"What's the rush?" said her mother. "Don't you want to see what I'm doing?" "Sure," said Nita, who wanted to do no such thing. "What are you doing?" "I've been thinking," said her mother.Nita began to worry more than ever. Her mother was at her most dangerous when she was thinking, and it rarely meant anything but trouble for Nita. 'About what?""Sit down, honey. Don't look as if you're going to go flying out the door any minute. I need to talk to you."Uh oh… here it comes! Nita sat down and began playing spin-the-spoon games with one of the wooden spoons that among many other utensils was littering the kitchen table. "Honey," her mother said,"this wizardry…""It's going pretty well with the trees, Mum," Nita said, desperate to guide her mother on to some subject more positive. Her present tone didn't sound positive at all."No, I don't mean that, honey. Talking to trees – that's all right, that doesn't bother me. The kind of things you've been doing lately… you and Kit…"Oh no. "Mum, we haven't got in trouble, not really. And we've been doing pretty well, for new wizards. When you're as young as we are. . .""Exactly," her mother said. "When you're as young as you are." She did something noisy with the blender for a moment and then said, "Hon, don't you think it would be a good idea if you just let all this – have a rest? Just for a month or so."Nita looked at her mother without understanding at all, and worrying. "What do you mean?" "Well, your dad and I have been talking – and you and Kit have been seeing an awful lot of each other in connection with this wizard business. We're thinking that it might be a good idea if you two sort of. didn't see each other for a little while." "Mum!""No, hear me out. I understand you're good friends, I know there's nothing. physical going on between you, so put that out of your mind. We're very glad each of you has such a good friend.
