I turned around in bed, my eyelids to heavy with sweet sleep to open. What had awakened me? I yawned and my eyes finally opened. I could see that it was dawn. A dreary gray light had just began creeping into my home.
In the dim light I was able to pick out various objects. The watering pail, the cauldron, and the figure in the corner. There was something different about him. I leaned closer and studied him. Of course! The burlap bag was off his head.
I stepped back absent mindedly twisting a lock of my tangled hair around a my finger. There was a mew near by and I turned towards its source.
"Hello, Pansy." I said, a girlish smile spreading across my face. Pansy's glowing violet eyes blinked at me sleepily. I scooped her into my arms and twirled around happily. Pansy purred and rubbed her ticklish whiskers against my shoulder. I laughed and stroked her soft fur.
Pansy and I are nigh unseperable. I had found her among some dead pansys, tossed away because of her unusual traits. First of all, no likes a small clumsy kitten with soul-gazing eyes. Second of all, Pansy was purple.
I mean figuritively speaking. In some lights her fur would become lilac. In other lights she seemed to be silver or a brilliant white. That is the reason I called her Pansy.
It was when I was nine years old. My dear mother was still alive. I had been sent on an errand and I was walking by a patch of dead flowers and I felt a tugging at a loose strand of my new dress. I turned around, and I fell in love with Pansy at first sight. I took her home and played with her and talked to her about everything. That, is why Pansy and I are soul mates.
Funny... thinking of a cat as soul mates.. Isn't it?
Well, if you don't like it, you can go jump off a cliff! Because its the truth!
Sigh...
Pansy truly is the only one to ever understand me. Indeed I talk to her as if she was human. I have never in my life been left clueless by Pansy's strange actions. We are the best of friends.
Well listen to me... I could converse about Pansy for ages, but I'm sure, you, dear reader, are anxious about the stranger in my house.
Frankly, I don't care what you think. You are a stranger and right now I don't like the skeptical look you have on your face. Ha! I'm right aren't I? You still doubt my sanity? I knew I shouldn't have trusted you!
Thats the kind of reaction I get from everyone. Don't you dare try to give an excuse! I know your type too well. I won't forgive you!
Well... maybe... just a little. But don't you assume that I won't treat you the same way I did the Stranger. I'll just as soon break my cauldron over your head!
Well, that doesn't make sense does it? My cauldron is made of metal, it probably wouldn't break over your head. Ooh! You ruined my fun! I promise I'll have my revenge! Maybe...
Go away... I don't like you... You might be able to worm my past out of me... Frankly, I don't want to waste my time thinking about it. Good day to you too...
"Pansy, do you know if it is cold this morning?" I asked quietly.
Pansy' response was to snuggle against me. I could feel her body trembling.
Oh... Your still here?... I thought I had told you go away.. Well, fine! I'll explain this to you. Pansy and I always bet on the temperature in the morning. Pansy usually wins, but this time I'm absolutely confident that I'll win.
A concerned frown crossed my face. "It can not be that bad..." I said confidently.
Pansy clumsilly bounded out of my arms and walked to the door. She stood straight waiting for me to open the door.
I laughed, "Yes, yes, I know! You are confident about your prediction but I'm absolutely sure that its warm outside. Since I'm right you must do the fishing today." I said bounding over to the door.
Just my luck.. Go ahead and laugh!... I lost...
A cold gust of wind welcomed me when the door opened. I shuddered and immediately closed the door. I looked down at the ground refusing to look into Pansy's mocking violet eyes.
You wouldn't understand my hesitation... you don't know Pansy.. Well, I had better stop delaying the inevitable..
I looked down into the violet eyes. As I had predicted they twinkled at me mockingly.
"Rats! I lost!" I mumbled. Pansy's tail raised proudly. She strutted majestically, showing off her shiny fur. Its shiny because I take the time to feed her and wash her.
Great... just great... now you get to see me fish... but luckily it isn't time yet. I guess I better tell you about this too. The best thing to do on a chilly morning was to stay under shelter and wait till noon. If it is summer, noon usually has the perfect temperature.
I took a seat in my big arm chair and Pansy joined me. We slept. A loud thump awakened me. I opened my eyes, refusing to move any other part of my body.
Don't make assumptions! I'm not lazy! I'm extremely exhausted. Last night whipped the tar out of me! Energy speaking, that is...
Well that didn't work. I gave a reluctant sigh and bounced out of the addicting arm chair. Pansy clumsily and sleepily falling to the floor.
I'm so lucky!... Not!..
I bounded right smack into Stranger. Don't laugh! His name is Stranger!
Well, the impact was enough to send me head over heels into the plush chair. I gulped, what if he was a killer? I slowly raised my eyes to meet his.
I saw nothing special about him. He was only a slight bit taller than me, his messy, untidy hair a golden tone but I would call it tawny. It couldn't seem to make up its mind whether it wanted to be light or dark. The thing that stood out to me, was the thin half smile fixed on his face. My eyes finally met his. They striked me as familiar, because my mothers eyes had been that same color. A memory rushed into my mind.
