Fiction Kids/ April 10, 2018/

Hanna and The Witch

“This is such a pretty headband. Is that for me?”, Hanna said looking at the headband lying on her bed.

“Yes, Hanna. But be careful with it. This headband has magic. You will slowly learn about it. Till then, keep it safe”, said Hanna’s mother, Sherry.

The headband was packed nicely in a square velvet box. It was a gift her grandmother left for her before going to the yoga retreat.

Sherry and her mother were fairies living in the ordinary world. They had to hide their secret all these years to protect themselves and their family from a witch. Many years ago, Hanna and her mother left the fairyland without asking the queen. A witch named Hoopla was the queen of that fairyland. She didn’t like fairies and never did anything good for them.

Sherry knew that Hanna is a fairy too. Despite marrying a human, Hanna had traits of a fairy. Her glossy hair, soft blue eyes, gentle touch and other mannerisms are just like a fairy. Sherry gradually started hinting this to Hanna after she turned 7 this year. Hanna’s father had no clue about anything. For him, his was a normal family with normal people and normal life.

One day Hanna was walking to her school when an old lady stopped her. Her face was full of wrinkles. She had crooked teeth, messy hair, grey squinty eyes and dirty nails. She was barefoot and wearing shabby clothes.

“Hello, pretty girl. Can you give me something to eat?”, Hanna got startled by her sudden appearance in front of her. She ignored her and started walking fast towards her school.

“Hey! Hey! Listen to me! Where are you going? I am not a witch”, said the old lady with a husky tone of voice. That scared Hanna even more. Without looking behind, she started running and stopped only after reaching the school.

Hanna’s heart was pounding with fear and anxiety. She had never seen such a scary face before. She could not wait to go home and tell her mother.

As the school got over, Hanna walked to her home as fast as she could. She didn’t want to see that face again. Hanna thud opened the door of her house and ran to her mom. She was in her office reading on her laptop.

“Mom! Mom!! A very scary old woman crossed my way when I was going to school. She looked so creepy. Mom, I am very scared”, Hanna hugged Sherry and dug her head into her lap.

“What? Did you talk to her? Did she ask anything?”, Sherry asked.

“Not really. She just asked for something to eat. I got scared the ran from there”, Hanna said.

Sherry was confused and thought, who was this woman? What was she doing there? Could she be Hoopla?

“Don’t worry, Hanna. Must be some random homeless woman. Don’t think much about it. Now, go to your room and freshen up”, Sherry gathered herself.

Sherry was baffled and didn’t know how to find out about it. She picked her mobile phone and dialed her mother’s number. The phone was ringing continuously but she didn’t take the call. She redialled the number. Still no response. She gave one last try and dialed the number again. This time the call got connected.

“Hello! Hello? Mom? Mom, can you hear me?”, there was silence on the other side.

“Mom? Hello? Answer me!”, all she could hear was silence.

“Beautiful little fairies,

When they fly,

Their feathers shine.

I am Queen Hoopla,

I am their light.

They like it or not,

They are mine!

Sherry! Do you remember this poem?” A familiar husky, croaky voice came from the other side. Sherry couldn’t believe her ears. It was Hoopla!

“Hoopla! Where is my mom? What have you done to her?”, asked Sherry scared but pretending to be brave at the same time.

“Give me that headband and nothing will happen to her”, said Hoopla sounding creepy.

“You won’t get it. Do whatever you can! Leave my mom or face the consequences”, said Sherry with a stern voice.

“I will come to your house tomorrow, Sherry. Keep the headband ready”, Hoopla disconnected the call.

Sherry was feeling helpless without her mother who has more powers than her. But she gathered courage because she knew she has to fight Hoopla to protect Hanna from her.

That night, Sherry explained everything to Hanna. She showed her the magic wand and the magic it could do. It took a little while for Hanna to accept the reality. Hanna couldn’t believe that her mother, grandmother and herself are fairies with special powers. Sherry also told her about the powers of the headband and that she must never let it go in the hand of Hoopla.

Next day, Hoopla arrived at their home. She came looking like a normal person, wearing smart clothes so that no one knows about her reality. She entered the house but it was suspiciously quiet. She moved inside with utmost caution. Although she knew something is going to happen, still she came without her wand thinking that she might not need it. Sherry will not have powers without her mother and Hanna is a kid.

Suddenly, a baseball bat came flying towards her and hit her head hard. Hoopla couldn’t balance herself and fell on the floor. As she tried to get up, a big container of flour dropped on her head.

Hoopla lifted the container from her head shrieked, “Sheeeerrrryyyy!!! I will not spare you!!!”

She tried to throw the container but her fingers got glued to it. She clearly underestimated Sherry and Hanna.

“Scared for your life, Hoopla?”, said a cute girly voice.

“Oh! So you are doing this. Hanna, give me that headband now!”, said Hoopla desperately.

Hanna appeared in front of her with the headband in her hands. That headband could make the person wearing it disappear. The person will be visible only after removing the headband. Hanna’s grandmother blessed that headband with special powers that will work only when Hanna wears it. She wanted to protect Hanna from Hoopla. She knew that with those powers, Hanna will protect her family too.

“Hoopla, you will never get it. I don’t want to keep it either”, said Hanna confidently without any fear.

Sherry came outside with a lighter in her hand. She lit the lighter and lit up the headband. The headband started burning with strong fumes.

“No! No!! No!!!”, screamed Hoopla and as she turned to get stand up. Sherry took out her magic wand and mumbled. With a stroke of lightning, Hoopla vanished into thin air never to be seen again. Hanna’s grandmother appeared as soon as Hoopla vanished.

Three of them, first, looked at each other with a sigh of relief and then look at the mess. They snapped their fingers in the air – the vacuum cleaner, the dishwasher, and the mop started doing their jobs.