(This is pt2 to the boy and the witch.)

After Madam Ethel’s death Jack had to learn how to control his new power. He spent weeks in the library reading all of the notes madam Ethel left behind. It made him feel like he was still close to her. After 1 year he had read every book, made every recipe, and mostly learned to control his power. Mostly. However, what Jack didn’t realize is magic plays off his emotions. Everytime he made anything he always thought of Ethel and wondered if she would be proud. It made him sad which made his remedies tainted. The townsfolk were dropping like flies. Jack worried what this might mean. Would the mayor be okay? Is this his fault? Are they going to burn him at the stake for not doing it right?

He sat there finishing up the neighbor girls breathing treatment. That’s when he felt a couple tears roll down his face, one landing straight in the couldron. With that a low grumble came from the inside of the large black pot. Jacks full attention shot towards it. When he hovered over it he was able to see the reflection of a face. It wasn’t Jacks own reflection, it was madam Ethel.

“Boy! Why are you crying?” She bellowed.

“I miss you a lot Ethel. I think I’m doing something wrong everyone I’m helping is dying. I don’t understand what I’m messing up. I follow the recipes perfectly but **_something is going wrong!_**” Cried Jack.

“It’s your emotions, child, you need to control your sadness. You have to feel nothing while brewing or you’re basically selling poison that works over time.” Ethel said.

“I didn’t know. I’m so sorry Ethel. Can I fix it?” Jacks asked.

“Yes. Just do what I said and follow the recipes exactly, everyone will heal. Go boy you have much to do.” with that she disappeared into the couldron.

Jack cried for a moment before pulling himself to his feet. He went and collected the records of every order he had made and began remaking every single one. He took deep breaths and tried hard not to think of Ethel. When he would we would start over. When he felt emotional during making them he just started over. It was a lot of work but worth it for the sake of his town.

After 12 long hours, Jack had remade all of the orders and was working on the last one. He threw in the last ingredient and started stirring and humming the spell. He poured it into a vial and collected them all into a big paper bag. Every one wrapped in a cloth with a name. He looked out the window to see the sun already beginning to rise. The boy had another long day ahead of him so he decided to get some rest.

Before traveling from one side of town to the other, delivering all of the orders, he stopped at the small diner in town. However, as he walked in there were many of his customers sitting around the room. Every single one of them shot him a dirty glance. He wondered what he had done. That’s when he heard someone at the neighboring table say, “They found old man Earl dead this morning. They think he was poisoned.”

Jack’s heart dropped. He knew that it was his fault. He looked in his bag. At the top was a small vial that read Earl Hawthorne. He allowed a single tear to trickle down his cheek. He gathered himself and his stuff and left. He began running towards his first order drop off spot.

When he got ten feet from the customers house, he noticed a group of people around the home. Jack saw a bush nearby and leapt into it to watch. This was the home of little Sally Blackwood and her parents. He then realized those men were officers. Jack fiddled with the tincture he was supposed to be delivering there. He rolled it around anxiously in his hand. As he watched the officers leave he run towards the back door and did the secret knock.

“Jack! You have to go. Now!” whispered the woman sternly turning back to check the officers didn’t see. “Oh just come in. Quickly!” she said swinging the screen door open.

“Don’t worry I’ll be quick.” Jack said walking over to the pale child laying nearly lifeless on a stack of hay. He quickly opened the vial and started pouring it into Sally’s mouth. With the last drop Jack held her hand and watched as she woke up.

“Jack?” Sally murmured.

“Yes! I’m here.” His eyes shot to hers.

“Is this going to make me better?” She asked with a few tears rolling down her face.

“This time, it is. I promise.” Jack said trying not to cry. As he looked at the young girl she began to regain color in the face.

“Oh I can’t believe it!” Mrs. Blackwood screamed. The woman cried and ran over to her daughter grabbing her up into her embrace.

“I was starting to lose faith in you but you got a hold on this. Thank you so much Jack.” said Mr. Blackwood placing a hand on his shoulder leading Jack back out of the house. “Here’s the money. Be more careful next time son. Those men are looking for **_you_** but we won’t give you up. I would make sure everyone else you ‘help’ agrees.”

“Yes, Mr. Blackwood.” He said walking away with his head down in thought.

He started walking down the road delivering each of the vials individually. Finally he was in front of the mayor’s house. He reached in his bag picking up the last vial. He put his paper bag down and knocked his secret knock on the mayor’s back door. The usual maid opened the door.

Jack rubbed his face in exhaustion as the maid led him to the mayor’s room. He walked in to see the pale older man lying on the best bed he had ever seen.

“Hey! Jack! How are you my boy?” he said coughing.

“Better than you Cedric.” The two of them laughed together. “Seriously though, this one should be perfect.” Jack spoke.

“Sounds good to me boy.” He spoke softly. “I thank you for stepping into this role for me and others in a similar situation. You are doing god’s work. We will always be grateful to you.” The mayor smiled.

“Oh it’s nothing. I actually really enjoy my job.” He smiled pouring the tincture into the mayor’s tea. “Here drink up.” Jack handed the cup to him.

He took it and downed it like a shot. “This one will work I can feel it.” he said fading away to sleep.

“Sleep well Cedric.” Jack said collecting his vial and cloth. He covered the mayor up and left.

He grabbed the paper bag on the way out of the back door and began on his path back home. Jack walked two miles before reaching home. He opened his front door, put the bag down and went straight to his room for a good nights rest.

The next day as he was sleeping peacefully, there was a banging at the door. He sludged to the front door to see little Sally Blackwood at his door. She looked healthier than she ever had before.

“Jack you cured me!” She yelled rushing him into her embrace. Her small arms wrapped around his legs. He picked her up and sat on the stairs with her.

“I didn’t cure you. We have to do that every week but you will be okay. Didn’t I promise you, you would be ok?” He smiled. She giggled back.

“I believe you. Thank you, Jackie Jack.” she said hopping off his lap and running to play with her friends waiting just on the other side of the misty stone path. Jack had never felt more appreciated for all his work then he did in that moment. He smiled and walked back inside. He looked at the vase that contained Ethel on the mantel and said “Thank you Ethel.”