Witches Get Stitches

In a small teahouse, Mona Heptinstall, a young schoolgirl, finds solace in the company of other women. She enters the shop, feeling safe and comfortable in the atmosphere. The aroma of the teahouse is exotic and familiar, with steam wafting from the rims of mugs. The walls are filled with posters and flags, symbolizing flowers, plants, animals, and female friendship.

Mona's heart slows as she imagines Grubby Gilbert Boyd wouldn't notice the teahouse. However, he comes along, causing her to grin at his stupidity. Her teachers and parents claim that he only picked on her because he liked her, but Mona doesn't find him interesting or good-looking.

As time passes, she enters a table where the mugs disintegrate, spilling hot tea over the rug. The two women flinched backwards from the carnage and squealed, losing their beverages to gravity. Mona gasps in fear, trying to think, speak, and act, but fear rooted her to the spot.

A woman with a teatowel draped over her shoulder arrives, tall and with an out-there fashion sense. She has long hair tied up into a bun, dyed electric blue, coffee-brown eyebrows, coffee-brown eyes, and tattoos crawling up both arms, under the sleeves of her dress, and up the sides of her neck. Her dress is black with a flowery design, both gothic and summery. A hoop dangles from her nose, and more piercings than Mona had ever seen dotted her ears.

The woman calls to a younger girl behind the counter, Sabrina, for another ginger tea and a peppermint tea. Mona shrivels before the sight of her, as adults always seem big. Some unknown qualities made her presence more clear.

Alice Wallaker, Alice's owner, asks her to answer a few questions. She apologizes, saying that she didn't want to be a giantess, but she was a child and needed a safe place to stay.

Alice, a woman who practiced magic and witchcraft, was a source of comfort and understanding for Mona Heptinstall. She had been in a difficult situation, as she had been tasked with escaping her abusive stepfather, Ms. Wallaker. Alice's kindness and understanding made her feel safe and loved.

Alice took Mona to a secret library, where she found a collection of books that contained hidden knowledge for people like her. The women in the library were all kind and understanding, and they all knew how it felt to be in similar situations before. They couldn't help but send their hearts to Alice, who offered them a gentler starting point for Mona.

Mona was initially skeptical, but Alice surprised her by laughing and reassured her that she didn't wreck anything. She was seeking shelter and that she had found it. She found herself laughing, too, as being around Alice had eased her wounded heart.

Alice asked if Mona was a witch, which Mona answered with a smile. She thought Alice could be scary to the right or wrong kind of person, but she felt as if an umbrella of love had opened over her head. The rain stopped falling on her, and the sun shone through the material.

Alice hummed and scanned the shelves, pointing at them as if eyeing a police lineup. She finally produced a beginner's book, which was close enough to an entry point into the dark arts. This book was a guide to understanding the world of magic and witchcraft, and it provided a foundation for Mona to learn more about the world of magic and witchcraft.

Alice's guidance and support helped Mona overcome her fears and find a way to escape her abusive stepfather. She learned that she could use her skills to help others and that she could use her knowledge to help others.

In conclusion, Alice's kindness and understanding made Mona feel safe and loved, even as she faced the challenges of her new life. Her presence in the library provided her with a sense of hope and support, helping her navigate the world of magic and witchcraft.