Helen Speaks

Introduction to Olive:  https://helenspeaks.com/2025/04/07/olive-framleys-magical-year/

Witch’s apprentice: https://helenspeaks.com/2025/05/31/olive-framley-entry-14-31st-may/

The Amazing Olive: https://helenspeaks.com/2025/06/09/olive-framley-entry-15-9th-june/

Dear Talia,

I am pleased to report that “The Amazing Olive” was a success! True,
there were one or two little swots who saw through some of the card
trick. But they loved it when I made Maksym fly.

Maksym’s father was happy that his son was going to a birthday party
and he says that Maksym has been making friends at school. I
wondered if having flying shoes might have something to do with
this, but I said nothing. He’s got to learn after all. And why shouldn’t
he explore his gifts?

I even managed to secure a few new bookings, so it seemed like a
good time to go shopping again. This time I didn’t go as far as
Swalebeck – there is a market in Barkmouth every Sunday, and the
stalls seemed intriguing. And I thought I should probably get Maksym some kind of gift for helping me, given I think his father would get a bit suspicious if he keeps coming home with money. Of course, Maksym’s share is also going towards the upkeep of that familiar of his. She leaves hair everywhere! I never realised how lucky I was with Firenze.

As I was looking around, I thought about you, Talia. I know Daddy was
always aloof with you, as he feel a man in his position should be, but
I also know that established families will never forget why we need
witches, and Daddy is no exception. We understand what it is to need
to be rid of a haunting, have an ancient curse lifted or to simply need
the discretion of a magical solution because turning to the law or our
neighbours would risk scandal and ruin.

Daddy has a great respect for you in truth, Talia. He may have scoffed
when you dismissed attic sprites as a squirrel’s nest, but once you
were gone, he said to Mummy, “Thank god for Renton, eh?” And
poured himself a brandy.

In truth, I don’t think he’d even be paying me an allowance if you
were not sponsoring me – he views witches as artisans, worthy of
respect for their skills but beneath us in standing. But your power
was never in doubt, not since the cursed chalice. You may have saved
Mummy’s life and he’s never forgotten that.

And you were always a good friend to me even before I discovered
my true powers. I think Mummy trusted you more than the nanny – I
never did find out quite what happened there, they just said
something about “undisclosed magical ancestry”.

Talia, did you sense the power in me even then? I remember how
you smiled over my potions and spells, mainly devised to scare the
other girls when I went back to school, and when I confessed my
brews were formed of little more than nettle tea and hope, you told
me that hope was the most powerful ingredient of all.

Heavens, Talia, I may have been away so long that I’ve begun to get
sentimental. I am comfortable of course, especially with my new
business and with Hatty’s too-keen eyes, but looking after myself
seems harder than I realised. It feels like a burden sometimes, to
have to step into my power rather than to relax into the helplessness
of a spoiled kitten.

Mummy always seemed restless, Talia. There’s no more pampered
kitten than Mummy. To think, that she knew about Aunty Ermingarde
the whole time. Is that why you sent me here, Talia? And did Mummy
actually want us to meet?

In any case, I decided to buy Maksym a beautiful leather bound
notebook, to begin his “hag” career! I’ll be sure to tell him that hope
is the most powerful ingredient of all.

And I bought some lovely old glass bottles from a stall that seemed to
be selling genuine antiques among the dross. Perhaps it would be
good to try some potions again.

Be well Talia. Please write soon – it has been too long.

Yours sincerely,

Olive.

Question: Have you ever had a mentor, personally or professionally? What was the relationship like?

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Next entry (Lucy’s next letter): https://helenspeaks.com/2025/06/18/lucy-skylark-entry-19-18th-june/

Olive’s next letter: https://helenspeaks.com/2025/06/19/olive-framley-entry-17-19th-june/