10.1 The Witchling Shama
After I finished the dishes, I worked with Frances on his reading and drilled him on his addition facts. He seemed to have a good head for numbers and liked doing word problems. Carlo wrinkled…
The Witchling Shama
A young witchling and her loyal horse stand at the forest’s edge,
ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.
Follow the unfolding journey of Shama, a courageous young witchling, through daily entries. Each post continues the story. Start from the beginning or dive into the most recent chapters.
Daily Story Blogs
9.30 The Witchling Shama
We were sitting at the table talking, or rather Dr. Stevens was. He was telling me about cases and the treatments he’d rendered. He’d already offered to let me go with him on the next…
9.29 The Witchling Shama
Dr. Stevens ate everything I’d fixed and drank the rest of the coffee. Mrs. Penn only nibbled on some eggs and took the tiniest bite of one pancake. I saw the doctor observing that. I…
Shama’s Journey: Chapter Progression
5.1 The Witchling Shama: The Beginning
The night still held the smells of discord. I sniffed the winds and exhaled angrily. The town had…
5.2 The Witchling Shama
When the first rock hit, I spit fully into the face of the mayor. Then I raised my…
5.3 The Witchling Shama
She galloped her dappled grey stallion, Frey, until she saw that he was sweating and breathing hard. She…
5.4 The Witchling Shama
Weeding and tending to Mr. Kettern’s garden was surely worth the friendship she had with Frey. And luckily,…
5.5 The Witchling Shama
Well, she would no longer be at their beck and call. She was free of their scorn and…
5.6 The Witchling Shama
The hour was growing late. When I had walked Frey cool, I located a likely place for a…
5.7 The Witchling Shama
It was pleasant to wake up in such a lovely spot. I couldn’t help smiling, although my stomach…
5.8 The Witchling Shama
Just as I was thinking that I heard the approach of a trotting horse. His tread on…
5. 9 The Witchling Shama
The preacher had seemed a nice enough fellow, but when he arrived at the village, he would probably…
5. 10 The Witchling Shama
Standing in front of us, looking ready to attack, stood a five hundred pound boar with tusks like…
5. 11 The Witchling Shama
It was not a good area to gallop in. There were too many low growing plants with shoots…
5.12 The Witchling Shama
We rested there for a moment to get our breath, then walked on through the woods, keeping our…
5.13 The Witchling Shama
We passed by areas of mushrooms in a wide variety. I glanced at them but didn’t stop to…
5.14 The Witchling Shama
In the dream , the kitten wanted to play and began following a string I was dangling in…
5.15 The Witchling Shama
I woke up then, sat up, and stretched. Frey, who was standing right beside me, resting as I…
5.16 The Witchling Shama
I babbled on a bit, telling Frey all about my funny dream. His ears flicked back and forth,…
5.17 The Witchling Shama
I guess everyone harbors unanswered questions that plague them on their sleepless nights. I had tumbled mine about…
5.18 The Witchling Shama
I whistled to Frey and when he came over, I saddled him up. It was a temptation to…
5.19 The Witchling Shama
It was a pleasant day for a ride. Frey, having rested well, seemed bouncy with energy. I’d checked…
5.20 The Witchling Shama
Using a stick, I took a moment to dig up some of the stems which were buried underground.…
5.21 The Witchling Shama
We passed a turtle lying in the sun, and, later, several small frogs croaked as we passed…
5.22 The Witchling Shama
I was lucky to be slightly dark of skin. My eyes were green and my hair a dark,…
5.23 The Witchling Shama
The afternoon had cooled off. A soft breeze sped us on our way. We reached a patch where…
5.24 The Witchling Shama
I hadn’t received an answer about where their parents were, but it was possible the boys were just…
5.25 The Witchling Shama
Carlo, who’d been petting Frey on the leg, which was as high as he could reach, turned to…
5.26 The Witchling Shama
No one was home, just as the boys had suspected. They invited me inside and asked if…
5.27 The Witchling Shama
“It’s dark down there,” Carlo added, his eyes widening in apprehension, either because he was terrified at the…
5.28 The Witchling Shama
On inspection, the items looked safe. I opened a jar of apricots and took a whiff. The seal…
5.29 The Witchling Shama
This bush looked like it was in its second year because it had flowering stalks blooming with attractive…
5.30 The Witchling Shama
I suppose Frey’s willingness to obey such a summons might also be due to the fact that I…
