aunts Bridget ("Jet") and Frances, two feisty, eccentric
             "old maids" who speak their minds and revel in stirring up commotion in the town.
             Aunt Frances states: " For more than 200 years we Owens women have been blamed
             for everything that has gone wrong in this town". The aunts appear to be trying hard to
             keep up their bad reputations. They raise the girls unconventionally. "In this house we
             have chocolate cake for breakfast and we don't bother with silly things like bedtime or
             brushing our teeth" states Aunt Jet. The Aunts dismiss the importance of homework by
             saying the girls "will learn far more in [their] house than they will ever learn in school."
             They encourage them in the ancient arts of garden variety witchcraft based on spells and
             herblore. "Just keep studying your spells Sally" they say while knowingly chiding
             Gillian with "Your talents will emerge in time."
             Because the Owens family are known as witches, the girls are stoned and teased by
             the town's children who chant "Witch, witch, you're a bitch!" The sisters have only each
             other for best friends. This bond is strengthened with love and the spiritual connection
             The aunts are visited one night by a lovesick woman who begs them to help her win
             the love of a married man. "I want him to want me so much that he can't stand it." the
             woman pleads. "Be careful what you wish for" states Aunt Jet. Fascinated, the girls
             watch from the stairs as money exchanges hands and a love spell is accomplished by
             piercing a dove's heart with a needle. The young sister's responses are quite different.
             A horrified Sally frantically chants "Hope I never fall in love" and Gillian grins and
             whispers "I can't wait to fall in love!"
             Sally is afraid to fall in love. The aunts ha...