WITCH APPLES

Gretchen had reread the letter until its news lost all meaning. Aunt Trudi was dead. She'd met her once, long ago, on a family visit.

Gretchen brought an apple as a present.

"Half green apples are poison apples," her aunt said, and told her how witches made them.

For ages afterward, Gretchen had nightmares. Now she was weeping – not from grief, but freedom. She was free from Aunt Trudi's disapproval, from her stifling veil of fear.

Gretchen wiped her eyes, and went to the kitchen. She knew what to bring to the wake: an apple pie – a brand new recipe.