5.31 The Witchling Shama
My hopefulness for the return of the boys’ parent, turned to astonishment when I saw that the buggy…
6.1 The Witchling Shama
Once again, my thoughts dallied, as they were prone to do of late. For some reason, I was…
6.2 The Witchling Shama
I patted his shoulder, then watched as he took off, first at a trot and then a surge…
6.3 The Witchling Shama
The woman stepped forward. “Boys, my name is Mrs. Penn, and I’m going to take care of…
6.4 The Witchling Shama
I rubbed the boys’ backs and cooed meaningless babble like, “Now, now,” which is what Old Mother used…
6.5 The Witchling Shama
“We’ll put you in the children’s home, and everything’s going to be just fine,” Mrs. Penn added, nervously…
6.6 The Witchling Shama
Officer Krugle had taken a breather from demanding my personal information. I guess he hadn’t envisioned the boys…
6.7 The Witchling Shama
Mrs. Penn was obviously outraged by the sights she’d seen inside the children’s abode, and although she was…
6.8 The Witchling Shama
The officer was back in under five minutes, the disgust he’d been showing concerning my presence in the…
6.9 The Witchling Shama
“Shama,” I said, bowing to the necessity of being honest with an officer of the law. “I…
6.10 The Witchling Shama
Only the man didn’t say what I’d assumed he would, because Mrs. Penn interrupted him. “Officer, I need…
6.11 The Witchling Shama
The idea of being someone’s mommy horrified me. I shook my head emphatically, then looked down at Carlo’s…
6.12 The Witchling Shama
I watched as the man placed my saddle and bridle onto the seat beside him. Then, reassured that…
6.13 The Witchling Shama
As the buggy sped along, I sneaked peeks at Mrs. Penn. She didn’t seem to be much of…
6.14 The Witchling Shama
As Officer Krugle drove us into the town, I began to wonder exactly where he’d take us.…
6.15 The Witchling Shama
The officer’s eyes scanned me once more, as if each piece of information he pried out of…
6.16 The Witchling Shama
I didn’t want to ask, afraid that might deflate the boys even further. Did they understand that their…
6.17 The Witchling Shama
“For a few days?” I asked, considering it. I didn’t want to stick around here with a…
6.18 The Witchling Shama
Without any further discussions with Officer Krugle about propositions, the four of us headed in the direction…
6.19 The Witchling Shama
We walked in through the varnished wood front door, then stopped. I think my mouth dropped open, and…
6.20 The Witchling Shama
“Oh, dear,” Mrs. Penn. “We need those new clothes right now. Okay if I leave now so…
6.21 The Witchling Shama
I closed the door and took a moment to think. First, I needed to look at the…
6.22 The Witchling Shama
After it was clean, I placed the basin on a flat surface and used a hose to fill…
6.23 The Witchling Shama
“Do you always carry on conversations with your horse?” the officer said, having sneaked up behind me while…
6.24 The Witchling Shama
So, of course, there was nothing to do but search the house. Behind a door in the kitchen,…
6.25 The Witchling Shama
We found an almost perfectly square line on the ceiling of Mrs. Smith’s living room, painted so evenly,…
6.26 The Witchling Shama
The floorboards, when I advanced a gingerly step inside, seemed safe and strong. I heard not a single…
6.27 The Witchling Shama
I left that first box open, figuring that the boys would enjoy its contents, and moved on to…
6.28 The Witchling Shama
The boys must have heard us talking. They came out into the living room, yawning and stretching their…
6.29 The Witchling Shama
“We shall strive to draw out more of those smiles,” Mrs. Penn said. “And now, I think it…
6.30 The Witchling Shama
I was still holding the two teddy bears. I turned back to hand them to Mrs. Penn, but…
7.1 The Witchling Shama
I don’t remember ever having such a pleasant and relaxing bath. The water temperature was just right. The…
7.2 The Witchling Shama
I found myself once more admiring the dress in the mirror. Mrs. Penn had found a dress that…
7.3 The Witchling Shama
I just couldn’t bear to put the boots back on, not when I was clean and fashionably attired.…
7.4 The Witchling Shama
I turned back to meet Mrs. Penn’s eyes. “I am sorry for my rudeness in coming downstairs barefoot,…
7.5 The Witchling Shama
Frances placed his sandwich down on the plate and leaned forward. “Really? Shama’s going to teach us to…
7.6 The Witchling Shama
After eating, I asked if Mrs. Penn had been able to get some hay for Frey. She said…
7.7 The Witchling Shama
