The Oblivious Trio

It was a lovely summer afternoon, in the middle of July. Hayley Herkimer, a young witch, and her dear friend, Kate Lawrence, were on their way to meet another acquaintance, Reide Lawrence. The three divine witches met every Wednesday afternoon to have tea at the Leaky Cauldron, to discuss the town's latest gossip, and whereabouts.

"Oh Kate, haven't you heard? A Muggle saw the owls delivering the children's Hogwarts letters for the next semester!" Hayley started the conversation.

"Yes, there are usually Muggle sightings of owls each year, carrying odd letters," she replied.

"What do you suppose could happen if too many Muggles found out about our wizarding world?" Hayley questioned.

"Well, I can't imagine that happening, with the extra high security these days, but it is a possibility. I truly have no idea what would happen if they found out," Kate exclaimed. The young women strolled into the Leaky Cauldron. They immediately recognized Reide, towering over the rest of the crowd.

"Over here Reide!" the two called.

"Oh hey," Reide waved hello. The girls sat down at a table, and ordered their drinks.

"So what is the hubbub today?" Reide asked.

"Well Kate and I were just discussing Muggles, and what would happen if too many discovered our kind," Hayley replied.

"Oh, well I'd hate to say such negative things, but those Muggles, they are pretty strange. They could even try and kill us you know!" Reide figured.

"Yes, I have heard Muggles talk about this 'Saddam Hussein' man, and he sounds just horrible!" Kate added in.

"There has been chatter about these 'weapons of mass destruction' too!" Hayley exclaimed.

"They seem downright awful!" Reide said.

"Why would a person want to use such terrible killing machines?" Kate inquired.

"There are too many Muggle objects that make absolutely no sense at all, you know?" Hayley stirred her tea.

"I most certainly agree," Reide replied.

"Yes, I mean, what exactly is the point of a light fixture?" Kate asked.

"I don't really know. It makes so much more sense to just use a torch," Hayley justified.

"I have seen them before," Reide sipped her drink. "They have an 'on' switch, and an 'off' switch.

"It is so ridiculous! What if you want to turn off the lights, but you can't get up and move over to the switch thing?" Hayley asked.

"Well, they do have those clappers," Reide mentioned.

"Really, how exactly do those work?" Kate asked Reide.

"Well, you clap your hands," Reide clapped, "and then they just, turn on!"

"But how do you turn them off?" Hayley asked.

"You just...clap! And they turn right off!" Reide said excitedly.

"Amazing!" Kate and Hayley chorused.

"I still say torches are much more practical," Hayley argued.

"Oh, I know another pointless Muggle object: those long wooden things that look like broomsticks, that the Muggle children hit baseballs with!" Kate exclaimed.

"Yes, I think it is something with a B," Hayley scratched her head.

"Bats!" Reide jumped out of her seat.

"Bats? I thought bats were those disgusting animals that sleep upside-down!" Kate exclaimed.

"Well, it's called a baseball bat, and you take a smack at that baseball toy! It seems to be a popular game in the Muggle world," Reide answered knowledgeably.

"How interesting, but what troubles me the most, is definitely a pencil," Hayley remarked.

"Ah, yes. What exactly is the point of it? Why not use ink and a quill?" Kate questioned.

"I'm not sure, but quills are much more elegant and sophisticated looking," Hayley replied.

"Reide, you must know, why is a pencil so special?" Kate asked her friend.

"Oh that's an easy one! They have these...erasers on one end," Reide huddled in close.

"Erasers? You mean they can just, erase, everything?" Hayley stared quizzically at Reide.

"Yes, and if they make a mistake, they just...erase it!" Reide told the girls.

"How is it possible that someone can just, erase ink?" asked Kate. "Ink is permanent!"

"It's not ink dear, it is lead," Reide said.

"Ooh," Hayley and Kate were amazed.

"These Muggle objects, they are so pointless, but so interesting," Kate said.

"Yes, they do seem so odd, but I guess that if Muggles knew about us, they would think our objects are a bit strange too," Hayley added in.

"That was certainly a lovely tea!" Reide finished the last droplet.

"Well, you said it," Kate laughed.

"Oh my, it's already two o'clock!" Hayley exclaimed.

"Yes, yes, I must go shopping! I'm going to buy a new computer!" Reide clapped excitedly.

"A computer? What the heck is that?" Kate and Hayley looked at each other.

"Well, what it is--" Reide was about to explain.

"You go along Reide, I bet the um, 'compactor store' will be sold out soon," Hayley informed her.

"It's a COMPUTER!" Reide said as she waved, then walked out the door.

"I'm telling you, she is becoming more of a Muggle every time I see her."