The Magick Circle of Redemption

By

Danny Bright
It's a funny thing what memories can make you do as they waft through your brain. Like some siren promising that if you listen just a little longer, than you will actually be able to go back for one more chance to do it right. Alexa didn't hurry as she made her way along the old concrete sidewalk...she had left hurrying behind long ago like some love sick young boy she had outgrown. A cool breeze caressed her legs and made the leaves dance and swirl along the sidewalk as she made her way along the path she knew too well. She remembered the trees along this street, for they had greeted her every morning as she had made her way along this very route. She had taken notice of every single one, even as she did now so many years later. It was just ahead she knew now as the old familiar landmarks came into view and she felt her pulse quicken ever so slightly. Why am I doing this again? She asked herself as her feet never slowed bringing her ever closer to her memories. She lifted her head higher as she felt a new resolve fill her spirit with determination, no there was nothing to be afraid of now...not now and never again. The smell of orange blossoms filled her nose and she knew that she was about to pass up the empty lot that held Mr. McCreery's orange trees. The old man had had many offers to sell the lot over the years but had always refused them without a thought. This lot was special and these orange trees were special as they were the first orange trees his wife Dorna had planted that first summer after they had moved into their new home. Mr. McCreery had always kept the lot pristine, mowed and all of the gardenia bushes his wife had loved so trimmed and neat. If you had passed the lot twenty years ago you would swear that it had not changed one little bit, as if time had ceased to pass for this one little place in time. And then she was walking along the chain link fence that bordered the playground, the playground that held all of her memories.

Silently she asked the goddess to give her faith and strength as she turned the corner and let her eyes fall upon the school where she had worked so many years ago. The building stood silent in the daylight as if it had been waiting for her ever since she had left on another chilly December day long ago. Alexa's eyes swept over the playground as she moved to the gate and stopped. You are a witch... and a powerful one. And you have nothing to fear from memories of the past. her inner spirit spoke into her mind. Now go and face it. ...and she stepped through the gate and onto the playground and instead of tears she felt a smile upon her face. Everything was as she remembered it down to the old wooden seesaw that was still painted a faded green. The monkey bars were still here as was the large sandbox where the children had played for hours with their toy trucks and dolls. And then her eyes were drawn to her favorite part of the playground...the huge old oak tree that stood in the back of the playground and showered the ground with it's leaves like a lovely carpet.

It was here under this old majestic oak tree that she had befriended one very lonely, very special little girl. And even now, so many years later she could still see the faces of the children that she had cared for and loved, and it was as if she was there again on the playground...the air filled with the sounds of childrens laughter. She quietly sat down upon the old bench seat of the picnic table beneath the ancient oak and allowed her mind to take her back one more time..

Alexa felt something tug at the bottom of her skirt and looked down to find Dafney, one of her fourth graders tugging at her skirt. Miss Alexa, the girls are picking on Summer again. the little girl said lifting her small arm and pointing to where a circle of girls were standing around another child. Thank you Dafney, I will take care of it right now honey. Alexa said patting the top of the little girls head before setting off towards the circle of children. Alexa had been a teacher for over fifteen years and she was used to the children always seeming to have one person in each class that they picked on. But this was different somehow, it seemed to her inner senses that the situation and the young girl named Summer were both very different. As she approached she could hear the taunts already. You're strange...you're not like us you know. Don't you wish you were pretty like us?