Frey was excited to see us. He bugled, then did a head nodding stunt until I walked over…
7.8 The Witchling Shama
Frances gingerly stuck out the bread, his hand trembling again, but still flat as I’d showed him. Once…
7.9 The Witchling Shama
Just like his big brother, Carlo kept his hand more or less steady and firm. But when Frey’s…
7.10 The Witchling Shama
I was just thinking about using some of the rags in the basement to make toys, when a…
7.11 The Witchling Shama
He began nickering softly, the kind he’d started when he was a foal. It was the equivalent of…
7.12 The Witchling Shama
“Then the boys will have something easier to feed Frey when they want to, and the grain will…
7.13 The Witchling Shama
The boys were back to chasing each other. They called it tag, but it looked like they were…
7.14 The Witchling Shama
It was going to be our first night in the house. I wondered what would happen next. Surely…
7.15 The Witchling Shama
It was not a sweet slumber kind of night. As tired as I was, I still couldn’t sleep.…
7.16 The Witchling Shama
“Is the bear a boy or a girl?” I asked him. “A boy ‘cause my bear sleeps with…
7.17 The Witchling Shama
Carlo’s eyes were closed, his breathing soft and steady. “Can I sleep in here with my brother tonight?”…
7.18 The Witchling Shama
I apparently fell asleep in the chair, because when I opened my eyes, it was to see both…
7.19 The Witchling Shama
Mrs. Penn said she understood, that I’d just been awakened from a night with little sleep due to…
7.20 The Witchling Shama
Leaving Frey, happily munching on what looked like very good hay, full of grain and green goodness, and…
7.21 The Witchling Shama
“Right after breakfast, we’re going clothes shopping,” Mrs. Penn said. “I’m sorry, Shama, but you’ll have to wear…
7.22 The Witchling Shama
I didn’t argue. Despite having a police officer always around, I considered Mrs. Penn the main boss. I…
7.23 The Witchling Shama
“I found this in the rags box,” I told them, my eyes on Mrs. Penn. I unwrapped the…
7.24 The Witchling Shama
The officer finally went on his way, leaving us to go into shops by ourselves. It was a…
7.25 The Witchling Shama
As we were walking back to the station, Mrs. Penn asked me why I bristled up whenever the…
7.26 The Witchling Shama
Someone had given the boys a ball to play with, and Officer Krugle was part of the…
7.27 The Witchling Shama
When we reached the house, the feed store cart was just pulling up. I could hear Frey making…
7.28 The Witchling Shama
I’d already emptied the small basin and placed it in the shed. The basin might come in handy…
7.29 The Witchling Shama
And Frey? He stopped munching and paused to watch them. He seemed fascinated by the two little boys,…
7.30 The Witchling Shama
I was no longer the pristine clean young woman I’d been at the start of the day when…
7.31 The Witchling Shama
“So,” Officer Krugle said, his eyes skimming my naked feet, as if that was the most important…
8.1 The Witchling Shama
The boys had been watching this scene with big eyes, eyes full of fear. Their small rolling toys…
8.2 The Witchling Shama
Frances had hesitated a moment, still picking up emotions from the air, but he sprang up then and…
8.3 The Witchling Shama
After our emotional moment, I wiped away the boys’ tears with the sleeve of my dress, then told…
8.4 The Witchling Shama
I put down the bread, folded my hands, and waited for Mrs. Penn to probe my personal convictions…
8.5 The Witchling Shama
I suppose we witches got a pardon for eating plants because they were actually a form of life.…
8.6 The Witchling Shama
But gossip didn’t need facts to inspire it, I’d long ago witnessed. Gossip was scandalous fiction spun for…
8.7 The Witchling Shama
I blinked back a tear from what I’d witnessed that day, how they’d cursed and spit at…
8.8 The Witchling Shama
When the meal was over, I tried as I always did to help Mrs. Penn with the clean-up,…
8.9 The Witchling Shama
“I have good news for you, buddy. We’re leaving the yard and going for a ride. That should…
8.10 The Witchling Shama
Walking Frey forward, as we passed through the small path from the backyard to head out to the…
8.11 The Witchling Shama
I never knew how much Frey understood of human speech, but he’d decided that he didn’t like…
8.12 The Witchling Shama
In between splashings I encouraged Frey to drink, which was also something necessary for his over- heated…
8.13 The Witchling Shama
“It was your fault. You’re the big cheese in town who’s supposed to keep people from doing mischief.…
8.14 The Witchling Shama
“Good. That’s better. Tell me what the boys did to make your horse gallop you away.” I sighed,…
