beatrix bobbit and the strange homecoming

"We're agreed then?" Beatrix tried to make her voice sound firm and sure.

"We must never tell anyone," Delia held out her wand, and tapped it to Beatrix's. Then they nodded solemnly and prepared their trunks.

Beatrix was lost in thoughts of the strange happenings ever since Gemma took her to see Mr. Bobbit floating in the lake. When they finished packing their trunks, the door swung open, making Beatrix jump.

"You little witches all packed? I've come to help with your trunks," Broomstick Betsy's voice boomed as she stomped in and hefted a trunk up on each shoulder.

"Yep!" Delia squealed.

Beatrix was too busy staring out the window to respond. Keeping watch for Mr. Bobbit's little spluttering red car. She knew he was alright, that he wasn't really in the water captured by Gemma. She'd called home immediately and heard his irritated grumbles about the late hour and then concern over if Penny was eating properly.

Still, she'd feel better when she saw him.

"Come on, Beatrix!" Broomstick Betsy called, and Beatrix sighed and followed.

Despite being outside in the humid air, Beatrix clung to Penny against her chest, reassuring the rabbit that she would see Mr. Bobbit soon. Delia came to stand at her side, gently pressing her shoulder into Beatrix's to reassure her that she was there, too.

All the other witch campers were shouting final spells and hugging and making charmed promises about writing daily letters to keep in touch. But Beatrix was frozen to the spot clutching her rabbit and leaning into Delia.

"Beatrix are you okay? You look like you've taken a bad tumble in the flying pit," Broomstick Betsy placed a large warm hand on Beatrix's forehead.

"I'm--" Beatrix didn't know how to describe what she was feeling.

Until she saw Mr. Bobbit's little red car spluttering down the toadstool lined grassy path. She turned to Delia with a hopeful smile before she darted into the middle of the drive and almost dove on top of the hood of the car.

"Beatrix, dear, what were you thinking? You could have been hurt," Mrs. Bobbit's frizzed head popped out of the front window. She sighed so loudly the gust made the grass below the car sway.

"Penny could've been hurt!" Mr. Bobbit grunted as he stumbled out of the door and collapsed into Beatrix.

Tears filled Beatrix's eyes at the sight of him. Even as he snatched Penny from her hands and held her tightly to his chest. He was here.

"They still haven't painted the barn, I see," Mrs. Bobbit came to stand next to Beatrix. She was panting and frowning at the red barn. Something about it made Beatrix throw her arms around her mom in a way she hadn't in so long. "Oh, well, it's alright, Beatrix, dear. I'm sure they'll get to it next year."

"Hello Bobbitses!" Broomstick Betsy was beaming in an athletic terrycloth cloak she'd designed herself.

Beatrix smirked while she watched Mrs. Bobbit take in the unique creation. "Betsy, dear, how are you? You must come by for tea one afternoon, I'd love for you to take a look at my garden."

"I'd love that Judy! It'd be nice to restock some of your signature herbs. Finest potion ingredients I've ever seen," Broomstick Betsy patted Mrs. Bobbit on the head then turned to Beatrix. "You seem to be feeling better. Just a little homesick, eh? Keep up with your spellwork, and I'll see you soon."

Broomstick Betsy heaved Beatrix's trunk, cauldron and Penny's cage into the tiny trunk. Somehow, she even got it to close

"No Sybie?" Beatrix tried not to sound too disappointed. Though, she was hoping to see her sister today, too.

"She'll be back when we get home, Beatrix, dear," Mrs. Bobbit said, trying to tame her uncooperative hair in the mirror while Mr. Bobbit fed Penny a fresh carrot from the garden.

"Where is she?" Beatrix pressed.

"With a friend, Beatrix, dear," Mrs. Bobbit sighed, and turned to examine the red chipped barn for the final time. "Betsy promised it'll be done next time we're here."

"Isn't Beatrix done with Witch Camp nonsense?" Mr. Bobbit grunted.

"I won't take Penny next year," Beatrix sighed before changing subjects. "So, did anything unusual happen while I was away?"

Mr. Bobbit and Mrs. Bobbit exchanged a look before Mrs. Bobbit spoke. "Of course nothing unusual happened."

Then, Mr. Bobbit grunted.

"Jack, dear, do you need a sip of water?"

A second grunt. Beatrix's heart began fluttering and her palms got sticky. "What happened, Dad?? I need to know."

"Easure!" Mr. Bobbit was grinning so wildly his grunt became more jumbled than usual. Beatrix was about to ask him to enunciate what he meant when she saw it.

A pouch of glittering gemstones in the center console.

The back of her neck prickled icily. "What's that?"

"Treasure! We found treasure. I'm gonna build Penny that maze she's always wanted," Mr. Bobbit turned the car key a few times before tapping it three times to finally start the car. They shot off at a bumpy pace, but Beatrix could barely feel the bumps.

"Where did you find treasure?"

"In the backyard, isn't it marvelous, Beatrix, dear? We can expand the garden, maybe get a new piano, more dance classes for Sybie and...a new hobby for you, perhaps some new clothes," Mrs. Bobbit was panting with excitement.

"There, there, Judy. We can do it all," Mr. Bobbit patted her knee and smiled fondly.

"But, you didn't just find treasure sitting in the yard did you?"

"No, of course not, Beatrix, dear. Your father dug it up himself," Mrs. Bobbit's eyes crinkled.

"How did--" Beatrix began before Mr. Bobbit cut in.

"I was out on my morning Penny walk. I kept up with them, see. When I saw something shiny under the garden table. So I got down and picked it up, and it was a perfect ruby. Then I called for your mom and she brought a shovel, and we spent the rest of the morning digging it up."

"How do you know it's not someone else's treasure?" Beatrix whispered.

"Aren't you excited, Beatrix, dear? It's ours! It was on our property, in OUR garden," Mrs. Bobbit crossed her arms and smiled out the window.

But Beatrix couldn't share in her parents' excitement. She knew who the treasure belonged to, and Gemma would never give it up without a plan.

Only, Beatrix had no idea what she was planning next.

The last time she saw her was in the lake. She'd disappeared along with Mr. Bobbit, and Beatrix had almost managed to convince herself the whole night had been a dream.

But she still saw Mr. Bobbit's face next to Gemma in that eerie lake in her nightmares.

"Beatrix, dear, we're home," Mrs. Bobbit had opened Beatrix's door.

Squinting, Beatrix slid out of the car and began to peer around. The garden was in full bloom, but otherwise unchanged. Except for the mound of dirt beside the garden table. The forest was chirping and buzzing with rays of light. But, there was no sign of an impending flood.

Carefully, Beatrix pulled her wand from her sleeve, and held it tightly in one hand, while she maneuvered her trunk with the other. After she'd gotten it up the stairs into the living room, she looked around at the piano and books and vases of flowers, then called, "Sybie?"

But no one answered.

Suddenly, Beatrix burst back outside the front door and ran up to her parents who were holding hands in the garden and admiring Penny beside the treasure. She had a very bad feeling.

"Where's Sybie?" Beatrix huffed at her parents who were still staring at the hole in the ground.

They turned together. And when they did, the hole flooded.