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This is a story about Katie who is an ordinary girl apart from one thing – she’s a witch. (More Katie stories are here).
One year at school, Katie’s form teacher was especially moody and grumpy. When Valentine’s Day was coming up, Katie and her friend Isis hatched a plan to make her teacher fall in love so that she would be “dancing on air” and in a good mood.
But Katie discovers that True Love must come from the heart, not from a magic spell.
And if you like Valentine’s stories try
Read by Natasha. Duration 17 Minutes. Story by Bertie.
Katie went to a nice school where most of the teachers were kind, but some of them were quite strict, and all of them could be moody and grumpy at times, just like anyone else can be. Unfortunately, Katie’s form teacher was more grumpy and more moody than most, and more often. She was the only teacher in the whole school who the children hadn’t given a nick name to. For instance, Mr. Philpots was known as Potty, which seemed to suit him quite well. Mrs. Woodruff was called dandruff, and Miss. Tidy was called Untidy because she was.
Katie’s teacher was called Miss. Vile. That was her real name. So she didn’t have a nickname, because quite frankly, she didn’t need one.
“Katie ! ” she said on morning, “This homework looks like it was done in about five minutes. You know that you are meant to spend at least half an hour on it. You will stay in at playtime and do it again. ”
“Katie ! ” she said another time, “Those tights are not regulation school uniform. I will call your mother, she must take you home, and you must change them.”
“And Katie ! ” she said yet another time, “Stop muttering to yourself. You know that magic spells are against the school rules.”
When anybody misbehaved Miss. Vile wrote their names up on a board called “The Wall of Shame”. Everyone’s name was on it, except for Samantha’s and Matthew’s, because they were both goody-two-shoes who never did anything wrong. But Katie’s name was written on The Wall of Shame more than anybody else’s. In fact, it was written right at the top of the board in large red letters with ten exclamation marks after it.
Katie didn’t feel ashamed. But she did feel cross because it wasn’t fair.
It was the end of January. Katie’s form was learning about the Chinese New Year, and how each year is named after an animal. Miss Vile asked Katie what was her Chinese symbol, and she said that she was born in the Year of the Cat, and then Miss Vile told her that that was impossible, because there wasn’t a Year of the Cat, and Katie said.
“It’s possible for me because I’m a witch, and all witches are born in the Year of the Cat.”
And the whole class laughed, but Isis said, “That’s right Miss. Vile. Katie’s different because she is a witch.”
“What utter clap-trap!” exclaimed Miss Vile. “I’ve told you before not to talk nonsense about magic and witches. You will go and see the head teacher right now ! Both of YOU ! And take this note with you to explain all about your naughtiness !”
And while Katie and Isis were waiting to see the head teacher, they both felt very sad and wondered what they could do about Miss. Vile.
“Couldn’t you turn her into a toad or something?” asked Isis. But Katie shook her head. If Miss vile suddenly turned up to school one day as a toad, everyone would know who was to blame, and Katie would be in a huge heap of trouble. She might even get expelled for turning a teacher into a toad.
And then the Head Teacher called Katie and Isis into her study. She read the note, and shook her head. But she wasn’t too cross, because she knew all about Katie.
“I know that you are a bit different, ” she said to Katie, “and that you can do all sorts of magic spells, but it’s best not to mention it to anybody, OK? Somethings are best kept a secret. Now go back to your lessons both of you. ”
Katie and Isis didn’t see much point in hurrying back to the class, and so they both sat in the cloak room and talked over the problem of Miss. Vile.
“Well if you can’t turn her into something horrid, maybe you can turn her into something nice,” said Isis.
And Katie thought about this. But she couldn’t imagine Miss Vile being anything nice, and she thought that the magic wouldn’t work.
“I’ve got it ! ” said Isis. “It will be Valentine’s Day soon. Why don’t you make her fall in love ! Grown-ups are always in a happy mood when they are in love, and she’ll be nice and kind to us.”
Katie thought that was a brilliant idea, because Witches know all sorts of magic spells for making people fall in love. But there was only one question. Who with?
“Why with Potty of course, ” said Isis, “He hasn’t got a wife. Why don’t you make him send her flowers and chocolate, and then she’ll be dancing on air.”
Katie and Isis both had a fit of giggles, and when they got back to class everyone wondered why they were both looking so happy after a visit to the Head Teacher’s study.
At home that evening, Katie opened up her mother’s book of spells and turned the pages to “L” for Love. There were loads and loads of spells, but some of them were a bit impractical. For instance, if she followed one spell she would need to get hold of some big toe nail clippings from Mr. Philpots and a loch of hair from Miss. Vile. That didn’t sound very easy. For another spell, she need some mandrake’s root from the magic grocery shop, and mandrake’s root was very expensive. And then she found a spell that just required pictures of the two people who were to fall in love, and that was easy because she had a photograph of the whole school from the end of summer term. It was a shame that she had to cut it up with a pair of scissors, but it was in a good cause.
