Gypsies and Owls and Lemon Twists

Getting the crying out of her system seemed to help the butterflies in her tummy. Taking a corner of her petticoat, Katie wiped the last remaining tears from her cheeks and chin. Her big sigh ended with a tiny scream that sounded like a high-pitched vibration. Katie’s hand flew to her throat. Goose bumps covered her arms and legs.

“What was that?” The space was so dark she couldn’t really see every corner of it. Was someone else in here with her? She heard it again. It sounded louder and more desperate. Quickly she got to her feet, flattening herself against the wall.

“Don’t be frightened. I’m frightened enough for the both of us.”

Katie pressed herself even harder against the wall, her hands clenched tightly by her side. “Who’s there? Where are you?” A long silence followed. “Answer me.”

“I’m over here, in the corner.”

Katie pried herself from the wall, squinting her eyes to see, and then walked to the window. “I’ll pull the curtain aside and you can stand in the light.”

“No. No, no. I can’t do that. No one must see me or know I’m here. Oh dear.” The voice was tiny and sad.

“Please, let me see you.” She lifted the curtain clear away from the tiny window. She couldn’t see anything. “How did you get in here?” Were you captured too?” There was a long silence. “Hey, are you there?

“I’m here.” Another long pause came. Katie was getting annoyed. “I snuck in your-oh well-I snuck in your pocket when you fell asleep under a bush.

“What?” Katie screeched.

“Oh my, please, you mustn’t be so loud or she will know you are not alone and they will find me.”

“Whatever do you mean, you snuck in my pocket?” Are you crazy? Who are you?” Show yourself and stop playing jokes.” Katie’s fear was now becoming irritation.

“Believe me, this is no joking matter. I lagged behind when the others headed to the woods.” A tiny sigh could be heard. “I always do that. It gets me in trouble sometimes. I saw you in the bush. The others were in too much of a hurry to please her and they missed you. Well, you were practically invisible until you started to fall asleep.”

Katie had totally forgotten about that. She looked at her arms in the light from the window. She was not invisible now.

“I can see you just fine,” the tiny voice said. “ We are not supposed to see a thing but we do.”

To Katie this was a confusing conversation. Whoever was in here with her must be crazy. “Sneaking in my pock. Really. You don’t make a bit of sense. Do you know that?” She couldn’t understand why she wasn’t able to see anyone. “Are you invisible like I was before?”

“I wouldn’t say invisible is the word to describe me.” He laughed, in spite of himself, a giddy, silly, nervous laugh.

“Well what’s so funny anyway? Nothing about this whole mess is funny to me.” Katie pressed her mouth closed trying desperately not to start crying again

“I’m so very sorry. When I’m nervous or frightened I get laughing fits. It’s really very embarrassing, and she doesn’t like it at all.” He sighed sounding pathetic. “Oh, what the heck. You might as well know. But please don’t scream when you see me. It will bring misery on the both of us.”

Katie was getting a funny feeling in her stomach. How bad could he look that it would make her scream. “Well, where are you? Let me see you.”

“I’m right here. Down here in the light from the window.”

Katie looked at the pool of light on the floor. “Oh!” She was so mortified that she couldn’t get the words out.

“You can say it, go ahead. Mole.” They both said it together. Then the wagon stopped suddenly. Katie could hear low voices on the other side of the wall. She let the curtain fall back into place and moved away from the window. “Oh dear. They’re going to find me now. What will I do?” Again the high-pitched vibrating scream she had heard earlier.

“Oh please don’t do that,” she whispered. They will hear you for sure. Here, get in my pocket again.” Katie knelt on the floor holding the pocket open in her skirt. “Hurry up.” When he was safely inside, she stood up against the wall and breathed a huge sigh.

The opening of a latch could be heard in the back of the wagon, revealing a long crack of light widening as a door swung out. Katie was sure that she would come face to face with the gypsy, and what would happen then was anyone’s guess.