befuddled happiness with her knitting in her hands, flanked by Caro on one side, Nat on the other.  Witch Enveloped.
    It touched Jennie deeply when her student’s fingers reached toward the befuddled Elsie’s face.  They were indeed making progress.   She waited for Elsie to look up.  “These pictures are mileposts on your WitchLight journey so far, a visual record of the path you walk.  Your assignment for this week is to think about what the next picture looks like.”
    A small smile teased Elsie’s face as she nodded, still touching the photo of the happy knitter.
    The next two pictures were for Lizard.  The first was the tattooed blonde fairy the morning after she’d arrived, all tough exterior and sad eyes.  Jennie was well aware it was one of the best portraits she’d ever taken—but it was the next picture that truly delighted her.  The second captured the young and hip professional in strappy sandals, asymmetrical skirt, and shiny pendant—nose to nose with Ginia, rocking to some raucous karaoke rap song.  Metamorphosis of a Delinquent.
    “Same assignment for you—find the next picture.  And a second thing.”  Jennie tapped the photo of the confident, in-your-face rap singer and the unshakeable message on her face.  “When you go to school this morning, remember—it’s this girl who’s going.” 
    Jennie waited for the predictable scowl.  And counted it a major victory when it didn’t come.
    ~ ~ ~
    Lizard walked out of the diner and nearly tripped over Aervyn.  “Hey, little dude.  What are you doing here?  You hungry?”  Feeding small witches was probably a good excuse for being late to school.
    “Nuh, uh.”  He took her hand.  “We came to walk you to school.”
    Belatedly, Lizard realized he wasn’t alone.  Lauren stood right behind him, innocent look on her face.  “Seemed like a nice day for a walk.”
    Yeah, right.  Apparently she had truant officers after all.  “There’s no hurry.  My first class doesn’t start for a while yet.”  Lizard looked at her small sidekick.  “Want to go to the park or something?”
    “Nope.  We hafta get you school supplies and stuff.”
    She patted her snazzy new bag.  “I have my laptop and a couple of pens.  I’m good to go.”
    He looked alarmed.  “You can’t go to school like that!”  He carefully took off his small fire-engine-red backpack and undid the zipper.  “Here.  I brought you a snack and my best pencil crayons.”
    Lizard looked at the handful of colorful pencils and the slightly squished cookies and swiped at her eyes in horror.  She never cried in public.  It was a rule, even when four-year-olds were being ridiculously sweet.  With solemn ceremony, she tucked the gifts into her bag—along with the heavy weight of his innocent expectations.  “Thanks, superboy.”
    He grinned in approval and took her hand again.  “Which way do we go?”
    She pointed down the street, resigned.  “This way.”  No way she could run off with his best pencil crayons.       
    Lauren fell into step beside them, looking way too pleased with herself.  Lizard smelled a conspiracy.  What, was that little pencil-crayon trick