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onsdag den 24. marts 2021

Birch Manor - Summer - Part 2

  I have been writing a long, winding story of Susan, Knud and their travels to Norway and Sweden. Here's yet a tiny bit. I've totally lost count of which words I've used, and which ones not. This chapter should contain some.
  At least the title contains Summer - from the latest batch of words
given us by Hilary Melton-Butcher and once again revealed at Elephant's Child.
Those are:


Silent
Tea
Summer
Scrunch
Tapestry
    AND / OR
Hare
House
Catalogue
Clear-cut
Path


Later that day Henning drove Susan and Knud to the nearby station, where they caught a train for Sweden.
Susan of course carried her small brown suitcase and her backpack. Knud had a slightly larger backpack, containing a tent as well. They were prepared for rough sleeping.
"Hening, while we're away please take good care of Martine, she's not getting any younger, and even if she can do magic, she is an elderly lady. Lilly will probably learn to accept more from her, than from the rest of us. Your children are stretching their wings already. I believe like true witch kids should. And what about you?" Susan said as they left Birch Manor. 
Henning waited till he had turned left on to a larger road and answered: "It'll take some getting used to for me as well. I do not think I have very much magic, or maybe because I always have denied that part of myself. I have a lot of getting used to do in the days ahead. Almost as much as Lilly."
"You know, I would not be surprised to learn that she is a witch as well," Knud said. "She kept working those puzzles. Just let her. Some of them are hexed, like Sam guessed." Knud said elbowing Susan softly. Martine will help you out.
"You can choose which of the apartments you'd like for your family," Susan said. "They are more or less alike, but curtains and so on are still to be hung. Some of them are done and are in the barn on the big table. You're free to decorate or not as you like. Only don't move the walls."
"And all those small rooms upstairs, what are those for?" Henning asked
"For apprentices later on." Susan answered. "We plan on opening a school for magic in the holidays, just like Unicorn Farm for us when we went there. Birch Manor is eminently suited to this purpose, remote fields, a wood - we need more different sorts of trees for wands - to be done - you and the children will have wands too, but I think you need to find your magic legs first."
"I have been reluctant to ask, but what about my brothers and sisters. What, if anything can I tell them?" Henning asked.
"We have discussed this as well, and we'd like you to keep silent. You're the first one to come here, we did not do it deliberately, but I at least am happy with it"
"Because of little Susan?" Henning asked.
"Yes mostly. I was certain she had the magic, and by implication you as well. I did not want our first test to be a failure," Susan said.
"Do you think any of us siblings do not have magic?" Henning asked hesitantly. "Shouldn't we all for that matter."
"That's a hard question to answer." Knud said. "Not least concerning those that have not yet had children of their own. Susan and I, our parents were both of non-magic origin, so if it's something genetic, we maybe carry non-magic latently. But I don't know. I only know that even at Unicorn Farm some were the only ones in their family, or among their siblings to have magic - even some with at least a witch or a wizard as parents."
"Let's take a roll call." Susan said. "Starting with the oldest, Nina, How do you say?"
Knud shook his head, "She's such a down to earth type. No."
"But on the other hand," Susan said. "Like with Henning here practicality can hide, call that sublimate, magic. No, let's stop this game. I won't guess. I hope fervently that all our 6 kids and all our grandchildren can do magic. And even most of out in-laws. I've not given up hope on Lilly yet. We have to invite Fiona and her husband down when we return home from Sweden and Norway." Susan said. "Her husband is the sweetest man , kind and understanding and with no magic at all he has fully accepted, even embraced being married to a witch."
"And Fiona is...?"
"Oh another apprentice from Unicorn Farm. We're trying to find them all. It's a long, long story, and a sad one too. I'd so like to have to tell it only once, not only to you, but to all our children at once. My birthday will be the perfect occasion, and it's not too far off," Susan said.
Henning nodded. "I'll arrange a 'surprise party' for you while you're away. It would be the perfect double surprise."
"That sounds great. Make it the weekend after the actual date, that would give us the time we need."

10 kommentarer:

  1. A sad story - but with hope (that fragile essential) to leaven the pain.

    SvarSlet
  2. Hi Charlotte - lots of thoughts here for the Magic world and Unicorn Farm. Thanks for joining us - stay safe - Hilary

    SvarSlet
  3. Loving this, Charlotte! My favourite kind of story. And you are telling it so well!

    SvarSlet
  4. A wonderful addition to your story!

    SvarSlet
  5. Every episode of the story leaves me wanting the whole book to devour!

    SvarSlet
    Svar
    1. Thank you this is a very inspiring praise for me. But I'll have to disappoint you. If / when the book is finished it'll be in Danish - you better start learning ;)

      Slet
  6. How can it be a surprised party if Henning says he'll arrange it? I guess it could be surprise since there will be a lot of people, won't there?

    Have a lovely day.

    SvarSlet
    Svar
    1. Susan's children think they're going to surprise her on her birthday (the weekend after actually). But they are the ones getting the surprise - the true story of the Unicorn Farm. The Surprise party is a lure to make sure everybody is showing up.

      Slet
  7. I hope the new school of magic is a big success.

    SvarSlet

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I am grateful for all comments, and try to reply meaningfully to all of them.