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  A WITCH LIKE NO OTHER MAKALA THOMAS

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part or in any form using electronic, mechanical, or other means, not known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without written permission of the publisher and author.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author and all incidents are pure invention.

  ISBN: 978-0-9559909-7-7

  Copyright© 2014 by Makala Thomas. All rights reserved.

  A Witch Like No Other

  By Makala V. P. Thomas

  For

  Cheryl O’Garro

  Sherene Williams

  Jay McLean

  Michael Dyce

  Kadeem Antoine

  Jason Gilkes

  Shannon Thompson

  Makeda Farrell

  Joseph Smith

  Madalene Aza

  To the London Borough of Hackney. No matter how far I go in life, I will never forget where I came from.

  x-x-x Mwah x-x-x

  A Witch Like No Other

  “I don’t want to go college again.”

  “‘Dora, you’re eighteen years old. You need to go to college.”

  “I don’t care,” said Pandora stubbornly, not even looking at him. “Every time I go they think I’m weird from the very first day.”

  “That’s because you refuse to communicate with anybody.”

  “Well I don’t want to socialise, Dad. It gets on my nerves.”

  “You’ve been like this since you was fifteen, Pandora.”

  Pandora glared at him. “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing,” her father Ted said wearily. “Nothing at all.”

  “You think I’m weird too, don’t you Dad?”

  “I just think… if you had at least one friend-”

  “I don’t want any friends!”

  “All right, keep your hair on.”

  Ted reached out to touch Pandora’s curly hair, but she withdrew quickly.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  Ted scowled at her. “I’m not allowed to touch you now?”

  Pandora chose not to answer that, continuing her talk about college.

  “They call me a cool know it all because I don’t do work in class but I always hand my essays in on time-”

  “Well, you’re a very intelligent girl.”

  Her elder brother Marlon pretended to choke on his toast at that; Pandora kicked him under the table.

  “I hate people who come up to me, wanting to be my friend.”

  “Pandora, listen to yourself. You cant not have friends, it isn’t-”

  “It’s just how I want it,” Pandora said flatly. “Because soon after a while they just… leave me. They decide I’m too much for them or they turn on me because I got better results than them, or for no reason at all.”

  “I know you’re thinking about Janice, but-”

  “Don’t say that name!” Pandora burst out, making Ted jump. Marlon was glaring at him as well, swallowing his food before saying “She’s a flipping barracuda, Dad. She turned on ‘Dora and broke my heart.”

  “She was my best friend,” said Pandora bitterly, Marlon just as bitter.

  “She was my girlfriend and then she- she-”

  “Ok, how about we change the subject,” said Ted gently, hating to see his children looking like their world had been torn apart. Well, Pandora had changed ever since their mother died, but Marlon was the same.

  “I remember how popular you was, Pandora.” He sighed heavily, remembering. “You had more friends than Marlon.”

  Pandora smiled at the memories. For one tiny moment she missed her friends more than anything in the whole wide world… then she snapped out of it. She didn’t need friends, or socialisation. But she couldn’t help saying “If we didn’t move so far away maybe I’d still have them.”

  “Don’t try that,” said Marlon, grinning at his sister. “My friends from Westport come here everyday, so that’s not an excuse.”

  “Shut up, camel mouth. Where was I?”

  “College,” Ted said, picking up his cup of coffee. Pandora nodded.

  “They’ll find out I see a shrink three times a week because- because-”

  Pandora swallowed hard. Images of her screaming, her mother and plenty of blood flashed across her eyes. Stile’s evil face-

  “Don’t think about it,” Ted said gently. “‘Dora?”

  Marlon was staring at her. Pandora realised she was shaking, making her mug rattle on the table. Gripping the mug and taking a sip of smooth hot chocolate seemed to calm her down. Ted smiled, relieved as she said “Then they find out that I’m taking medication for depression-”

  “You don’t need them,” Marlon said grumpily. “I don’t know why you take them anyway, you’re fine just how you are.”

  Pandora raised an eyebrow and he smiled. She didn’t smile back, wondering why Marlon was being nice to her. It was common knowledge they hadn’t got along since Pandora hit sixteen, Marlon seventeen. She could cause an argument if she wanted, but decided against it.

  “Maybe I do need them, Marlon. I mean I- I cant sleep without them, and I don’t think about our mother when I take them, I forget about Stile-”

  Ted gripped his cup of coffee as hot, bubbling rage swept over him. Damon Stile, his former neighbour, the man Pandora feared more than anything in this whole world- the only person she feared, he thought bitterly. If only he knew what was going on beforehand-

  “I need them,” Pandora said flatly. She needed to write something- write what she was thinking down- write anything.

  Marlon swallowed the rest of his tea in one gulp, then he said to Ted “Father Teddy Bear, did you know Pandora’s got a box?”

  Ted’s eyes nearly left his head. “A box?”

