The Mystety of Ms. Minerva Chapters 1-2

Chapter 1

Elm Brook School District  had only one campus  The younger children  including those TJ’s age had classes in a small two story building. The High school was  in a larger newer building with a even newer football stadium. Each building had their own lunch room and auditorium but with less than 500 students total the area between the buildings was open to all students.  Abe spent lunch with his friends from the football team. Though he was new he was popular and  his charisma made making friends easy.
Mona  on the other hand wasn’t so much unpopular  as she just found talking to new people hard and found her intellect intimidated those she did talk to. Were Abe had to work hard to maintain his grades she rarely studied she just seem to pick up on things fast.  And though no one but her knew it  she had already all her school books cover to cover and had caught up and past everyone in her classes. Like the teachers in the city , the teachers in Elm-Brook High  had no idea what to do with her.

“So what can I do for you Mona?  Finished with Lord of the Rings?”, the Librarian looked at her from behind glasses. He was a balding man with a double chin and a deep voice.
“Yeah, It was good , thanks for the suggestion Mr. Peal”, She handed the three books to the man and looked about to make sure no one else was near before she spoke.
“Well can I suggest next?  The Complete works of Shakespeare?”, The Librarian was giddy, he had never seen a student with a love of reading that Mona had, well not since he was a student at the old high school which now served as the grade school.
“Actually I was wondering”, Mona leaned in closed and whispered, “Do you have any books on witches?:”.
The man thought for just a second then nodded.
“Follow me”, he said leaving counter he guided the girl to the rear of the library. Past the books no one checked out. Most were on subjects students had little interest in like accounting or basket weaving.
“Here we go”, he gestured to a row of old books and a few new ones on Witch History, Witch biography and autobiography, a Manual on Witch hunting written in the 1950’s the last time such a thing was popular.
“Thank you Mr. Sams, can I check them out?” Mona looked at the titles reading them almost all at once.
The Librarian nodded, “Sure, just don’t show them around too much, I don’t think most people know their here and its best to keep it that way.”
Mona nodded and chose 7 books including one on the powers of witches as categorized by a doctor at MIT in 1984 and the book on Witch Hunting. Mr. Peal didn’t even scan the bar-codes in the book to mark them being checked out. Instead he told the girl to bring them back when she’s done which at the rate she read he expected to be in a few days..

The school day went by uneventful. TJ knew Mona would be around soon on her bike to escort him home but he had other things to do. If he hurried he could be there and back before she arrived an hour later. Placing on his helmet he took off on his green bike. He rode fast as his legs would take him first down the back rode behind the school then up to Graham road. Distance was the problem it was avoiding being seen. And though he was new to the town he had explored it well. Looking carefully he headed up Graham too Mahogany a small road that lead to the edge of the town checking his watch he had 45 minutes left. From Graham he rode north to where the street ended.  Not stopping he rode across the field till he found the street he needed. It too would dead in but that didn’t matter. Not stopping for a break he traveled to the dead in where a stone and iron gate waited closed but not locked.
A large black crow sat on a stone pillar near by.
“Please be home”, he said going to the metal gate and pushing it open. There was startling creak but instead of jumping back the boy hurried in. Mounting the bike again he rode up the winding road to where a well kept house sat. Two stories it was blue with white trim and had a large front porch.  TJ also noticed a sleek and shiny car out front the boy didn’t know  much about the cars but he knew this models was old like the kind he would see in one of Grandpas old black and white gangster films. Getting off the bike he lead it up the stone walk to three steps that creaked as he moved up them. Leaning the bike  against a porch swing he took a deep breath and knocked on the ornate wood and glass door.


