The Isadora Interviews by Katie Cross

student? It felt like sticking her hand into a cauldron of lye, or putting out a fire by walking on it barefoot. Panic, hot and restless, shot through Michelle. She jumped to her feet. Her awkward frame bumped the table and sent her chair flying back, toppling over. She stumbled, feeling frazzled and trapped.
    “I’m not afraid!” she cried, even though she knew it was a lie.
    “We all are,” Isadora said in an easy tone. “Even your strong father and brothers. It’s a part of life, a part of being a witch. Fear isn’t the problem. Not acting because of fear is.”
    “I don’t want to go to Miss Mabel’s!” Michelle cried, her hands clenching into fists. “I want to stay here!”
    Isadora stared at her for a long time. She didn’t stand up, didn’t move. Then she quietly said, “I have a good feeling about you, Michelle. What if I can guarantee that nothing will happen to you while I’m there?”
    “You can’t promise that.”
    “Yes I can. I’m the Watcher.”
    Isadora’s calm, even tones settled the uneasy burn in Michelle’s chest, scaling it back to a just-bearable amount. Michelle studied her, bold for the first time.
    “What about my family?” she demanded. “You can’t keep them safe.”
    “No. I can only guarantee your safety.”
    Michelle thought back to the firm resolve in Papa’s eyes over dinner. The sadness, the regret. He felt as if he’d failed her, raising her in a house of men, part boy herself. She thought of making friends, of learning more about cooking than what she could here. Her cakes always fell. Her bread burned on the outside and went uncooked on the inside.
    If she went, it would be for Papa. To keep him from feeling guilty. Then, once she’d learned more magic, she could come back and help them, teach them, like Ted said. They had taught her a few magical spells, mostly things they did to play pranks on each other, like deception spells. She knew they’d want to learn more.
    “Can I come home during the summer?” she asked. Isadora smiled.
    “Yes, you can.”
    Michelle swallowed the terrified ball in her throat. She didn’t want to do this. She didn’t want to start over at a new school, to meet girls that would surely make fun of her. But she’d do it for Papa, for her family.
    “I’ll do it,” she said, lifting her terrified eyes to meet Isadora’s. “I’ll go to Miss Mabel’s.”
    Isadora smiled and leaned back with a satisfied sigh.
    “I think that’s a very wise decision. Yes, very wise indeed.”