A Hat Full Of Sky

world…changing. She’d seen it clearer than a hawk sees, heard it better than a dog hears, felt its age beneath her feet, felt the hills still living. And she remembered thinking that no one could do this for long and still be human.
    “Well, you’ve got the right boots for stamping your foot,” said Annagramma. There were a few more half-concealed giggles. “A Queen of the Fairies,” she added. “I’m sure you did. Well, it helps to dream.”
    “I don’t tell lies,” mumbled Tiffany, but no one was listening.
    Sullen and upset, she watched the girls Open the Corners and Summon the Circle, unless she’d got that the wrong way around. This went on for some time. It would have gone better if they’d all been sure what to do, but it was probably hard to know what to do when Annagramma was around, since she kept correcting everyone. She was standing with a big book open in her arms.
    “…now you, Gertruder, go widdershins, no, that’s the other way, I must have told you literally a thousand times , and Lulu—where’s Lulu? Well, you shouldn’t have been there! Get the shriven chalice, not that one, no, the one without handles…yes. Harrieta, hold the Wand of the Air a bit higher, I mean, it must be in the air, d’you understand? And for goodness’ sake, Petulia, please try to look a little more stately, will you? I appreciate that it doesn’t come naturally to you, but you might at least show you’re making an effort. By the way, I’ve been meaning to tell you, no invocation ever written starts with ‘um,’ unless I’m very much mistaken. Harrieta, is that the Cauldron of the Sea? Does it even look like a Cauldron of the Sea? I don’t think so, do you? What was that noise? ”
    The girls looked down. Then someone mumbled: “Dimity trod on the Circlet of Infinity, Annagramma.”
    “Not the one with the genuine seed pearls on it?” said Annagramma in a tight little voice.
    “Um, yes,” said Petulia. “But I’m sure she’s very sorry. Um…shall I make a cup of tea?”
    The book slammed shut.
    “What is the point?” said Annagramma to the world in general. “What. Is. The. Point? Do you want to spend the rest of your lives as village witches, curing boils and warts for a cup of tea and a biscuit? Well? Do you?”
    There was a shuffling among the huddled witches, and a general murmur of “No, Annagramma.”
    “You did all read Mrs. Earwig’s book, didn’t you?” she demanded. “Well, did you?”
    Petulia raised a hand nervously. “Um—” she began.
    “Petulia, I’ve told you literally a million times not to start. Every. Single. Sentence. With ‘Um’—haven’t I?”
    “Um—” said Petulia, trembling with nervousness.
    “Just speak up, for goodness’ sake! Don’t hesitate all the time!”
    “Um—”
    “Petulia!”
    “Um—”
    “Really, you might make an effort . Honestly, I don’t know what’s the matter with all of you!”
    I do, Tiffany thought. You’re like a dog worrying sheep all the time. You don’t give them time to obey you, and you don’t let them know when they’ve done things right. You just keep barking.
    Petulia had lapsed into tongue-tied silence.
    Annagramma put the book down on the log. “Well, we’ve completely lost the moment,” she said. “We may as well have that cup of tea, Petulia. Do hurry up.”
    Petulia, relieved, grabbed the kettle. People relaxed a little.
    Tiffany looked at the cover of the book. It read:
    The Higher MagiK
by Letice Earwig, Witch
    “Magic with a K?” she said aloud. “Magik kkk ?”
    “That’s deliberate,” said Annagramma coldly. “Mrs. Earwig says that if we are to make any progress at all we must distinguish the higher MagiK from the everyday sort.”
    “The everyday sort of magic?” said Tiffany.
    “Exactly. None of that mumbling in hedgerows for us . Proper sacred circles, spells written down. A proper hierarchy, not everyone running around doing whatever they feel like. Real wands, not bits of grubby stick. Professionalism, with respect. Absolutely no warts. That’s the only way forward.”
    “Well, I think—” Tiffany began.
    “I don’t really care what you think, because you don’t know enough yet,” said Annagramma sharply. She turned to the group in general. “Do we all at least have something for the Trials this year?” she asked. There were general murmurs and nods on the theme of “yes.”
    “What about you, Petulia?” said Annagramma.
    “I’m going to do the pig