After a few minutes and no answer TJ looked at his watch, thirty five minutes left, It’ll be close. Preparing to knock again he  startled when the door came open.
“May I help you”, a voice but not the one he expected. The Woman at the door was tall with  green eyes and black hair in a tight bun. She wore a black business suit , boots and gloves.
“I’m here to see Ms. Minerva”, said the boy nervously.
The woman smiled with perfect white teeth that seemed brighter due to her café au late’
skin. “Well she’s busy “ the woman was about to close the door.
TJ swallowed hard and spoke again “I really have to see her. Its really important”, 
The woman eyes narrowed and TJ swore he saw them flash with lightning for an instant.
“Claudette who’s at the door”, a familiar voice. The door opened wide and Ms. Minerva joined the other woman at the door. She looked at the boy then at her friend.
“TJ, right?”, the grey-haired lady was dressed as he remembered but this time she also sported little round glasses that sat on the end of her nose.
“Yes ma’am”, he said
“Come in dear, Ms. Minerva took the boys hand and lead him into the house. TJ looked about in awe. The room was full of old furniture, beautiful carved shelves and various bric-a-brac .  It was like the antique store his mother liked to visit in the city only obviously live in.
“Claudette, this  is TJ, one of  the children I was telling you about”, Miss Minerva stood between her two friends. Claudette crossed her arms.
“Luckily you came along when you did Alexis I was about to turn him into doormat “, said the dark skinned woman. TJ eyes grew wide as his skin paled; he didn’t think to consider the other woman was a witch too.
“So what brings you here TJ? “, The older Witch gestured and TJ found a chair behind him . Sitting down  in a thick wooden chair she waited for him to speak.
The boy tried to find the right words, “Well, I’m. you see. It was my fault you had to leave last night”, He paused before continuing, “I’m sorry”.

Ms. Minerva laughed, it was both friendly and scary at the same time, a perfect witches cackle. “No Dear, It wasn’t but thank you for coming all this way to apologize”.
Claudette looked at the boy, “Indeed, I wish there were more people like  you”. TJ smiled for the first time the other witch didn’t seem scary. In fact looking at her for the first time without fear he saw how pretty she was. 
“Well I think you deserve a reward for being such a sweet young man”. Ms. Minerva rose to her feet , “How about a few more inches , I can make you the tallest boy in your class”.
Claudette smiled, ‘Alexis he looks like the adventurous sort. Maybe he’ll like to be able to talk to animals or I could make his bike fly.  TJ was overwhelmed he had never guessed he would get a reward. Looking at his watch he knew he had to get back.
“Are you late for something?” Ms. Minerva looked at the boy glance at his watch.
“I have to get back to school before Mona gets out at 4”, he stuttered out.
“The sister right?”, Claudette looked at Ms. Minerva.
“Yes, the you know what”, the grey haired woman whispered to the other witch.
TJ was confused but remained silent.
“How about you think about what you want and come back with your sister”, Claudette.
“I’m not sure if she would like to come “.. TJ spoke carefully.
The witches smiled at each other then looked at the boy. Claudette came to her feet
“I tell you what boy, I’ll take you in my car and talk to your sister.” The dark haired witch adjusted her gloves.
“Well my dad says not to ride with strangers”, TJ looked at the woman. ‘As Far as I know you eat kids just like in the story books”.
Ms. Minerva looked at  Claudette, “well I think I have an idea”  Claudette looked puzzled but she trusted the older witch and her usually entertaining plans.
“TJ, remember what it was like to be frog?”, Ms. Minerva leaned in closer to  the boy.
“Yes Ma’am it was cool”, the boy smiled even though suddenly he got a nervous feeling in his stomach.
“Well How would you like to be a bird?”  Ms. Minerva lit another black cigar and puffed on it. TJ thought being able to fly would be cool but knew he had to be back to meet Mona soon. “You could fly back and  tell your sister to come here. Tell her if she doesn’t  you’ll be a bird forever”.
TJ felt a chill, “But you’ll turn me back right?”,
“Of course , it’s a test really, for your sister”, said the grey haired woman
“OK, but why are you testing her?”, TJ was now very curious, he could almost sense the coming adventure.
Claudette looked at the boy a narrowed her eyes, “Curiosity killed the little canary”  she hissed The witch in gloves pointed at the boys and lighting shot from her eyes hitting the boys who exploded into a cloud of  smoke and feathers.  The Sofa where the boy sat was now vacant save for a confused little bird..  TJ looked up, each woman was now the size of a skyscraper and his heart was beating fast, much faster than usual.  Looking at his hands he found none but instead saw yellow feathers
“I’m a bird”, TJ looked up at the giant woman as he realized what had happened.

