Helen Speaks

Lucy Skylark Entry 24, 25^th August.

Dear Vera,

Well, this is embarrassing. Teddy and I went to the Cinema… You know, the one run by the fair folk. We watched a peculiar German film about a woman running a lot. When we came back, I opened the case on my bed and heard a giggling sound. I didn’t see anything much more than a rush of wind, but there was definitely something amiss.

“I think we picked up a pest at that place,” Teddy said. “Typical – I knew we should never go there.”

“Well – maybe it’s gone.”

It wasn’t gone. I was woken up at midnight by giggling and clattering. There seemed to be more than one of the visitors now, but they wouldn’t come when I asked them to show themselves. Teddy floated up out of his case and sat on the end of my bed.

“I don’t like it, Lucy,” he said. “You don’t think I’m a coward if I just… keep you company?”

I laughed, but fortunately he wasn’t offended. I think he did blush a little, which is impressive without any blood to blush with.

“I know it’s foolish… They cain’t hurt me, but it’s unnervin’!”

“It is unnerving,” I agreed. “I’ll have to get rid of them somehow.”

More laughter. The window swung open with a creak. I could hear muttering but couldn’t make out the words.

“You want to go downstairs?” I asked Teddy. “I could use the company.”

I took Teddy’s case and we slipped out, locking the door behind us. I hoped Suki would be all right, if she flew back soon. At least she doesn’t have any eggs for them to mess with.

Teddy and I camped out in the living room. We didn’t hear any more giggling or muttering, clattering or knocking! I made myself a hot chocolate even though the weather has been really warm, mainly because Teddy claims he can smell it and that’s comforting for us both.

I asked if he meant it about not going back to the cinema.

He shrugged. “Nah… I like goin’ somewhere I feel real. But they’d better get rid of those critters.”

Mrs Webfoot was surprised to find me sleeping on the sofa in the morning. I had to shamefacedly tell her about the intruders – I told her I thought they were pixies – and how we were going to try and have them removed. She said, “Hmm, at least they aren’t mice,” but she didn’t look happy. Then she said, “You’re not going to stay down here, are you?”

I used to like sometimes camping in the living room overnight when I was younger, Vera, but I sensed this wouldn’t go down very well.

In the morning, I tried to call the pixies out, I tried to reason with them – they just laughed at me. While Teddy and I were out, they’d turned my room around, pulling pens out and scattering them, bursting a feather pillow and leaving books open and crumpled everywhere. My clothes had all been draped around like they’d been playing inside them. Even Teddy’s little wildflower garden had been messed with. I couldn’t see any sign that Suki had been back – I hope she’s all right.

The worst thing was, I had to go into work. I only do one shift at Coastal Coffee a week but it gets busy over the summer and I couldn’t let them down. I had to put Teddy’s case in the hall cupboard at Dune House – I need to stick to my resolution of not letting him come to work with me – but I asked him to come out and keep an eye out for Suki so he could warn her away.

After my shift I dashed to the cinema to see if they could help, and was disappointed. The girl behind the counter asked what it was to do with them if pixies were making a nuisance of themselves! Even said that I could surely deal with it myself since I was so good at blocking magic out.

That at least gave me an idea on how to contain them – I used the magic barrier net on my door to protect the rest of Dune House. Hopefully they won’t bother the other lodgers now, which would be something!

“Maybe Olive would let us stay?” he asked. “I don’t need much, as long as I can leave my case in the morning.”

“I think Olive has enough to be dealing with,” I said.

I really wished you were there, Vera. Mrs Webfoot is kind but sometimes she remembers she’s actually my landlady. And she didn’t seem to realise that I couldn’t just do a spell and get rid of the intruders.

I thought about calling Suniya – but it seemed like a lot to ask. Her mum might be all right with me staying over for a night, but I didn’t know how long it would take me to sort this out.

“You should go and eat somethin’,” Teddy said. “You look worn out.”

“I don’t think I can face Mrs Webfoot,” I admitted. “Maybe…”

Kim and Tanya’s shop was closed, of course, but I hoped they wouldn’t mind if I knocked. It was only eight o’clock at that time but Tanya was in pyjamas with fluffy slippers. Kim was sipping at a drink that looked like – no, I decided not to wonder what it looked like.

I explained the whole wretched predicament and asked if I could stay a few nights. In return I could help in the shop and carry on working on their herb garden. Thankfully they both agreed, and even seemed excited to have a guest.

“Spare room’s a heap, though,” Tanya said. “Bit small for the town witch. Do you have a familiar?”

I clicked open the case.

Tanya blinked, then looked at me questioningly.

Kim finished her drink with an undignified slurp. “A boy, about 5’10”, flat cap and a suit – I’d say nineteen twenties?”

Tanya looked in Teddy’s direction again, then shrugged. “I’ll take your word for it. How hygienic are ghosts?”

“About as hygienic as they come,” Kim said. “They even provide some refrigeration. Nice to meet you,” she added, smiling at Teddy.

Tanya hadn’t been joking about the spare room, though. It’s an undecorated box room with a hard bed that I can just about fit on, and a little cupboard I managed to fit the case into.

Teddy mentioned to Kim that I hadn’t had anything to eat since lunch. He isn’t scared of her at all, which is nice, even if he did ask me what that strange red drink was. She made me some beans on toast before kissing Tanya and vanishing off into the night. I hope she’s safe out there.

I’m glad I managed to find somewhere to stay, but I hope this is temporary. A little victory – Teddy and I worked on a charm to soften the bed. I’ll see if it lasts the night.

Your friend,

Lucy.

PS Oh, I didn’t mention what I saw at work! It was just at the end of my shift. Olive’s housemaid Hatty came in with a woman all dressed in shawls and clothing that looked like it came out of the 1910s. The woman had a prim little witch’s hat perched on her head! It seems a big coincidence that Hatty knows another witch – I wonder who she is, and if she knows Olive? I had to leave – I needed to get to speak to the folk at the cinema. But it seemed strange. That’s another reason I didn’t want to bother Olive right now – I do hope she’s all right.