CHAPTER 8: JOHN ABOTT'S MESSAGE

          It was evening. The setting sun, in the distance, was a sight to behold. The sky was painted pink . Four people sat on the ground near the window of a single-room house, admiring the magical view outside and one person trotted around the small open kitchen of the house, preparing tea.

          "Lily, no milk in my tea please", Molly instructed. Lily just showed a thumbs up signal without turning around. 

          The Brackwells and George were lost in deep thoughts. Breaking the silence, Fred said, "Isn't it all so astonishing and unbelievable? Wasn't it today morning only, that our biggest worry was, whether Grandma would have made chocolate cookies or butter cookies? Everything just fell apart in a few hours".

          "There's no use crying over spilt milk, Fred. What's happened has happened. What the upcoming circumstances are, isn't in our hands. But what we do to face it and how we face it, is. So, what has happened, shouldn't be our focus. Our focus should be, what we are going to do. Isn't it?", Alice said, determination and perseverance highly evident in her voice. 

          "Yes. Alice is right. What's happened has happened. We'll figure out something soon", George said, nodding his head.

          Molly till now, was sitting quietly; looking down, hugging her knees. Hearing the encouraging words of her siblings and friend, reminded her, that they were together in all of this. "Yeah, we'll face everything together", Molly quietly commented.

          On the other end of the room, hearing their conversations, Lily smiled contentedly, happy that they were not so insecure and dejected as before.

          That was when, they heard a light tapping on the other window of the room. Lily went to the window and opened it, allowing a blue pygmy glider to enter the house. As soon as she saw it, a wide smile broke out across her face.

          "It's from John!", she exclaimed happily. And hearing it, the teens perked up and rushed towards the pygmy glider. Lily had detached a note, and a parcel from it's paws. And it took no genius to guess what could be in the parcel. Added to that, the telltale delicious aroma of chocolate was very much tempting.

          Doing it's job, and after drinking some water that Lily had offered, the furry messenger flew away. "That's Pixie. John's pet pygmy glider", Lily remarked.

          "Pixie?...", Fred asked. 

          "Yes well, John has some weird name choices", Lily shrugged.

          As they unwrapped the parcel, they found an assortment of different types of chocolates. Most of them, the teens hadn't ever seen. "They are not found in our world. These are from this world specifically. And this one, is a speciality of Tinworth Highland", Lily commented showing them the chocolates. 

          "Let's read this note", Molly said. 

          "Oh, come on Molly, the note can wait. Let's taste these chocolates first", Fred said, only to receive a whack on his head, from Molly. "The chocolates can wait too Fred. Lily, what's in the note?", she asked. Lily started reading the note.......

          "Hello! Thought of writing a note to know what you all are doing. I hope you are doing well. I am sure the registrations are done and the magic wands are received. What's up with Molly, George, Fred and Alice? Are they settled alright? I hope so. Keeping all things aside, there's an important thing that I wanted to let you all know. That is, my brother and sister-in-law will be coming to meet you all and take the quartet with them, because I know that you don't have enough space for so many people in that single-room house of yours. They'll be happy to have them over. 

P.S.: Sent some chocolates. Do try them out. They are of the finest brand. Take care of yourselves and write me back.

Yours lovingly,

John Abott."

.......

         "John has a brother? And he's coming with his wife to meet us? That's great! I am eager to meet both of them", Alice commented excitedly, starting to nibble on the huge piece of chocolate she had picked.

         "Yeah. Me too. And Lily, when you write to him, remember to tell him that these chocolates are great", Fred said, putting two chocolates together into his mouth.

         "Don't they have telephones or mobiles, here? They are much more convenient for contacting each other", Molly asked. "Yes, they do have telephones. But not everyone. They are expensive. And also, there are emotions that a letter can convey, but not a phone conversation. And, parcels can't be sent through mobile phones, right? So, they have to be sent this way, because the postal system is not prevalent here", Lily explained.

         Molly nodded understandingly. The quartet then sat back on the floor, munching on the chocolates, while Lily went back to finish preparing tea. Everything was calm and silent. 

         And out of nowhere, "Any chocolates left for me?", said an unknown, strong and jovial voice. The voice came from the door, which was actually very much shocking, since the door had been closed just a few minutes ago. Panic and anxiety gripped the teens. For a moment, they didn't dare to turn around and see who it was. Lily had a frown upon her face, but she didn't look particularly affected.

         But the others were anxious and confused. As they turned around, they witnessed the sight of a bearded man, who seemed to be in his fifties, leaning against the door. He was dressed in a black suit and cloak. His hair was black, with a few white and brown strands, and he wore round glasses. His face reflected maturity and experience. And as he looked at them, his thick, dark eyebrows rose in question. 

         "Hey! You all! What are you staring at? Do I look funny or scary or am I...", and before he could proceed, Lily strode forward and greeted him with a smile. He grinned back, patting her head. 

         "Kids, close your mouths before some fly gets in", the man said, winking. Toeing off his shoes, he entered the house. He then proceeded to pick three chocolates out from the box and put them all together into his mouth. "Mmm... It's delicious. John's got good taste", he commented. And then plopped down on the only chair that the room had, resting his chin against his palm and putting his feet up, on the chair and sighed in contentment. 

         The youngsters were amazed to see, that the chair which had looked small in size, spontaneously seemed larger as it easily accommodated the man. It seemed that he had magically enlarged the chair, without even anyone noticing!

         "We're not 'kids'. And first of all, who ARE you?", Fred asked him, highly frustrated at the man, who took away three of his chocolates altogether.

          He chuckled, and replied, "Dear 'old man', you're not a kid? You know what, everyone's a kid at heart, whatever be the age. And YOU, my dears, are kids, mentally and physically. And as for who I am", he said, pausing. A dreamy look came upon his face. His eyes looking as if lost somewhere. And he continued, "I am... many things. I am a bunch of molecules, cells and tissues; I am a human being; I am a friend for my friends; a son to my parents; a brother to my sister; and so much more. So, who I am, that's for you to think and decide. The being is one, but identities are multiple. Who I am; what I am, it's all upto your way of viewing me. I don't believe in forcing my views on others, you see", he said.

          All of them, blinked a couple if times, dumbfounded by the words he was uttering.

         His behaviour and talk irked Fred. He was getting more and more annoyed by the man. What an irritating man! Meanwhile, Molly was awestruck by the way he answered questions. She was in awe of that man! For her, he was like her dream teacher.

         As for Alice and George, they flabbergasted, and confused with the man. They didn't know, how to react to him. But they could see the annoyance on Fred's face and admiration in Molly's eyes.

         Lily came up to them, and said, "He's the man who is an inspiration to many; the one who's going to train you in magic. He's Mr. Robert McAdams". 

         Alice, George and Fred, groaned audibly...........

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Notes (A/N): Hey lovely readers! What's up? Did you like the chapter?😃 I think this chapter is one of the longest😁. If you like it, comment. If you don't, then also, COMMENT. But, do comment. Drop in your most valuable suggestions, opinions and thoughts.☺️😇...

So we get a glimpse of Robert McAdams today😉. Do you like him?😁. And...... Are you excited to meet John's brother and sister-in-law? They are arriving in the very next chapter🤩... 

Love you loads 💙💛...