“Of course you  are,  And a very handsome one to boot now hurry so you can meet your sister.”
Ms. Minerva spoke in a matter of fact tone as the little bird fluttered about. Claudette gestured at the door causing it to open.
“And don’t forget to tell her that if she doesn’t come you’ll be a bird forever little canary”, the dark haired witch spoke as if it was the truth . TJ was still a bit afraid of her and once he had flown free of the house he realized that maybe he was a bit too trusting of the witches. Flying up he tried to get his bearings and saw the large church steeple off in the distance. From there he knew he could find his way back to school.
Flying just above the tree tops he made his way across the wooded area and to the town. Once at the church he perched and looked for the school.
“There”, he exclaimed in a chirp. Gliding down first than starting to flap he made his way to the school just as Mona was riding up to their meeting spot.
“Mona !”, he chirped.
The girl looked about no sign of her brother or his bike
“Where are you TJ!.”, the girl sounded annoyed as she sat on her bike propping it up with her legs.
“Mona”, the bird chirped flying close.
The girl noticed the bird and how close it flew but ignored it. Annoyed her eyes darted around for her brother. She had figured he might still be inside or around in the play ground. As she prepared to go look the little yellow bird swooped in again this time almost hitting her.
“Stop p that “, she called off flailing an arm barely missing the bird.”
“Mona!”, The bird chirped again dodging the hand and landing on the bike handle bars.
“What’s your problem bird”, Mona looked at the creature where it sat. It was small and yellow  and  jumped from foot to foot as if it was nervous.
“Mona it’s me TJ”, chirped the bird.
The girl  was about to shoo it away when it chirped again,  The chirp  though nonsense to her had a familiar tone not like a birds at all.
“MO,!” the bird chirped  and suddenly the girl heard her name.
“No way”, the redhead looked about to see if someone was playing a trick when she saw she was alone she leaned closer
“You didn’t just talk did you?” she spoke softly.
The bird chirped again “Mo it’s me TJ”, said the bird.
The girl eyes went wide and mouth ajar.
“TJ!, how…no way”, she said before her mind went back to the previous night.
“You have to come with me to Misss. Minerva’s house or I’ll be a bird forever!”, TJ flew up circled the girl then  towards Graham road. Mona gave pursuit heart pounded with fear and concern.
“How did you end up a bird, stupid!?”, she called out
The Bird circle back to keep pace with her., “I caught Bird-itus,Dork. TJ chuckled, . TJ flew ahead again leading his sister who was all but screaming at him. The Canary didn’t care and was actually starting to enjoy his new form

The two made it to the gate far faster than TJ had expected.. Mona saw the gate was cracked open and rode in. With her mind somewhere else she didn’t notice the large crow until it had fluttered by barely missing TJ.
“Look out!” she called out as the black bird swooped in.
TJ flew faster but the bird was on him again and he could feel its breath  on his tail.
“TJ watch out!”, Mona screamed and rode faster till she was close enough to wave the larger bird away. The Crow flew up then back down clipping the canary and sending it tumbling to the ground. Mona screamed and stopped the bike..
“Get away!” from him she called out picking up a rock. The crow cawed and landed near the canary just as the smaller bird came to its feet.
“Its mine”, called out the crow
“Its my brother”, Mona had spoken before she realized should cold actually understand the creature.
“Help Mona, I can’t fly!:, TJ hopped towards his sister
The Crow moved and Mona tossed the rock and missed., with a flutter of wings the crow moved closer to TJ. Mona felt something in her, more than fear, real terror that was released in a scream that actually hurt her throat.
“NO!”, she called out just as a wind caught the crow and sent it tumbling into the air .
Taking advantage of the freak gust she scooped up the yellow bird. Without missing a step she dropped her bike she and  made her way to the house. Shaking and fatiqued  she ran up the stairs she knocked on the door
“:et me in” she pleaded, TJ is hurt”. Her voice cracked with sobs.
“Come in, “Ms. Minerva opened the door and let her rush past.

