The Witches of Woodlington, Book the Second

Chapter Two - The Rookery

Eight o'clock in the morning...

Eight thirty...

Nine...

Nine thirty...

Nine thirty-seven:

A loud cry echoes through the still house:

"James!"

"Huh?"

"Get up... quick! It's twenty to ten!"

"So?"

"School!"

Throwing off the covers, James launched himself from the bed. Seconds later he was banging on Alex's door.

She turned sleepily as he shouldered his way into the room.

"Dad?"

"Out of bed... now! You're going to be late for school."

All traces of sleep vanished.

"What?"

"We've overslept! Get dressed."

He turned to hurry out, but a figure in the doorway stopped him.

"Nice boxer shorts Mr. Dowling."

It was Jessie, yawning and rubbing sleep from her eyes.

"Never mind that, you've got to be at school in twenty minutes.

"Never make it," she said thoughtfully.

"You can try. You'll have to use the cellars. Now both of you, move it!"

He dashed onto the landing and shouted to his wife.

"I'll sort them something to eat love... you have a lie in."

And then he was off, thundering down the stairs three at a time.

Jessie looked over at Alex.

"Adults eh, why do they get so stressed?"

Five minutes later, the girls were in the kitchen watching James as he feverishly worked the tin opener.

"Here," he said at last, proffering the fruits of his labour. "Breakfast."

In each hand was a tin of cold beans, spoons protruding from the unappealing contents.

"Er, thanks Mr Dowling," said Jessie, managing a bemused smile.

"Yeah," nodded Alex, biting her tongue. "Good job Dad."

"And these," he reached for a pair of paper bags. "Are your lunches. Now go, you've got ten minutes!"

Stuffing them into their new schoolbags, the girls turned tail and sprinted from kitchen, making for the entrance to the cellars.

Ten seconds later they were underground, hurtling along a dark corridor.

"Are your breakfasts always this good?" laughed Jessie.

"Only the best for you Jess."

They skidded to a halt, wrenched open a door, and entered a room containing nothing except a raised well,

Though Alex had used it many times, the prospect was always daunting.

"How we supposed to do this with two tins of beans?" she asked.

"No problem."

Taking Alex's can, Jessie placed it beside her own on the wall, raised her wand, and muttered a string of what sounded like gibberish. Slowly, they rose into the air, coming to a stop a few feet above their heads.