Helen Speaks

Start of story: https://helenspeaks.wordpress.com/2025/04/06/lucy-skylarks-magical-year/

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

Vera’s advice: https://helenspeaks.com/2025/04/27/lucy-skylark-entry-10-5-27th-april/

Dear Vera,

Thank you so much for the yarn and threads and the advice. I hope this parcel arrives all right – please do be careful with the encyclopaedia!

I went to see Maksym and Artem again yesterday and I took along some bracelets I found at the market. I had spent some time practising with a dictionary from the library and we managed to talk a bit more. Artem was just very keen that I could stop Maksym’s outbursts from happening, as much as I tried to explain that he has a gift, so I reassured him they’d both be safer, but I sat with Maksym quietly for a bit as Artem made us some tea and told him that the bracelets won’t block his magical power, just soften until he’s more able to control it.

We put it on and I sewed the “barrier” while we were both there, explaining what it was for. He seemed really happy, actually, and I think I sensed some of his magic helping me. I hope he’s able to use his powers well as he grows older, and be the witch that he was born to be.

I asked about the storm that had occurred on the other side of Dune House, and it was Maksym – they’d gone for a walk when a large dog had frightened him and all the power started coming out of him. They don’t talk about it, but they saw horrible things before they travelled here. Maksym is a brave boy and he’s trying so hard to control himself which might be why his feelings burst out of him with so much force. I think if he could let himself be less brave, he wouldn’t find it so hard.

But the oak tree did seem to have remembered a previous storm that was nothing to do with Maksym and I don’t know what that was. I’ll go for a walk in the woods, and I’ll listen. I don’t want to be too demanding, but sometimes maybe even trees appreciate a listening ear.

I checked in the next day and it turned out that Maksym had had another outburst – there had been a noisy row between neighbours in the block – but he had made a roll of thunder, then sat down and fell asleep. I’ll keep checking, but I think we really helped, Vera.

Thank you for everything.

Your friend,

Lucy.

Question: Do you do any crafts? What kinds of things do you make?

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Next entry: https://helenspeaks.com/2025/05/07/lucy-skylark-entry-12-7th-may/

Next entry about Maksym: https://helenspeaks.com/2025/05/27/olive-framley-entry-12-27th-may/