Alexa felt anger well up within her to her surprise as she rarely allowed herself to become angry. Years working the craft had taught her the futility of anger and how very destructive the emotion could be. What's going on here? she snapped sternly as she pulled the circle of girls apart and moved to inside of the circle where a lone little girl with golden hair stood silently crying. Alexa knelt down beside the little girl named summer and softly began to wipe the tears from her blue eyes. All of you go away and leave summer alone...now she snapped and let her gaze sweep around the circle of girls withering all of them but a little girl named Doris Bleevey who she knew was the instigator of all of the cruelty. Turning her attention back to summer she smiled at the little girl and looked deeply into her soft blue eyes. The little girls eyes seemed to be the most vibrant blue that Alexa had ever seen any child have. It's ok summer, they're gone now sweetie. she said smiling at the child as she swept the last teardrops away and smoothed the hair from her face. Summer nodded her sobs still continuing as she tried to gain control of her crying. Listen honey, they're just mean little girls and I promise that I won't let them do this to you anymore. Alexa vowed to the little girl as their eyes met and Alexa saw a fleeting wisdom form in the girls eyes that belonged to someone much older. It came and was gone just as suddenly, shocking the teacher into silence as her inner spirit cried out that this was no ordinary child. Come on honey, let's eat lunch together under the oak tree...want to? Alexa offered and was rewarded with a nod and the first glimmer of a smile from little Summer. She took Summers hand and led her to the ancient green wooden picnic table that stood under the great tree. Alexa let Summer sit where she chose to and then told her that she would be right back after she had taken the other children inside. Summer said ok and smiled up at Alexa the remnants of her tears all but forgotten. Alexa returned to find Summer gazing up at the old oak tree as if the two of them had shared a secret and it was making her smile in the knowing of it. Alexa looked from the little girl to the ancient oak half expecting to see the tree smiling down at her. Here Summer, here's your lunch sweetie Alexa said handing the girl a brown paper bag which contained her lunch while she laid her own brown paper bag lunch on the table at her place. She watched the girl unwrap a peanut butter and jelly sandwichalong with a snak pak chocolate pudding and an apple while she pulled a chef salad from her own brown bag. As Summer ate Alexa tried to formulate what to say to her to help her understand the other childrens actions so that it wouldn't effect her for the rest of her life, making her withdrawn and solitary.

Summer, honey you know the other girls don't really mean what they say. They're just trying to do what Dora tells them to so that they will feel like big girls honey, do you understand? Dora Bleevley had to be held back for the last two years due to her grades being sub par even for a third grader and her antisocial behavior had raised concern within the schools administration but after several parent teacher conferences which had produced little but the parents, a very young couple both with limited education themselves accusing the school of favoritism because they had held back a poor families daught er. And after that the parents had simply stopped responding to the teachers notes and requests for talks. And in accordance with their policy the school refused to pass her on until her grades reflected a satisfactory level of learning. As she sat watching the child a distant thought crept forward into Alexa's mind. There was a gift that she could give to little summer that might make the events of being different and a loner a bit easier. Alexa's mind swept over her own years of not fitting into the clicks and not being popular or even accepted by the other girls. Summer merely nodded as she nibbled daintily at her sandwich and gazed up at her teacher. Summer, you are different honey and that doesn't mean anything except that you are a very special little girl! Alexa told her enthusiastically and was was rewarded with a genuine grand smile from the beautiful child. Honey, if those girls ever bother you again I want you to do something ok. Alexa said standing motioning for Summer to come to where she stood. The child put down her sandwich and came to stand in front of her teacher, looking up into her face expectantly. Alexa's mind flashed a warning questioning her judgment that this was the right thing to do, but she quickly dismissed it just as quickly. Honey I'm going to teach you a little bit of magick to help you when you are afraid or when someone is bothering you or trying to hurt you ok? she said smiling down at the child. Ok miss Alexa... Summer said nodding her head and smiling. Ok now you stand over here and pretend. If you are ever afraid I want you to take your right hand and point down at the ground in front of you. Then I want you to see in your mind a beautiful stream of bluish light coming out of your fingers and with that bluish light I want you to slowly turn around and draw a magick circle all the way around you ok? Just like this. Alexa then moved to stand beside the little girl and pointed to the ground in front of her her spirit summoning the earth magick. Ok now I see the pretty blue light coming out of my fingers and flowing out to touch the ground in front of me, and now I am going to turn all the way around until the circle is completely around you and you can see it shining a beautiful blue on the ground. But I don't see the blue light Miss Alexa, summer said smiling as she looked

