For once in her adult life Hecate Hardbroom is enjoying the freedom, and lack of responsibility that can be found during the winter holiday. It is nearly nine o'clock in the morning, and the mistress of potions is found nestled beneath her bedclothes in black satin pajamas drooling onto her pillow as she lies on her left side. As she slumbers in her bed utterly unaware of the world around, her hand rests on her abdomen. Incessant banging hardly forces her to shift positions. Several moments later her eyes flutter open, and she finds Dimity Drill peering down at her. She hurriedly shifts into a seated position as she brushes hair from her face.
"Do you mind?!"
"Ada requests your presence."
"Is there a disaster of some sort?"
"No."
"A catastrophe?"
"Not to my knowledge."
"A fire?"
"No."
"Then why did you wake me? I was sound asleep."
"I thought you might be in a coma."
Hecate audibly groans, and rolls her eyes, "Once a decade, or so I do enjoy sleeping in."
"This date truly is a holiday, if I have risen from my slumber before her royal highness, the potions queen."
"I do not celebrate holidays," Hecate reminds her.
"I have heard a rumor that there is cake."
"You woke me for cake?"
"Soon you will be disturbed for much less."
"When I am thrust into the role of milk maiden?"
"Are you coming, or not?"
Hecate snaps her fingers, and is fully clothed, with impeccably secured hair. They transfer to Ada's office, where she is anticipating their arrival. Ada gestures to the freshly poured cups of warm tea resting on her coffee table. Hecate's attention is pulled to items concealed beneath sheets.
"Have a seat," she suggests.
Dimity immediately complies without a hint of argument. Hecate exhales as she slowly lowers herself into an armchair.
"I have the distinct feeling I am being bamboozled."
Ada grins, "Perhaps that is the general sense of cynicism you apply to every element of your life."
"I have to be honest I am not certain why you summoned us, either. Do you have official business to discuss with us?"
"It occurs to me that the past several months have been very challenging for the two of you. I can see that it would be easy to feel quite unsettled as you approach such uncharted territory. It goes without saying that I support both of you in your endeavors. Some days it seems as if I am more excited for the new life that will soon be joining us here at the academy than either of you are. I thought if I offered something more tangible to you, maybe your spirits would be lifted, and your enthusiasm would grow."
Hecate face draws taught as she locks eyes with her superior, "Gifts are unnecessary."
Dimity elbows her colleague, "We would graciously accept any gifts that you would like to bestow upon our impending arrivals."
Ada rises from her seat, and peels away the sheets to reveal a trio of bassinets. Two grayish blue bassinets, and the third in black.
"I was unaware they could be ordered in black," Dimity comments.
"Indeed they can. There are just a few small things inside."
Hecate remains seated in her chair, and in an unhealthy puddle of denial.
"Hecate, please join us. If not for your own desires, then simply to appease me."
Hecate nods as she vacates her seat. She stands before a black bassinet as her progeny plays rib hockey. Inside the bassinet she finds a baby made entirely of nappies secured in a layette complete with a hat, and a pacifier. It is so ridiculous she can't help but smile. Her diaper baby is dressed in a black and white striped outfit with a large bat across the chest. Dimity tilts her head as she studies her diaper babies.
"You've poached these from our search histories, haven't you?"
Hecate's head spins in Ada's direction, appalled at such an accusation. "That would be a complete breach of trust."
"I did not garner these items from your search histories that would be unscrupulous on my part. They were on your wish list, which is linked to the academy account. I hoped to locate something you would actually use. My taste are a little more delicate than some of the choices I found."
Hecate transfers from the room without an explanation. Ada turns to Dimity in alarm.
"What have I done?" Ada curses.
"You've done nothing wrong. Let me smooth this over," Dimity responds.
Dimity abruptly disappears. She re-materializes in Hecate's room. The thick dark curtains prevent any light from sneaking in. Despite the darkness Dimity is able to navigate around the room. Every single item in the room is so deliberately placed it isn't difficult to find the bed. The stoic version of Hecate Hardbroom has been lost in translation. Dimity ignites the lamp to illuminate the room. Hecate's body is crumpled atop the bedclothes in a ball. She clutches her ever expanding abdomen as she sobs relentlessly. Dimity worms her way into a seated position on the bed next to her colleague, and friend. Without a single word she retrieves Hecate's hand. Dimity's other hand comes to rest on her own abdomen.
Dimity blinks away her own tears as she begins to speak, "None of this belongs. When I first arrived at Cackles I was so impressed at how precise, and deliberate you are in everything that you do. Our worlds have tilted on their axes, and it is easy to see how disruptive every bit of this would be even under the best of circumstances."
"I feel so out of place. Each morning I wake with the sense I am merely a pawn within a storyline I know nothing about. I yearn to find joy in this gift. The sinking feeling in my gut, and the pain in my chest propel me to ask if I will ever measure up for the task. Fear whispers that I won't, and maybe that is the plot behind all of this. Projection, and unchecked bias form a life of torture shaping the child I beget into the darkness of an equal measure to the sinister event that lead to this."
"Since I cannot remember such event I utilize creative thinking to convince myself that the festivities were such that I was tipsy, to the point that booze and passion elicited my current state."
"I can't do that."
"The way you choose to cope with this it entirely up to you."
She shakes her head, "I had to know."