The next day, Tommy couldn’t stop thinking about Mrs. Willow. The idea that she was rumored to be a witch intrigued and worried him. He wanted to understand more about her and figure out how it all connected to Lily.
After school, he met up with Lily at their usual spot near the edge of the woods. She seemed more relaxed today, humming a tune and skipping stones across the creek.
“Hey, Lily,” Tommy began, trying to sound casual. “Can I ask you something?”
Lily stopped skipping stones and turned to him. “Sure, Tommy. What’s up?”
Tommy hesitated, not wanting to upset her. “I’ve heard some rumors about Mrs. Willow. People say she’s a witch. Is there any truth to that?”
Lily’s face fell, and she looked away. “I was afraid you’d hear those rumors. People have been saying that about Grandma for as long as I can remember. It’s just because she knows so much about herbs and nature. They don’t understand.”
“So, she’s not a witch?” Tommy asked, relieved but still curious.
“No, she’s not,” Lily said firmly. “She’s just really knowledgeable about plants and how they can help people. That’s all.”
Tommy nodded, but he still had questions. “Then why do people think she’s a witch? There must be something more to it.”
Lily sighed and sat down on a rock by the creek. “It all started a long time ago. There was an accident in the village, and some people got hurt. Grandma helped them with her remedies, and they recovered quickly. But instead of being grateful, people got scared. They thought her knowledge was unnatural.”
Tommy sat down next to her, listening intently. “That’s really unfair. She was just helping.”
“I know,” Lily said. “But fear and ignorance can make people act irrationally. They didn’t understand her, so they started spreading rumors. And over time, those rumors grew into legends.”
Tommy frowned, deep in thought. “That’s really sad. But if she’s not a witch, why do you have to keep your meetings with her a secret?”
“Because people still remember those old stories,” Lily explained. “If they found out I was learning from her, they might think I’m a witch too. And I don’t want that kind of trouble.”
Tommy understood now. “I get it. It’s not fair, but I understand. I won’t tell anyone, Lily. You can trust me.”
Lily smiled, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Thanks, Tommy. It means a lot to me.”
They sat in silence for a while, watching the creek flow by. Tommy’s mind was racing with thoughts about Mrs. Willow and the unfair rumors. He decided he needed to learn more, not just for himself, but to help clear her name.
“Lily,” Tommy said after a long pause. “I want to help. I want to find out more about Mrs. Willow and see if there’s a way to change people’s minds about her.”
Lily looked at him, surprised. “Really? You’d do that?”
“Absolutely,” Tommy said. “But I need your help. Do you know where I can find more information about her and the old rumors?”
Lily thought for a moment. “There’s an old library in the village. It has a lot of records and old newspapers. We might find something there.”
“Perfect,” Tommy said, feeling a surge of determination. “Let’s go there tomorrow after school.”
The next day, they met up as planned and headed to the old library. It was a small, dusty building, filled with ancient books and yellowed newspapers. The librarian, an elderly man with thick glasses, looked up as they entered.
“Good afternoon, children. How can I help you today?” he asked kindly.
“We’re looking for information about Mrs. Willow and some old rumors about her,” Tommy explained.
The librarian raised an eyebrow. “Mrs. Willow, you say? That’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. What’s your interest in her?”
“She’s my grandmother,” Lily said quietly. “We want to understand more about why people think she’s a witch.”
The librarian’s expression softened. “Ah, I see. It’s a sad story, really. Come with me.”
He led them to a section filled with old newspapers and pointed to a specific shelf. “These newspapers date back to the time when the rumors started. You might find what you’re looking for here.”
“Thank you,” Tommy said, and they set to work, carefully sifting through the fragile papers.
As they read through the old articles, they found several stories about accidents and illnesses in the village. In each case, Mrs. Willow was mentioned as having helped with her remedies. But the tone of the articles shifted over time, from gratitude to suspicion.
“Look at this one,” Lily said, pointing to a headline that read, “Local Healer’s Remedies Questioned After Unexplained Recoveries.”
Tommy read the article aloud. “Several villagers have expressed concern over the rapid recoveries facilitated by Mrs. Willow’s herbal treatments. Some believe her knowledge extends beyond the natural realm.”
“That’s so unfair,” Tommy said, shaking his head. “She was just helping people.”
Lily nodded. “But it’s not just the articles. There are also letters and opinions from villagers. They started to believe the worst.”
They continued reading, piecing together the story. They found references to a council meeting where villagers debated whether Mrs. Willow’s practices should be banned. In the end, it seemed that fear and suspicion had won out.
“This is so wrong,” Tommy said, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. “We have to do something to clear her name.”
“But how?” Lily asked, looking overwhelmed. “These rumors have been around for so long. How can we change people’s minds?”
Tommy thought for a moment. “Maybe if we can show them the truth. We can collect evidence of Mrs. Willow’s good deeds and how her remedies have helped people. If we can present that to the village council, they might listen.”
Lily looked hopeful. “Do you really think that could work?”
“It’s worth a try,” Tommy said. “But we’ll need to be careful. We don’t want to cause more trouble for your grandma.”
Lily nodded. “We’ll have to be smart about it. Let’s start by talking to some of the people she’s helped. Maybe they’ll be willing to share their stories.”
They spent the next few days discreetly talking to villagers who had received help from Mrs. Willow. Many of them were grateful and spoke highly of her, but they were also afraid to speak out publicly.
“I wish we could do more,” Lily said one evening as they sat by the creek, feeling disheartened by the reluctance of the villagers.
“We’ll find a way,” Tommy said, refusing to give up. “Maybe if we can get enough stories together, people will start to see the truth.”
As they were talking, a shadow fell over them. They looked up to see Mrs. Willow standing there, a thoughtful expression on her face.
“Grandma!” Lily exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard you’ve been asking questions about me,” Mrs. Willow said gently. “Why, Lily?”
Lily looked down, feeling a bit guilty. “We wanted to help clear your name, Grandma. It’s not fair that people think you’re a witch.”
Mrs. Willow sighed and sat down beside them. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but it’s a difficult task. People are afraid of what they don’t understand. It’s been that way for a long time.”
“We can’t just do nothing,” Tommy said passionately. “You’ve helped so many people. They need to know the truth.”
Mrs. Willow smiled, touched by their determination. “You both have good hearts. Maybe it’s time for a change. If you think you can make a difference, I’ll support you.”
“Really?” Lily asked, her eyes brightening.
“Yes,” Mrs. Willow said. “But we must be careful and respectful. We don’t want to force anyone into anything they’re not ready for.”
Tommy nodded. “We understand. We’ll do our best.”
Over the next few weeks, they continued their efforts, slowly gathering stories and evidence. They created a scrapbook filled with testimonies, photographs, and notes about Mrs. Willow’s remedies.
One evening, as they were putting the finishing touches on their presentation, Lily looked at Tommy and smiled. “I couldn’t have done this without you, Tommy. Thank you.”
Tommy grinned. “We’re a team, remember? And we’re just getting started.”
As they prepared to present their findings to the village council, Tommy felt a mix of nerves and excitement. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but with Lily and Mrs. Willow by his side, he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
And deep down, he believed that the truth would prevail, and Mrs. Willow’s name would finally be cleared.