Witchy Tales: A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fairy Tale Read Free Page B

declared it perfect,” the bear said. The tinny tone of the voice made it hard to ascertain whether it was male or female. “That meant I had to sleep on the floor. In my own home. Thanks for that, by the way.” I couldn’t tell whether it was a boy or a girl, but it definitely sounded like a petulant teenager.
    “Sebastian, there’s no reason to be rude,” the male bear said. “The girl was exhausted. She needed her sleep.”
    “Maybe I was exhausted, too,” Sebastian said. “Did you ever think about that?”
    “Not particularly,” the male bear said. He turned his attention back to me. “Are you hungry?”
    I couldn’t eat if someone put a plate of my favorite cookies in front of me and told me they were calorie-free. “I’m good.”
    The female bear urged Sebastian away from the door and used her shoulder to push it shut. Since she was a bear, her expression was impossible to read. “So, do you want to tell us how you got here?”
    “I have no idea,” I said. “I’m still convinced this is a dream.”
    “It’s not,” she said. “Trust me.”
    “See, um, I can’t really trust you because you’re a talking bear,” I said.
    “I don’t understand what me being a bear has to do with my trustworthiness,” she replied.
    “Mrs. Bear, the thing is, where I come from bears don’t talk,” I said.
    “My name is Sheila, and I’m confused,” she said. “If bears don’t talk where you’re from, how do you communicate with them?”
    “I generally just run,” I said, “although, to be fair, I’ve never seen a bear anywhere but in a zoo. Some people claim there have been some in the woods that surround our house, but I’ve never seen one. I honestly think Aunt Tillie would frighten bears so they stay away.
    “My cousin Thistle says people are really seeing Bigfoot,” I continued, rambling. “I don’t know what to think. I mean, I went to bed last night with my boyfriend and I woke up in a cabin that belongs to a bunch of talking bears.”
    “I told you she was crazy,” the male bear said. “Didn’t I tell you? Only a crazy person would let themselves into a stranger’s home and try out all the beds in the house.”
    “Craig, please,” Sheila said. “You’re upsetting the girl.”
    “I’m upsetting her?” If bears can look irritated, Craig was doing a mighty fine job. “She’s upsetting me.”
    “And me,” Sebastian chimed in.
    I rubbed the heel of my hand against my forehead, my heart pounding as I tried to ascertain exactly what was happening. “You said that I let myself into your cabin last night and … tried out all your beds,” I said. “That’s what you said, right?”
    Sheila nodded.
    “Did I say anything?”
    “You said you were tired and needed the perfect bed,” Craig said.
    “I have no memory of that,” I said.
    “I’ll bet it’s drugs,” Sebastian said. “She looks like a pothead.”
    “Hey!”
    “I think she’s just confused,” Sheila said. “Maybe she got hit on the head or something.”
    My hand flew up and checked my head, going over the entire expanse twice to see whether I could detect a bump or open wound. There was nothing. Crap. “And we’re entirely sure I’m not dreaming, right?”
    “Why do you keep thinking you’re dreaming?” Craig asked.
    “Because you’re bears … and you’re talking … and I didn’t fall asleep wherever this is,” I replied. “Where is this, by the way?”
    “It’s the woods,” Sheila said.
    “What woods?”
    “Just … the woods.”
    “There’s no name for the woods?” I pressed.
    “What woods have names?”
    “I have no idea,” I said. “I just … I really want to wake up right now. You’re not supposed to fear passing out when you’re dreaming. That doesn’t happen. Oh, and Sherwood Forest is a wooded area that’s named.”
    “You’re not dreaming, pothead,” Sebastian said. “I can’t believe we let a pothead into our house. This is so wrong. All I’ve heard for the past