Hello, this is Natasha, and this is the latest story about Katie the ordinary witch.

Some people have been asking us whatever happened to Katie's dad.

I do seem to recall that we mentioned him in the first story, as well as a family dog,

and we've forgotten all about them ever since. Well,

this story might explain things just a bit. And by the way, Bertie says that it's rather more

romantic than usual.

Katie was just a little bit put out.

Her mother was going to the theatre without her.

This was very strange,

because Katie and her mum always did everything together.

Great Aunt Chloe had come to stay the night. You wouldn't want to be a gooseberry,

she told a glum-looking Katie. No, thought Katie. I wouldn't want to be a strawberry either.

What strange things my relative say sometimes. It was only later when Katie was lying in bed that she twigged. Oh, I get it. Mum's found a boyfriend. That's why she's been so secretive recently.

A moonbeam did a little dance on the window sill to say,

Yes, Katie, you slow coach.

Why didn't you think of that before?

You see, Katie's dad had upped and left some years ago. He was a professor at the

Institute of Paranormal Phenomena, and he thought that his home life was just a bit too much

like his work life.

So it was probably about time that Katie's mum found another man.

At breakfast time, Katie said to her mum,

How's your evening?

...