Ann-Sophia and The Sceptre of Light

By Henry Y. Madukwe

At age eight Ann-Sophia Golding lost her mother. Her father was wrongly convicted for a crime he did not commit. She goes to live with Aunt Molly who is a witch and with her children made Ann-Sophia’s life hell. An Angel appears to Ann-Sophia and gives her the mandate to get the Sceptre of Light that would destroy the works of evil.

The Supreme Evil One and his cohorts sought to destroy Ann-Sophia, stopping her from getting to the Sceptre of Light. The quest for the Sceptre of Light is full of adventure, danger, endurance, tests and fatalities…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Éditions Dédicaces
• Release date: Oct 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781770765511

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

HATRED IS TOXIC TO THE MIND.

‘Ann-Sophia! Ann-Soo-phhi-aa!!’ She bellowed explosively like a volcano.

‘Yes Aunt Molly! I’ll be down in a minute,’ came a frightened little voice from within the house, she sensed trouble looming in the horizon.

‘Come here now! NOW!’ Aunt Molly screamed caustically, breathing heavily, agitated, vibrating, her fist clenched and her knuckles turning white. Her face looked like a rock, every muscle prominent, every blood vessel visible, and the air around her venomous. Ann-Sophia ran down the stairs as fast as she could, her heart beating very fast, you could hear her heartbeat a mile away. She was trembling, wondering what was wrong or worse still, what she had done wrong again. She was afraid, her trepidation made her feel light. It was as if she was floating in the air, like every blood in her body had evaporated.

She was devoid of energy.

Lifeless.

Hopeless.

Helpless.

She wished she could disappear, but the reality was that, gradually she was moving closer to this gorilla of a woman. In the background someone was sniggering.

‘Welcome Aunt Molly, I was...’

‘Shut up! Don’t open your mouth until I ask you to speak! Didn’t I warn you never to raise your hand and answer questions in class? Didn’t I warn you? Ann-Sophia! Didn’t I? Answer me! Answer me...you stupid girl.’

She moved closer to Ann-Sophia and smacked her with so much force that it threw her across the room.

‘Do you think you’ll ever get a scholarship and go to the Academy for Gifted Children? That’s your plan isn’t it? Answer me Ann-Sophia, isn’t that your plan? You think you’ll ever leave here? I’ll kill you first than see you get any scholarship. Did you hear me?’ Aunt Molly turned and beckoned to the sniggering Agnes, ‘go to my room and bring my Cudgel.’

‘Okay mum,’ she replied. Agnes returned in a flash with the Cudgel and handed it over to her. Aunt Molly started beating Ann-Sophia furiously.

‘Please Aunt Molly, I’m sorry, forgive me, I won’t...’

‘Shut up! I say shut up! You stupid girl.’ Then she beat her more with the Cudgel, ‘no supper for you tonight! No school for you anymore, and I don’t ever want to see you reading or drawing anything anymore! Did you hear me?’

‘Yes Aunt Molly,’ Ann-Sophia answered tearfully.

‘Now I want you to go and collect every dirty clothe in the house and wash them. After washing the clothes, I want you to go to your hole in the basement and remain there...now, remove yourself from my presence!’ Aunt Molly turned to Agnes, ‘Where is your brother?’

‘He is in the garden playing with the dog.’

‘Call him.’

‘Okay mum.’ Agnes walked out of the room full of schadenfreude and returned minutes later with Graham.

‘Have you two done your school homework?’

‘No mum,’ they answered in unison.

Aunt Molly softened her voice, almost to a romantic whisper as she spoke to her children. She dotes on her children.

‘I’ve told you to study very hard so that you can qualify for a place at the Academy for Gifted Children. Children like you deserve to be at the Academy, unlike some dirty, poor, bad luck children. The academy is meant for children like you and I don’t want you to miss out on the opportunity of becoming the leaders of tomorrow—the movers and shakers of the future. Especially you Agnes, you need to work hard.’

‘But...mum, schoolwork is very hard,’ Agnes complained.

‘That’s why I want you to take your studies seriously. It’s for your own good, it will change your life forever and place you above your contemporaries...and you’ll make me a proud parent. Please, go to your room and do your homework...study hard for a better tomorrow. When your dad returns we shall make plans to get you a private tutor to help with your home study.’

‘How come Ann-Sophia doesn’t study hard but finds school work easy?’ Agnes queried.

‘Ann-Sophia is a bad girl with a wrong spirit; the academy is not for people like her. Moreover, I want you to forget about Ann-Sophia and study hard. The clothes you have on are dirty, take them off and give them to Ann-Sophia to wash...off you go!’

