Going to See the Witch

by Adam Jeffries Schwartz

22 April 2006
Mexico


A young woman goes to see her local witch. She's nervous (she's often nervous) but in this case it's justified, the witch has a reputation--for pith.

Still, the young woman straps her newborn across her back and takes off on the hike up the mountain where the witch seems to be expecting her. The door opens just as she is about to knock. She holds her breath as the witch says,

Don't just stand there like a fish. What do you want?

The young woman looks at the ground, says quietly,

A potion.

Speak up. Says the witch. Can't hear a word.

A potion, the girl mumbles again.

Now, listen here. First you have to stand up. You're slouching. Show a good example.

The girl takes a quick look up through her bangs, then straightens up.

Now, the the old woman says, start again. What do you want?

A potion. She says completely erect, then bows her head.
The old woman flicks her index finger and the girl raises her chin.

Naturally you want a potion, what kind exactly?

A love potion.

The old woman looks at the sleeping baby and says,
It seems that's the last thing you need.

The girl is not going to give up,
It's for my husband.

The old woman laughs,
Now that's better. Who do you want him to fall in love with?
A rat for the rat?

The girl looks surprised then happy then horrified, then sad,
No, with me.

Now, that's a waste of a perfectly good potion.
But then the young woman starts to cry and despite herself the old woman says,

Honey, what you need is to sit down.

You know, you're right. She says as she sits at the kitchen table.

Yes, of course I am, but it doesn't help the pain, does it?

The girl, despite herself, says,
A little.

It was many years later--after the witch had taught the girl her craft and she had passed it to her daughter--that she realized the trick in all of this--and she laughed--way up in the woods where only she could hear.

The Author

Adam Jeffries Schwartz is a writer and a traveler. He has stories in Descant and Grimm Magazines, Petit Journal and in the anthology, Walking Higher. Online he pops up at many sites, including Ghoti (Fish) Magazine, Melane, LitBits, Magazine Shiver, Caprice & Anacoenesis Literary Journal.