Claudette sat on the sofa smoking a black cigarette in a short silver holder.
“Well that didn’t take long”, the younger witch chuckled.
Mona calmed a bit and turned on Claudette, “Who turned my brother into a bird!” she growled.
The woman in the black business suit smiled, “I did dear”
“Then change him back”, Demanded Mona
“,Mona be careful they’re witches!”, chirped the bird, he felt better and though he should calm his sister before she ended up just like him or worse. Mona on the other hand was beyond calming. Though normally quiet when angered the redhead has quiet a temper.
“I know that!”. Mona looked at Claudette who seemed unfazed.
“Why I rather like him as a bird”, the witch looked at the girl and took a puff.
Mona had no idea what she was going to do a look of helplessness filled her.
Then from behind the kind voice of Miss Minerva.“turn him back”,
“You heard her turn him back”,  Mona looked at the grey haired witch then to the other.
“Not her Mona sweetie, you, you turn him back., Ms. Minerva  walked past the girl.
Mona was confused, “I can’t I’m not a witch!” she was about to cry.
Claudette  stood, “Then he’s a bird forever”. Her voice was cold.
“You can do it”, the other witch .
“How?”, Mona
Miss Minerva took the girls hand where she held the bird., “Remember what he was as a boy and he’ll be a boy” she said softly.
The voice calmed the girl and slowly she spoke, “And then?”
“See him as a boy”, Claudette added, “make your will reality”.
Mona concentrated picturing TJ as she first saw him as a baby, then growing up. Her mind raced through both happy and sad times with her brother. She pictured him as he was that morning finally and suddenly her hands were warm and something grew in them spreading them apart quickly slowly as she watched the bird turned into her brother.
“Mona you did it!” TJ sat on the ground watching the last of the feathers fade.
The girl eyes rolled into the back of her head as she fainted. TJ went to grab her but Claudette had beaten him to her.

“There you go dear”, Ms. Minerva looked at the girl from where she sat in her throne like wooden chair sipping tea. Claudette and TJ sat  across from her in chairs. Mona rose up from the Sofa holding her head it was pounding. 
“What happened?” she said
“You fainted Mo”, laughed TJ who was about to say more but thought better of it.
“You were a bird right?”, she looked at her brother.
TJ nodded at his sister. “but you turned me back”.
Mona’s head suddenly felt better and she saw that there was a cup of tea in front of her
“How did I do that? She asked.
“Well dear, every once in a while a girl is born, she’s smart, willful and has an odd  way about her”, Ms. Minerva spoke as if from memory. “This girl, this special girl she can see things others can’t, understand things others can’t do things others can only dream of”.
Mona  picked up the tea and cautiously took a sip.
“You’re a witch Mona”, Claudette seemed overly pleased with her words.
Mona dropped the tea cup only to see it freeze in mid air with a gesture from Ms. Minerva.
“No way, you’re both joking!”, the girl stood, “I mean I’m not a witch”
TJ looked at Claudette, “She’s right, Mo can’t be a witch, Lady”.