Hate is toxicity of the soul.

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones, it envelops the light of our humanity and swaddles the soul in darkness. Aunt Molly gave birth to two children, but in essence she cannot be called a mother. The attributes of motherhood are a tender heart and concern for children and the less privilege—not only your own children and immediate family. The act of mothering is never exclusive, rather it is humanely encompassing. The heart of a true mother is replete with compassion, her face radiates love and her tongue rolls out words of comfort and encouragement. The harsh hand of retribution did not let their wickedness go unpunished, one day it caught up with Agnes and Graham.

CHAPTER TWO

It had been a week since Ann-Sophia was at school. Aunt Molly lied to Ann-Sophia’s teachers that her father had serious health problems; hence Ann-Sophia had to rush down to where he was. Aunt Molly also told the school’s Board for Intelligent Children that Ann-Sophia might not return to their school, that she was going to start a new school where her father was. Aunty Molly also coached Agnes and Graham to also spread and maintain the canard. Uncle Richard was not aware of the shenanigan because he always left home very early before anyone else in the house and returns late in the evening, thus Aunty Molly’s evil plan to deny Ann-Sophia education was sure-fire. Aunt Molly had tried to use witchcraft spells to make Ann-Sophia unintelligent but to her surprise, good reports and recommendations kept coming from her teacher. When her evil spells didn’t work she resorted to physical intimidation, when that wasn’t bringing her desired result, she went to the extreme.

‘How come Ann-Sophia had to leave so abruptly? Without even saying goodbye to her friends, it’s a real shame,’ said Miss Hotchkiss, Ann-Sophia’s teacher.

‘I know,’ replied Aunt Molly, pretending to be concerned and sorry.

‘She was such a good girl, not only in terms of her schoolwork, but also in her relationship with others. She was loved by everyone, very popular...very genial. I’ll miss her, her class mates will miss her.’ Miss Hotchkiss was getting very emotional and even close to tears.

Aunt Molly continued her pretence and theatricals, ‘I know, I’ll miss her too, in fact all my family will; she was such a nice girl to have around. I enjoyed every moment that she spent with us. She will be really missed.’

Miss Hotchkiss went on eulogising Ann-Sophia and Aunt Molly was now getting irritated hearing all the accolades been showered on her, but she couldn’t show her irritation. Even having to pretend that she liked Ann-Sophia was taking a lot out of her. She was seething silently under her breath. The magnitude of her abhorrence was appalling.

‘Is there no way that we could arrange for her to return here in the near future?’

‘I don’t think so...it depends on what her father wants. From what he told me I reckon he wants her to be near him...she’s all he has, and considering the fact that he is ill, he needs her more than we do.’ Aunt Molly wished Miss Hotchkiss would stop this prodding.

‘Uhm, I reckon so too,’ Miss Hotchkiss exhaled in resignation. ‘It’s a shame.’

‘I must be on my way now, I’ve got a long day ahead of me,’ Aunt Molly said.

‘I guess so. I’m sure Ann-Sophia will do well anywhere she’s at. Anyway, whenever you see her, please send her our love.’

‘I’ll do that, and don’t you worry Miss Hotchkiss, I know Ann-Sophia will do well where she has gone to, moreover, she was in high-spirit when she was leaving to be with her father. I think it’s best for her to be over there.’

As Aunt Molly was about to open the door to leave Miss Hotchkiss stopped her in her stride.

‘Mrs Wordsworth?’

‘What!’ Aunt Molly answered irritatingly and turning.

‘Er, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to take more of your time,’ Miss Hotchkiss said apologetically.

‘It’s alright.’ Aunt Molly replied, pretending not to be irritated and playing the role of a caring aunt. ‘What more can I do for you Miss Hotchkiss?’

‘It’s about Agnes. I had it on my mind to have a word with you about her; I thought that since you’re here, perhaps it would be okay to talk to you about her. But if you’re in a hurry, we could...’

‘What is it about Agnes?’ Aunt Molly interjected.

‘Er...she’s not doing well at school. In fact, she is lagging behind in every aspect of her education, she needs to take her studies more seriously and work harder if she is to make it to the next class.’

‘I see. So, you mean Agnes is not bright enough to make it to the Academy for Gifted Children?’

‘Academy for Gifted Children?’ Miss Hotchkiss blurted, almost bursting into laughter. She had to restrain herself. It was unethical for a teacher to make fun of a pupil who wasn’t doing well, and definitely not in the presence of her mother.

