I was screwed. I was Tabitha Lee Bane, descendant of The Great Tabitha Bane, hero of the Witching Wars, and I was about to fail my final exam. Failing these finals meant the end of your witching career. You had a chance. The hiring rate for witches who didn't make it? Zero. I stared helplessly at the sturdy wooden table that held the potion that was supposed to show my mother that I was not a failure, that I could be as great a witch as my mother and all the other women before her. the Bane family. That I could change history, just like the original Tabitha Bane. My temporal suspension potion was a brown, muddy, smelly mess. Nothing like the pearly gold it should have been. My theory was brilliant. I couldn't really think of a practical application, but figuring out how to stop time? Final pass. I had studied and experimented until my eyes were bloodshot and my fingers were chapped and burned from the dangerous concoctions I had concocted. Looking at the potion, I grumbled under my breath and tried one last time. Holding up the battered newspaper, I double-checked the spell and said the incantation I had created. The walls shook, the lights dimmed, Mittens, my tabby cat, fled from the dusty basement. The heavy cast iron cauldron shook and rose into the air, glowing with an unearthly light. Yes! It worked. I repeated the incantation, putting everything I had into this last effort. My newspaper forgotten, I raised my arms and watched the light grow brighter. Finally, I could show everyone: “Aagh! » I screamed, stepping aside as the cauldron rose to the ceiling, bounced, and flew towards me. It hit the wall behind me and exploded, sending the smelly potion everywhere. It covered me from head to...... middle of paper ......an. At the end of the aisle, I stuck my head out and looked around. This end of the stable overlooked the edge of the forest and a large pasture. I got out and started walking away quietly. It was my only chance. Maybe once I'm in the woods I can rework the incantation to send me away. Because I was pretty sure I made a mistake last night and my time suspension potion had turned into a time travel potion. “Lady Tabitha.” A hand rested on my shoulder and turned me around. Oh no. oh no no no no no. I looked at the ground. If he didn't see my eyes, maybe he wouldn't realize it. Did I look that much like my ancestor? “There you are. Where were you? We waited all morning. Is something wrong? "No, no, I-I was just...checking on the horses." You know how much I love horses. I chatted. Do I say it or not? I avoided the effort to understand it.