8.15 The Witchling Shama
“You put the boys in jail? Isn’t that a bit harsh? If I’d known they were going…
8.16 The Witchling Shama
Frey gave a second gentle nicker of comfort that instantly reassured me. No matter what happened in life,…
8.17 The Witchling Shama
“I’m taking back my horse,” the drunkard said. “It isn’t fair what that judge said. That grey beast…
8.18 The Witchling Shama
So when Mr. Henderson had demanded money in order for me to purchase Frey, I was desperate. I’d…
8.19 The Witchling Shama
I introduced the three people I had brought with me: the milkmaid (Mrs. Swenson), the apothecary (Mr. Tully,)…
8.20 The Witchling Shama
Once again, his eyes scanned the villagers’ faces, then he cleared his voice, and turned to address me.…
8.21 The Witchling Shama
Judge Muffett had dismissed the group from the court session then, refusing to allow them to remain, even…
8.22 The Witchling Shama
Unfortunately, that was the switch that restarted the man’s speeches, only this time, he’d halted his swaying body…
8.23 The Witchling Shama
“I moved in closer and bent down. ‘How do you make them breathe?’ I asked. “Mr. Henderson sighed…
8.24 The Witchling Shama
“He was just a newborn, but he weighed an awful lot. I was fourteen at the time and…
8.25 The Witchling Shama
I learned to sleep in increments of five. I cat napped minutes. But then the next problem hit.…
8.26 The Witchling Shama
“But after I’d worked off my debt to her, the vet, and the apothecary where I bought Frey’s…
8.27 The Witchling Shama
“I didn’t understand. I’d gotten permission to take the foal. Frey would have died if I hadn’t…
8.28 The Witchling Shama
When Mr. Henderson agreed that I had given the facts correctly, the judge narrowed his eyes and stared…
8.29 The Witchling Shama
However, whatever my feelings in the matter, I had no control over the raging waters of the judge’s…
8.30 The Witchling Shama
“I see. I think it is clear at this point that there was never any contract between…
8.31 The Witchling Shama
The judge’s eyes held darts of scorn, but Mrs. Krinkel probably didn’t see it. As for the others…
9.1 The Witchling Shama
I heard someone creeping up behind me. For a second it sprung my alarms. I was back…
9.2 The Witchling Shama
And while I was examining my feelings about settling into Tinkle Town, I suppose if I were being…
9.3 The Witchling Shama
I once heard one of the younger women, Clara, who’d just given her hand to her husband in…
9.4 The Witchling Shama
For a moment I just stared up at him, words, as I’d said, short in supply. Or maybe…
9.5 The Witchling Shama
“I understand about Frey. He’s curious and wants to join in whatever activity we’re engaging in. But…
9.6 The Witchling Shama
I tried to get up, but found myself still stuck because he hadn’t moved. He was still sitting…
9.7 The Witchling Shama
There wasn’t a lot of conversation on the way back. I’d thought he’d want to pester me about…
9.8 The Witchling Shama
“What time will the police station open in the morning?” I asked him. “Whenever I get around to…
9.9 The Witchling Shama
The boys came running outside when they heard us in the backyard. Both flung themselves at me. “Where…
9.10 The Witchling Shama
It was a quick meal, and then were back outside. The grooming of my very dirty horse was…
9.11 The Witchling Shama
That night I had the strangest dream. I was back at the side of the brook where Frey…
9.12 The Witchling Shama
I suppose that Frank might have displayed a moment of surprise in his eyes at my question, but,…
9.14 The Witchling Shama
I needed to have a talk with Frank. Frances needed some help over this hurdle. I think the…
9.15 The Witchling Shama
Like Old Mother, Mrs. Penn was a woman I could learn a lot from. She would definitely be…
9.16 The Witchling Shama
“Shama, are you ready for some pancakes?” Mrs. Penn asked. I was still too teary-eyed to engage in…
9.17 The Witchling Shama
At last when my tears settled down into a monotonous sniff, sniff, I pulled away. “I’m sorry. I…
9.18 The Witchling Shama
Frank thought the kitten belonged to one of the nearby houses. He went door to door to check…
9.19 The Witchling Shama
As to Frank and Mrs. Penn, Willow seemed almost invisible. They both tried to become her friend, bending…
9.20 The Witchling Shama
Both boys had learned to guide Frey about the yard with a subtle lean of their bodies, and…
9.21 The Witchling Shama
So, things were going great. I knew that soon Frances would be heading off to school, and I…
9.22 The Witchling Shama
