The Unwilling Witch Read Free Page B

asked.
    â€œThat was years ago,” Jan said. “Besides, it should have worked.”
    I shuddered as I remembered the way it had foamed up and splattered all over the counter. “I’m still finding sticky spots in the kitchen.”
    â€œOkay, maybe I’ve given you one or two bad ideas. But you can’t say that about your little Darling.”
    â€œNope. You’re right—she’s definitely a great idea.”
    Jan walked with me down to the end of Main Mall. “Mellon alert,” she said when we reached the exit.
    I watched as Clem and Clyde tried to come inside. They were fighting over who was going to go through the door first. Every time one of them started to step in, the other would grab him and yank him back. People were staring at them and walking around to the other doors.
    â€œAt least they never bother us,” I said to Jan. I was pretty sure those two had no idea who I was, and I liked it that way.
    â€œYeah. They’re too busy bothering each other,” she said.
    I said good-bye to Jan, then crossed the street and headed home.
    Just my luck, when I reached my house, I ran into Sebastian. His friends call him Splat, for some reason I don’t remember. I call him a pest. Sometimes we get along, but he’s always picking fights with me.
    â€œHey,” Sebastian said. “Is that a cat?”
    â€œHey,” I said back, “I guess you really did learn something in school. Maybe next week they’ll teach you to recognize doggies. Duh.”
    â€œI see one right now,” he said. “Woof, woof.”
    â€œYou are such a child.”
    â€œAnd you’re in so much trouble.” He turned toward the house. “Angie has a cat,” he whispered. “Angie has a cat,” he said a little more loudly. Then he said it again, even louder.
    â€œStop that. Don’t ruin this for me.”
    He said it again, almost shouting.
    â€œStop. I’m warning you.”
    He smiled and shook his head. Then he took a real deep breath, like he was going to scream at the top of his lungs.
    â€œYou wouldn’t dare,” I said.
    â€œAngie has—!”
    I grabbed his shoulder. “Stop!”
    There was no question about the shock this time. It knocked my hand away from Sebastian. I looked at my fingers, expecting to see some kind of burn marks. But everything was fine. I looked back at Sebastian.
    He wasn’t there. My brother had vanished.

 
    Six
    THE PERFECT BROTHER
    â€œSebastian?” I called. “Come on. Stop hiding.” He couldn’t have run off that quickly. But he must have. There was no other explanation. At least he wasn’t going to spoil my chance to tell Mom about Darling. I started to walk toward the porch.
    â€œYeeeoowwrrlll!” Darling let out a screech and dug her kitten claws into my shoulder.
    â€œHey! That hurt.” That’s when I glanced down. I’d almost stepped on a doll. A doll? I knelt and stared at the doll that was lying on the ground. It had a rag body and a porcelain head. And it looked like Sebastian. It looked exactly like him—same clothes and everything.
    â€œIt can’t be…,” I whispered.
    â€œMewwwp,” Darling said.
    I touched the doll with one finger. I almost expected it to be warm and breathing, but it felt like any other doll. “Sebastian, is that you?” I asked.

    It didn’t answer. I don’t know what I would have done if it had talked. I couldn’t leave it outside. I picked up the doll and headed toward the front door.
    â€œHey, is Splat home?” a voice called from behind me.
    â€œNo!” I spun around, thrusting the doll behind my back. “He’s not here.”
    It was Sebastian’s friend Norman. The kid was smart. Actually, he was more than just smart. He was stuffed so full of knowledge, I figured he’d explode someday and fill the air with flying numbers and millions of facts.