Mila Grothus, 9th, Madrid Jr./Sr. High School, IA, (Fiction) "A Tale of Twin Witches" Juniper stared out the window at the clouds. Her mother, Astoria, had just finished reading The Crystal Kingdom, her favorite bedtime story. As she stared at the starry night sky, she wondered if the Crystal Kingdom was really up there. She closed her eyes, and dreamed she was riding a unicorn. Without an evil twin sister in sight. ****** Juniper woke up to hear cackling and shouting coming from downstairs. “Ugh!” she groaned. Lucinda must be riding her broom indoors again. Everyone knew the ceiling was too low for that. “Lucinda! Come off it already!” Lucinda seemed to never want to stop riding. Although the girls were seven, Lucinda had already taken up the role of the “evil witch” since Cassandra, their older sister had moved out. Their mother swooped into her room. “I’m supposing you’ll want breakfast in bed Juniper?” she asked. “Yes please!” Juniper replied. Soon she was eating her favorite breakfast (a chocolate chip bagel with cream cheese and an apple), but it was not a peaceful one. Yes now Lucinda was off the broomstick, but now she was arguing with her mother about never getting to go to witching school. “But mom!” Lucinda was saying. “They have a house for people like me!” “Your aunt was expelled for causing too much mischief!” her mother was shouting back. The argument went on, and on, and on! Juniper stroked her phoenix, Pandora. “I’ll never escape this place as long as I live, will I Pandora?” she asked. Just then, Lucinda stormed into her room. “Lucinda! You know you’re not allowed in here!” Juniper said. Lucinda pointed her wand at Juniper’s prized phoenix pendant. “NO!” Juniper yelled. The pendant shattered to pieces on the floor. Juniper burst into tears. “What’s wrong Juniper?” Lucinda asked. “What use was it anyway? You never wear it anymore.” “That’s because YOU keep stealing it!” Juniper screamed. Once again, their mother swept into the room. “Girls!” she scolded. “What is going on?”
142