“Well technically she’s not a witch yet, in fact if she never did another spell in her life she would live as a mortal all her potential lost to old age and eventually death in a mortal’s life time.” Claudette looked at the redhead as she spoke.
Ms. Minerva gestured the tea and Cup to the table, “But if she accepts this, learned how to use it,.  The wonders she will see, and do…”.
The girl’s head was now clear  she had never dreamed anything like this was possible.
Nor was she sure it was what she wanted.
“I mean how would I learn?”,  Mona spoke unsure, “If I wanted to learn”
“I would teach you”, said Ms. Minerva, “And Claudette, she visits once or twice a month and has connection with the Great Coven.
“What’s that?”, Mona looked at Claudette who was looking at TJ’s lack luster table manners as he ate cookies and drunk milk.
“It’s the witches from around the world, what we call ourselves, how we meet, greet and communicate”. Mona nodded, she would have to look it up in the books she checked out.
“can I have time to think about this?” The girl tried to sip her tea again.
Ms. Minerva nodded, “Of course you can”.
TJ spoke up, “Wait till Abe hears this!  Mom, Dad and Grandpa are gonna flip”
Tj watched all eyes fall on him, even Mona’s
“No,  not yet not until she has accepted or declined”, Said the grey haired witch., “and even then its best to wait to till the right time.
Claudette then  leaned in close to TJ, “and as for you  little canary, you’re  a part of this too, Since you know not only about your sister, but myself and the existence of the Great Coven,  As mortal-ally you are bound to keep all secrets you are told to keep. Break that trust and every witch will know it and I’m sure you can figure out what that would mean”.
TJ swallowed hard and slumped in his seat.
“He’ll stay quiet”, Mona picked up her back pack.
“I’m sure he will”, Ms. Minerva
After that farewells were said quickly and Mona and TJ departed.
Claudette waited a few minutes before talking, “what do you think she  will decide?”
Ms. Minerva took a sip of tea, “She’s already decided Claudette, she just hasn’t realized it yet..”. The Grey hair witch looked at her friend and smiled.

The rest of the week was uneventful. Friday night the family went to se Abe play football. He was starting linebacker and though his mother hated to see him play his fathers pride was limitless. He cheered each time his son made a hit. TJ cheered, not much of a football player he still thought it was cool how well Abe played. Mona spent most of the game reading , it was the autobiography of  Joan Wanger a German born witch who had been a Hollywood starlet until 1958 when she was killed by a witch hunter as was she discovered  over a dozen other witches living in America. It was a backlash it seemed from nothing more than the countries fear of Witches after they had help America  win in world war two.
“Doing homework Mo?”, asked her father who was eating Nachos?
“No, just reading”, she didn’t look up and he knew better than to pry, teenage girls enjoyed their privacy.
“I love for you to read dear, but maybe you should also find other things to do”, The girls mother looked at  her.
“I do, I  run my website, I help Grandpa in his garden”, Mona tried not to sound offended.
“Well that’s nice, But I mean something not around the house”, The mother added.
Mona rolled her eyes and returned to her reading, “Tomorrow” she thought”

