Chapter eleven

Sneaky spirits

It was Friday and the first of November, this meant it was time for report cards. When the children arrived home the adults stood right near the front door so none of them could escape to magic school without handing over their report cards. This time it was only Wyatt and Chris who had report cards. The elementary school kids only had one report card which was given to parents in June. This was because elementary school kids have the same subjects both semesters, but high schoolers have four classes one semester and four different classes second semester.

Wyatt Matthew Halliwell, eleventh grade student, Westcott High school

English (Mrs. Gladstone's class)- 95%

Comment- Wyatt is doing excellently well, he is one of my best writers and really expressed himself through his writing. This semester we have been writing a chapter books and Wyatt has shown great imagination, he is already on his last chapter and still has a month before its due! His story about a magical family saving innocent people sounds so real the way he rights it. He has done well to help us understand each character.

Math (Mr. Tyson's class)- 60%

Comment- as you are aware Wyatt had has had trouble with math this semester. It seems he struggles most with making down payments, same as last year. He also has trouble remembering how to write checks. However he tries his best and asks for help when needed, he has even given up lunch breaks to get extra help. I have no doubt that he will succeed by the end of the semester.

Parenting (Mrs. Layla's class)- 98%

Comment- it is no surprise Wyatt has been doing very well in this courses since he has so many young children living at home. He was able to explain what to do in basic situations regarding discipline for different misbehavior's. He was able to plan appropriate games for each age groups. I don't say this about many of my students I teach parenting to, but for Wyatt I can say it, I already know he's the type of person who should have children once he's out of school and got a stable job.

History (Mr. Caden's class)- 55%

Comment- at first Wyatt always attempted to do his best work and ask for help when needed. However after the parent teacher night Wyatt has stopped putting his best effort into his work and does just enough to get a passing mark, he has no longer asks for help. I encourage Wyatt to keep his spirits up and always but his best foot in when faced with a challenge and ask for help when needed.

Christopher Perry Halliwell, tenth grade student, Westcott High school

English (Mrs. Addison's class)- 90%

Comment- Chris has been doing very well in this course. He was able to follow along in the class novel and write a summery for each chapter as well as answer chapter questions. He was able to move commas around in sentence to change the sentence's meaning.

Math (Mr. Tripods class)- 89%

Comment- At the beginning of the year Chris dis have difficulty and often refused to attempt the work on his own. Now however he is following along well and rarely needs help. He is rather good at fractions and I can't say that about many of the students I've taught over the last five years.

French (Mr. Trunks class)- 50%

Comment- Since the beginning of the year Chris has done little effort to write or speak in french. Like his brother last year Chris has been caught using a translator to read the assignments instructions. He is encouraged to attempt to read on his own and ask for help if unable, and should attempt to speak the language when we are having a french discussion. I do not fail my students, none of them deserve that, so Chris will not have to repeat this class and I suggest he does not volunteerly if he continues to have no interest in the french language.

Cooking (Mr. Edwards class)- 85%

Comment- Chris doesn't bother with text book work which brought his mark down. He also states he does not enjoy cooking either. However when assigned to cook there is no argument and he's always quite proud of himself when it comes out the way he was hoping.

On Sunday morning Parker was in her room packing her suit case, Payton was on her bed across the room watching her. Since Parker was ten years old she needed to head to Loveland for the month for her official cupid training. This was mandatory even though Parker didn't really want to be a cupid. P.J. had done it the previous year at age eleven, though was supposed to do it at age ten.

"When will you be back" Payton asked as Parker zipped her third and final suitcase.

"A few days before Christmas"

"But that's only next month."

"I know but it'll go by fast, and I'll write to you every week" Parker promised.

"I'll miss you Parker be safe"

"I'm going to miss you too" Parker said and gave her cousin a hug.

Parker beamed down stairs with her three suitcases and went around giving her family members hugs and kisses. Phoebe, who was stronger this time around, took Parker's hand as Coop took her suitcases. The child waved to her family one more time and beamed her and her mom to the cupid training camp in Loveland, her father followed with the luggage.

Parker looked around and saw it was pretty much what she had expected. The building looked like the mortal school she attended. Cupids young and older were beaming in all over the place. The boss cupid approached them to personally greet Parker, the Halliwells were one of the most important and famous magical families. He said hello and shook her hand then walked to the front of the camp to address everyone. That's when all the parents of the children cupids in training including Parker's parents gave their child a final hug and beamed out.

"Good morning everyone I am the boss Cupid, it is a pleasure to meet all of you future cupids. You will be divided into three groups, the born cupids in the mortal realm, the born cupids in the magic realm, and those who became cupids by myself after death. For the next month you be trained in all cupid activities. There will be two stages. Stage one is the basics, if you pass you will be given all your cupid powers. Stage two will be learning how to use them. Those who fail will have to restart next November, after a certain amount of failers those who came after death will be sent to the after life, those who were born this life will be sent back home to live as mortals or witches if your part witch" Boss Elder delivered his speech.

The camp leaders started calling out names and the students those named belonged to lined up in-front of him. Parker heard her name and lined up behind a blonde girl around her age. She felt someone line up behind her after the name "Maia was called." Once all the names were called the leaders led their students to their dorm rooms.

