Hello, this is Natasha and I'm here with a story about Katie, who is an ordinary schoolgirl

apart from one thing. She's a witch and can do magic tricks. And hello to Anya, aged nine,

who's been waiting for this Katie story. Katie had been learning Latin at school for a year. When I say learning, that might not be

quite the right word, because, to tell you the truth, she had hardly learned any Latin. She knew

that Gromio est in Horto meant Gromio is in the garden.

But what was the use of that to anyone nowadays?

Katie couldn't wait to drop this deadbeat language

and learn something more useful like Spanish.

But when she told her mother, she received a big no.

Katie had to learn Latin because it was the most useful subject in school if you are a witch.

Why, Mum, pleaded Katie.

Hardly anyone cast spells in Latin anymore.

They've all been translated into English. Well, maybe, but Latin makes the

past come alive today, her mum said, gesturing with a wooden spoon and accidentally flicking some

drops of sorrel soup onto Katie's forehead without seeming to notice.

When you read Latin, people from a whole different world speak to you like they are alive today,

only in a parallel universe. To do magic, you need to understand how the past and the present live alongside one another and their energies intertwine.

Katie's side, not entirely convinced.

You make it sound so interesting, but our Latin teacher is about as interesting as a statue of some dead Roman dude.

That's a pity, her mum replied, the wooden spoon now tapping rhythmically against the side of the pot.

We'll have to get you a private Latin teacher now.

But you are always saying we need to save more money, Katie protested,

...