Chapter two

The next day she packed a light lunch and told her parents she was going to ride her bike around the lake. Her mother didn’t like the idea of her going out alone so to calm everyone she agreed to take TJ. Grandpa told her some nice places she could visit near the lake and even sketched out a crude Map. At about 10 am the two set out on bike toward the Lake.  By the time they arrived it was almost eleven and instead of heading on the bike trail Mona headed east towards a very familiar street.
“Mona, where are you going?”, asked TJ. “I need to rest”
“You know where I’m going”, ahead was a stone and Iron gate.
“Cool,”, TJ peddled faster.
“aren’t you afraid?” Mona looked at her brother.
“No,  are you?”, he sped up reaching the gate and  just as it opened on its own.
Stopping he looked at Mona who was next to him, Ok ,maybe a little bit.
“Well you can go back to the lake”, The girl smiled.
“No I’ll stay”, The boy peddled slowly up the path to the house looking for big black birds. Mona noticed the car was gone and hoped Ms. Minerva was in. Parking the bikes on the steps the children came to the door
“Well I see I have guests, this is turning into a pleasant little habit isn’t it”, Miss Minerva.
The children turned to see the Witch in garden gloves black cover alls and black work hat. In her hand was a small spade.
“Hi Ms. Minerva”, TJ waved the Witch walked up the stairs and gave the boy a hug. She then turned to Mona who was looking nervous.
“Well?” she said knowing the answer.
“Yes” Mona replied
The Witch hugged the girl and then strode towards the front door that opened on its own. He children followed. Inside Ms. Minerva’s clothing had altered to Black dress and boots and a  black shawl with silver stars moons and other magical symbols on it.
“You dears look hungry, what would you like to eat”, she said hands on hips as the door closed behind the brother and sister.
“We have lunch” Mona motioned to he back pack.
“Dear little sillies what’s ever in that bag isn’t a lunch”, The witch laughed snapped her finger and the back pack vanished in a puff of smoke . Snapping her finger again it appeared on a coat rack by the door.
“Now what would you like, candy apples, pop corn?, soft drinks?” The witch seemed eager to please.
“Pizza!”, blurted out TJ .
“TJ, that’s not nice”. Mona looked at her brother, “She may not have Pizza and even if she did its rude to ask.”
Ms. Minerva sat in her chair, “Pizza it is “, she  pointed at the  coffee table and suddenly it
Had two pizzas on it,  a pitcher full of punch and plates.
“Wow”, Mona looked at the Pizza and smelt it, it reminded her of the New York Style pizzeria from the city.
Ms. Minerva  giggled, “ don’t be to impressed, a witch can only conjure what she knows or in case of food tasted.  That’s why we travel a lot, the more we experience the more we can recreate..  Mona sat and nodded  looking to her right she saw TJ was already taking a big slice of hot pepperoni.
“TJ, your being a pig”, Mona
“This is good, Oink, Oink ”, the boy ignored the sister as he was quite skilled at doing.
Miss ate her slices first by cutting it into bite sizes then eating it with a fork.  During lunch the witch didn’t talk till she was finished eating instead she watched Mona and TJ take verbal  jabs at each other.
“So while your sister and I get to work, what would you like to do TJ?” asked Ms. Minerva
“I guess I can sit here, I brought some comics to read in my back pack”, the boy wiped his mouth before speaking. Mona looked at him, “And don’t touch anything , Ms. Minerva might blow you up if you break something”, she laughed.
“No she won’t”. TJ returned
“Wait I have an idea dear, you like a good  adventure right TJ? ”, Ms. Minerva came to her feet seeing the children had finished she snapped her finger and cleared the table.
Moving from the living room she walked to an adjoining room to a large table there on the table sat  a 4 feet tall castle compete with wall and  1 inch tall figurines of knights , horses and others members of a medieval court
“That’s so cool!”, TJ looked at it  everything looked hand panted
:”Thank you,  Witches if you haven’t guessed tend to get bored. About thirty years ago I started collecting antique miniatures this castle  took me a decade to outfit.
“Wow, I would love to live in a place like this”, TJ went to pick up a knight but found his hand slapped by Mona.
“You’ll break it”, she said.
“Don’t worry, let him have some fun dear”, Ms. Minerva looked at TJ, and if you want to look inside I can arrange that too..
“Really? How?”, He looked through a widow to see how perfectly a room looked .
Ms. Minerva looked at Mona,  “Lesson one,  quantum thinking”
Mona raised an eyebrow and saw the witch point at  TJ. Suddenly Her brother started to shrink ,  Minerva rose from his skin as he grew smaller till he was less than an inch tall on the floor.


