In fairy-tales, witches always wear silly black hats and black cloaks, and they ride on broomsticks. But this is not a fairy-tale. This is about REAL WITCHES.
-- Narrator (A Note About Witches paragraph 1)

Importance: When the narrator begins his story, he explains to the reader that witches are real. He reveals that witches look nothing like they do in Halloween decorations and movies, but blend in easily and are difficult to find. He explains that witches are not silly, but evil, and hate children.

My darling, you won’t last long in this world if you don’t know how to spot a witch when you see one.
-- Grandmamma (My Grandmother paragraph 11)

Importance: The narrator’s grandmother is the first to reveal to the narrator that witches are real. She explains that his life depends on his ability to determine who is, and who is not, a witch. This is especially important because witches kill children. This will later come to help...