'What is taking so long?'
'I didn't release you were so hungry' remarked Ada, taking note of Hecate's foot tapping.
'I'm not. The longer we stay out here, the longer we remain a figure of curiosity for the ordinaries' she sniped back.
'She's probably in the queue' replied Ada soothingly, knowing that her wife was a fine sight to behold, if a little bold for first thing in the morning for the ordinaries. 'Engaging in small talk.'
Hecate sniffed. What was the use of small talk? The energy wasted on little words always baffled her. She distracted herself by looking around and observing the horses. She wasn't familiar with the use of horses. They looked majestic, certainly but not suitable for witches. Too skittish and loud. And what was that one over there doing with its head? It looked like it was at a rock concert.
Finally a familiar figure loped across the farmyard with a box under her arm. Ada wondered out loud if that was a sensible way to carry such fragile objects while Hecate pointedly looked at her watch.
'Do I take it that you have got some eggs then?' She asked disapprovingly.
'Even better.'
Dimity opened the box with a flourish and displayed her wares.
'Lots of eggs in there' she said with relish. 'And I'll be back next week to pick up a few more with the general essentials. They've got a spare cockerel and a couple more hens.'
The headmistress and her deputy looked inside the box. Looked at each other in bewilderment. Looked again.
'There are no eggs in there' pointed out Hecate pragmatically.
'There will be. Instead of buying them, we can just collect them. We can repurpose that bird house nobody uses and make it bigger for the entire troupe.'
They looked again. The speckled hen looked back at them. Clucked with her head cocked. Ada detected a bit of an attitude. This one wasn't going to be easy.
'I'll call her Hennypenny' said Dimity happily. She started cooing at it.
What the actual fuck? Hecate muttered under her breath. It's not a puppy, Dimity.
'Well, you can't fault her logic' said Ada. 'It's sustainable. Maybe the students could take it in turns to look after them. We'll create a rota.'
'Trust Dimity to find a way to fulfil a simple request in such a manner. And who will look after them in the summer holidays?'
'We'll have to take them with us' teased Ada. She received a glare in return.
'Jesting, they will be Dimity's responsibility so she'll have to sort it out.'
'These eggs had better be worth it' hissed Hecate, stalking off.
'Come on Hennypenny, let's go back to set up home' said Dimity encouragingly.
Ada changed her mind about taking the students on a field trip to the farm. They'd probably come back with a couple of horses, a sheepdog with one ear and a pregnant cat. She sighed. Never a dull day at Cackle's Academy.