Still Learning

"No," she hissed. "You're not getting it!"

Rebecca was getting frustrated. They needed to get out of the cell before that warlock Christopher returned.

"I'm still learning you know?" Ricky snapped back.

"You need to move your wand like an eight. Make the saying last as long as it takes you to move the wand." Becky coolly replied, remembering that he is below her skill level. "We have to do it together because I don't have enough strength to open it by myself."

They tried again. Becky counted down on her fingers and when she was down to zero, they both began, "ocklay penoay ightray ownay." Waving their wands in unison, they both traced the number eight at the perfect speed.

Click. The padlock opened.

As Becky reached out to remove the lock from the hasp, she praised Ricky enthusiastically, "That was great Ricky! You're getting better."

"Thanks." said Ricky.

"He's coming!" whispered Becky. She could hear his incessant humming.

Now Ricky could hear him too. "Relock the door! He doesn't know we can open it."

Becky quickly relocked the padlock and they both sat down on the edge of the bed.

Christopher opened the food port in the cell door, and slid two trays of what he called, food into the opening. He then quickly slammed the portal closed and laughed.

Becky and Ricky were glad he only brought food and didn't separate them.
They waited until they could no longer hear his footsteps, or that stupid humming, to move.

Again, together they stood near the door and recited the spell. They got it correct on the first try.
The lock clicked open.

"There's steps to the outside to the right." Ricky said.

They ran up the stairs, out the door and down the road without looking back.