1      Exam Night

It was Exam Night at Hagworld’s School for Little Witches.

Thunder crashed. The rain fell in sheets. Flashes of lightning lit up the gloom as the students trooped into the cellar to take their places at cobweb-covered benches. They were all chattering excitedly. If they passed this test, they’d be one step closer to becoming proper witches. And then they could fly off into the night to cause misery and distress wherever they liked.

The clock clanged midnight. The doors slammed shut. Miss Lurk and Miss Slither, the supervising teachers, flew into view on their broomsticks and clapped their hands.

‘Good evening, you little fiends!’ they screeched.

‘Good evening, you old hags!’ the would-be witches yelled back.

‘Tonight’s exam,’ said Miss Slither, ‘consists of one single task.’ She pointed at a rag-covered object in front of each student. ‘You have to turn what’s under there into a nice fat, juicy toad.’

Miss Lurk snapped her fingers and the sheets flew away to reveal wooden cages. In each cage sat a little puppy.

‘And when you’ve turned them into toads,’ she said, ‘the cook will boil them up for Toad Soup!’

The girls rubbed their hands with glee. They couldn’t believe their luck. Toad Soup was their absolutely, all-time favourite meal.

‘Now, ‘continued Miss Slither, ‘you must all gather three jars of cobwebs, a bucket of mud and ten fat worms. Cheat as much as you like. Steal what you need from your friends. Extra marks will be awarded for bad behaviour. Are you all ready?’

‘Yes, you old battle-axe!’ thirty little voices screamed back.

‘Then begin!’

The witches grabbed their jars and buckets and raced for the exit. The last to leave, as always, was Angelina Notalot.