Through

For Hallowe’en, I thought it appropriate that I post a story about a witch…

• • •

Through

“Over there, Professor D.” Wendy heard the voice above the general party babble, but paid it little heed. Her gray dress kept her unseen to all but—

A gentle tap on her shoulder made her jump and whirl about. “Hello,” a bearded man greeted her. “You are not one of my students, and yet you are here. That is… unusual. Would you tell me how?”

Wendy shrugged to hide her shock, and got her voice under control. “I—I went into a painting of this party. It’s hanging on our wall at school, and I thought I would like to be there. When I touched it, my hand went through. So I climbed through, and here I am.”

“Your painting is at your school? What is its name?”

“Torbarrow School for Girls.”

“Ah!” The bearded man looked delighted. “Mrs. Hugglestan? That explains it. She was once one of my students, and now she is training the next generation of the countryside’s witches. She already taught you how to enter paintings?”

“Uh, no sir. I figured that out on my own. Seems like a good way to hide, just hop into a painting with a lot of people. So what school is this?”

A boy came around with a tray, and the man stopped him long enough to take two small plates. The boy gave Wendy a long, skeptical look, and she used the glare she had developed to get boys to move on.

“He meant no harm,” the bearded man assured her, giving her a plate. “He was likely wondering what you’re doing here. You don’t have the school uniform, and like I said, visitors are rare or non-existant. Not that you’re actually at the school, mind you—a painting like this captures a moment in time. All within it are mere echoes of those the painter captured. That boy is probably your father’s age by now. But you came to our party, and you are welcome.”

Fortunately, Wendy took only a nibble of the canapé. “Oh,” she grimaced, “this tastes like paint.” She used a napkin to wipe it off her tongue. “I suppose I should have expected that.”

“I had no idea, to be honest. I believe you’re the first person to visit us like this. But you said this seemed like a good way to hide. What would you need to hide from?”

“Eh. Some people don’t like witches. Others like us… a little too much. I suppose I should be going.”

“Maybe that’s for the best,” he replied. “You do know how to leave a painting?”

“Stand where you can see the scene as it is from outside, then reach back and find the frame. Climb out backwards.”

“Quite right. If you choose to admit your adventure to Mrs. Hugglestan, please tell her Professor D sends his regards.”

• • •

“Wendy! Did you just climb out of that painting?”

“It was amazing, Diana,” Wendy told her friend, again covering the shock of discovery.

Diana looked into the painting. “A party? Where?”

“Some other magic school. I never found out which. But I talked to one of the professors. He taught Mrs. H.”

“Really? You should have asked him for some funny stories. That could have come in handy.”

“It would have been trouble, Diana. You know that. Oh, and if you ever go, don’t try to eat the food on the other side. And know how to get back.”

“I’m not nearly as good as you, Wendy. It’ll be another year before I’m ready to try that kind of stunt. Anyway, I was wondering if you could help me with that spell to un-curdle milk.”

“Of course. Let’s have a look.”