  “I’ve got loads of boxes,” Pandora said through gritted teeth. “Dad-”

  “If you’re doing some sort of witchcraft like your mother did Pandora-”

  “I’m not!” lied Pandora. “I’m not, I swear it Dad!”

  Her mother Dreamer had taught her a lot of things. If you have bad thoughts it was best to write them down and then burn the paper. That way you wouldn’t get stressed over the thought, because it’d be gone.

  Ted looked like he took his daughter’s word.

  His late wife Dreamer was a beautiful witch, and didn’t hesitate to perform a trick if people asked her to. He loved Dreamer, but he hated anything out of the ordinary- magic first. Ted scowled at the memories as Pandora smiled at him. She was thinking the same thing.

  He remembered the night he had come home from work with a splitting headache. Pandora was nine years old, Marlon ten. They were curled around Dreamer on the carpet, fast asleep as she read aloud from a book.

  She shushed Ted gently as he opened his mouth, indicating to sit on the sofa. Ted obeyed, head pounding. Dreamer stood slowly and walked over to him- Pandora whimpered immediately, wanting her mother. She opened her eyes, Dreamer smiling at her as she said “Sleep, Pandora.”

  “I’m not tired anymore, Mummy. Can I watch?”

  “If you want to that badly.”

  “My head,” said Ted, in terrible pain. “I need an aspirin- I need-”

  Dreamer placed her hands on his head, asking “How was work?”

  “Work? Work was- was…” Ted stopped abruptly as swirling white mist circled his head. “Dreamer, what are you-”

  “I asked
you a question, Teddy Bear.”

  Marlon giggled, sitting up at that. “Teddy Bear, Mummy?”

  “That’s what I call your Daddy, sweetie pie. Ted?”

  “Work was stressful. My client just wont accept the fact that he’s going to be charged no matter what I do for him. I can help convince the judge to give him a short sentence, but we’re looking at six months minimum-”

  Pandora’s mouth was hanging open, but Ted couldn’t see why.

  “What did he do, Ted?”

  “Drug smuggling,” mumbled Ted, as Dreamer massaged his head. “Wow, Dreamer. You could be a therapist if you-”

  Ted stopped as he caught sight of them in the mirror across the room. No wonder Pandora was sitting like she was in a trance- Dreamer’s hands were aglow! Ted leapt up immediately:

  “Dreamer!”

  “I wasn’t doing anything wrong!” said Dreamer as she pouted at him.

  “I don’t want you doing any magic at all, do I make myself-”

  Ted stopped as he lifted a hand to his head. “My headache’s gone!”

  “I can give it back if you detest magic that much,” said Dreamer coldly, and Ted opened his mouth to tell her to do it, then he stopped. He hated making his wife angry or upset.

  “No- don’t. I… thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” she said icily, then she smiled at Pandora. Marlon seemed unfazed by the fact his mother could do magic, but Pandora was the opposite. She loved it. She wanted to be just like her mother.

  “Bedtime, Marlon and ‘Dora,” said Ted, knowing that a million thoughts must be zooming around his little girl’s brain. He was glad that Marlon didn’t care for magic, but he was concerned for his daughter. Pandora pouted as Marlon did, making their parents smile. They looked like twins. Pandora ran and kissed their mother goodnight as Marlon hugged Ted happily, then they switched places for Pandora to hug Ted and Marlon to kiss Dreamer, then they both ran upstairs to bed, Pandora tripping Marlon up mischievously so she could reach her room first.

  Ted turned to Dreamer, worried.

  “Did you see Pandora’s face when you- you know.”

  Dreamer shrugged a shoulder. “She’s fascinated by it.”

  “Exactly, and I really don’t want her to be.”

  “Why, Ted?” said Dreamer sadly. “Are you ashamed of me?”

  “What? No,” said Ted, as she turned away from him. “Dreamer?”

  “I’m going for a walk,” she said, sighing. “Just a small one.”

  “I’ll wait up for you.”

  “No- you need to get some sleep. I don’t want you-”

  “I’ll wait up for you,” Ted repeated firmly, kissing her hand. Dreamer smiled as she pulled on her coat, then she walked to the front door.

  “I wont be long.”

  As soon as the door closed behind her Ted walked to the window and looked out. What he saw made his stomach drop three inches. Dreamer had entered his friend Damon Stile’s house- the front door closed.

  He had a mind to dash across the road and demand what was going on. But then he knew that Dreamer would never betray him, ever. She and Damon got on brilliantly, everyone knew that. In fact, Damon knew Dreamer first, and Dreamer’s frightening mother Agnes had predicted her only daughter and Ted were meant for one another. It was also Agnes who had turned Damon into a toad, Ted thought ruefully, the minute he offered to baby-sit Pandora.

  “I should have known,” Ted muttered, and Marlon looked at him.

  “Dad?”

  Pandora was busy reading the newspaper. It didn’t look like she heard him. Ted sighed as he looked at his daughter, not answering Marlon. Stile changed her forever. It was all his fault. Dreamer’s murder, Pandora hating anyone who wasn’t a relative, her refusal to socialise- it was all his fault. If only he could turn back time.

