The Witch of Keere Street Chapter Four: The Slipper Beside the Fireplace

The youngsters followed Mrs Thistlewick into her cottage.

Inside, everything was rather different from what they had expected.

There was a roaring coal fire, a great wooden dresser covered in blue-and-white china, and shelves containing hundreds of peculiar-looking bottles.

Bundles of dried herbs hung from the ceiling.

A large iron cauldron stood beside the hearth.

And on a little table lay an enormous leather-bound book.

Billy stared at it.

“Is that a spell book?” he whispered.

Mrs Thistlewick turned around.

“What was that, William?”

“Nothing, madam.”

“Good. Then you may all stand in a nice straight line.”

The youngsters obeyed.

Mrs Thistlewick settled herself into a high-backed armchair.

Beside the fireplace stood a pair of very old carpet slippers.

They were brown, with thick rubber soles, and had plainly seen many years of service.

Mrs Thistlewick picked one up.

“Now then,” she said, examining the worn slipper thoughtfully. “In my younger days, children who behaved as disgracefully as you five would have found themselves having a very serious interview with one of these.”

Billy swallowed.

Peter stared at the floor.

Mrs Thistlewick turned the slipper over, revealing its well-worn rubber sole.

“This particular slipper,” she continued, “has been in my possession for thirty-seven years. It has seen more naughty boys and girls than I care to remember.”

“Thirty-seven years!” whispered Margaret.

“Indeed. And it still has plenty of life left in it.”

She gave the slipper a sharp smack against the arm of her chair.

THWACK!

All five youngsters jumped.

“Now,” she said, “who thought it amusing to put flour on my doorstep?”

Nobody spoke.

Mrs Thistlewick raised the slipper.

“I am waiting.”

“It was Michael!” blurted Billy.

“Thanks very much!” exclaimed Michael.

“And who put leaves through my letterbox?”