Gentle hands, long tangled tresses of auburn, a smile like spring, clear beautiful brown eyes that I define as amber.
"No Ava, not scattered and loose! Straight and neat, like a line. Relax, let your mind become the needle. Up then down, up then down. Now you try." Came the soft motherly voice. A foreign smell mingled in the air. I breathed it in enchanted.
I took the slender needle in my hand and I relaxed. I saw the magnificent cloth I had weaved up close and I went up and down, like a wave or an uncertain bird swooping low for the catch but rising before.
Shortly after that my mother stopped me. She smiled at me.
"You, my sweet Ava, have inherited clever fingers..."
Guess what? I wasn't able to finish the memory. Stranger interrupted.
"I can't believe it!" Came Strangers unfamiliar voice.
I blinked coming back to the present. Strangers mouth was open and I folded my arms.
"What? Anything is possible!" I said protectively. Its in my nature to protect any accused thing. In this case possibilities were the accused. I was the defendant.
Stranger took a step back, still staring at me.
"You are the one that put a knob in my skull?" He said uncertainly, his amber eyes panicking.
I cocked my head at him. He was so interesting. I gave a distracted smile. "Yes, if your refering to the rather large lump on your head." I said quietly.
Stranger's eyes narrowed. "Why did you do a thing like that?" He said coldly.
I blinked innocently at him. Why would I do a thing like that? Such a good question.
"Instincts. You acted like a thief." I replied turning around and heading for the door.
Can you believe the nerve of my Stranger? He followed me. All I could do was let him lecture me about whatever it was on his mind. That would get rid of that unnerving sense that someones eyes were burrowing through my back.
"Girl! I could have you hanged!" He exploded suddenly.
That did it... I'm going to have to get rid of him...Stranger is extremely rude.
I turned on him.
"I do have a name, Sunshine." I said calmly. Fixing him with a cold look of disapproval.
Hmmm... Sunshine... I like it. He is now Sunshine instead of Stranger.
He stepped back flushing with quiet anger. I know those traits. Dear Swavy, had that trait. Quiet anger and unreasonable hate.
"I have a name too!" He responded angrily.
Oh, he wants to play at that game. Well, give your guest what they want.
"Well, I'm Ava the Witch." I said raising my head and fixing him with a proud eye.
How touching... he acted just the way I had expected.
His mouth opened and closed like a fish gulping for water. Which reminds me, I have to go fishing.
"A- a" He gave a loud gulp. "Witch?" He finally said recovering from the stuttering mess he had become.
I burst out laughing, the whole outfit. I almost toppled over from it. I steadied myself by leaning against the rocker. Although it wasn't very good support, if you ask me.
"Of course not, Sunshine! I would cease to exist if I was. You know witches are very unpopular in these days." I said breathlessly.
He narrowed his eyes at me. "You mock me!" He exclaimed in disbelieve.
"I don't deny it, you are a funny creature..." I said standing up taller and circling his dark proud figure.
His eyes followed my eyes. I suppose I had went too far. "A creature! I madame am..."
"A fool?" I finished mockingly.
Oh, I do so love to torture people. Not literally speaking, mentally speaking.
Sunshines mouth hung open. I smiled at him. He stuttered angrily.
"Madame, you are way out of line!" He said threatenly.
"Do I seem like an old woman to you?" I asked daringly, raising an eyebrow.
"No... but you..."
"Am enchanting, particulary clever, and bewitching." I said playfully.
"Good day, girl! I wish to never see you again!" He said already opening the door.
What could I do? I had just started having fun. You don't know how boring it is here in this dull forest. Just to remind you, I repeat, I am not lazy! So I ran after him.
I seized his black velvet sleeve in my hand and started walking towards the river.
"Have I said anything wrong?" I asked him softly.
Sunshine snatched his sleeve out of my hand. "Quite enough, thank you! Now leave me. I am busy!" He said coldly. Hastily walking ahead of me.
I'm a persistent person. I was determined that Sunshine was not going to leave today.
"Oh! Please don't go! I didn't mean to upset you! Sunshine, please stay!" I said linking arms with him. Giving him an encouraging smile.
This action shocked Sunshine. He turned to look at me and a half smile became fixed on his face.
I've never been a great fan of half smiles. So I did something to change the expression on his face.
"I liked you better as a gawking fish." I said, my other hand patting one of his cheeks.
"What did you say your name was?" He asked through clenched teeth.
I winked at him. "Ava Deadly Witch, at your service sir." I said cheerfully, carefully leading our walk towards the river.
He turned to me, his amber eyes shining with an emotion I did not understand. I think he was interested in me... Well, not many people can resist my bewitching-ness.
"I'm John..." He said quietly.
I laughed. "Oh! Sunshine, don't be ridiculous!" I said, forcing him to take a seat with me at the rivers edge.
He only gave me that puzzled look. I gave a distracted smile, thinking of a small joy.
I was going to have fun torturing him. After all, I didn't like him. Oh, Pansy! Where are you? We could laugh about this if you were here.