Little Gray Socks

by Tyler Smith

Maddie was six years old, but she knew some really good places to hide important things. The best spot of all was inside one of her socks, because she only had one pair and they were always really stinky. She didn’t mind having stinky socks because nobody would take off her little scuffed shoes and try to smell her feet. Besides, it gave her the best hiding spot ever. That’s where she hid the most important thing she had ever been given. That’s where she protected it.

She still remembered the day she was chosen; it was over six months ago now. Maddie’s mother crouched down in front of her and said she had a very, very important job for her. She handed her daughter an envelope and told her to keep it safe until she came home. She said she’d be back for it. She winked at Maddie. That was the last time Maddie saw her mother.

When Maddie was given that envelope she had no idea what was in it, but she knew it was the most important thing she had ever been given. So she took off her left gray sock, folded the envelope in half, and shoved it inside the sock. It wasn’t very comfortable to walk on an envelope every day. Cecile always asked Maddie why she walked improperly. Maddie lied.

Maddie didn’t like being taken care of by Cecile. She was pretty sure Cecile was a witch. She cackled when she laughed, and she had a big nose. She didn’t like Cecile and she didn’t like London. Not anymore. When Maddie moved to London with her mother they lived in a pretty house, with stairs and a backyard. She still didn’t like it, but she was with mother, and it was a much prettier house than where she lived now. She felt safe there when mother held her hand. Cecile said holding hands wasn’t proper.

Maddie missed La Ronge, she missed Saskatchewan, but mother said they wouldn’t be in London for more than a year when they moved. And then mother left her. They told Maddie that her Auntie May would come bring her back to Canada. She waited a long time. Auntie May never came.

Everything was dirty and close together in London. People looked at you funny if you waved. People yelled at you if you played with animals or ran through the street. She wanted to be back in La Ronge with her tire swing, her secret room under the stairs, and Wolfy. Wolfy was with Auntie May now. Maddie knew what was going on. Auntie May was hiding to make sure Wolfy was safe from the witch. Cecile hated dogs. Cecile hated everything that wasn’t tall with a big nose.

Mother would come back one day and save her from the witch. The envelope was either full of pixie dust or griffin feathers. Maddie was sure of it. Those were the two things that could kill a witch. Once mother came back they would save the world from Cecile once and for all. The children at the Paul Street Orphanage would cheer for Maddie because she had saved them from the witch. She would save them from Cecile, and they’d never be beaten again.

Cecile had told Maddie that her mother had died in a car crash that day. Maddie knew better. Mother had winked at her and said she’d be back. Mother never lied. She was probably on a magical journey. Mother was off in another world, preparing a kingdom for her. A kingdom with unicorns and dresses and Wolfy. Maddie would be princess.

It was five o’clock now, which meant it was time for Maddie to change into her afternoon clothing, have an afternoon prayer, and have dinner with the other children. Cecile would make her say grace tonight. She knew it, and she hated grace. Cecile said that Maddie used improper words, and that she had to learn to speak like a lady. Mother was a lady, and mother showed her how to speak like one. Cecile was trying to make her talk like a witch, so she tried her hardest to remember how mother would speak, no matter what Cecile would tell her to do. She was supposed to use her afternoon prayer to thank God for her blessings, but she would pray that mother would hurry and come back to her. It couldn’t be much longer now.

Maddie took off her shoes and put them neatly beside her bed. She carefully peeled the gray sock off her foot, and waited for the familiar object to fall out. Nothing happened. Panicked, she quickly turned her sock inside-out. It was gone. She dropped to her knees and scurried around the floor. Maybe she had dropped it. Maybe it was under the bed.

“Are you looking for something?” Maddie heard the voice from behind her. It was Cecile. “An envelope perhaps?”

Maddie turned around. Cecile had the envelope in her hand. It had been torn open. Maddie didn’t say anything, but she was shaking with fear.

Cecile walked over to Maddie’s bed and sat down, motioning for Maddie to sit down beside her. Maddie crawled onto the bed. She didn’t know what else to do.

“Madeleine, dear,” Cecile spoke calmly. Maddie didn’t like being called dear. Not by a witch. “I want you to tell me where you found this envelope.”

Maddie opened her mouth. No. If she told the truth then Cecile would know about mother’s plan. About the kingdom. Maddie thought quickly. “A man gave it to me. On the street.”

“Who was this man?” Cecile persisted.

“I don’t know.”

“Are you lying to me Madeleine?” Cecile was most definitely a witch. Trying to trick her. Trying to find out the truth. Maddie wouldn’t give in.

“No.”

“Men on streets do not give little girls envelopes full of money my dear. Not envelopes full of money. Not envelopes meant to pay one’s bills.” The witch took a folded piece of paper out of the envelope. “It’s your mother’s rent money Madeleine. From before she died. Meant to be mailed, I’m sure.” Cecile’s voice took a gentle tone. “So why have you held it for so long?”

What’s rent money? Maddie’s envelope wasn’t filled with pieces of paper. Maddie’s envelope was full of magic. It was full of things. Important things. Things that mother needed her to hold. That’s why she held them so long. Because they were important things.

Cecile moved closer to Maddie on the bed. “My mother died at a young age as well. I know how important it is to keep senseless things sometimes. Pieces of clothing. Jewellery. Envelopes. It helps you remember. But there are some things not meant to be kept. This money was meant for someone else Madeleine. And I’m afraid that it would be wrong for me to not send it to whom it rightfully belongs. Now come along, it’s time for our dinner.”

Cecile stood up and left the room. Maddie took a deep breath and looked down at her socks. Then her eyes widened. Of course! This had been another test. Mother had come and taken the real envelope back and now she was going to use it to kill the witch and save her. Cecile was lying, trying to trick Maddie. She had a different envelope, with different things inside. And now the witch wanted Maddie to come have dinner. It was probably poison. No, Maddie would not come down to eat. She wouldn’t fall for that. She could wait. She wouldn’t eat again until she was back with her mother.