The young witch knew what the child would be.

She tried to hide her concern when the older witches gave her slanted looks.

One day, deep in the woods, she said, “A boy? What do I do with a boy?”

“You begin by naming him Merlin,” said the oldest tree.

Bob Thurber is the author of “Paperboy: A Dysfunctional Novel” and two collections of stories. A celebrated master of Flash and Micro Fiction, his work has appeared in 60 anthologies, received dozens of awards, and been used in schools and colleges throughout the world. He resides in Massachusetts where, though legally blind, he continues to write every day. Visit his website at BobThurber.net.