Brave Matilda

Under the old wizard's gaze, students usually whither.

But not brave Matilda,

who kept her wits with her,

when he asked her,

"With which little witch did you switch?"

"Switch what?" she replied,

looking straight in his eyes.

And although he was easily three times her size,

he seemed smaller than she was

for a moment, and then 

he coughed and said, "I wondered whether..."

But then he just trailed off.

And he walked off.

And we all dispersed,

Wondering if somehow

The old man she'd cursed.

Banished from the Bakery

The morning rolls were oh so nice,
I asked the baker for advice.

"To fluffy up your daily bread, you need to kneed the dough," he said.

"I see," I said. "And how do they rise, just so to this specific size?"

"The yeast!" he said. "You knead it through. And then the bread knows what to do."

"It does?" I asked, a bit confused.
(That bread could "know" to me was news.)

"Of course it does!" he spat right back
(as if I'd made a rude attack).

Seeing the look of hurt in his eyes, I did my best to apologize.

But the damage was done.
The baker stormed off.

Then, clearing his throat with a dignified cough,
"It does!" he declared, and SLAMMED the door.

I don't go to that bakery any more.