‘Oh, I’ve been looking all over for you.’  Sandra Mossop gives a nervous smile. ‘I know you’re always busy…but…I’ve got a favour to ask you’

‘Oh, go on then. What you after?’ Jessie Shepherd rests her shopping bag on the edge of the concrete planter opposite the door to the butcher.

‘Well, perhaps not quite a favour as such….not really…but…’ Sandra stutters. ‘It’s just…I was…Oh heck..’

‘Oooh come on girl, it’s perishing out here.’ Jessie rubs her hands to warm them but smiles nevertheless.

‘Sorry….’ Sandra flusters again ‘You know I’ve been working on those illustrations?’ she says hesitantly.

‘Witches and Winkles or some such?’

‘Almost’ She smiles briefly. ‘Would you…would you mind taking a look…let me know what you think?’

‘Me?’ Jessie looks surprised.

‘I’d really like your opinion.’ Sandra presses her lips together and looks away. ‘It would only take a few minutes. I’m not sure if….if I should have done….whether I’ve been….if….I think I might have….’

‘For gawd’s sake! Let’s have a look.’

‘I haven’t got them with me! I was wondering…if…’

‘You could bring them round?’ Jessie tries to hurry the conversation along. ‘Of course you can.’

‘….if you’d got a few minutes to come to my house?’

‘Oh!…Well…yes…of course I will.’

‘I’ve got the car.’

‘Now?’

‘If you wouldn’t mind…It’s just that….there’s not a lot of time…you know……if I’ve got to start again.’

‘Shouldn’t think you’d have to do that. I’ve seen what you do…it’s beautiful work.’ Jessie assures with a pat of her hand on Sandra’s arm.

‘Thank you…. that was before….but….this time….I might have gone….just a little too far…Overstepped the mark….’

Jessie titters. ‘Flipping heck, Sandra, you got ‘em cavorting around the cauldron naked or something?’

‘Nooo….’ Sandra sighs. ‘You best come and see.’

Park Road, Milliwick

Chapter Two

38 Orchard Avenue

‘So, you’re not annoyed with me?’ Sandra’s shoulders sag with relief.

Jessie laughs and wipes her eyes. ‘Gawd no!’ she giggles again. ‘Did you think I would be?’ She carefully leafs through the illustrations yet again. ‘Oh, these are marvellous. All that detail!’

‘I only intended sort of having you in mind, getting that naughty look you have sometimes.’ Sandra points out one particular drawing. ‘There! That one is so you teasing Ev…’

Jessie gurgles, shaking her head. ‘You don’t have to say! Do I really look like that?’

Sandra nods, her eyes alight with amusement. ‘I got a bit carried away. I do when I’m working. It wasn’t until I’d almost finished that I really looked at her properly and she’s so obviously you…I thought you might…I had to check first.’

‘I think they’re wonderful! Oh, my word. I shall be famous. I will have little kids coming up to me in the street and asking for my autograph.’

‘As long as they don’t want you to do spells.’ Sandra snorts softly, closing the portfolio and fastening the ties. ‘You really don’t mind? I don’t suppose it would take much to redo them. It’s only really the faces that I would have to..’

‘Don’t you dare change a thing!’ Jessie interrupts ‘I always wanted to be immortal…or did until my Tom passed on. What better way than this? I AM Mildred Mould!’ She starts to giggle again. ‘Oh, they are never going to believe this down the W.I! Have you got a copy of the story that goes with them? I must have a read; see what I get up to that isn’t in those blessed paintings’ she laughs.

‘You know what might be funny?’ Sandra muses.

‘Funnier than this?’ Jessie laughs. ‘You have to go some’

‘Hmmm, depends if the publisher is happy about there being a real live Myrtle. I might still have to do them again’ she grimaces. ‘But what if you were there…in a bookshop….when the book comes out?’

‘Oooooooh’ Jessie’s lips form an ‘O’ and her eyes twinkle merrily. ‘I’m game!’