Meena

All the children on Fly Street were scared of Meena. They called her names and talked about what they might do to hurt her and wrote WITCH on the street with an arrow pointing to her house. Despite this, a little girl, Anna, continued to go visit Meena a lot. Anna told the children that Meena was her grandmother, but the children did not believe her. Finally, one boy wrote a letter threatening Meena, a letter urging Meena to move, and decided to throw it over the wall. Meena caught the letter and began to talk to the boy, Thomas. Meena brought out a freshly baked pie and gave Thomas a piece. Thomas did not die and soon the children began going to Meena's house every day for pie.

A children's book with grownup ideas. What makes people begin to hate others? How can a small mean idea grow? What can stop cruelty and lies?

“'She's not a witch! She's my grandma.'

Anna looked at them angrily.

‘But she eats little children. Does she have a wart...?'

‘MY. GRANDMA. IS. NOT. A WITCH!' Anna roared, and she ran inside.

‘Completely under a spell,' Klaas sighed.”