On February the 14th, which as everyone knows is Valentine’s day, Miss. Vile came into class looking quite different. Isis said afterward that she looked like she was lightly tripping on air.
When they saw her, Katie and Isis both felt sure that she had found a box of chocolates, a bunch of red roses and a card next to her locker in the staff room.
“Miss Vile. I’m really sorry, but I didn’t have time to do my home work last night.”
The whole class went silent and you could have heard a drawing pin drop. But Miss Vile said,
“Never mind Katie. It wasn’t very important anyway.”
And every one gasped.
And then Katie said:
“Actually, I was just joking. I did do it really !”
And Miss. Vile smiled and said. “Ah yes, that’s a funny joke. You got me there.”
And everyone was totally amazed. I mean like gobsmacked. And Katie smiled to herself. She knew that her spell had worked.
But what Katie didn’t know was that Miss. Vile had not just received one box of chocolates, and one bunch of flowers that morning. No. She had received two of each ! And two Valentine’s Day cards. No wonder she was in such a good mood.
That evening, Isis and her mum were out shopping in town, and Isis saw Potty and Miss. Vile standing outside a restaurant window and looking at the menu. And Isis said to her mum:
“Look ! How romantic ! Our teachers are going out for a candle-lit dinner on St. Valentine’s day !”
And her mum thought that Isis was getting very grown up to make a remark like that.
But what neither of them could hear what Mr. Philpots was saying to Miss. Vile. His words were.
“My oh my. Just look at the price of steak and chips at this place. Let’s find somewhere cheaper.”
But because Miss. Vile was in love, she didn’t think that her dear Potty was stingy. No, she thought how clever he was to be careful money, and what a good husband he would make.
For the rest of term, Miss. Vile was a sweet as could be, but when the children came back for the summer term, they were in for a big disappointment.
Her first words were:
“The first person who so much as whispers will be picking up litter after school for the rest of term.”
And Katie and Isis both knew that she Miss. Vile must have fallen out of love.
Katie was disappointed because it seemed that her spell had not worked entirely as it was supposed to. And so she asked her mother whether the love spell using pictures was any good. She was careful to explain that it wasn’t for her, but for somebody else. And her mother said:
“Love spells work, but only for a while. It’s only True Love that lasts for ever, not magic love. True Love must come from the heart.”
And when Katie heard that, she understood that it wasn’t her fault that the spell hadn’t lasted. And when she told Isis about this they both felt a bit down. But at least they only had one more term with Miss Vile – and after the summer holidays they would have a new form teacher.
And Miss Vile was her old grumpy moody self for the next five weeks. But when after the half term holiday, everyone had a pleasant surprise. She was back to being lovely and carefree.
“Katie, did you put another spell on her?” asked Isis. But Katie hadn’t. No what had happened was that Mr. Cotton had worked up the courage to ask Miss. Vile to go to the opera with him. Mr. Cotton had two nicknames. One was ” Socks” as in “cotton socks” and the other was “Mr. Rotten.” But the second name was unfair, but because Mr. Cotton was the sweetest and kindest teacher in the whole school. And now Mr. Cotton and Miss Vile had found their True Love.
Text Copyright Hugh Fraser 2009.
101 Comments
Dear Natasha. I very like your fairy tales. You are great storryteller. Thank you.
It was only good
Before – teacher is mean
After – teacher is nice.
Interesting story!
Plus, Happy Valentine Day!
Yeh-Jun, Many thanks, and Happy Valentine Day to you too !
I liked this story,
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!
this is one of my favorite storys
i love that story HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAYS
LOVE
loved the story. very romantic!!!!!
FUNNYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
I have too say it’s focus on magic spells is not good and having all the teachers seem well; unattractive in not only looks but in character does not set forth an encouraging note to those young students who read or hear this story. The story puts the focus on the negative aspects of live rather than the real positives and the simpler things. Such as having a teacher in the first place that checks your homewrok and hold students to a high standard is not mean but good for the students.
Dear Darlene – Thanks for some really good thoughts. You are right to point out that the teacher is demanding high standards – not just being mean as Katie sees her- perhaps we should have brought that out more in the story. But there is a point about the magic spell – it didn’t work because True Love can’t come from a spell.. ..So I don’t think it’s too pro-magic.
i like that story
it’s funny and good
true love comes from hart not a magic spell
i love valentines day
This website is AMAZING!!! I Love it. Thanks for making my job easier and more enjoyable!
We love this story! Thank you Natasha for telling this story! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! ( February 9, 2009)
Katie is lively and creative.I like her.
“The wall of Shame” is useless for kids like Katie.I wish teachers know that too.
I’ve heard kids talking about their being born in the year of the Cat; they are just babbling their very heart, and it’s much fun to listen to.
–Meng , from Beijing
I love this story! It`s not scary at all!