On the second floor in the middle of the hall on the left Parker walked into the room and stood in line with five other girls around her age. The leader went on to introduce herself as Emily and said she would be in charge of this group. She gave them the rules and left to allow them to settle in and greet each other.

"Hi I'm Parker Halliwell" Parker introduced.

"Nice to meet you I am Leah a born cupid" the girl with blonde hair introduced herself, if a cupid in training was a child that meant they had been born not created after death.

"My name is Maia" a girl with long brown hair introduced herself.

"My name is Riley and this is my twin sister Kaycee" a girl with red hair introduced, Parker knew her cousins would love them.

"And I am Nicole" a girl with short brown hair introduced herself.

The first day was a relaxed day where the students simply toured the camp and got to know their roommates. Parker learned she and Leah both liked to draw, she had Maia both liked to read, she and Riley both liked the same music, she and Kaycee both loved sharing a room at home, and she and Nicole were both witch Cupids and both lived in the mortal realm, the others were just cupids and lived in the magic realm. However there was one thing she didn't have in common with them and that was actually wanting to be a cupid. So she felt out of place when the girls began fantasizing about how great becoming cupids would be.

At seven it was curfew so Parker beamed to her dorm room and climbed into bed as her roommate were still up but quietly doing their own things. She couldn't sleep though, she was thinking about what was going on at home right about now. The youngest four were probably being put to bed, the others driving each other crazy. She missed hearing Paige singing to the youngest while she stood outside the door unnoticed.

"What are you talking about I didn't touch your pony" Patty stated rubbing her eyes, Paris had just woken her up.

"Yes you did, I see it on your night stand"

"I am telling you I didn't touch it."

"YES YOU DID!"

"NO I DIDN'T!

"Girls what is going on" Andy asked coming in and turning on the light.

"Patty stole my pony!"

"No I didn't, Paris is lying!"

"Are you kidding me right now, it is three in the morning! Paris what are you doing up?"

"I just woke up daddy and I saw she is a thief!"

"You couldn't have just taken it back? You had to wake her up and start a fight at three in the morning!?"

Paris shrugged, snatched her pony of Patty's night stand and climbed into her bed. Andy turned off the light and closed the door rolling his eyes at the ceiling. He was about to head to bed but heard shouting coming from the forth floor. He followed the noise and walked into the room belonging to Tamora, Kat, P.J., and Melinda.

"Tamora pushed me out of my bed" Kat stated angerly.

"No I didn't I was in my bed sleeping" Tamora denied.

"Did either of you see what happened" Andy asked Melinda and P.J. knowing they would tell him the truth.

"I saw someone push her but it wasn't Tamora" P.J. replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes uncle Andy."

"Alright go to bed we will figure out who did it in the morning" Andy stated with his serious voice.

The next day Melinda invited Alyssa over but not to hang out. She was tired of her and Tamora hating each other and always fighting. So When Alyssa arrived Melinda trapped both her and Tamora in the magic prof room. She explained they were not leaving until they got along and found at least one thing they had in common. It was just so stupid for a child turning thirteen in a few months to still hate someone with whom they had fought over a slide with at age four!

"We are nothing alike" Alyssa hissed, Tamora agreed.

"I hate this! I am missing the season two premier of Candy cane girls" Tamora stated annoyed.

"Wait you watch that show? So do I" Alyssa revealed.

"Really? Whose your favourite character?"

"Miles of course"

"Yea he is so cute" Tamora agreed.

Tamora and Alyssa started taking all about show and soon began talking about other things they had in common. They didn't even notice the time go by until Melinda let them out at supper time because Rebecca wanted Alyssa home since they were having guests. The girls made plans to watch the premier together when it played the next day for those who missed it the first time.

Wyatt was not joining his family for supper that night. Instead he was going on a date with a new girl in his English class named Mandy. Once they were seated at a little restaurant down town Mandy began talking non stop and Wyatt couldn't keep up. She finally stopped to place her order and Wyatt asked her how she was doing. This girl went on and on about how great her life had been ever since she moved from New York. He know at this point there wouldn't be a second date with her. He didn't mind girls who talked a lot but seriously he never got a word in and she kept changing the topic, he couldn't keep up with her.

That night Patty and Paris were arguing and this time it was only midnight. Coop walked in to see what was going on. Patty had accused Paris of stealing her pillow and blanket. Paris insisted she had been sleeping the entire night until Patty woke her up to yell. The missing pillow and blanket were on Paris's bed. Coop simply returned them to Patty and instructed them to quit fitting and sleep.

He decided to check on the other kids because his gut feeling was telling him too. After checking on Wyatt who was asleep, Coop opened Chris's bedroom door and couldn't believe what he saw. Chris was on the edge of his bed having a make out session with Dakota who none of the adults knew was there. Startled the teens jumped up and just starred at him. Coop knew this was something his parents should handle so he called Piper and Leo who were just as shocked. Coop left them to handle it and went back to bed.

"Dakota go call you parents tell them where you are, I'll give you a ride home" Piper instructed her and she nodded and left the room to do so.

