"Sumona, Sumona, Sumona," she said, shaking her head. "Why is it always milk with you? Always the expensive stuff. You should drink water."

Ali walked over to her cupboard and pulled out two clay cups, set them on a table, then lowered two earthenware pitchers that were hanging from ropes threaded through hooks in the ceiling. From the pitchers, Ali poured milk into one cup and water into the other. She then raised the pitchers back to their usual spot.

"Luckily for you, my goats are being good to me this week and no one extra has come to me to buy any 'witch's milk'." She cackled. "I don't know where that little lie about witch's milk being able to keep summons around longer came from, but its keeping me well fed."

She chuckled as she patted her chest. "I don't know why they come to me; I am an old woman. Can't they see I am all dried up?" She looked over at her visitor's chest. "You know, you could make a nice wad of money if you started calling yourself a witch. I know you dabble in magic. You could pull it off," Ali said, giggling.

She pulled out a chair from the table and beckoned, "Sit, Sumona, sit. Your feet must be tired."