Woodlington

Chapter 14 - Old Jak

Whether word of Mrs Dowling's antics had travelled, or there were no further reporters interested in talking to them, Alex didn't know, but for the rest of the day the Dowlings were left alone.

By the time they'd cleared away tea, things had calmed down.

"Right," said Mrs Dowling, plonking her backpack on the table. "Just nipping to the loo before my walk."

Alex was curious as why it looked so full. She'd not need much for a walk. She waited till she could hear her mother on the stairs, before lowering the zip.

She stared in astonishment.

The pack was full of food. She could see sausages, chicken legs, buttered rolls, and a large piece of meat pie near the top. She longed to check what else there was, but knew if she moved anything, even an inch, her mother would notice.

Instead, she zipped it back up and busied herself with Jack.

When Mrs Dowling had gone, Alex couldn't help laughing.

Losing weight! Who was her mother trying to fool?

And what was the point?

When she got back, perhaps she'd confront her - ask her what the use of dieting at home was, if she'd just be pigging out in the graveyard?

But she wouldn't of course. Things were going far too well to risk rocking the boat.

Before bed that night, Alex cleared everything from her desk and sat down.

One by one, she placed four items - a button, a ping pong ball, a penny, and a leaf - on the surface in front of her.

It was time for some magic.

She closed her eyes, and using her imagination, returned to the circle. Starting with Water, she visited all four corners, trying to make each as real as possible.

Alex could feel it working, she was sure of it. Peace, clarity, strength, excitement – anticipation bubbled as she felt them all flowing into her.

When she was ready, she visualised the leaf. She would start with that, it was the lightest.

Like before, she condensed everything into a ball of light, and pushed.

"Up."

Full of confidence, she opened her eyes, only to discover the leaf still on the table.

"What?"

Alex shook her head, refusing to accept the result.

This time, she used every bit of her concentration.

Keeping her eyes open, she glared at the leaf and pushed with all her might.

It twitched slightly.

Completely drained, Alex slumped back in her chair.

She was beyond deflated. She'd imagined telling Jessie how she'd made all four items fly around the room, controlling them effortlessly.

What could she say now?

'Hey Jessie, guess what? I used every bit of my power and made a leaf twitch.'

She'd laugh her socks off.

Anger reared its head.

Thrusting her chair from the desk, she got up, grabbed the items, and threw them in the direction of her bookshelf.

Useless junk.

Tomorrow she'd pick something better.

"So, you couldn't resist trying?" laughed Jessie, when Alex admitted her failure next morning.