Love thy neighbor

During lunch period, Max, known as the class clown, told Jack and Jimmy he believes a witch has moved into the old Ramsey Victorian at the corner of Iris and Willow. Max said he was walking home minding his own business when he thought he saw a woman flying on a broom towards the old Ramsey place. He decided to investigate and walked over there, looked though the kitchen window to see a woman in classic witch garb, stirring a big black kettle, with a large ladle, on an old cast iron stove.

“Dude, her teeth are mostly black, she wears a pointy hat and she flys on a broom for Christ’s sake. And who knows what she was cooking in that pot with her boney fingers! She’s a bonafide witch I tell ya. Don’t believe me. I dare you to look for yourself.”

After school Jack and Jimmy decided they were up for the challenge. It didn’t matter if Max was pranking them. They both loved an adventure. It was a cloudy day in the dead of winter, so Jack knew darkness would come fast. Even so, they both walked down the avenue like they owned it, just strutting along, no different than any other day.

Right between them was Rufus the Airdale. Jack never left the house without Rufus, even on winter school days. Rufus would wait for Jack in the field behind the school unphased by the weather and with or without Jimmy, they would walk together, snow, rain or shine.

The sky was getting dark and there were no lights on when they reached the old Ramsey house. Even though they knew trespassing was wrong, they thought nothing of walking onto the property and into the backyard, Rufus in tow.

“Can I help you boys?” Said the witch in a very polite tone. She seemed to pop up out of nowhere.

“Max was right. You are a witch!” Exclaimed Jack. The two boys stood staring at her, paralyzed with fear. She was just as Max described her. Rufus on the other hand walked right up to her seemingly more trusting than he ever had with any other being, in total submission, laying down at her feet.

The witch bent down to pet Rufus on the head with her boney fingers and said “Good boy,” to the sweet dog, then turned her attention towards the boys.

“Where are your manners boys? You entered my property unannounced and haven’t even introduced yourself. I am Pheobe Phaint. Pleased to meet you."

She reached forward to shake their hands and both boys recoiled. "And yes, if you must apply a label to me, I am a witch. If you are curious about me, just ask. Straight up you have nothing to fear; that is if you show me the respect I deserve. I am a good witch and a good neighbor that loves every living thing. Just like there are good and bad people in the world, so are there good and bad witches.”

“Give me back my dog! Snapped Jack.

“Do I look like I’m holding him down? No, I don’t, do I? The animals of the land, sea and sky, large and small trust me and know I am their friend. It is my quest to protect them and to help them multiply so they can dominate earth. They know this. They are not like naughty boys, out to cause a ruckus and put people down. Ah. If only little naughty boys and girls and naughty grownups too knew how to be more like the animals, life would be more tame; more sane. Go on now. I can see you are not here to be my friend, or to show respect for my land."

“Come on Rufus." Jack said with trepidation. "Let’s get away from this scary old witch.” And Rufus barked at Jack, while Phoebe whispered in his floppy ear.

“It's okay Rufus my dear friend. Don’t you worry. I plan to teach the boys a good lesson. Perhaps they will think twice before they disrespect a good old witch like me again.” And Rufus gave her a big long lick before he returned to Jack’s side.

The boys walked swiftly in silence, perspiration on their brow and upper lip, in spite of the cold evening air. It was Jack that attempted to speak first, but instead of words, it was baby toads that sprang from his mouth, one after the other by the dozens. Jimmy gasped in shock and horror to say WTF and it was baby sparrows that flew from his mouth. When the creature regergatation finally ceased, both boys knew from where the spell had been sprung and a hard lesson had been learned.

The meeting with Phobe Phaint lived on in infamy and from that day forward Jack and Jimmy thought twice about what to say to whom and when, with a new level of respect for all things, land sea and sky; especially those that fly on brooms.