Helen Speaks

Olive Framley Entry 1, 16th April.

Dear Talia,

You’ll never guess what. I am not the only witch in town!

She looks awfully small, this other girl, with the fairytale name of Lucy Skylark. She’s a scruffy looking kid even when she’s at work – she got a job at Coastal Coffee before I did, but the kid is selling coffee like some everyday teenager.

My first afternoon of readings was a great success – I counted it all out when I got home and I’d made over three hundred pounds – but afterwards, the little server ran after me down the street and told me that she was a witch. She wanted to meet and be friends, but I don’t feel that she’d lend much credibility to my skills. I slipped on my coat and walked away.

There has been so pretty strange weather in Barkmouth lately. I went for a walk on Sunday, and it was sunny as I went for a walk down to the sea caves, but on my way up the uneven stairs, it started pouring. There wasn’t much to be done until I spotted the old lighthouse at the edge of the promontory, since it was too far to run home, so I decided to try my luck.

The door was unlocked, but it seemed that there was no one inside. How odd! It felt like the setting of an old horror movie or murder mystery.

There was a kettle, and some milk in a little fridge, so I helped myself to a cup of tea, and then nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw her… an old, shrivelled woman, sprawled on the table… asleep.

I gathered my wits and sat down. I supposed I should wait. I had thought myself the only witch in town, then one of two… This old hag looked like she could easily be number three. We needed a mother and we’d have more than enough for a coven. Well, that little girl didn’t need to join. She didn’t look like she’d take it seriously.

Eventually, the old lady stretched, and yawned, and lifted up her face to look at me.

“Ah, little Jenny Waters, it’s you.”

This made me uncomfortable. Did she know who I was? How had she guessed so close, if not?

“It’s Olive, Olive Framley. I’m the town witch.”

She cackled then, most impressively. “One of them, at least,” she said. “Oh, you needn’t hide. I know everyone.”

“You’re a witch… a seer?”

“Naw, you soft-headed ninny, but I suppose you English don’t know a banshee when you see one.”

“Oh, of course,” I said airily. “Prophesying some doom, are you?”

“Having a nap,” she said. “I was wanderin’. There ain’t as much use for us nowadays, but if this odd weather be continuing, I do wonder if I’ll be needed soon.”

I shivered. I didn’t know much about banshees, but aren’t they meant to foretell a death?

“I can see the future too,” I said, “if you’d like a reading.”

“I don’t be wantin’ your tricks, young Miss Waters,” she said. “But you can make me a cup of tea like that one. I suppose we can read the leaves, if that’s your desire.”

So, I made her a tea, and afterwards we looked at the leaves. A lot of it sounded like mumbo jumbo, but it might come in handy if people get bored of my palm reading.

She told me she saw a fork in the road and a river meander. She told me a few more symbols and what they meant.

“And this one here is a gopher. It means despair. But it’s a good thing, because after despair comes hope.”

A gopher means despair? I ask you! But it was a good performance. She said her name was Shannon, and I was welcome to visit whenever I wanted. I don’t know if I shall, but what an interesting encounter!

Yours sincerely,

Olive.