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Description
A small illustration for Chapter One of a story called 'Danny & the Dinner Ladies'. (Dinner Ladies are called 'lunch ladies' in the United States). This story was published in 'Asahi Weekly' in Japan over the summer of 2018. It is aimed at Japanese students learning the English language.

Chapter One

Bangers and Mash

”Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.”

Danny Shady’s best friend, Jessica Sparrow, was quoting Shakespeare again. This wasn’t the first time she’d quoted lines from ‘Macbeth’. Far from it.

The two teenagers were eating their packed lunches at the back of the school dining hall at the time. As usual, Jessica was watching the new dinner ladies suspiciously. The three women, Scarlet Weaver, Violet Fungus and Olivia Nettle, were in the kitchen on the other side of the serving hatch. Clutching stainless steel ladles, they were hunched over a large saucepan of simmering custard. Clouds of steam were obscuring their faces.

Danny rolled his eyes wearily. “So you still think the new dinner ladies are three witches in disguise?” he asked.

Jessica nodded her head. “I’d bet my life on it,” she said.

Danny watched the dinner ladies for a while, but he didn’t share his friend’s suspicions.

Olivia Nettle was a tall, bony woman who had thick black eyelashes that stuck out like spiders’ legs. Violet Fungus wore spectacles on the end of her nose and tied her hair into a neat bun on her head. Scarlet Weaver, the youngest of the three, had a plump, round face with a huge mop of carrot-coloured hair on top. To Danny, they looked like ordinary middle-aged women, the sort of ladies who went to tea parties and swapped recipes for homemade quiche.

“They can’t be witches,” Danny said. “For one thing, they’re not wearing tall pointy hats. Also, none of them have warts on their faces and there isn’t a single broomstick in sight.”

Jessica scowled. “That’s just a stereotype,” she said. “These three are obviously modern witches. What’s more, I think they’re plotting something. Something devilish.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice to a sinister whisper. “I’ve even seen them putting magic potions in the food,” she said.


Danny stared at his friend in disbelief and then looked around the dining hall. Students were happily eating their meals and chattering at the same time. It was everybody’s favourite today – bangers and mash with a thick, onion gravy on top, followed by a jam roly-poly with lashings of vanilla custard. The atmosphere in the room couldn’t have been jollier.


“I don’t believe you,” said Danny. “You’re talking nonsense again.”

“I’m telling you the truth,” Jessica said, looking annoyed. “The gospel truth.” She paused for a moment and lowered her voice again. “And don’t you find it odd that the regular dinner ladies all called in sick on the very same day? Mrs Lasagne hasn’t been ill for more than ten years!”

Danny thought about this for a while and finally shook his head. “No, I don’t find it odd,” he replied. “It’s the end of October. It’s cold and damp outside. Lots of people catch bugs at this time of the year.”

“They’ve probably been turned into mice,” Jessica was saying. “Or maybe something slimy, like frogs or toads.”

“It’s the wrong season for toads,” said Danny, very dryly.

“Danny, I’m being serious!”

Danny gave his friend a worried look. Was Jessica losing her mind or did she really believe the new dinner ladies were practising witchcraft?

“Look,” said Jessica, trying to sound calm. “I know it sounds silly, especially if you don’t believe in witches. But what if I could prove it to you? What if I found some evidence and showed it to you? Would you believe me then?”

“I think so,” replied Danny, doubtfully.

“Okay. Meet me outside the girls’ cloakroom after the final bell. And don’t forget to bring your camera-phone.”

Description
A small illustration for Chapter One of a story called 'Danny & the Dinner Ladies'. (Dinner Ladies are called 'lunch ladies' in the United States). This story was published in 'Asahi Weekly' in Japan over the summer of 2018. It is aimed at Japanese students learning the English language.

Chapter One

Bangers and Mash

”Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.”

Danny Shady’s best friend, Jessica Sparrow, was quoting Shakespeare again. This wasn’t the first time she’d quoted lines from ‘Macbeth’. Far from it.

The two teenagers were eating their packed lunches at the back of the school dining hall at the time. As usual, Jessica was watching the new dinner ladies suspiciously. The three women, Scarlet Weaver, Violet Fungus and Olivia Nettle, were in the kitchen on the other side of the serving hatch. Clutching stainless steel ladles, they were hunched over a large saucepan of simmering custard. Clouds of steam were obscuring their faces.

Danny rolled his eyes wearily. “So you still think the new dinner ladies are three witches in disguise?” he asked.

Jessica nodded her head. “I’d bet my life on it,” she said.

Danny watched the dinner ladies for a while, but he didn’t share his friend’s suspicions.

Olivia Nettle was a tall, bony woman who had thick black eyelashes that stuck out like spiders’ legs. Violet Fungus wore spectacles on the end of her nose and tied her hair into a neat bun on her head. Scarlet Weaver, the youngest of the three, had a plump, round face with a huge mop of carrot-coloured hair on top. To Danny, they looked like ordinary middle-aged women, the sort of ladies who went to tea parties and swapped recipes for homemade quiche.

“They can’t be witches,” Danny said. “For one thing, they’re not wearing tall pointy hats. Also, none of them have warts on their faces and there isn’t a single broomstick in sight.”

Jessica scowled. “That’s just a stereotype,” she said. “These three are obviously modern witches. What’s more, I think they’re plotting something. Something devilish.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice to a sinister whisper. “I’ve even seen them putting magic potions in the food,” she said.


Danny stared at his friend in disbelief and then looked around the dining hall. Students were happily eating their meals and chattering at the same time. It was everybody’s favourite today – bangers and mash with a thick, onion gravy on top, followed by a jam roly-poly with lashings of vanilla custard. The atmosphere in the room couldn’t have been jollier.


“I don’t believe you,” said Danny. “You’re talking nonsense again.”

“I’m telling you the truth,” Jessica said, looking annoyed. “The gospel truth.” She paused for a moment and lowered her voice again. “And don’t you find it odd that the regular dinner ladies all called in sick on the very same day? Mrs Lasagne hasn’t been ill for more than ten years!”

Danny thought about this for a while and finally shook his head. “No, I don’t find it odd,” he replied. “It’s the end of October. It’s cold and damp outside. Lots of people catch bugs at this time of the year.”

“They’ve probably been turned into mice,” Jessica was saying. “Or maybe something slimy, like frogs or toads.”

“It’s the wrong season for toads,” said Danny, very dryly.

“Danny, I’m being serious!”

Danny gave his friend a worried look. Was Jessica losing her mind or did she really believe the new dinner ladies were practising witchcraft?

“Look,” said Jessica, trying to sound calm. “I know it sounds silly, especially if you don’t believe in witches. But what if I could prove it to you? What if I found some evidence and showed it to you? Would you believe me then?”

“I think so,” replied Danny, doubtfully.

“Okay. Meet me outside the girls’ cloakroom after the final bell. And don’t forget to bring your camera-phone.”