‘Um...’ Miss Hotchkiss hesitated, she was thinking fast, trying to present her words in the most polite way. ‘It’s not in my position or power to determine who goes to the Academy for Gifted Children, as a teacher, all I can do is try my best to impart knowledge to my pupils in the simplest and lucid way possible. Agnes is not doing well at school; she is slow to learn and worst still, not interested in school.’

‘Can’t she improve? I mean...what can be done to improve her, academically?’

‘Of course she can improve. Everybody can improve, but she needs to work very hard, extra hard to be precise, and more than that she must be interested in learning.’

Even as she spoke, Miss Hotchkiss was still somewhat fascinated at the thought of anyone considering Agnes Wordsworth for the Academy for Gifted Children, because only the best of the best go there; only the best of the best had ever gone there. As far as she knew the requirements have not changed and there was no likelihood that it would change in future. The ensign of the Academy for Gifted Children was purely academic excellence and the selection was based purely on merit; it’s either you have it or you didn’t. Sometimes, parental expectations threads on the paths of inanity and fantasy. It’s wise and reasonable to recognise and accept our human limitations. Even though everybody has got something to offer, the reality is that some achievements are not meant for everybody—all fingers are not equal.

Aunt Molly needn’t be told about her daughter’s academic performance, she was well aware of it, also from Miss Hotchkiss’ expression, she knew what it meant was that Agnes was not good enough for the Academy for Gifted Children. There was nothing more for her to say than to prove her wrong, she thought – to prove all of them wrong, and if at the end, her own Agnes was unable to make it to the academy, at least their darling Ann-Sophia won’t be there too. That, she will see to. Aunt Molly nodded her head slowly like someone in a trance, then gave Miss Hotchkiss a cold and mean look and left without saying another word.

CHAPTER THREE

Every day the womb of dawn ushered Ann-Sophia into a new regime of existence. After finishing the load of unnecessary housework she kept herself busy by secretly reading her schoolbooks, painting and exercising. Frequent exercise improves quality of life, sleep, appetite and general sense of well-being. It strengthens the bones and helps reduce the risk of heart disease, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety, obesity and cancer. The benefits of exercise are optimised if the body gets adequate rest. She acquired this wisdom from her Grandfather who daily walked miles and imparted the knowledge and benefits to her.

Sometimes Ann-Sophia does some mild workouts in the basement; while sometimes she jogs to the stream before having a nice warm bath. At other times she takes a brisk walk to and fro the Town Centre through hidden paths so that no one would see her. The first time she did it; she really enjoyed it. So she did it again. The fifth time, on her way back she saw an old woman walking the same path as her. She noticed that the old woman was carrying a bag that seemed to be heavy on her. As Ann-Sophia got close to the old woman stealthily, she said, ‘may I help...’

‘Oh dear!’ said the old woman, startled, with her hand on her chest. ‘You scared me.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘I didn’t expect anyone to appear suddenly behind me on this path, not many people use this path.’

‘I’m truly sorry for creeping behind you like that, I never meant to scare you...I only wanted to help you carry your bag.’

‘It’s alright; I guess I was too self-centred, not expecting anyone else to use a public path. So, what is your name?’

‘My name is Ann-Sophia.’

‘How far are you going?’ The old woman asked.

‘I am going to Fuggorts Road.’

‘You’re going farther than myself, but not too far from where I live. I live at the end of Gravel close, I live alone with my dog and cat.’

‘May I?’ Ann-Sophia said with a gesture, pointing to the bag.

‘Okay dear, if you insist,’ the old woman handed the bag over to Ann-Sophia.

Ann-Sophia and the old woman walked on together chatting until they got to the end of Gravel Close—the old woman’s house.

At first, Ann-Sophia was reticent about sharing her family life with Mrs Churchill but after Mrs Churchill spoke freely about her own ordeals, she won Ann-Sophia’s confidence after which she poured out her heart to Mrs Churchill. Similar experiences tend to make people’s heart and their reception to converge, especially in the area of the loss of loved ones. There is that feeling of ‘you’ve been there too’, so you can understand what I’m going through –creating a kind of camaraderie. Love and pain seem to be related, they tend to go together but on opposite sides of the road with no clear-cut barrier. Everybody craves the warmth of love, but nobody even likes to mention the word pain. However, the reality of life is that if we desire love, then there will certainly one day going to be pain—at least the pain of losing someone you once knew. That void of separation; though poignant, it’s the fact.

‘I’m very sorry for what happened to your parents, and you not getting on well with your Aunt, it’s a real