In October the prompts are provided by Margaret Adamson, and her friend Sue Fulcher. But they are published at Elephant's Child's blog. Today she has given us two times six words. Botanic
Gathering
Finger
Port
Canine
Elastic Band
And /or
Department
Prose
Stable
Wink
Chandelier
Pirouette
And even given two times six words and having an idea, I did not succeed in using even one of the words ... well, there's more story to be told yet. This is of Aunt Jemima, as per title, but also about genealogy. A subject, I do not know much of, but have tried my hand at in the past week. If I have made any mistakes please correct me.
"So you are Susan,"Aunt Jemima said as Susan and the three wizard children arrived at the Magician's House.
"Yes,"
Susan replied, curtseying to the lady. She was sitting in a rocking
chair, and was not nearly as imposing as Susan had imagined. She was
small. Even smaller than Susan's grandmother, and then she was thin,
beautiful, and completely white-haired. She was dressed in a black
velvet dress with starched, white ruffles and mother of pearl buttons
and looked more like an English queen or something from an old painting
than an intimidating aunt. Susan had expected something in the style of
her own aunt Cleo cheroot and all.
"Please tell me who in your family are the magicians," Aunt Jemima said as Susan had sat down in the sofa.
"My
grandmother is, and quite a few others, too," Susan replied quite in
accordance with the truth. "I do not know much about my family history.
My aunt, who is not a witch because she is too sad, has dabbled in
genealogy, but she did not get very far."
"How strange," said Aunt Jemeima. "A sad witch who is not a witch and has no forebears."
Susan whispered to Lis, "What kind of bears?"
Lis bit her lip so as not to laugh: "No, not bears at all ... it's just a fancy word for ancestors."
Thank you. "Susan whispered back.
"Yes, I have ancestors," Susan said. "Just not that many, or rather ..." Susan hesitated.
"Just speak freely, my child," Aunt Jemima urged her.
"Well,
my aunt, and her genealogy. She did not get very far. For my
grandfather's mother is a gypsy, born somewhere on a country road
between Haparanda and Helsingborg. And my grandmother's family - these
are the ones where the witchcraft comes from, and there she found my
grandma's great-grandmother - and she was a witch. But then she did not
get any further, because the parish registers were gone. The rectory had
burned in that parish, and with it the registers. It was not long after
that fire that it a law was introduced requiring all parish registers
to be kept in duplicate, which may not be kept under one roof."
"It's
quite a story," said Aunt Jemima, shaking her white-haired head. "But
it makes it a little hard to figure out what kind of witch you are."
"She's
a super good witch, Auntie," Heidi said. "She can summon animals as
easily as nothing. Susan, could you please summon a few mice so Aunt
Jemima can see how good you are at it?"
"I think that would not be a
good idea, my dear Heidi," Aunt Jemima said with a nervous glance in
Susan's direction. "Cassandra and Kaithan probably wouldn't be thrilled
to have the house filled with mice either."
"No problems,"Heidi assured her, "they are used to things like that. We are, after all, children of wizards."
Aunt Jemima took a deep breath, but before she could say anything, Kai came in and said that dinner was served.
The
kids did not say very much during dinner. Susan mostly because Kai's
full name, Kaithan, made her shake with pent-up laughter every time she
looked over at him. Luckily, it eased off a bit during the meal. Heidi
and the twins were used to her aunt's visit, and knew from experience
that it was better to keep their mouth shut. Their parents did not agree
with them on what were appropriate topics to discuss at a dinner table
in Aunt Jemima's presence.
While sitting at the dessert, a glorious
blackcurrant ice cream, Aunt Jemima asked, "You did not say anything
about your father, sweet Susan. Is there no wizard's blood at all from
that side?"
"My father, no I do not think so. Oh, yes. There is my
aunt Cleo. She predicts people's future, but never for any of her family,
in both cards and coffee grounds." Aunt Jemima smiled indulgently.
Susan continued: "But I'm not related to her at all. She's married to my
father's ... cousin, or was it uncle? She probably doesn't count at
all, even though she's very sweet and tough."
"Soon it will be
bedtime for you kids," Sandra said. "You have to be wide awake tomorrow. Susan and Heidi, if you tag along, I can show you where Susan is going
to sleep."
