Page 7 of Spell Ya Later

“That hurts.”

“You’ll be working up front. I don’t expect you to be able to answer every question you’re asked right away, of course, but I expect you to handle each customer with the grace they’ve come to expect at The Cat’s Cradle. Understood?” She may be small, but my grandmother makes an imposing figure when she wants.

I nod. “Yes, ma’am. But what about magic?”

“Let’s see how you do today. Then we can discuss a training schedule if you’re still interested.”

A mass of black fur jumps onto the counter in front of me. Rosie, the ancient creature, somehow still has all the energy of a youthful kitten. She caused too much trouble scratching the furniture during Grandma’s visits, so I haven’t seen her in at least three or four years. Her fur has only grayed a little bit and she still has a small notch in her left ear from a fight with a stray.

“Hello, you.” I scratch lightly under her chin until she hisses and jumps into Grandma’s arms.

“Be good.” With a conspiratorial smile, Grandma and her little demon cat head back into her curtained-off room, leaving me alone in the shop.

I don’t want to be good. I’m like a kid in a candy shop. Must touch. Must touch everything. My feet carry me—completely on their own—to the ingredients as I dig through all that lies before me. Crystals, herbs, candles, books, little wooden totems—oh my! How much of this is legitimate? Do some herbs and crystals really help focus a spell or is this mostly just for show?

The scents are overwhelming. It’s as if I’ve been in the kitchen all day as flecks of sliced herbs stain the pads of my fingers. I’m building piles of my favorites from each category almost subconsciously. The books spill out behind me.

The bell rings and I look down at the mess I’ve created. Grandma is not going to be happy about this.

“Welcome to The Cat’s Cradle!” I say, hoping that Grandma will rescue me. “What can I help you with?”

“You must be new,” the older woman says with a smile. “Don’t trouble yourself, darling. I’ll just go back to see Elizabeth.”

“Dotty, don’t torture my granddaughter.” Grandma emerges from her room with a flourish. Does she open the curtains with magic every time?

Dotty’s eyes light up as she looks me up and down. The woman is, I’m guessing, around my grandma’s age and has a matching sense of style. Boho chic meets old witch. Lots of bangles. “This is your granddaughter?”

“That’s what they tell me.” I shrug.

“Shush!” Grandma whacks me lightly on the arm. Then she takes in the mess. She shakes her head, but she can’t hide the slight smile at the corner of her mouth. “I don’t understand how you’ve managed to make an absolute mess in only a few minutes.”

“It was an hour. I can do a lot of damage in an hour, Grandma.” Do I have a sense of humor? That’s new.

Dotty chuckles. “She’s definitely your granddaughter, Lizzy. Why don’t you give the girl a break and clean the place?”

“Because she needs to learn that I’m not here to be her maid. Cleaning it by hand will do her good. Now, come on back, I have our tea ready.” Grandma pulls her friend into her room with a pointed stare in my direction.

Message received.

I regret my mess as my eyes travel along the shelves. This is not made easier by the fact that I barely know where anything goes. Grandma has everything labeled pretty well, but I genuinely don’t know what lavender looks like.

I guesstimate where things go, and by the time I look at the clock again I’ve made it look halfway decent. Instead of worrying about my haphazard job at cleaning, I focus on the spellbooks:

Healing Herbs and Their Properties.

How to Conjure: Creating Out of Thin Air.

Household Spells for Beginners.

Ah—that sounds like a perfect place to start, since I am definitely a beginner. You’re coming with me, gorgeous. I pull the book off the shelf and bring it to the counter, brushing dustoff the cover. The back description reads in deliciously swirly writing:

As you begin your journey into magic, reach for Household Spells for Beginners. This tome is perfect for those who have a basic knowledge of the craft and wish to expand their skills. Want to learn how to clean your home in less than a moment? Make a delicious dinner for your family in a flash? Household Spells for Beginners is for you!

This isthe beginning of my journey into magic. It’s like this book is made for me and I can’t wait to dive in.

“Hazel?” Grandma’s voice echoes through the shop. “You can take your lunch break now. Only thirty minutes! Don’t take anything from the shop to lunch with you.”

So close. How did she do that?