Excerpt from Gertie Gets it Right (eventually) available in paperback and on Kindle.

Gertie finds a Familiar:   

The next day, Ma Grimthorpe explained to Gertie that she and Gran believed it would be best for her to have a familiar. “You’re growing up now, Gertie, and at nine years of age you should have your first familiar.”

            “Does it matter what I choose?” the little witch asked. Gertie knew that most witches preferred a cat, but she had never liked them very much. Nor had they ever liked her really. She was positively allergic to them. “I only have to see a cat to set me off in a fit of sneezing,” she continued by way of explanation.

            Gertie’s nose gave a definite twitch if she even saw a picture of a cat. No, a cat was definitely out.

            “Well no, it doesn’t matter,” her mother agreed. “But it has to be something you feel comfortable and happy with. Something you believe will be able to help you with your spells.”

            Gertie considered Wart, and then remembered he had been the result of a failed spell. Maybe it shouldn’t be him. He hadn’t exactly helped Gertie with that one. He did seem an amazing toad however, as he didn’t look to have aged at all in the time Gertie had known him. Gertie didn’t know much about the life spans of toads, but she knew Wart should have at least appeared older. She didn’t dwell on the subject. She was trying to find a familiar, and Wart didn’t fit the bill.

            She went for a walk with her mother to think about it. Together, they wandered the wood bordering their village. Gertie pondered, and Ma left her to it while she picked herbs and weeds for her latest spell.

            “Don’t wander far,” called Ma.

            “I won’t, Mummy. I’ll keep in sight of you,” agreed Gertie. She was then distracted by a loud, hollow, ‘thunk’. Looking up in surprise, the little girl was just in time to see a feathered shape sliding limply down the trunk of a nearby old oak tree. Being a kind soul, and also very curious, she hurried over to see what it was. This was to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

            “Oh, you poor thing!” Gertie exclaimed, picking up the dazed owl. She took him to her mother. “I’ve found a familiar, Mum,” she called excitedly, hurrying over.

            Ma Grimthorpe looked at the owl with its glazed expression. “Is he alive, dear?” she asked.

            The bird gave a feathery owlish groan as if to prove he was. Just.

            “See Mummy, he’s so clever he even understands what you say!”

            Ma Grimthorpe seemed to doubt that very much, but clearly didn’t want to hurt Gertie’s feelings.

            “Are you sure you think he will help with your spells?” Ma asked.

            “Oh yes, I’m very sure,” replied Gertie. “I feel all magical already.”

            “All right,” agreed Ma, against her better judgement.

            On the way home, Gertie explained how she had found the owl. She saw Ma begin to regret her agreement even more. What kind of owl would fly into a tree? Before too long, they were to find out the answer to that question was, a very short sighted one.