“Witches’ tears turn to crystal as soon as they fall. Only thing is, witches don’t cry, or hardly ever.”

In freezing hail and howling wind, a stranger is given shelter at Theo’s house – a stranger whose name is Mrs Scarum. Theo is convinced she’s a witch and wishes his father would return home from his travels. But the blizzard continues and the night is long… there may be tears before morning.