beatrix bobbit returns to witch camp

Mrs. Bobbit was sweeping the grass with a witch broomstick. She'd been told repeatedly that this particular broomstick was not meant for sweeping. But, she continued to sneak sweeps whenever she could.

"I must get Beatrix to make me one of these," she huffed to herself before turning the broomstick around to fan her face. Though she didn't approve of wearing witch hats in front of the house where anyone could see, she quite missed the shade the wide brim provided.

The small red car grunted and shook in the gravel driveway. "Jack, dear, is everything alright?"

"Too much stuff," Mr. Bobbit muttered. Hunching, he untangled himself from the car and stepped back to dab his sweaty mustache. "It's only two weeks!" Mr. Bobbit scratched his head before coughing.

He had been irritable ever since Beatrix announced that she needed Penny with her at Witch Camp this year.

Mrs. Bobbit shuffled through the gravel to Mr. Bobbit where she patted his back and fanned his face with the broomstick.

"Mm," Mr. Bobbit moaned before his eyes bulged and he crouched to peer in the crowded car.

Mrs. Bobbit looked over his shoulder. "Are you sure you're not upset about Penny, Jack, dear?"

Mr. Bobbit jumped and hit his head on the top of the car. "No," he grumbled. "The car can't keep up with these Witch Camp hauls!"

Mrs. Bobbit opened her mouth. Then closed it. The car was only holding Sybil's pink dance bag and Beatrix's black trunk and cauldron. Mr. Bobbit turned to stare at a spot on the ground. It was where Penny's cage was, though Penny was nowhere to be seen.

"Hurry, Bea! We're gonna be late!" Sybil chimed leaping out of the house in a lovely purple leotard. Her wispy blonde hair was tied back in a bun. A few moments later, Beatrix stomped outside dressed in her usual black cloak, black boots an black witch hat. She was carrying a black rabbit in her arms.

Mr. Bobbit stopped staring at the cage. He was looking only at Penny now. He sniffed and Mrs. Bobbit patted his back again.

"There's my broomstick," Beatrix darted deftly across the gravel. "Were you using it to sweep again?"

"All broomsticks are sweeping broomsticks, Beatrix, dear," Mrs. Bobbit sighed.

"There's not room for Penny's cage!" Mr. Bobbit blurted out.

"Sure there--"

"Nope," Mr. Bobbit shook his head.

"Let me--"

"Nuh."

Mrs. Bobbit's head hurt from swiveling from side to side. Both Mr. Bobbit and Beatrix were quiet now. Assessing each other. Beatrix's lips were curled in a smirk and Mr. Bobbit's mustache was a thin line.

"How about a cookie?" Mrs. Bobbit shouted.

Neither Mr. Bobbit nor Beatrix moved, but Sybil pranced over while Mrs. Bobbit pulled her plate of pink frosted cookies from the car.

"Yum!" Sybil grinned and slid in the car. Then, she poked her head out and said, "How about a race? Winner gets to keep Penny!"

"Don't be ridiculous, Sybil, dear," Mrs. Bobbit waved Sybil off with another cookie.

But Beatrix and Mr. Bobbit both shouted, "YES!" in unison.

Sybil got out of the car and leapt gracefully through the gravel and into the grass. She pointed to the garden which was blooming wildly in a way that made Mrs. Bobbit's eyes water.

"First one to touch the garden bench and run back gets Penny for the next two weeks."

Beatrix and Mr. Bobbit exchanged a pointed look as they took their places behind Sybil. Mrs. Bobbit ran over in time to accept Penny from Beatrix's hands.

"You're totally gonna lose," Beatrix said.

"Beatrix, dear, that's not--"

"Penny belongs here!" Mr. Bobbit growled back.

"Alright!" Sybil clapped. "On the count of three, two, one..."

And, they were off. Beatrix immediately regretted not removing her cloak. She tried to use the excess fabric to help propel her faster. Mr. Bobbit was just behind her, huffing and sweating through his plaid button down. Beatrix picked up speed as she approached the bench and turned. Mr. Bobbit was falling further behind while his mustache bobbed furiously along with his heavy strides.

Beatrix was halfway back to Sybil, the grass thick beneath her feet. She was almost there, she'd get Penny to practice on at Witch Camp...

Crash. A root came out of nowhere. Beatrix's boot got stuck underneath it but the rest of her body was still moving forward so she did a weird somersault and landed face down in the grass.

Mr. Bobbit grunted in glee as he passed her and then stumbled the rest of the way to Sybil. Mrs. Bobbit immediately passed him Penny and he lifted her in the air in victory while his chest heaved.

"Sorry, Bea!" Sybil called. "The winner is, DAD!"

Beatrix sighed and stared at the spot that had tripped her up. She knew she felt a hard root, but now that she was looking, she saw nothing but grass. Suspicious.

After Mr. Bobbit's brief lived celebration, he began ushering them all into the car. He loaded the remaining items with no complaints, and drove off with Penny in his lap.

"Congrats, Dad," Beatrix mumbled from the back seat where she was staring out the window at the rolling hills.

He didn't answer, but Beatrix could see his mustache twitch in the mirror.

A long while later, the car spluttered to a stop at a sign for "Witch Camp - 12,000 Toadstools Away!"

"Is that the same as it was last year, Beatrix, dear?" Mrs. Bobbit asked, fanning her face.

Beatrix shrugged. She didn't feel up to having this conversation right now. She was upset about not bringing Penny to camp with her this year, and more upset about the lost race. It almost felt like the universe didn't want her to win. Or, possibly, someone didn't want her to win.

Some large amount of toadstools later, they pulled up to the chipped red barn. A sea of witch hat wearing teachers and students were milling around excitedly. Broomstick Betsy bellowed, "Hello Bobbits!" as they exited the car.

Beatrix shrugged Mr. Bobbit's help off and maneuvered her trunk and cauldron out without any effort. Her shoulders sagged when she turned to say goodbye to her family.

But, she bumped into Mr. Bobbit holding a black cage.

"You forgot something," he grumbled before handing Penny's cage to Beatrix.

Beatrix checked that Penny was indeed inside before accepting the cage. "But you won?"

Mr. Bobbit shrugged. "Penny wants you to have a piece of home here."

Beatrix's eyes welled. Behind him, Sybil was freely crying and Mrs. Bobbit was sniffling loudly.

"That was lovely, Jack, dear," Mrs. Bobbit sniffed.

Broomstick Betsy strolled over to them, looking perplexed. "Why's everyone so sad? It's the first day of Witch Camp! Now, say bye to your family and let's get started."

"Bye family," Beatrix grinned.

She nodded at Broomstick Betsy. Together they lifted their hands, and disappeared in a cloud of purple dust.

"I'll never get used to that," Mrs. Bobbit was shaking her head.

"Not as flashy as last year," Sybil said.

Mr. Bobbit squinted at the ground and bent down to pick up something that caught his eye. It was Penny's favorite carrot toy. He held it close to his nose and inhaled before choking back a sob.

It was going to be a long two weeks.