"Piper let me handle this one, you just worry about getting her home safely" Leo said, Piper agreed and left the room.

"Don't be embarrassed it happens. Chris you know you are not allowed to have girls in your room at night or with the door closed, and you know all visitors need permission to be here" Leo stated.

"I get it ok but nothing happened, nothing was going to happen" Chris was embarrassed but rather talk to his dad than his mom.

"Just because you don't plan on anything happening doesn't mean it won't. Can we just make a deal that this won't happen again?"

"Yea deal."

"Alright and just be glad you have me. I was your age when I got caught and I had to deal with my mother" Leo stated and left the room.

With Tamora and Alyssa at Alyssa's house with Melinda, and P.J. playing with her sister, Kat couldn't hang out with them. So she decided to spend some time with her brother which didn't happen very often. Henry had recently gotten into comic books and he was more than happy to share it with his big sister. He explained the story line and basic stuff that she would need to know to understand. They were really bonding.

"Mommy Paris threw my colouring book out the window" Patty stated

"No I didn't, I haven't been our room all day" Paris pointed out.

"She's right mom it wasn't her" P.J. stated coming into the room.

"There are spirits in this house but I'm the only who can see them for some reason, they are the ones who put the pony on Patty's night stand and put Patty's pillow and blanket on Paris' bed" P.J. explained.

"I think I know why only you can see them, the Elders were telling us about it. It's a new power called Insight vision, it allows you to see things that don't want to be seen such as spirits and even cupids, white-lighters and witches who are being cloaked by magic" Andy explained, Paige nodded she had been told about this as well.

"Why do all the big kids get more powers, I only have one it's not fair" Patty whined.

"Children get up to six powers or less at any age"

"So there's a chance beaming will be my only power?"

"Maybe, but you should get at least one witch power" Phoebe replied.

The only way to get rid of the spirits was for P.J. to cast a spell from the book of shadows. It wasn't often she was allowed to actually cast the spells she spent time reading in the famous book of shadows. She said the spell then went around making sure it had worked. There was no sight of any spirits, it had worked, she had done it all on her own, she was proud.

It was after supper and the adults noticed something that didn't normally happen. Passion and Penny were playing together nicely. Nearby Aria and Mackenzie were getting along colouring in the colouring books together. When all four of them played together it always ended in a fight and most of the time none of them got along. Somehow two had bonded and the other two had bonded, or at least were getting along.

One the 13th of November Patty woke P.J. up to say happy birthday early in the morning. The now twelve year old hugged her younger sister and beamed down with her to the kitchen where everyone was eating. They sat down and the children began singing happy birthday to her.

"And happy birthday to Belle and Trixie" P.J. said throwing a piece of toast on the floor for her dog Belle and cat Trixie.

P.J. was still interested in having birthday parties, so at noon her friend Onia along with Alyssa arrived. Victor came as well, he hadn't visited in a few months. Back in August he hadn't been able to attend Parker's birthday due to work, and for the same reason missed Preston's birthday in September, though last month had called to say happy birthday to Chris.

"What's my update on P.J." Victor asked, he liked knowing how his grandchildren were doing.

"P.J. is pretty much all grown up, doesn't fight with the little ones, does what she's told, helps out around the house" Phoebe stated.

"She's got her new power as we told you" Coop said.

"She's doing fine at both schools, and she's a little more social now with her classmates" Phoebe added.

"She's a daddy's girl, and she's pretty close to Melinda and the twins as well as Parker, and she's been bonding with Patty and Penny" Coop finished.

It was hard to believe how grown their kids were now. How was it possible it was officially twelve years ago Phoebe held her new born daughter for the first time? It didn't seem possible Parker was already in fifth grade, what had happened to the tiny four year old excited to start kindergarten? Patty was almost six and talked so much and so well, what happened to the toddler who barely said a word and mispronounced the ones she did say? How was it possible the tiniest of them all was almost four years old?

Thinking back to 2006 when only two of the sixteen children were born, the time where Wyatt was only four and Chris only two, the time where Piper was pregnant with Melinda, Paige was pregnant with the twins and Phoebe may have not even been pregnant with P.J. yet, it didn't seem that long ago. Truth was it had been a long time ago, it had been about thirteen years.

Wyatt was only three months away from turning seventeen, Melinda along with the twins and P.J. were twelve. Back then there had only been two kids born and now there was sixteen. Back then the only ones living in the Halliwell manor was a pregnant Piper along with Leo and their boys. Back then Prue and Andy had still been dead, and now they were married with four children...their oldest already nine. In another thirteen years most of the children would be out of the house living their own lives.

It was amazing what thirteen years could do to a family. Wyatt who was the baby Piper thought she couldn't have, would graduate high school In June 2021, and it was already November 2019. Chris wasn't far behind his brother. The twelve year olds weren't far away from starting high school. Paris was in her last year of kindergarten, and the youngest four (Passion, Aria, Penny, and Mackenzie) would be in kindergarten next September! So much had happened with their home, school, family, friends. It was bittersweet knowing it wouldn't be long before the children would start leaving home one by one, some year after year, but it was exciting to see what would become of their lives in another thirteen years.