“How’s the air up there”, Tj looked at the Witch and his sister they were so tall  to him he couldn’t even make out their faces very well.
“What is he saying? Is he Ok”. Mona looked down at the boy afraid to move.  Though TJ was screaming at the top of his lungs  no one heard a word.
“He’s fine dear”, Ms. Minerva reached down picked the boy up gently.
TJ rolled into the palm of the woman’s hands and scrambled to his feat.
“This is so unreal”, the girl  watched the woman place the boy in the castle court yard., “how did you do that?
“Do what”, The witch laughed
“Make him, you know , that size”, Mona looked at the her brother run around amusing him self in the court yard.
“A witch will becomes reality, what she can visualize happens”. The woman walked back into the front room and Mona followed.
“I heard that before”, but how do you make  that happen” Mona hated riddles.
“First  you have to know the truth, all things are energy Mona”, The witch sat and took a cigar from an ebony cigar case, What am I holding”
Mona looked at the black cigar, “one of your stinky cigars”
The witch shook her head, “no dear I’m holding nothing more than energy reflected in your mind to the form of a cigar”
“Energy?, you mean like the material’s that makes up atoms?”, Mona asked looking puzzled
“Exactly and a witch is in tune with energy, she can control it, from matter to thoughts it’s hers to do with as she will”, The witch took a puff of the cigar and exhaled the smoke spun into balls and formed tiny planets that orbited her head
“So magic is just controlling energy?” Mona looked at the planets had faded back into smoke and vanished.
The witch smiled, “Exactly kiddo”, pointing she  made a ball appear in Mona’s hand.
Mona looked at the ball it was made of hard rubber and a funny blue color.
“What’s this for”,  she asked.
“I need you to examine it”, Ms. Minerva picked up a book and started to read it.
“Ok, what  am I looking for?”, Mona  eyed the fist sized ball.
“You’ll know when you find it”, The witch laughed and  ignoring the girls plea for more information.

Mona looked at the ball  she looked at it touched it, listened to  it. All she could see was a ball nothing more. After an hour she looked at the witch who was deep into the book, a romance novel.
“This isn’t working”, she said
“You need to open that great wondrous mind to it, don’t hold back “, The Witch didn’t look up to speak in fact she actually spoke and read at the same time.
“Whatever”, Mona looked at the ball  again she thought what Ms. Minerva said. Unleash her mind. Slowly  she started to thing about the ball, what it was, how it felt, remember what she had done to turn TJ back from a bird, she wanted to compile everything the ball was.
As she thought harder on it she discovered more information and as tome past more. As her eyes grew blurry with staring something happened the ball ceased to be a ball and  became an orb compose of tiny sparkles moving faster then her eyes could. She then focused on one sparkle and that sparkle was nothing but an orb of sparkle. Deeper she plunged until all there was a left was a single sparkle.
“Butterfly” said a voice that broke the girls concentration. Mona blinked and saw Ms. Minerva standing over her and in her hand was now a large butterfly.
“Where did the ball go”, Mona looked about.
“You’re holding it”, said the woman and so she was
“Wait it was a butterfly, now its a ball again,” Mona  looked at the  witch.
“Yes but when you heard butterfly that’s what you pictured and that’s what it became because for a second you believed that what it was and you had unraveled it with your thoughts it was there for the molding and that’s what you did.”, Ms. Minerva
“That’s good right?”. Mona
The Witch came to her feet and  took out a pocket watch, “Three hours not bad for a first try”.
Three hours, Mona had thought only a few minutes had past.
“Now try again, the object of the lesson  is to get to the unraveling point faster and faster till its instant once you can do that you have mastered quantum thinking.”.  The witch returned to her reading  and Mona to her lesson. 