  Ted shook his head as if trying to get rid of his thoughts. He couldn’t think of that now. He needed to focus on his kids.

  “What was I saying to you two?”

  “Not me,” said Marlon indignantly. “Pandora.”

  “The conversation ended,” said Pandora coldly, looking at her brother. “Yes I do have a box, I’ve got plenty. I just use them to store things.”

  “Get you,” said Marlon, grinning. “She couldn’t stick to the legend, could she Dad? It’s not Pandora’s Box, it’s Pandora’s Boxes!”

  Pandora rolled her eyes and went back to reading the paper. Ted smiled as he collected everyone’s plates and cups, putting them in the sink.

  “So what’s on the agenda for today, kids?”

  “I’m going out with the guys,” Marlon said. “Er… can I, Dad?”

  “Sure you can, son.” Ted smiled at him. Even though he was nineteen, Marlon still had complete respect for his father. “Pandora?”

  “I’m going to my room to pretend I don’t exist,” Pandora said without looking up. “Maybe if I wish it enough times it’ll finally come true.”

  Marlon and Ted exchanged concerned looks at that, Marlon saying “Pandora, you know I can drop the guys; we can go out if you-”

  “Go where, big brother?”

  “Anywhere you want.”

  Ted nodded his approval: at least Marlon was trying.

  Pandora closed the newspaper, looking thoughtful for a minute. Then she shook her head, saying “It’s ok. I’d rather stay in my room.”

  Marlon looked at Ted, who smiled and shook his head. The smile meant ‘You tried, son. Don’t try and force her.’

  “Besides, I have to go see Shrinkabell,” Pandora said, looking at Ted, who burst out laughing with Marlon. “It’s Thursday, right?”

  Ted nodded. “I wont be long at work, ‘Dora, so-”

  “You don’t have to come, Dad. I’ll be fine.”

  * * *

  “Pandora darling, how are you?”

  “Fine, Miss Hughes. Just fine.”

  Miriam frowned, concerned with how down Pandora sounded. She started counselling Pandora three years ago, and had come to love her like a daughter even though the first rule of her profession was never get attached to the client. Miriam found she didn’t care. She was close friends with Dreamer at school, but had moved abroad in their last year. When she finally moved back home she found that Dreamer had a beautiful baby boy- in the blink of an eye. Miriam thought then that if she stayed Dreamer wouldn’t have gone off track with this mystery boy. Her life was ruined- or so she thought. Dreamer wasn’t letting a baby stop her from doing what she wanted: she returned to college, had fun with her friends and was still very popular. If Dreamer didn’t care about the baby, then neither did they. So nobody really felt anything changed when the baby girl was born- but Miriam did. She hated whoever the father to these children was, for taking Dreamer away from her.

  Bitter inside, Miriam told Dreamer she was leaving and never coming back. Her parents were moving abroad, for good this time. Miriam had a choice whether to stay with her aunt or go- angry, she chose to go.

  Dreamer didn’t care, she carried right on with her life, Miriam thought with a small smile. That was so typical of Dreamer. But then again, Dreamer must have missed her, because her mother called.

  “Stop this nonsense, Miriam. You’ve no need to be jealous of Ted.”

  “That’s his name?” Miriam said disgustedly. “Ted?”

  “He’s a lovely boy. His parents want him to wed Dreamer.”

  Over my dead body, Miriam thought furiously.

  “She’d never marry him.”

  “Dreamer is in love,” Agnes replied. “And she’s not even eighteen.”

  “So?”

  “So she may marry Ted. I leave the choice up to her.”

  Miriam demanded to speak to her.

  “Dreamer, you wont marry him. Will you?”

  “Now you want to talk?” Dreamer answered coldly. “What’s the point?”

  “Dreamer, I’m sorry for what I did- I can come back if you want-”

  “But I don’t want, so stay in America.
”

  “Please don’t marry him, Dreamer!”

  “Why not?”

  “You just cant! You’ll forget all about me!”

  Dreamer softened for a minute. “No I wouldn’t, I promise.”

  “Just don’t marry him,” begged Miriam. “Please?”

  “Why?”

  “Because I…”

  The remaining two words lingered on her lips, Miriam crying now.

  “Oh boy,” said Dreamer, amazed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “We’ve been friends since forever,” wept Miriam, ignoring the question. “And now this- this Ted guy, and his stupid kids-”

  “My stupid kids,” Dreamer interrupted, though she wasn’t really angry. “We’ll live happily ever after, exactly. I knew you’d understand!”

  “That wasn’t what I was going to say, and you know it!”

  “Give me your address,” Dreamer instructed. “That way we can write to each other or something. I’ll send you a picture of my er… what was it again? Oh yeah, stupid kids.”

  “I didn’t mean that, I just-”

  “Forget it,” Dreamer said firmly. “They’re not the point right now.”

  Wiping her eyes, Miriam asked “What’s the point, then?”