They walked a little way off the main path. “Okay Katy Lily, time to climb up again, we are going to teleport to my home.” Katy with Antonio’s help again climbed up on his back. He turned, and the next thing Katy Lily knew she stood in front of a beautiful three-story house, and woman with a smile as bright as the moonlight on clear full moon night, stood at the front door with a smile on her face. The brightness of her smile was only out-shined by the joy in her honey burgundy eyes. Katy climbed down and grabbed Antonio’s hand again.
“Hello, mom, nice to see you home at this time of day, slow at the hospital?” Antonio took a hold of Katy’s hand and started to walk to the house.
“No, but your dad told me you were bringing home a guest. Hello Katy! My name is Sandra. Come in!” She moved from the door and Antonio let go of her hand and gave her a tiny push into the door.
“Thank you for having me.” Katy said as she walked inside, she looked around, she never had been in a place so nice. To the left was a living room, the right a dining room, straight ahead a hallway to the kitchen, and a stairwell. It was all decorated in vibrant colors, which made it feel like a home.
“No problem at all! Now come with me” Sandra said, as she took Katy’s hand. “I will show you were you will be staying when you are not at school! Now you must simply come and stay with us for the holidays, I am sure my husband is clearing it all with the headmaster. Well, except the summer holiday, but that is because you will be on your Archeology trips, they were so fun when I went to school. I know Antonio had lots of fun as well.” They walked up two floors, and Katy was shown to a door, when she opened it, it could not have shocked her more. “Well what do you think?”
Katy took it all in, the pinks, the reds, oranges and purples, stuffed animals, and other toys, dolls, a writing desk, and a large bed. “It is so perfect! Thank you.” Katy turned to hug Sandra, tears in her eyes. “You all have been so kind to me, I could never repay you! How is this even possible, do you have a daughter as well?” Katy did not want to take someone else’s room.
“I am glad you like it, and it is our pleasure to have you here, the house can be a little quiet during the holidays now that Antonio has finished his under schooling. You should liven the place up very nicely. And no daughter. You will be surprised what one can do with a little shopping and a dash of magic.” Sandra said with a smile and wink. “Now come on we can go to the kitchen and get some cookies and milk.” Sandra took Katy’s hand and led her down to the kitchen where both Professor MacCathmhaoil and Antonio were both seated at the kitchen table. As Sandra and Katy walked in, they both looked up and smiled the conversation they were having stopped.
“What are you two talking about?” Sandra asked as she led Katy to a chair then sat down in the one opposite. “Probably about potions they are working on Katy Lily, always with the potions.” Sandra said as she rolled her eyes. “Not that, potions are bad, after all I use them all the time in my work, but the constant talk of potions can drive one crazy.”
“Now mom, you know how we are with potions, and we are working on a good one, you know to turn vampires back into human? I think dad and I almost have it, we are just missing something.” Antonio stated as he grabbed a cookie.
Sandra said nothing for a moment, instead she flipped her hand and the fridge, and the cupboard next to it, opened and out of the fridge floated a pitcher of milk, out of the cupboard came four glasses. She set the glasses on the table and poured the milk all without once touching them. “You know Katy Lily, the boys are really useless, sometimes I wonder if they wouldn’t starve if someone didn’t remind them to eat or even cook it for them.” Sandra said as the milk returned the fridge and a stack of cookies floated over to Katy on a plate.
“That was awesome!” Katy forgot about the cookies and was fascinated about the common use of magic.
“That was nothing you will learn that in your Thaumaturgy class. Does Professor Mary Rian still teach it?”
“Yes” answered Professor MacCathmhaoil as he reached over and grabbed a cookie, then his and Antonio’s heads were back down around a paper they had between them.
Katy did not say anything more, but chewed on a cookie, and drank some milk. She just sat there and absorbed this scene, it was like a family, something she only saw on television when she watched it the mall on the cold winter days. When Katy had ate three cookies and finished her milk, only then, did she talk again. “Those were the best cookies ever thank you.”
“Ha! See boys Katy Lily likes my cooking!” Sandra exclaimed as she pointed a finger at them. Katy had not heard them complain.
“We didn’t say your cooking was bad, love” answered Professor MacCathmhaoil “just that they are not the best, your mother’s cooking is better.” He stated matter-of-factly. Then looked back down at his paper and continued his conversation with Antonio who didn’t even look up.
“Fine, think what you will but Katy likes them!” Sandra said with a smile and stood up. “Come on Katy Lily let’s get you ready for bed, it is nearly nine at night, you will need plenty of rest, I think I will take you shopping tomorrow.” Sandra took Katy’s hand and led her upstairs, to the bathroom across the way from the bedroom that she had shown Katy earlier.
“But I already got my school supplies.” Katy said as Sandra started to run a bath and poured bubble bath into the running water.
“We are not going to go for school supplies we are going to go have some fun, and it looks like you could use some everyday clothes too, these are much too big for you. I will mend some of my old clothes to your size tonight, crazy easy to do with magic, you get to learn that as well soon, and then we can go buy your own tomorrow. Now get undressed and hop in the tub and clean up I will check on you in a few minutes.” Sandra said with a smile as she left the room.
Katy got undressed and jumped in the tub, she had never had a bubble bath before, she played with the bubbles until most of them popped. She then washed up, and she just finished washing her hair when Sandra walked in.
“I found a nice nightgown for you, here it is and a towel, dry and get dressed and then off to bed with you, I will see you in a few moments.”
Katy took her time drying off then turned and got dressed in the clothes set out for her; the nightgown was a pale pink. Then opened the door and walked across the way to the room Sandra had showed her earlier. Sandra was in there and she had turned down the bed.
“There you are Katy, come on get in.” Sandra said as she moved aside.
Katy did not hesitate; she did not realize how tired she was, she never slept on a bed before, a cot, yes, but not a bed. She jumped up on the bed and laid down in the middle. She did not know how she would sleep. She was afraid this was all a dream.
Sandra bent down and tucked her in. “Good night Katy Lily.” Sandra gave her a kiss on the forehead then walked out, turned off the light and left the door cracked.
Though Katy was full of fears, even they could not stop the happiness she felt as it filled her scarred soul. Even if it was a dream at least she was happy for a day and with that she drifted off to sleep.
Kris Charles - Author 