A Witch Like No Other by Makala Thomas Page B

whispered Miriam.
“I cant figure this out.”
    “ Put me down
Marlon,” muttered Pandora, and he did. Tightening her robe, she
said “She might be alive, Miriam. I told you already.”
    “ And if she
is,” Marlon said like before as he rubbed his neck,
“She’ s got some explaining to
do. I mean serious explaining, mind you.”
Ted opened his mouth to ask about the wand,
then he closed it.
    Now wasn ’ t the time.

 
* * *
     
Two days later, Alice Pets walked into the
clinic her father owned as Pandora was walking out. They banged
into each other, both of them stumbling backwards. Steadying
herself, Alice said “Sorry for that.”
    Pandora said nothing, staring at her. Alice hesitated, then
she asked “Are you ok?”
Pandora nodded, backing away slowly. Alice
stepped closer.
    “ Are you
sure?”
    Pandora ’ s back hit Miriam ’ s door- fumbling for the
doorknob, she opened it and ran inside, quickly closing the door
behind her.
Miriam turned, surprised. “Pandora,
what-”
    “ There’ s a girl out
there,” said Pandora, panic stricken. “She was- was-”
    “ What?”
    “ Talking to
me!”
    Miriam laughed. She couldn ’ t help it as she opened
the door and looked out. Alice had a confused look on her face as
she came over, asking “Is she ok? I didn ’ t mean to scare her,
I-”
    “ She’ s fine,” said Miriam
soothingly. “How are you, Alice?”
    “ Never mind me-
what’ s wrong with that
girl?”
    “ She’ s not used to
socialising with people,” Miriam explained.
“Pandora ’ s been through a lot- but really, under the shyness
she ’ s
a wonderful girl to know.”
    “ I’ ll bet,” said Alice,
already intrigued. “Pandora ’ s such a cool
name.”
    “ Would you like
to come in and say hello?”
Pandora shook her head, but Alice said “Can
I?”
    “ Miriam, please
don’ t let her in!” hissed
Pandora, but Miriam ignored her. Pandora backed away as Alice
walked in. Smiling, Miriam said “Pandora love, this is Alice Pets.
She ’ s
Tony ’ s
daughter.”
    “ Hello,” said
Pandora nervously, and Alice said hello.
    “ Pandora’ s a really cool
name, you know. I wish I had it.”
    “ Oh- thank
you,” said Pandora shyly, and Alice smiled at her.
    “ Who gave it to
you?”
    “ My mother,”
said Pandora, nodding at a picture on Miriam’ s desk.
    Alice looked, then she gasped. “That ’ s Dreamer
Black!”
    “ You know her?”
said Pandora, amazed. “From where?”
    “ She’ s been on the telly
before on her mother ’ s show-”
Pandora was confused.
    “ Grandma had a
show?”
    “ She still
does,” said Alice. “You know, one of those clairvoyant shows. Last
week it was Agnes versus Mystic Meg-”
    “ You’ re
kidding!”
    “ No no,
I’ m serious! Dreamer was
there, and-”
Miriam choked on her coffee, Pandora looking
frightened.
    “ My Mum was on
the show?”
    “ She’ s always on the
show,” said Alice, shrugging. “Sometimes she takes over. I cant
believe she ’ s your mum, she ’ s so cool and-”
    “ She’ s alive,” said
Pandora weakly, and Alice frowned at her.
    “ Who said she
wasn’ t?”
    “ Alice love,
how long has Dreamer been on the show?” asked Miriam.
Alice thought about this. “About six months
now.”
    “ Six months,”
said Pandora. “She’ s been
around for six months!”
    “ Pandora,
I’ m sure Alice would like to
know what on Earth you ’ re talking about,” said Miriam gently, and Alice
nodded. “How about you two go for a quick walk in the park?
I ’ ll
meet you there in half an hour: I need to lock the office and tell
Tony not to worry about Alice.”
    “ I’ m eighteen,” pouted
Alice. “You don ’ t have to explain to Daddy.”
    “ Yes I do,”
smiled Miriam. “Go on, both of you.”
    Pandora hesitated. “But… I don ’ t know her.”
    “ You do now,”
said Miriam firmly. “Pandora, Alice has just told you Dreamer is
alive- you owe her a conversation. She wants to know
you.”
    “ Be