Once we had got off the bus, Aunty Shirley walked along with us all to Nanny Mitchel’s house as if waiting to be invited.
If nothing else Nanny Mitchels generation were always polite to each other.
Bearing this in mind, it did not take long for the invitation to be offered.
“Shirley, would if you are not busy would you like to come round for a cup of tea?” asked Nanny Mitchel.
“I would love to”, replied Aunty Shirley. “In fact, come to think of it Dorothy,” continued Aunty Shirley “I was going to suggest that I helped you get Patricia ready for her schooling, as I am sure there is a lot to prepare.
Myself and Karen gave each other one of our Physic looks as if to say “Have we really got to put up with our domineering loose Christian principled Aunt Shirley as well as Nanny Mitchel.”
It would be obvious that both myself and Karen would suffer as a result of having these two in close proximity.
The result when Nanny Mitchel was surrounded by others of her age group was always the same.
That was, that she would make a point of showing her authority over us off.
“Well Shirley,” replied Nanny Mitchel. “I could really do with some help in cleaning out what will be the schoolroom for Mrs Hegitey if you did not mind.”
“Well yes, Dorothy,” AnsweredAunty Shirley, “that is just what I was thinking earlier. However, I think it will need further discussion and planning.”
“Yes I agree, Shirley”, responded Nanny Mitchel with much enthusiasm.
It appeared that Nanny Mitchel would agree with anything and everything Aunty Shirley would say.
It also appeared that Aunty Shirley knew this very well and at times was never slow to take advantage of the situation.
It was if Nanny Mitchel knew her place when with her friend.
However, having said all this, the arrival of Mrs Hegitey in Nanny Mitchel’s life may alter things considerably.
Once again during the exchanges that took place between Aunty Shirley and Nanny Mitchel, myself and cousin Karen were generally ignored.
However, between us both, there appeared to be some magic happening.
Since my transformation into a girl, which had still happened less than 24 hours ago, myself and cousin had started to really bond in what some may term as against the face of adversity.
In a lot of ways it was true that both Nanny Mitchel and Aunty Shirley loved us both and wanted what was best for us.
However, there was still much adversity toward them because of their over-bossy attitudes, constant nit-picking, and threats of being smacked.
On the subject of being smacked, it was going to later become apparent that Aunty Shirley was going to also have the authority to administer such chastisement to us as well.
Finally, we got home.
Straight away Nanny Mitchel went into the kitchen to put the kettle on to make a cup of tea.
Both myself and cousin Karen were given a glass of orange juice each and then told to go upstairs and play as both Aunty Shirley and Nanny Mitchel had much to discuss.
This came as a relief to both myself and cousin Karen as we would now be free of them for a short while.
As we walked up the creaky staircase to the bedroom the obvious voice of Nanny Mitchel could be heard telling us what would happen if she heard any squabbling.
However, as with Nanny Mitchel and Aunty Shirley both myself and cousin Karen had much to talk about.
Bearing this in mind, the chance of us two squabblings, was very slim indeed.
As with the relationship with Nanny Mitchel and Aunty Shirley where Aunty Shirley took the lead, the relationship between myself and cousin Karen was much the same.
Although cousin Karen was a year or so younger than I, she was far more astute and wise than I was.
Taking this fact into consideration, Cousin Karen would always take the lead.
“You need to be careful Patricia,” said Karen starting the conversation. “I will be going home on Monday and you will be left alone at the mercy of Nanny Mitchel, Aunty Shirley, and this Mrs Hegitey”, continued cousin Karen. “And this Mrs Hegitey is a Witch I tell you.”
I was totally emersed in everything my cousin Karen was telling me.
This was everything except Mrs Hegitey being a witch.
As naive and as unstreetwise as I was, even I knew that witches were ghastly people that poisoned people with apples in fairy tales but did not really exist.
However, cousin Karen was insistent, that witches existed and Mrs Hegitey was one.
As much as I tried to argue my side of the case, cousin Karen was adamant and was not going to budge.
“You do not have to believe me”, said cousin Karen in a firm but kindly tone, “but if nothing elseat least be careful. Please trust me, I know about these things.”
It appeared at this time as it always did in these situations that cousin Karen was fairly grown up beyond her years.
Continuing this debate, I asked Cousin Karen exactly how she knew that Mrs Hegitey was a witch.
“I am so sorry Patrica”, replied cousin Karen, “I can not tell you how I know, but I promise you I do know and I am worried about what they will do to you.”
I thought to myself for a moment that this was a bit rich coming from someone who appeared to be in on my transformation from a female to a male from the start.
It appeared that cousin Karen had been ok to put me in her school uniform yesterday for a game of school and, even smack my hand with a ruler for getting my times table wrong, however she was now concerned about my well-being.
Immediately being somewhat psychic cousin Karen sensed this and was ready to give an explanation.
“Patricia, the reason we played schools yesterday was to prepare you for what is to come,” said Karen in an informative tone.
Karen went on further to apologize it she had been mean and hit me with the ruler, however, this was to prepare me for what was to come.
“Patrica,” said Karen is a slightly sharper tone,” If you do not learn your seven times table by heart, Mrs Hegitey will beat it into you.”
It was if cousin Karen could see into the future, for it appeared she had gifts that were indeed magickal.
However, I was still not believing in all this witch malarky.
To me, even though I was niave and possibly backward for my years, it all seemed a little too far-fetched.
However there was no doubt about it, cousin Karen’s prophecy was to be proved true.