Hi Meng From Beijing,
I’m really glad that this story and its characters ring true for you ! Thanks for your comment
And thanks to everyone who likes the Valentine Witch
brill
I rilly like the store THE VALENTINE WITCH because it is rilly good.
Hey! You guys that i could click the name are just coping me. Try to click my name and it will really go to my site. Why kamena, sasher, alexandra and MADISON are coping me? I clicked their names and nothing worked! They invented that website! They don’t have one!
it not that good
Hey you guys this is a nice story and i just wanted to say that it is a very cool story
hey i like this story
It was sooooooooooooo mushy-gushy!!!!
Oh, reply to this Bertie!!
Love
Phoebe
*** Answer me Bertie***
I luv the story. I think you should put more pictures in it. Why put only one??? ^^
Loyal fan
Michelle
Hi Michelle, Sorry we don’t have more pictures for this story, but I would be really interested to know what you think of these pictures for Bertie Valentine
http://storynory.com/2007/02/11/valentines_day_story/
I love story with magic powers.
I really enjoyed this story i thought it was fun.
Nice story. i like it.
Thanks for the story.
wish you all happy velentine day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hummmmmm……..i think it was fine i wold say if it would b perfect for some1 who loves each other…….. but i m sure tey would enjoy it i think it was fine cuz i don’t luv any1…….
actually any horrror one
i Needed it for making my audiobook nd i think i’ll base my audio on it. thanks.
i love the story
i love this great story
The story was romantic and gloomy KATIE was my FAVOURITE character in the story and so was miss vile
It was so superrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrb it was realy funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnny
Bertie I just don’t like you
and I don’t love you
but in fact I dream of you!!!
bertie do you like St.Valentines Day?!
Answer me Bertie!!!
how about put more St.Valentines Day stories?
Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Angie, We’ll have another Valentine Story next year. Now we are thinking about what to do for Easter.
Yes of course, I especially think about the Lovely Princess Beatrice on Valentine’s Day
super good
it was very very good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it is the bestttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
betie do you know that you know that I saw princess Beatrice in my garden
plus happy valentine day bertie
Hi Giselle, if you see her again tell her to come down to the pond and look for the green frog
Bertie I love you
Thank you Sasha, that’s very kind of you to say so.
Bertie, I love you soooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope you meet Princess Beatrice soon!!!!!!!
I hope you meet Princess Beatrice soon Too !!!!!!
I am form China too。I am very sad that i can not understand very well.but I am glad to find those stories.it very helpful for me to improve my listerning，thanks a lot！
my e-mail：272516924@163.com
how a wonderful story
and i am a 3 grade student
in Taiwan
THis gotta be the best story I ever heard!
Really great!!! Enjoyed listening!!!
i love this story
so sweet the stories about katie are the best
i told her to BUTshe said that She will come
please replyto me Betie ASAP
Giselle, Many thanks for listening to the stories – glad you like the Valentine Witch.
hope good luck on valentines day
and tell colin to be nice or ill come and tell him my self tell p.s. me where you live bertie
i have a question bertie how old are you
Kevin that depends on the story !
i like this story i dont normally like valentimes storys it is just the way natasha reads it thank you
i lov your website!!!!
so cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooollll
When is the new Katie story?? I NEED to know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flora, the new katie will be either this coming weekend or the one after, not quite decided yet.
Why does it say this?
Katie is a mother who is just a little bit different from the other kids at school.
Hannah~
Dear Hannah, Well spotted ! Thank you. That was an old slip that seemed to have crept back into the system unnoticed somehow. I’ve changed it. Let me know if you spot any other silly mistakes. Thanks again.
i am not saying its mean but its not good to cast spell on people
i love it
This story is great.
loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee is coollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll.
wonderful loveeeeeeeeeeeee
storyyyyyyyyyyy
lt a fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you are verry good at reading.
coooooooooooooooooooool
i love all the no odriy witch
stories!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loooooooooooooooooove your story.
Ms.Vile is Ms. Evil.The reason for this is because evil has e,v,i,and l just like vile.
Fab do more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT IS FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow!!!!!!!!!!IT’S GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I love this story
very good! I love listening to the story
thank-you!
so great!!!! I’ll listen this story everyday
can i take this story to my blog?
Hi Rowell, You can link to this story – of course please – or even embed the audio link in your blog if you know how. Thanks.
bad story
and bertie make your answer long
Valentine storys are always so nice. The mother of Katie is wise: true love comes from the heart! And funny nicknames, perhaps my teachers nickname would be: friendly Henry?!
And the end was nice too, a happy end!
I have not read everything
but it is really good
I love this story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
that´s a pretty good story but why can´t my teacher be so sweet that´s unfair. But I don´t care. It doesn´t matter anyway he´s already quite nice.
I love this story.
hi story teller lve ur stories keep diong it
p.s make more storys
i liked it
i loved it so much and you a good writter
it was a great story but it was a little long i liked the part katie looked in the book and was looking for the letter l for love