from her teacher to the ground and back again as if she knew the light was going to manefest itself any second. Summer this is using your imagination ok...the circle is really there honey but we are going to pretend that we can see it, ok? Alexa said as she slowly cast the improptu circle for the child. Summer watched her intently and nodded her head when asked if she understood, a new found smile upon her lips. Alexa now knelt in front of summer and smiled back at her as she sensed that the little girl really did understand somehow. Ok now I want you to do it honey and I will watch you to make sure you get it right ok? Alexa said and was glad to see Summer nod and move to imitate her. Summer hesitated and her brow furrowed for a second as if the child were forcing herself to concentrate. Then she slowly raised her right hand and with her first two fingers extended she pointed them at the ground and then she slowly began to turn clockwise in a circle. The child took her time and when she was done the expression on her face was such that Alexa really felt the child really was able to see the sacred circle around her. The child turned then and looked up at her teacher expectantly. Very very good Summer, you did it just right honey! Alexa said to her her voice full of praise. She again knelt in front of the child and looked into her blue eyes and said Summer, this magick circle really works honey and I want you to know that as long as you are inside of it nothing can ever hurt you inside ok. People may say and do mean things to you honey but it hits the edge of your magick circle and vanishes, because it can't touch you ok? Summer shook her head and smiled , Miss Alexa, now the girls can't be mean to me anymore. Alexa thought carefully how to explain the truth to the child while still giving her a sense of comfort that now she had something the other girls did not. Summer the other children can still say and do mean things but they can't hurt your feelings anymore because you are inside of your magick circle where nothing can hurt you... do you understand honey? Yeah, I think I do Miss Alexa...I know it will protect me when people are being mean right? Alexa smiled at the child and stood. Well now we had better be getting back inside honey as our lessons are going to begin again soon. Summer smiled at Alexa and put her tiny hand in the hand of her trusted teacher and together they went back into the school. Together the little girl and the witch went back into the real world having shared something very, very special. Inside Alexa thought of what she had shown Summer and she hoped that she had done the right thing.

In the end she decided that if it helped the child to deal with life even a little bit then it was worth it. It was on a Wednesday when Alexa was once again at recess with the children, trying to help scotty doogle to fix his belt so his to loose pants would stay up when there was an outcry from several children. As she turned towards the sound of the disturbance she saw a group of children gathered in a circle but this time there was something very different and very very wrong. The ground at the childrens feet was glowing a fiery blue and the one who stood inside of the glowing circle was Summer! She was looking at the circle of girls that stood around her, a look of determination etched upon her young face. And then it happened, suddenly one of the girls reached for Summer and her hand penetrated the boundary of the circle and there was a blinding flash of blue light as if an explosion had taken place. Alexa was up and running towards the children in a moment but she could already see that the little girl that had reached for summer was lying on her back crying uncontrollably fifteen feet away as if she had been thrown there by some unseen force. She reached the stunned group of children who now stood open mouthed and uncomprehending. Only Summer remained where she was her face a mask of complete composure as if she had known what would happen all the time. Upon seeing their teacher all of the children began to try to get her attention at once, some calling out her name while some just stood and cried, still in shock. What happened children? Alexa asked excitedly as she let her eyes wash over the children making sure no one else was hurt. She then ran to where the little girl was still laying on her back sobbing. Before she reached her she knew that it would be Doris Bleevey, the girl that had always instigated the taunting of little Summer. Alexa knelt at her side and pulled the girl to her assuring her that she was ok and just scared and frightened. She pulled Doris to her feet and told her and the rest of the children to go back into the school. And then she turned her attention back to Summer who still stood where she had, just watching the going on without any sign of concern on her face. Alexa went to her and tried to put a soothing smile on her face as she approached the child. Miss Alexa I'm sorry but I told her to leave me alone and to not reach inside my magick circle. Summer said to her calmly as if she were talking about the most easily understood thing in the world. For a moment Alexa was at a loss for words and so she just gently knelt in front of the child making sure she was outside of the blue glowing lines of the circle. Summer I want you to make the circle do away down into the earth just like I showed you remember? Alexa nodded her head and closed her eyes and within moments the blue lines of the

circle began to fade and then disappear. Alexa then reached out to the little girl and smoothed Summers hair from her eyes and smiled. I know honey and it's ok, I know you didn't mean to hurt her did you? Summer shook her head and placed her hand into her teachers and the two began to walk back to the school. All the while Alexa's mind was a whirlwind of all of the things that had just transpired. Before they even reached the school, teachers and the principal began to file out of the door shading their eyes in the direction of the playground to watch as Alexa and young Summer made their way back. Alexa looked down into the gentle face of the little girl named Summer and knew that their time together was at an end.

