Hello, everyone! I am back again with a new chapter! Thank you to everybody you followed, favorited, or reviewed the last two chapters! You all are all awesome and I love hearing from you all! You get me pumped about what's going to happen to our beloved characters! ;) Anyways, sorry for the delay I have two summer jobs and not enough free time to write that's for sure! Thanks for reading! Enjoy?
Chapter 3:
Mildred never knew she hated hospitals until her mother's passing. It was like a clean freak had come in and clean every inch of the place taking away all the colors along with him. It was so bland and white. Nothing to make you smile while you wait to hear if your mother is dead or alive just the beeps and bops of a machine that tries to save other people's life. She winced as she seen a nurse pushing a patient in a wheelchair. Everything here seemed to just be a punch at her.
"Mildred Hubble!" A voice called out, and it wasn't her two teachers that were standing beside her.
She saw a black haired nurse with a nametag that said Betty was coming at her, and she immediately hid behind Miss Hardbroom's long legs. It was the same nurse who had mentioned involving social services while she was here. The nurse seemed aggravated by her antics, "Mildred Hubble, we have been looking for you everywhere! We've even had to involve the police! Just where have you been?"
Miss Hardbroom let Mildred stay behind her, honestly, the teacher didn't like the tone of voice the nurse was using with Mildred. Also, this was not the place, to shout and yell at the child they were in public where everyone could hear. Mildred shook behind her and Miss Hardbroom then suggest, "Why don't we all go somewhere private to chat?"
The nurse narrows her eyes on Miss Hardbroom, "And just who are you?"
Miss Hardbroom expresses that Miss Pentangle came along too, "We are Mildred's teachers from her private school that she attends. I am Hecate and this is Pippa. She came to us because she was scared."
"Scared or not she shouldn't have run off like she done." Betty huffed, then looked at Mildred, "Alright then, come on Mildred we have things to go over and we better let your teachers go about their lives."
Mildred presses even more into Miss Hardbroom's side she didn't want to go anywhere with the nurse. Miss Pentangle watches her hook onto Miss Hardbroom for dear life and is quick to stop the nurse from taking the girl, "Actually, Hecate and I were wanting to help Mildred through this difficult process. If anything we are both looking to be her temporary guardians for the time being."
"I take it then you'll be wanting to talk to social services, and Dr. Lang then." Betty sighed, tiredly, "This way please."
Mildred finally unlatched herself from Miss Hardbroom, and Miss Hardbroom took her hand saying, "Knowing your luck you'll find yourself lost." Really though Mildred knew she was just trying to make her feel comfortable again and not as tense as she was. She leads them to a small door with the name of the doctor that Betty had mentioned before on a silver sign. Betty knocked and heard a deep voice calling them in.
"Look who I found Dr. Lang our little runaway." She gestures towards Mildred, and Dr. Lang looks bewildered at her presence.
"Mildred! Where on Earth have you been?" Dr. Lang exclaimed as Miss Pentangle and Miss Hardbroom explained how she found them and why she left. Dr. Lang nodded understanding Mildred, "I see, well we should contact the police now to inform them that Mildred is back safely then I think it would be best if I talk about arrangements with either Hecate or Pippa."
They agreed, and Miss Hardbroom decided she would stay while Miss Pentangle would look after Mildred while Miss Hardbroom talked to Dr. Lang. The same nurse that greeted Mildred and her teachers was there to lead her and Miss Pentangle to a waiting room. They both take a seat on the empty couch. Mildred bites her lip, and worries about what could happen to herself.
"Mildred, may I ask you something?" Miss Pentangle squeaks out.
"Sure."
"I hope you don't mind me asking, but what about your relationship with your father?"
"Oh, my dad has never been in my life." Mildred explains, "I use to ask my mom about him when I was younger, but it always seemed she didn't like talking about it…..My mom didn't want him around me for some reason."
"I'm sure it was for the best Mildred." Miss Pentangle consoles her.
