1945

"Gail, what are you doing after school today? I've got that Christmas record by Bing Crosby." I said as I pulled my collar up over my ears. I had recently cut my black hair and I had immediately missed the warmth from it on my ears.

"Nothing really. I may have some chores but mom and pop are out of town so I can do them tomorrow," Gail replied.

"Come over and listen!" I urged.

"Sure, fine," Gail said as we strolled the short walk to my house.

I had always loved the Manor. It always smelled of incense (that my mother said warded off evil spirits) and sage. It had five rooms, a bit roomy for my parents, my five-year-old brother brother and I, but it was cozy nonetheless. More than anything I loved the kitchen. It was huge and equip with many cabinets for cooking ingredients and potion ingredients alike.

I opened the door to the manor with Gail close behind me and I quickly wished I hadn't. There was my mother and my aunt/cousin Phoebe fighting a demon. I smelled smoke and I rounded the corner to see that the Christmas tree was on fire.

"Phoebe! Tree!" I yelled and my aunt. She turned and flicked her hand at the tree, encasing it in ice.

A fireball headed directly for Gail's head was dispatched by my telekinesis. I slung the fireball to my mother who was waiting with her hands freeze ready. She froze the ball and I ran up behind her.

I could now see the demon. He was very tall, possibly six foot seven or eight and he looked human aside from his grey skin. I sent the frozen fireball at the demon and he exploded, causing my mother, my aunt and I to fall backwards into the living room. Mom landed on the sofa and I landed on the floor. Phoebe was the first to get up.

I quickly ran over to Gail who was in the same place she was two minutes previously. Her mouth was hanging open.

"Trying to catch flies?" I asked with a small smile on my face.

She pointed at some 'goo' on my shirt and I swept it off quickly.

"I know this is a lot to take in and-," I started.

"That was amazing!" Gail said, "I didn't know you had powers! I didn't even know you were a witch!"

My mouth hung open. My mother poked her head around the corner with a similar expression and my aunt dropped her camera that had fallen earlier due to the explosion.

"That's a lot of fly catchers," Gail observed. Then she explained, "My mother used to be a Mathers. She's the cousin of Corinne Mathers," she said as she looked at my mom.

"The Mathers family of witches have been friends with us for years! Corinne is in my coven!" my mom announced.

"So you're a witch, too?" I asked, obviously confused.

"Yes and no. I can cast spells and make potions but I never showed any powers. My sister, Denise, did though. She can levitate. And I see you have telekinesis.

"Yeah," I said in utter disbelief. Gail had been my friend since day school. Her mother and my mother had tea all the time as they gossiped and our little brothers played baseball together.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked when we had sat down on my bed in my room. I turned on the phonograph my dad had bought for me and slipped the record on.

"I could as you the same question, Penny," Gail said as she lay down on my bed.

"I suppose," I said sheepishly, "I was going to tell you, really, but it never came up," I said.

She nodded, "So what power does little Gordy have?" she asked as she started dancing around to the Christmas music.

"He doesn't. Warren magic runs trough the women only. Men aren't given any powers. I don't think it's fair but that's biology for you."

"I agree. But let's get started on our history homework. Mr. Kelly gives out detention like Christmas presents."