Also Spring, Week 3 - Here Yet Not Here

Here's the video on how I wrote the Here Yet Not Here episoide:

Rainy days. A part of me knows they are absolutely necessary to keep things green and lush. And they tend to keep everyone indoors so there's far fewer chances of anyone doing anything that would end up bringing them here. For me, it meant lingering in bed, then getting a comfortable fire going - a warm dry room against the wet chill outside is just lovely. It was a good time to reflect on the past couple of weeks, to spend some time coming to terms with myself and my witchy role, and getting to know MouseEye better.

I'd made an actual small house on my mantlepiece. It wasn't much - a few sticks, some string to keep the pieces together, and the little things I'd gathered for it. So maybe "house" was too much word for the lean-to it actually was, but on the other hand it was a structure, I'd made it intending for it to be a house, and most importantly, I'd made it. Pride of ownership, pride of craftsmanship. And I should add pride of potionship!

I poured myself a tea then set a second cup under my lean-to. House! My house! My lean house.

And I guess that's a thing too. I did have, again, a bit of money in my pocket. But to be able to afford much more in terms of tools or upgrading of equipment, I'd have to live a bit lean for a time.

No matter - I was used to that sort of living.

Going from having no money - and having little concept of how much things cost - to having money and seeing exactly how much things cost! - back to having a little money - it was all a lot to take in. But I'd bought a hive, an investment I know will pay dividends well into the future, and my next purchases (when I can finally afford them) will do the same. Maybe I didn't know the value of a piece of silver but I did know the value of basic math!

And speaking of math... and things not adding up (nice segue, I think) - there's the matter of the Smooth Croak in my pocket to feed the weird chest thing. I know I hadn't put it there, so there was only one way it'd ended up there - MouseEye. How had he known I'd need it?

After I'd taken some time to just sit and think and do some deep breathing, I asked MouseEye about it.

He was laying under the lean-to (House!!!), eyes half-closed (appropriate for being under a half-house), when I asked the question. His eyes didn't open as he responded. "Getting it into your pocket was simple. You didn't even notice the spoon you walked around with all that day. As to why I put it there... you know how the bees and I talked and we understood each other even though we don't speak each other's languages? It was like that - I just knew I had to do it. So I did. And I think you experienced something of the sort with the bees. Same basic thing."

That was something. Maybe it had something to do with the land? Did it somehow know things ahead of time? Or maybe MouseEye did? I knew there were bound to be surprises related to the cottage but this was more than I'd anticipated!

"Is that how you knew I'd be fine with the sphinx?"

"Mmhmm."

"So what about inside Hero's Hollow? Did you know that was going to happen?"

MouseEye opened his eyes. "I know little bits here and there. I don't know everything. Especially when they go wrong."

"But you knew I'd be ok down there, right? You knew I'd be safe?"

He closed his eyes and didn't answer.

After a minute, I murmured to myself, "I'll take that as a 'no'."

The silence felt awkward. I knew I had a tendency to get angry or snappy or snarky. I decided to surprise myself, if no one else, with some gratitude. "MouseEye, you are amazing. You can see bits of the future and, as much as you can, you help me and my patients. Thank you for everything you do."

I watched as MouseEye peeked up a bit, pressed his front paws together in what I think could be called a Prayer Pose, wiggled his whiskers, and said, "You're welcome, Mistress." And then, instead of settling back down, he looked more attentive.

This was promising! I decided to ask another question. "When you disappear, say in the air balloon with Madcap, you said you don't always stay with me. So... where do you go?"

To his credit, MouseEye didn't answer at first, but instead just looked thoughtful. "It's hard to describe. But I'm glad you asked because it's something that should be shared."

I knew well enough to allow him to speak in his own time. This felt momentous. 

"Let's talk about this cottage. The old witch lived in it, maybe will again, maybe not, but in the past she lived here."

I nodded but had no idea where this was going.

"So you came here. You were formerly living in a woodcutter's cottage. Following so far?"

I didn't see why I wouldn't be, but ok. I nodded again.

"What do you think would have happened if somebody else had moved in?"

I had no idea. "Apply to be an apprentice? Go back home? Maybe work with Francie as a domestic?"

MouseEye nodded. "What if you'd never successfully made it here? Like the wagon was attacked by bandits? Or you had to stay home to take care of your ailing father?"

I... what? Ailing father? Was he ok?

"Nonono! I don't know anything about your father, or your mother for that matter. I'm just asking what would've happened to the witch's cottage."

I was drawing blanks.

"It would eventually attract a witch. It's a witch's cottage. At some point a witch would live here."

I nodded slowly.

"Here's where it gets tricky. What if, at roughly the same time, all the possible people who could live in the cottage did live in this cottage."

Tricky. He did say "tricky". But he didn't say "impossible". So I did.

"Well... sort of. Because while you are here and experiencing your life with me, as time goes on there are other witches who are experiencing their lives with their familiars. All at the same time that you are. Unlike most of them, you've just been told that they also live in their cottages, which are their versions of the cottage, and this cottage is your version of the cottage. See?"

Ah... nope. Not at all.

"Ok, how about this - I was at one point, and for a very short period of time, in another version of this cottage."

I know my face was a complete furrowed mess. So much for a relaxing day. Metaphysics was what I'd really intended.

"And I brought something back with me. But I didn't know how to tell you who it's from. So... here..."

Once again, a surprise came out from behind the lean-to. A letter. A small folded up letter. From someone named Pip. 

Pip's letter (with a background of my journal)

It said:

Hi I'm Pip

I'm living in this cottage. It's a bit lonely sometimes. 

Do you want to be penpals?

Elaborate box for yes. A very plain (and much smaller) box for no.

It was signed "Your new bestie Pip"

And then a PS - please check yes.

And the note was covered in hearts!

A new bestie? Living here but not here?

I looked at MouseEye in amazement. "This person is someone else who...?"

"Mmhmm."

Wow. So... ok.

"Can I send a letter back?"

"Mmhmm."

Ok. So time to grab a bit of paper, a pencil, and...

"Sorry. Almost forgot. Here's this..."

He pulled a reagent I'd never seen before out from where the letter had been. As I looked at it, I asked, "Is there anything else back there I should know about?"

"No. Not yet, anyway."

Not yet? Well... I suppose letters can come through there. Anyway - the reagent. A plant, certainly. Maybe it's...

"Oh yeah - it's called 'Rosemary'. Good for relaxation and something called 'Branching Out'."

I didn't know what to do with it. It isn't in the witch's notes. How...?

MouseEye to the rescue. He saw my confusion. "I think the old witch didn't know everything there is to know. You may find this useful when you need to treat someone who has an affliction not on the list."

Huh. She maybe didn't know everything? The book isn't all there is to witching? I think the ground dropped out from underneath me. Luckily, I was still seated so the ground was close at hand.

The world swirled around me. Other witches, here but not here? Witches sending me letters from here but not here? I...

My hand brushed past my tea cup. Newly filled tea cup. MouseEye, with eyes closed and head resting on his paws, was still up on the mantlepiece.

Surprises indeed.

"MouseEye? If I write a letter to Pip, will you deliver it?"

I expected one answer, but didn't receive it.

"Mmhmm."

This is what I wrote.

Hi Pip! I'm... call me Sweet!

You make lovely hearts. I hope you don't mind if I don't make them too.

I'd love to be your penpal! Tick mark in a Yes box.

And yes, it is lonely being a witch. But a little less so now that I know you are living here yet not here in the cottage (MouseEye tried to explain it to me but I still don't get it.)

Your best bestie back!

Sweet