"A Bolt from the Blue" Episode Addition
01 Departure
Twenty four hours after the students had gone home for the summer holidays, the staff of Cackles Academy prepared to leave for their own summer breaks. There were several packed bags of varying shapes and sizes by the staff room door. Constance Hardbroom, deputy headmistress and rigid disciplinarian of the academy, had not packed a bag. She was instead reading a large, thick textbook and made notes on several pieces of paper every so often. The rest of the staff were having tea and cream cakes whilst they talked about the next six weeks. Amelia Cackle, soft aunt-style headmistress of the academy had been talking about her plans for the holidays when Constance turned an ear to the conversation.
"That sounds simply wonderful Amelia. What are you doing Davina?"
"I'm going somewhere very mystical and very far away, to see some dear, dear friends and we'll chant all day long." Davina Bat seemed over excited at the mere thought of her summer adventure. She floated around the room clanging her finger symbols and chanting "la la la." Constance was not amused, and tried very hard to once again block out the frivolous activity going on around her.
"What are you doing Imogen?" Amelia asked as she lifted an oozing cream cake to her lips.
"Serge and I are off on a camping adventure for a couple of weeks, then it's up to his place in the mountains for the rest of the holidays." Constance cringed at the sound of that man's name and the memories it invoked - Maiden Aunt indeed! Not to mention his obvious sexual attraction to Imogen. She thought him the sort of man that only thinks of that sort of thing. Her distaste did not go unnoticed, especially as she began to choke on her tea. "I take it you don't approve Miss Hardbroom?" Imogen spat as Constance got her breath back. For some reason she found it incredibly difficult to call the woman by her first name and always emphasized the hard in Hardbroom.
"I didn't say a word." Constance was a little petulant in her reply. "You didn't need to!" Constance had to smile at that remark, she loved nothing more than to wind up her colleagues, unless you were Amelia Cackle that was."What you choose to do with your holiday is no business of mine." Although she wished it was, then that walking bag of male hormones would be well out of the picture. Imogen chose to let it go, she didn't want to start her holidays by having a row with the deputy headmistress. For some reason it really irked her that Constance had an issue with her boyfriend.
"What are you doing with your holiday Miss Hardbroom?" Imogen realised she'd clearly said the wrong thing when she was met with glares from Amelia and Davina. Constance wasn't in the least bit fazed, she was surprised it hadn't been asked earlier. "I shall be doing what I always do, I will be here preparing for next year and studying to further my own skills.""But..." Imogen was stopped by Amelia and Davina shaking their heads. The protest was left hanging in the air. Constance didn't bother to reply and went back to her work. Imogen sipped her tea and took the time to study Constance. Did she really spend all summer cooped up here, studying all alone? It seemed awfully lonely. They finished their tea and cake just before ten fifteen. Imogen was being picked up at ten thirty and Amelia and Davina were to fly on their broomsticks shortly afterwards. They all said their goodbyes to Constance and left for the courtyard.
The three women chatted as they waited.
"You're not seriously saying that she spends all summer here alone?" Imogen still couldn't believe what Constance had told them."For as long as I can remember." Amelia replied.
"Doesn't she have anywhere to go?" Imogen began to wonder if she had any family to speak of.
"I'm not sure, it's not a subject I've ever brought up."
"Isn't it about time someone did?" How on earth could these people have worked with her for years, lived with her even, and not know the first thing about her? Imogen was just astounded."Good luck if you want to give it a go. Talking to Constance about personal matters is a very tricky area, in my opinion it's better left alone." Amelia had tried once, a long time ago. Constance had not been pleased; to say the least.
"She must be awfully lonely. I wish I could help in some way..." A land rover pulled up in front of the women. A young, tall gentleman stepped out.
"Hi!" The young man's Canadian accent rang out. Imogen seemed to brighten up tenfold at the mere sight of her boyfriend, she almost ran into his arms as she greeted him.
"Serge, this is Amelia Cackle, Headmistress of the academy." He held his hand out to Amelia and she shook it. "And this is Davina Bat, our...um...music teacher." Davina seemed a little hurt at being introduced as simply a music teacher, but shook Serge's hand after an elbowing from Amelia. The hurt from Davina and elbowing from Amelia didn't go unnoticed by Imogen, and she felt a little ashamed at being so inconsiderate. Serge picked up Imogen's bags and loaded them onto the car. "Have a great break, see you in September." Amelia and Davina waved Imogen off.
"Music teacher indeed! Who does she think she is?"
"Oh come on Davina, it's very difficult for her to explain exactly what she does and who we are to another non-witch. Especially this early in their relationship. She'll tell him in time."
"I suppose you're right, but music teacher?!" Amelia gave Davina an amused, but reassuring pat on the arm, and mounted her broomstick."See you in September Davina!" she shouted as she left for her aunt's house in Australia. Davina Bat huffed, sighed and then giggled to herself. She sat on her broomstick and prepared to depart.
"Goodbye school, goodbye trees, goodbye birds, goodbye little animals...goodbye Miss Hardbroom." she whispered to herself as her broomstick began to rise.
A curtain at the front of the castle fluttered shut as Constance Hardbroom wistfully replied:"Safe journey Davina."
end chapter 01