Puk Krogsøe

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Rose stands in the middle of the circle of girls.

mother comes in and sniffs her hair and kisses her on the cheek.
“Oh, you smell like summer, my darling. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes,” Rose replies.
“Come down and eat with us before we leave.” Her mother leaves again.

jolts out of sleep. Good thing it was only a dream! The sun’s rays slip through the small holes in the Venetian blinds and fall on her face. She lies still, pushing the dream away and listening to the sounds of the house. She can hear her father shaving in the hallway.
The buzz of the razor mixes with the roar of her little sister. Rose opens her eyes but has to squint because of the sun’s rays. Cecilie is just so annoying sometimes. Today she is arguing with their mother about what clothes to wear.

Rose and her mother made the witch’s corner during the winter holidays. They painted the corner black and hung up a string of fairy lights with blue stars. On an old table with a black tablecloth lies the witch’s hat. Two small shelves have been put up on the wall. There is a glass with a frog in it. Rose got it from her grandfather. Next to the frog is the stuffed crow,

Zigge. Rose’s uncle is a hunter and he shot it and had it stuffed for her birthday. Her mother hates the crow and says it’s always staring at her. Against the wall are two voodoo dolls that Rose bought in a shop in town. In a small box next to them are needles to stick into the dolls.
Sidsel and Rose use them if they are angry with someone. Then they poke them full of needles and put spells on them. Last time they were angry with Frida. Rose pushes the thought away as Sebastian comes rushing in in his new football kit.
“Don’t I look cool?” he shouts. He stands in the middle of the floor with his arms out to the sides.

Frida and Solvej push her. She realises that this must be a dream because she can see who is pushing her even with her eyes closed.