Helen Speaks

Introduction: https://helenspeaks.wordpress.com/2025/04/06/lucy-skylarks-magical-year/

Characters: https://helenspeaks.com/characters/

Dear Vera,

An unexpected visitor at my window today. A very pretty little bird landed on my window sill. I went to give her some seeds and then she chirped at me rather insistently that, as a witch, I was obligated to give her room and board. Well, I was very surprised to hear a bird talk but she didn’t seem to think this was at all unusual, but asked me to hurry in providing her with some kind of nest box as she needed to lay an egg very soon.

I found an old shoebox above the wardrobe in my room and some wool for the base, and she hopped in eagerly and immediately started laying her egg.

“What’s that darn critter doing?” Teddy demanded. “It’s bad luck to have a bird in the house.”

“But you’re dead, Teddy,” I said. “And besides, she needed our hospitality. This is one of the many things a witch needs to do.”

He stared at me blankly. The suitcase he haunts was brought over from New York, we think some time in the 50s, and he still doesn’t understand a lot about witches. I think about the witch trials and I get upset. I think when I was young I assumed that witches would always be around, but people in Barkmouth say they haven’t had a town witch in decades. It seems that we are all desperate to make a world with more connection and kindness and yet everything humans create seems to take us further away from it. The townspeople think I’m going through a youthful phase. Mrs Webfoot even told me that her niece had a bit of magical power but she grew out of it, and maybe I will too. I said I was planning to grow into it.

When my little bird friend had settled for a bit, I fetched her some more seeds and, instead of going to the internet like I might’ve done in the past, I walked down to the garden centre and bought her some bird feed.

“How did you learn to talk?” I asked her.

“Oh I’ve always been able to talk,” she said. “But it was only last year that I learned how to talk to you people. There was a witch in the north, where it’s flat. A male, with a bit of plumage on the face. He got fed up when I tried to talk to him and gave me a little tap with a writing quill. Then I discovered I could understand him and he could understand me.”

“Do you know his name?”

“No I forgot it. I didn’t stay long.”

“Well you’ll need to stay a while if you’re laying eggs,” I said. “Do you have a mate?”

“Well, obviously,” she said. “And I’m sure he’ll be along soon. You’d better leave your window open.”

It’s a bit breezy near the sea so I managed to persuade her that I’ll close the window at night. Teddy is giving her a wide berth when he appears. I worried Mrs Webfoot wouldn’t like it, but she thinks it’s charming to have a little bird in the house. I’m lucky to have such a kind hostess.

My new friend talks more than Teddy does – she says I’m much the smartest human she’s ever met, although I think she’s flattering me because she wants company. I will talk to her a little as I sketch but I’ve also told her that I have important witch business when I need to go for a walk. She doesn’t have a human name so I’m calling her Suki, which she accepts.

I’ve also noticed that the local coffee shop has an opening so I have applied. It doesn’t seem to be magical at all, but that’s probably a good thing. I’d just like a little money so I can save up and buy some things without asking my parents for extras.

Hope you’re well and everything is good in Grainthorpe. I’m missing everyone, even with my new friends! I hope I can come and visit soon.

Your friend,

Lucy.

Question: Have you ever had to help a wild animal?

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Next entry: https://helenspeaks.com/2025/04/06/lucy-skylark-entry-2-17th-march/

Next entry about Suki: https://helenspeaks.com/2025/04/06/lucy-skylark-entry-3-24th-march/

Next entry about “the witch in the north”: https://helenspeaks.com/2025/05/25/lucy-skylark-entry-17-25th-may/