It wasn't long before parents were called, just as a precaution the principal had said but all the while Alexa knew within her that her career as a teacher was over. Doris Bleevey's mother was enraged and demanded that Alexa be terminated as she had taught one of the students to use occult powers as she put it. After several hours of talking, soothing, explaining, and many attempts at smoothing things over, it was decided that it would be best for Alexa to take a short sabbatical until things got under control. When asked about what she had seen Alexa told the truth, and when asked if she had told little Summer about the magick circle she told the truth and said that yes she had done it and she was not ashamed of it or of being Wiccan. And then on a rainy day in December the representative from the school had come to Alexa's home and told her that yes, she had in fact been let go. She thought she might cry but when faced with the moment she found that she didn't need to. She wouldn't give them the pleasure of seeing how they had hurt her. Later that same night many members of her coven came to her home and offered their support to her. White Owl, the priestess had only good things to say and told her that this could be a message from the goddess that it was time to move on to something else and assured Alexa that everything was going to be alright. While several members of the coven had expressed anger at Alexa's actions in the light that it might now bring trouble for the coven as well as the few pagan groups that lived in the area, most were very kind and supportive.

But in the end it hadn't mattered what anyone had said. The news of Alexa and the mishap at the school traveled around the community and of course the local holier than thou Christians began uproar about witches taking over. Alexa was stared at and basically ostracized within the community because of her beliefs and she suffered in quiet silence, living off of the money that she had managed to save up over the years A noise close to her brought her back to the real world and she realized that she was sitting at the picnic table at the schoolyard. She started and began to rise and instantly noticed

the people around her. It took a moment for her to realize that it was White Owl and a few women from her old coven. Alexa, are you alright? White Owl asked as she placed a hand gently on Alexa's shoulder to steady her. You seem shaken child...we just came to look for you as we knew that you come here every year at this time, on this day. she said gently with a kind smile upon her face. Alexa looked at her and tried to gather her senses quickly as she looked from face to face. All of the womens faces were kind and spoke of understanding and friendship and Alexa felt herself relax in their presence. I...I just came to spend a little time and to remember all that I've been through. Alexa explained quietly. A cool breeze blew all of their hair and it made her realize how much she had missed all of them and of the fellowship of the coven. It all seems so very far away and...so long ago... she said softly as she let her eyes sweep over the old familiar playground one more time before leaving. Alexa, we have missed you greatly within the sacred coven and we have come to ask that you please join the circle once again. White Owl said as she gently placed her hand upon Alexa's cheek and caressed it. The past cannot be changed child and you did that which in your eyes was the right thing to do, and no one here condemns you. White Owl continued. It was then that Alexa noticed a figure standing just within the playgrounds gate completely covered in a grey robe and cowl, their face hidden by the shadow of the cowl. And there is someone here to say hello to you Alexa... someone who has wanted to tell you something for a very long time. Night Dancer, one of the other coven members said. And the lone figure walked slowly to where the small group was gathered. As the figure drew near Alexa's heart fluttered strangely and she knew that her life was about to change yet again. The cowled figure stopped directly in front of Alexa and removed the cowl that had covered their face. Alexa knew the eyes in an instant, for the depth of the blue in those eyes few people have. And she drew in a breath as a tear slipped from her eye and lay upon her cheek like a sentinel. Hello Miss Alexa Summer said as the beautiful young woman smiled at the old teacher and the look of love in her eyes brought tears to many eyes that moment. Summer....oh by the goddess honey you're beautiful Alexa's voice trembled with emotion as she stood to stand before the young twenty year old woman. Summer reached her and drew her into her arms her own tears now falling like raindrops. You saved me that day Miss Alexa...you saved me Summer whispered into Alexa's ear. And then after a few moments the women sat at the old green wooden lunch table and the spirits around them danced. I never knew what had happened to you Summer and I have thought of you a thousand time honey...just to know that you are alright means everything to me.! Alexa

said through a teary smile. Alexa, you changed the course of my life when you showed me how to make a magick circle...and I can't thank you enough for choosing me and for seeing that something special that nobody else saw. Summer said again taking her teachers hand in hers and looking deeply into her eyes. I am a Witch Miss Alexa, and I chose this path above all others because of the love one wiccan woman demonstrated...you. Do you know that after that day no one ever picked on me again. The girls finally accepted me and Doris Theebley moved shortly afterward and everything changed. I had never dreamed to hope that you would turn out so beautiful and to be wiccan as well, Summer it's more than I can thank the gods for and to you for recognizing how much I have always loved that little girl in the schoolyard. They talked for hours with the rest of the coven and even had an impromptu ceremony right there under the watchful eye of the ancient oak that watched over the playground, the one with the magick circle inside it. The one with the magick circle inside of it.

The End