"You don't think it's possible that he will want me…Like, want to take care of me? If my mom didn't want him around then there's no way that he should take care of me." Mildred bites her lip harder, stressing over the situation.
"Mildred, Hecate, and I would never let you go anywhere that would be unsafe and dangerous. Believe me on this one, okay?" Miss Pentangle grasps her hand lightly, sending a wave of relief onto Mildred.
"Okay," She nods at Miss Pentangle, another new worry came to her head,"What about school?"
"What about your school?"
"I won't be able to attend Cackles Academy, especially if I get sent away." Mildred explains, "I'll have to say goodbye to my friends….and magic."
Miss Pentangle shook her head, "I don't think that will happen, rather I don't think Miss Cackle or Miss Hardbroom would let that happen."
"Miss Hardbroom has wanted me gone the first day she met me this would be her chance to get rid of me completely." Mildred counters, "I don't think she likes me, Miss Pentangle."
"Well, she's helped you this far hasn't she?" Miss Pentangle argues, she knew Hecate could be very cold and distant but in her heart, she cared deeply about her students and her school,
"She wouldn't help you if she hated you. Believe me, I know Hecate."
Mildred doesn't reply back. She was left to think about all what Miss Pentangle had just told her. She was right though, Miss Hardbroom had helped her this far and she hadn't turned her away. Could it be possible that Miss Hardbroom cared for her? It just didn't seem real to Mildred the teacher had wanted her gone from the beginning of her time at Cackle's and even called her the worst witch she had ever witnessed. No, Mildred, was sure that Miss Hardbroom hated her and was just being nice to get rid of her in the end. No longer would she have to deal with the worst witch.
"You know what about me, Pippa?" A crisp voice entered the room, and Miss Hardbroom stood at the doorway watching Mildred and Pippa with a raised eyebrow.
"Nothing that's important, Hecate. So what did you find out?"
Her friend gave her a side look as if to talk to her later about the gossip that Pippa had shared with her student. She then cleared her throat when she saw how nervous Mildred was to hear the report, "Mildred, we decided that it was best for you to have your mother buried tomorrow, and then a small get together after for all the people that loved your mother as much as you. Would that be alright?"
Mildred swallowed hard, and nodded, "W-What about who I'll be staying with afterwards?"
"The doctor and I tried to see if your mom left a will, but she didn't, so that's why we are also having the small get together after the burial…" She paused, and continued on, "Maybe to meet potential guardians for you to live with. I know this is going by so fast, Mildred, but Miss Pentangle and I are going to be with you through this process alright? And if anything is too much let us know, okay?"
It was all becoming too much for her. She couldn't stand it. There was a giant tear in Mildred's giant heart and she was wondering if it was ever going to heal.
"What beautiful flowers she has." A whisper echoed into Mildred's ear. It was the only pretty thing here as her mother's casket laid before her. Her heart clenched with grief she wanted to snap at the woman who was only trying to cheer things up. She wanted to do a lot of things, mostly it was crying. She was so tired though that she didn't think she could.
Mildred listened as the pastor droned on about how her mother was in heaven looking down at her daughter, and….blah….blah…blah. She wasn't listening everything was too gray, too black, too dark, and too dull. It wasn't even bright, but yet it stung at her eyes. When they all bowed their heads for prayer Mildred's mind went to the face of her mother. It went to her laugh, her smile, her everything. Mildred's knees gave way and sunk to the ground.
It turned out she did have room for crying. She sobbed as she went to touch the casket of her mother whispering, "Goodbye, m-mum."
When she turned everyone was leaving, but there were two figures waiting for her from behind with open arms. At least one of them with open arms. Miss Pentangle took her up into her arms letting her cry all over her black dress and even carried her to the car with Miss Hardbroom following beside. And out of the corner of Mildred's crying eyes, she could see tears falling down her harsh teacher's cheek. Mildred reached out her hand for Miss Hardbroom's and Miss Hardbroom smiled at her, and under her breath, Mildred could hear, "Such a brave girl."