Something Witchy This Way Comes.
Alex came back waving one of her teen
magazines at us and carrying a small box. Her eyes looked even greener than usual in the eerie glow of the flashlight, "We don't have to take one of your quizzes, do we?" I asked, trying to dig a splinter from my finger in the firelight. "Some quizzes are cool," said Joey. "No, not a quiz. It's this thing we were going to do at the sleepover, but you need a real fire. So tonight is perfect." I felt a shiver. The hairs on my arms stood up. This was going to be good. "Joey, hold the flashlight, Okay, it's right here on page fifty-seven," said Alex, squinting to see. Joey looked over her shoulder and read the headline. "How to Get Noticed by a Boy?" She said it like a question. "No way!" she protested. "I'm not putting gunk on my face. And I'm not putting curlers in my hair. And I'm definitely not brushing on any shadows to make my nose look smaller, because-guess what?-not every girl in the world has nose envy!" "Chill out, Stressarella. No makeup. Honest." Alex held up her hand like she was taking a solemn oath. "It's cool. See, if you follow the directions, it tells you right here-" "But Stevie and I don't care about boys, do we, Stevie?" Joey gave me a look that pleaded, Back me up, here. I looked down at my palm. I didn't answer. I went back to working on the splinter in my finger. It's not like I'm boy crazy or anything- not like Olivia and half the girls in my grade. But I was a little curious to hear what Alex had to say. "It doesn't have to be about boys," said Alex. "It can be about anything. It's just a way to make something happen that you want to come true. Like a wish," she said to Joey. "You mean like a magic spell?" asked Joey. "Um...sure," said Alex. "It'll be like the three witches in Macbeth." "Can't we just wish on a wishbone like normal people?" said Joey. "BORing," said Alex, imitating Joey. "Okay, but I'm only doing it if we get to say 'eye of newt' and stuff," Joey said. "Sure!" said Alex. "Then we get to throw stuff in the fire! It'll be cool, right, Stevie?" "I guess," I said. There had been a momentary calm, but now the angry storm was picking up outside again. "As long as we don't have to burn our finger nail clippings or anything creepy like that. And you're not getting a lock of my hair, or my baby tooth. And no blood. And definitely no dancing around in our underwear!" "Same here," said Joey. "All that stuff Stevie said." :Nothing like that, you guys. But I do have some incense we could burn. Winterforest Dewberry or Cherry Manlove?" "Is that really what they're called?" I asked, taking the box from Alex and holding it up to my nose. "Uck. They both smell like wet dog hair." "Cherry, cherry, cherry, cherry, cherry," Joey chanted. I guess she didn't hear the "manlove" part. "Cherry it is," said Alex. And we already have candles and a fire." When had my sister the Drama Queen turned into a Pyro Queen? Alex Reel, Pyromaniac, at your service. "Step one. First we have to close our eyes and take three deep breaths," Alex instructed us. "Concentrate. Focus. Think of something you want to happen. Then picture it in your mind's eye." I closed my eyes. Something I would like to happen? Have an extra-cheese pizza appear before me. Get an A on my Earth Science project. Not have to clean my room. "Can it be something we don't want to happen?" I asked. "Shh," said Alex. If I had one wish, what would it be? To have the lights back on so I don't have to do this/ I wish . . . I wish . . . why can't I think of anything to wish? I wish my hair would grow . . . Lame-o. Think, Stevie, think. A low rumble of thunder sent a chill through me, raising the hair on my arms. "Open your eyes," said Alex in a spooky voice. She read from the magazine again. "Step two. Keeping a person in mind, think of an object related to that person. Choose something close to your heart that has a special meaning. Step three, Say the magic words, close your eyes, and toss your Special Object into the fire." "Person? What person?" Joey asked. "You mean a boy? You said it wasn't about boys! You so lie." "It just means-never mind. I forgot we're not doing the boy thing. So think of the thing you wish to happen, and pick an object to throw in the fire. But it has to be something you like a lot. Something personal. Something that's hard to give up. Otherwise it won't work." "Says who?" "Says step number three, right here." Alex jabbed the magazine with her finger. "You guys take the other flashlight. Let's go find our good luck charms." But I don't have a wish!" I called after Alex, but she was already headed for the stairs.
Good Luck Charms.
by Joey Reel.
- A cricket in your house is a bringer of good luck. And not-good noise. ~S
- If you catch a ladybug in your house, count the number of spots it has and that's how many dollars you'll find.
- Frogs are good luck. They bring good friends and long-lasting love. Are you making that up because you love frogs? A. No! - J
- Acorns bring good fortune. And oak trees. ~S
- Rainbows are a sign of good luck and wealth. Double rainbows are double lucky.
- A rabbit's foot can be carried to bring good fortune.
- In Africa, alligator teeth bring good luck. And bad luck if they bite you. ~S
- A chimney sweep is the ultimate bringer of good luck, wealth, and happiness. (What's a chimney sweep?) What do you think? A person who sweeps out chimneys! A.
- If you rub a Buddha's belly, you'll have good luck. Good luck finding a Buddha. ~S
- See a penny, pick it up, and all day you'll have good luck. Or carry a penny with your birth year for luck.
- A horseshoe pointing up means good luck,
- The number 7 is way lucky.
- Four-leaf clovers are the luckiest!
- A shooting star is lucky and means you get to make a wish. A wishbone or an eyelash works too.
- A key is one of the oldest good luck charms. Yeah, it brings good luck opening the door. A.
Come back on Thursday for the next chapter- If Wishes Were Trolls . . .
Thanks for looking at my blog!
Emma.
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