Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I thought about it, then I did it

Tom didn't say much that first minute of our walk. He seemed to be leading us back to where I had been playing before. I glanced to the tree where I had been sitting with Simon and Sally and I saw four little red eyes staring back from a heavily leafed branch. I saw Simon's tongue flick out. He wanted to know what was going on.

"Ssssophie! Who is that?" I hissed as loud as he could, though I had grown to learn that snakes aren't the best shouters. If I had been any farther away, I wouldn't have understood. But after the incident in the Hexengasse, I wasn't going to respond. This man wanted to learn about me, but I doubt he would want to learn that.

I looked nervously up at Tom and realized he was looking in the direction of the snakes. Simon and Sally quickly retreated behind some foliage, though Simon was quick to poke his head out between two branches to continue to watch. When he saw the man meeting his gaze, he pulled his head back in for good.

"It is very rude to eavesdrop," the man said as he continued to stare where Simon and Sally were hiding.

"I'm sure they don't mean to," I offered up my pitiful defense.

Tom's head snapped to me. His eyes that had been so focused were suddenly wide and that small smile was replaced by an open mouth gape. He composed himself after a second or two, but his brow settled into a strong furrow as it appeared he was thinking very deeply. "You understood me?" he asked after another few seconds.

"I'm sorry, was I the one eavesdropping?" I was confused by his reaction and his question. He had been standing next to me, after all. I'm sure my mother shared with him that I could speak fluent English.

"No. It's just that I was speaking to them."

"You were speaking to the snakes?" I asked excitedly. "The boy today told me that no one could speak to snakes!"

He regarded me for a few more moments. I found myself starting to feel embarrass under his gaze, like I had said too much. This man probably was just making a comment he would make to any animal he saw staring. I was silly to think he was actually speaking to the snakes.

"Only very special witches and wizards can speak to snakes, Sophie. This just means you are one of them."

"I'm special?" This was the first time someone other than my mother had said something like that to me. I don't know why it felt so good to have reassurance from a complete stranger, but it did. I wanted to hear more, but I was afraid if we talked more, he would change his mind. He said speaking to snakes was special. What else about me could possibly be special?

"Yes, I would say so." He looked across the field. My mother watering the plants towards the back of the garden, so she wouldn't be much longer. She'd be here to save me from disappointing this man shortly. I just had to watch what I said until then. "Do you know who I am, Sophie?"

"Are you my father?" I blurted. Again, I wasn't thinking. I wasn't used to having to guard my tongue while I was home.

His eyes widened slightly. "Why would you think that?"

"I never met my father. Mama never said he was dead, so I guess I think he might come to visit one day. See me, you know?" I looked down while digging my foot into the dirt. There I was embarrassing myself. He'd change his mind at any second that I was special.

"You heard me before when I told the snakes they were rude?" I was confused by the change in subject, but I looked up at him and nodded. "When did you start to talk to snakes?"

"I don't remember," I responded, trying to go through my memories to pinpoint the first time I spoke to one. But speaking to snakes was like speaking to humans to me. I don't remember the first time I spoke to a person, and I couldn't remember the first time I talked to a snake. However, I did offer to him, "I do remember the first time I turned into one, though."

"Turned into...a snake?"

He was interested! Perhaps this would make him keep thinking I was special! "Yup! I was playing with Simon and Sally and I told them how it would be so neat if I could be a snake like them and slither on the ground and climb the trees and Simon said, 'Well then do it!'" I took a big breath. I hadn't taken one since I started talking. The excitement was making breathing secondary to relaying this story. "So, I thought about it, then I did it!"

"You just...did it? You just turned into a snake?"

That wasn't the response I was expecting. He wasn't smiling or excited like I was. Oh no, I thought, I was wrong! This isn't making me seem special! I shot a worried look back in my mother's direction. She wasn't in the garden anymore. She must be putting everything away inside. It wouldn't be long before she could save me. So as to not be rude any more than I already was, I met Tom's eyes and replied, "Yes, I turned into a snake."

"And you didn't say a spell?" He pressed and I laughed, "I don't know any spells yet! I'm 6!"

"What about the Mandrake leaf?"

"The what?" I was confused again.

"This is...you shouldn't have been able..." This man who had been so composed was now stumbling on his words. Whatever interest this man had in me was surely gone. I was just a little, confusing girl who could talk to snakes. It would be smart for him to just leave us here and forget he came.

I felt the comfort on my mother's arms wrap around me from behind and her warm lips kissed the top of my head. This was where I felt the most special and I felt silly for even caring about what this strange man thought of me. As long as my mother could hug me and make me feel this safe, I didn't need anyone else.

"On your way then, Tom?" She said over my head to the man.

Tom brought his hand to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. Just when I started to feel even worse that I had given this man a headache, a smile began to widen on his lips. Then those lips parted and a chilling laugh escape. Mama's arms tightened around me and I could feel her holding her breath.

"Oh, no, Heidi," he finally said as his laughter subsided. "No, I will be bringing my daughter with me."