George and the Young Witch: Checkmate

George is riding Bella slowly toward the woods. They hope they’ll find the Virgin Witch before sunset. Both of them are scared of spending the night in the darkness.

“Tell me, are you going to take the virginity of this Virgin Witch?” Bella asks George.

“How many times should I tell you it’s offensive to talk like that? And NO! We’ll only ask her politely to give me the power to beat Mason in chess forever. I’m sick of losing to that dimwit again and again.”

“You’re just jealous of your brother. He’s not a dimwit. You are!”

“Oh, shut up, Bella. I didn’t ask for your opinion. Focus on your job. Are we even close to that witch?”

“Rude! Hasn’t your mother taught you how to talk to a lady?”

“Don’t start again, Bella. You are my horse. And I talk—”

Bella rears and drops George onto the wet grass. She walks toward the mist. A cottage appears. George stands up and swears at Bella.

“Oi! No one is allowed to be rude here in my territory. Who are you, and what are you doing in my land?” A young woman—maybe thirty-five—with long red hair yells at George.

“I’m George, and this is Bella—my naughty and disobedient horse. We’re looking for the young witch.”

“I am the witch. What do you want? Hurry up! I’m busy. I can’t waste my whole day listening to you.”

“Okay… okay… I’m here to ask you a favor. I want to have the power to beat my brother—no—beat everyone in chess. Please.”

The witch stares at George for a while. “Stay here in my cottage for thirty-five days. I’ll give you the power to beat everyone in chess if you don’t fall in love with me in the next five weeks.”

“What? Who do you think you are? Ariana Grande?”

“No! I’m Sarah. You don’t have to accept my condition. Don’t waste my time. Adieu!”

Bella watches the scene with joy. She enjoys seeing George smashed and humiliated by a strong woman.

***

For dinner, Sarah cooks them a delicious soup. At midnight, she introduces Bella to her own horse, Martin. Bella falls in love with him at first sight.

“Tell me, Martin, what’s your biggest goal in life?” Bella asks.

“Visiting Santa Claus at his place. I mean, in the North Pole.”

“You should marry me. Let’s kiss right now, right here.”

Bella and Martin start kissing passionately, forgetting that Sarah is standing right there.

“Oh—I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone. Oh, Bella! He’s all yours! Slow down, girl! Oh! I’d better go now!” Sarah runs to the cottage.

George is drinking coffee with a piece of homemade chocolate cake beside the fireplace.

“What’s up, Ariana?” he asks, still making fun of her.

“Our horses are in love. They’re leaving for the North Pole tonight.”

“What?? But they just met. How is this even possible?”

“They’re horses. It’s a horse romance—very strong and indestructible.”

“George! Can you hear me? I’m leaving you! I’ve found my missing half. Bye-bye!” Bella shouts from the stable.

George can hear Bella and Martin kissing even with all doors and windows tightly closed. He sits there, unable to move. It all happened too fast. In the blink of an eye, he’s lost his black horse to a white one.

“I’ll leave this place as soon as it stops raining,” George says to Sarah.

“That’s not going to happen. It rains here day and night. You can build a second floor on my cottage if you want.”

“Why should I do that? I’ll go back home tomorrow morning.”

“I’m afraid you can’t. Your brother, the King of NoWhere, sent you to me as a gift so I’d break my curse on his kingdom and let it rain there twice a week.”

George doesn’t know what to say. “Nooooo!” is all he can manage. He breathes into a paper bag. One, two, three… one, two, three.

“Tell me, what am I supposed to do for you as your ‘gift’ from the kingdom?” George asks.

“Well, you should make breakfast in the morning, clean my cottage in the afternoon, and play chess with me at night.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes! That’s all I expect you to do.”

George looks at the grey clouds through the small window of the cottage. “Can we at least have pizza for dinner every night? And hot chocolate before bed?”

“Of course, George! You’re in my magical woods now. For good!”