On that last day when Dr. Peters examined Old Mother once again, he stayed with me throughout the…
9.23 The Witchling Shama
I didn’t weep. My throat was parched, my eyes dry as a wind-bruised land. I couldn’t speak after…
9.24 The Witchling Shama
They took Old Mother away the next morning. Long bereavements in a house were not permitted, not since…
9.25 The Witchling Shama
Then Mr. Turn, the blacksmith, hired me to stack logs for the fire and to haul away spent…
9.26 The Witchling Shama
But village life had never been the equal of my stay in Tinker Town, where I felt like…
9.27 The Witchling Shama
Frank had sounded confident that a night’s rest would soothe whatever ailed Mrs. Penn. I hoped so. Old…
9.28 The Witchling Shama
“So, you made the boys some bunny pancakes. Good for you, Shama. I’m proud of you.” Mrs. Penn…
9.29 The Witchling Shama
Dr. Stevens ate everything I’d fixed and drank the rest of the coffee. Mrs. Penn only nibbled on…
9.30 The Witchling Shama
We were sitting at the table talking, or rather Dr. Stevens was. He was telling me about cases…
9.1 The Witchling Shama
I heard someone creeping up behind me. For a second it sprung my alarms. I was back…
9.2 The Witchling Shama
And while I was examining my feelings about settling into Tinkle Town, I suppose if I were being…
9.3 The Witchling Shama
I once heard one of the younger women, Clara, who’d just given her hand to her husband in…
9.4 The Witchling Shama
For a moment I just stared up at him, words, as I’d said, short in supply. Or maybe…
9.5 The Witchling Shama
“I understand about Frey. He’s curious and wants to join in whatever activity we’re engaging in. But…
9.6 The Witchling Shama
I tried to get up, but found myself still stuck because he hadn’t moved. He was still sitting…
9.7 The Witchling Shama
There wasn’t a lot of conversation on the way back. I’d thought he’d want to pester me about…
9.8 The Witchling Shama
“What time will the police station open in the morning?” I asked him. “Whenever I get around to…
9.9 The Witchling Shama
The boys came running outside when they heard us in the backyard. Both flung themselves at me. “Where…
9.10 The Witchling Shama
It was a quick meal, and then were back outside. The grooming of my very dirty horse was…
9.11 The Witchling Shama
That night I had the strangest dream. I was back at the side of the brook where Frey…
9.12 The Witchling Shama
I suppose that Frank might have displayed a moment of surprise in his eyes at my question, but,…
9.14 The Witchling Shama
I needed to have a talk with Frank. Frances needed some help over this hurdle. I think the…
9.15 The Witchling Shama
Like Old Mother, Mrs. Penn was a woman I could learn a lot from. She would definitely be…
9.16 The Witchling Shama
“Shama, are you ready for some pancakes?” Mrs. Penn asked. I was still too teary-eyed to engage in…
9.17 The Witchling Shama
At last when my tears settled down into a monotonous sniff, sniff, I pulled away. “I’m sorry. I…
9.18 The Witchling Shama
Frank thought the kitten belonged to one of the nearby houses. He went door to door to check…
9.19 The Witchling Shama
As to Frank and Mrs. Penn, Willow seemed almost invisible. They both tried to become her friend, bending…
9.20 The Witchling Shama
Both boys had learned to guide Frey about the yard with a subtle lean of their bodies, and…
9.21 The Witchling Shama
So, things were going great. I knew that soon Frances would be heading off to school, and I…
9.22 The Witchling Shama
On that last day when Dr. Peters examined Old Mother once again, he stayed with me throughout the…
9.23 The Witchling Shama
I didn’t weep. My throat was parched, my eyes dry as a wind-bruised land. I couldn’t speak after…
9.24 The Witchling Shama
They took Old Mother away the next morning. Long bereavements in a house were not permitted, not since…
9.25 The Witchling Shama
Then Mr. Turn, the blacksmith, hired me to stack logs for the fire and to haul away spent…
9.26 The Witchling Shama
But village life had never been the equal of my stay in Tinker Town, where I felt like…
9.27 The Witchling Shama
Frank had sounded confident that a night’s rest would soothe whatever ailed Mrs. Penn. I hoped so. Old…
9.28 The Witchling Shama
“So, you made the boys some bunny pancakes. Good for you, Shama. I’m proud of you.” Mrs. Penn…
9.29 The Witchling Shama
Dr. Stevens ate everything I’d fixed and drank the rest of the coffee. Mrs. Penn only nibbled on…
9.30 The Witchling Shama
We were sitting at the table talking, or rather Dr. Stevens was. He was telling me about cases…
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