About an hour later the girl had managed to get to the balls unraveling point two more time once in forty minutes and then in twenty after she had become angry. The energy from that anger had seemed to empower her some she wanted to ask Miss Minerva about  but the witch had said it was time for her to go home.
“I’m just getting the hang of this”, the girl spoke up from where she sat.
“You can practice at home Dear, I don’t won’t you to worry your parents”, said the witch.
“Can’t you make them not worry?”, Mona half smiled after speaking.
“I could do that, but you are a teenager and even though you are a witch you need to spend some time as a teenager. Anyway isn’t Saturday usually date night?” Ms. Minerva  stood in thought, she was happy to have a such an eager student but there was more to witchery than just learning magic a witch had to be well rounded, the more she experienced the more she could do with magic.
“I don’t date”, growled Mona.
“And why not, You’re smart, You’re pretty and you have your own bicycle”, The witch  walked over to the miniature castle and started to look around.
“I’m not pretty and most boys are stupid, they rather have a brainless airhead then a girl who can think for themselves”, the redhead spoke as she joined her mentor.
“That is stupid, but then again that hasn’t changed since I was your age, its why a lot of witches stay away from the dating scene you know”, Ms. Minerva voice held a bit of sadness that vanished as she spied TJ sleeping in the Kings bed. With her fingers she lifted the boy out and gently carried him in the palm of her hand to the sofa.
“So what, I’m doomed to be alone?”, Mona snapped.
“No, but you will have to look harder to find the right boy and when you do it’ll be something special”, Placing TJ on sofa the witch took a step back and pointed, in less than a second the boy was back to full size.
“So did you find that special boy?, Mona knew it was prying but her curiosity was getting the better of her.
The witch turned at looked at her first in anger , then the anger faded to a far away look of longing. “I did once, but that was a long time ago.” Gaining her composure she looked at TJ, “wake your brother and get going, I’ll see you next Saturday”.  Mona was about to say thank you but the witch had already turned to leave the room.

TJ took some time getting his barring but after he was fully aware from his nap the two left the way the came out the front door, to the porch to pick up their bikes and down the winding path to the gate where to their surprise Ms. Minerva waited.
“Mona,  Claudette wanted me to give this to you she says you’ll know what to do with it. Mona stooped to take a computer disk in a black case from the tall thin woman
“Thank you Ms. Minerva,. For everything.” She said.,
“Yeah thanks, you are so cool.”, added TJ
The woman watched the children ride away with a smile and wave. After they had headed out of site she slowly walked back to her home looking about feeling  a bit lighter as if a weight had been lifted off her.  Coming to her door she looked into the  glass pattern on it and saw her reflection. Though grey she was still attractive and in fact she noticed even her grey wasn’t as grey as it was before meeting Mona and TJ. Gesturing with aplomb she willed the door to open.

“So how was your trip”, The children’s mother  was in the kitchen when they arrived.
“it was fun”, TJ was all smiles.
“Looks like it , well get washed up dinner will be ready in an hour”,  she continued to her cooking. Grandpa was at the table cutting vegetable.
“Did you see Ol Moan and Groan?”, ask the old man.
“Who?”, TJ stopped and looked at his grandfather.
“Ol. Moan and Groan, He’s the creature of the lake”, The old man tried to sound scary as he spoke.
“Grampa, don’t go giving TJ night mares, there’s no Lake monster”, TJ”s mom gave the old man a scathing look that caused him to chuckle but remain silent
“TJ, Mom I’m 10 , I’m not afraid of monsters”, The boy stood straight as the miniature knights he had played among today.
“I’ll tell you later Thomas”, the old man winked at his grandson and returned to his work.
TJ ran up stares past Mona’s room to the one he shared with Abe. His older brother was getting ready  to go out.
“What’s up?”, the larger boy was combing his hair.
“You we’re reading my comics”, The younger boy looked at a few of  magazines out of their bags and backing boards on his brothers bed.
“They we’re my comics first, most of them at least”, Abe walked over to his brother and mussed his hair, “And hey is it a crime I still  like to read General American?.
The little boy fixed his hair as best he could and started placing the comics back in bags, “No, just put them back”, TJ sat on his bed and fixed his comics.
“So how was the lake?” Abe.
“it was cool” TJ tried to sound as truthful as he could.
“Yeah, well to bad you didn’t go”, The older boy watched his brother face reveal the lie.
“How do you know?” TJ had to do his best to keep the secret. Miss Minerva seemed nice but even a nice person could feel angry if they we’re betrayed.
“I was out there with Aaron and Juan about noon, we drove around hung out then I came home. There wasn’t any sign of you guys”, Abe patted his brother on the back, “Look if Mo is making you go to the library let me know ok, you can always hang with me little bro.” Without another word the older brother came to his feet placed his wallet in his pocket and exited.