Amy waited breathlessly on the shoreline. Only a few more moments now and she’d finally catch sight of the Master’s new heir. Her hands twisted the front pocket of her apron. Surely this one would make it. Though that’s what everyone had said about Timmy, and he had lasted only two weeks.
Amy’s lips pursed together tightly as she brought out her eyeglass to yet again scan the distance. A frigid wind lashed across the waters and hit her with enough force to make her stumble a step back. Still she kept the glass firm to her face.
There! In the distance, she saw it at last, the first umbrella! In a heartbeat the sky was soon dotted with black and gray parasols. Whoever the next heir the Wisps had chosen would be close behind. A second blast of wind forcibly buffeted Amy off her feet for a second, throwing her heart into her chest and her hair into her eyes.
Settling to the ground with a thud, she frantically whipped the waves from her face. She would *not* miss the heir’s arrival. Lucy was late with Tim which was why she had to be “removed.”
The lake churned and bubbled, shifting into white rapids. Thrusting the eyeglass back up, Amy strained her eyes. the distant sound of giddy laughter wafted toward her. It was him! The next heir.
He sat in an upturned umbrella, surfing the rapids, using a second umbrella as a sail. Amy gasped loudly as she watched him approach. This was the first time ever the Wisps had sent a child.