A Day in the Life of Nora Bee –Witch

By Kate Trinity

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Published by Kate Trinity on Smashwords

A Day in the Life of Nora Bee - Witch © 2011 by Kate Trinity

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Dedicated to Melanie Bee, Dressmaker extraordinaire

A Day in the Life of Nora Bee - Witch

The snores rattled around the little thatched cottage as dawn broke along the horizon, triggering St Bastible the third the rooster to start his morning calling. Now you have to understand that St Bastible the third was a big black rooster that was rather proud of himself, he could wake the entire of the neighbouring village with one crow. Unfortunately at this moment in time he was suffering from hay fever which had given him a slightly sore throat and so his crow was a little below par.

He had been trying to impress the new chicks in his coop and they were impressed, or at least as impressed as a chicken could be with only one rooster to choose from. The snoring continued. St Bastible the third had never been able to wake his food slave, Nora. He had given up trying and had left the task to Lucky the Black Rabbit who lived in the cottage with Staffy the White cat. They had some sort of weird relationship going on, Staffy liked Lucky’s ears and Lucky loved the way Staffy vibrated when he purred. Lucky had brought Staffy home one day from a jaunt into the fields; St Bastible the third thought Staffy was one confused cat.

There was a snort and a grunt and then bed springs creaking as Nora finally convinced herself to get out of her ever so soft and comfy bed. She checked her face in the ever so small mirror nailed to the wall and muttered as she dragged a comb through the thick mass of tangled hair on her head. She collected that which had come loose in the comb and added it to the drawstring pouch at the side of the draws. Then she slipped her feet into the pink slippers under the bed and headed to the tiny bathroom, the roofs sloped on either side and it was tucked into one end of the building. But Nora liked the ability to nip to the loo in the middle of the night without having to get completely dressed in several layers to go out to the outhouse. Plus she had a tin bath in there, a little pot belly stove to warm the water and the room, and a little sink where she washed her face and brushed her teeth. Then she trudged down the stairs her arms brushing both walls all the way down. The kitchen was cold this morning and she stoked the fire and put a pot of water on to boil so she could have her morning cup of yarrow and nettle tea. Then she fed the cat and the rabbit.

She made a plan for the day as she drank her tea and ate toast and porridge for breakfast. First she would see to the animals, and then collect some fresh herbs from the woods across the meadow. Then it would probably be time for another drink and something to eat. The afternoon as usual would be spent seeing to all the visitors she had who didn’t want anyone to know that they were coming to see her and so came in the most variety of outfits and from all directions. Then she would be able to eat again, she liked food and lots of cups of tea and always had something going on the fire in case one of her visitors was in need. The evenings were the best part, and tonight would be especially good.

“Lucky I need some borage” she said to the rabbit who twitched her nose, sniffed around and hopped off into the undergrowth, Staffy followed and would meow loudly when they found it so Nora could follow. She collected other herbs and plants that she needed as she went. By the time the sun was at its highest point she had a basket full of plants and three very smooth pebbles. She was happily wandering back to the cottage with Lucky and Staffy gambolling about ahead of her when she heard the chickens clucking and St Bastible the third crowing like he was right next to her.

“Damn it, what is going on” she looked at the cat and rabbit “Back to the cottage” she told them before dematerialising, she didn’t wait around to see what they changed into.

She reappeared in her kitchen by the fire and put her basket down on the table. She then stood still and listened but there was too much noise. “Quiet” she said quietly, no one would have heard her say it yet all the animals became quiet. She stood still and closed her eyes so she could focus her senses and listen. She allowed the area she could hear extend out from her. She heard Lucky and Staffy prowling in the same area, clearly trying to find the scent of the visitor. Then she heard it, the breathing, it was in the goat shed and real slow and quiet. She picked up the broom from beside the door and opened the latch.

“Goat shed” she said real quiet, knowing Lucky and Staffy could hear her. Then she walked in the direction of the shed with the broom in both hands. She hadn’t picked it up because it was a broom and she was a witch but because it was really heavy and the handle was made out of thick silver birch and good for hitting intruders with. The goats had already scattered when whoever it was had entered and where grazing quietly whilst watching the proceedings from the garden. Nora scowled at them as they ate her herbs but carried on to the goat shed anyway. She could sense that the intruder hadn’t moved and so taking a deep breath to steady her nerves she opened the door quickly and peered inside. And frowned, she couldn’t see anyone. She could hear the breathing though so she closed her eyes and listened, then stabbed out with the end of her broom and heard an oomph. Opening her eyes she saw a tall skinny girl curled up in the corner rubbing a bare shoulder.