Once Seymour was out of sight, the girls who had congregated in the hallway to gawk began to retreat one by one.
The brunette didn’t budge as she stared at her arms and soot covered clothing. “Look at me, Holly!” she hollered incredulously to her roommate.
Holly cowered. The brunette was at least six inches taller and probably had 60 pounds on the smaller girl. “I’m sorry Alba, I didn’t mean to…”
Alba’s face remained unchanged by the apology. I wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t accept the apology or if that was just her face. Either way, I appreciated Alba’s temperament. That was the kind of person I had been hoping to find at witch school.
I went back to my room and after one quick glance around I decided I had to get out of there. “Let’s go eat lunch Mom?” I suggested.
Mom nodded and cocked her head towards Jax, who was busy color coding the hanging clothes in her small closet. I knew she wanted me to invite the little thing, but I didn’t think I could handle her cheerfulness while I ate my lunch. I shook my head and scowled at her.
“Jax, I’m going to take my mom to lunch and then say goodbye to her, I’ll catch up with you later.”
Jax turned around and gave me a brief flicker of a pair of sad eyes before she quickly recovered and nodded her head. “Oh, you’re leaving so soon Mom? I sure hope I’ll see you again soon! Don’t be a stranger.”
Mom gave her a tiny smile. “Illinois is pretty far away, I’ll probably just send for Mercy at Christmas time. I’m sure I’ll see you again someday though. Have a nice school year, Jax.”
Jax threw her arms around my mother’s middle again, hugging her tightly. I suddenly wondered if Jax had a mother of her own. Maybe I’d get around to asking her that someday. For now, I had to get out of the room.
Mom and I quietly left my room and headed down the stairs to the stark stone lobby. A small handful of girls and their mothers were still checking in as we followed the big signs to the outdoor commons area where the family luncheon would soon take place.
“You really don’t have to stay for lunch, Mom,” I told her, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from displaying any real emotion.
“You don’t want me to stay?” My mother’s face was glum as I leaned back against one of the large scarlet oak trees in the courtyard.
The smokey scent of a charcoal barbeque swirled around me, causing my stomach to churn suggestively. I kicked at an unearthed tree root with the toe of my black Chuck Taylor high-tops and did what I always did – pretended like I didn’t care. Being hard and mean was so much easier than caring.
“It’s really not necessary at all. I’m 19 years old and you’re dropping me off at college. I don’t need Mommy around anymore.” I bit on the inside of my cheek harder as my eyes threatened to well up with tears at any moment.
I could tell my mother wasn’t having as much luck fighting her emotions. As the first tears began to cascade down her soft rosy cheeks, she reached her arms out in front of her and pulled me into a tight embrace.
I tried not to squeeze her back. I tried to be tough, but when I felt the coolness of her tears touch my skin, I felt a shift inside of me. It was as if I suddenly realized I was saying goodbye to my childhood. In this precise moment. This was it. Even though I’d officially reached adulthood over a year ago, this was the moment I said goodbye to being a kid and began my life as an adult and in addition, this was the moment I said goodbye to my mother. My one and only lifelong best friend.
The realization hit me like lightening and for that tiny moment in time, I allowed myself to feel the real emotion of the situation. I hugged my mom tightly and let my cheek rest on her shoulder, the tears came as if they’d been loitering there – just waiting for the nod of approval before falling. And fall they did, in reckless abandonment. In a way, it was a good feeling. It was cathartic and maybe I needed a little catharsis in my life. Maybe that was part of one of my many problems.
In another way, it was like I broke a barrier that had been there since I was a girl – it was that tough outer shell that I didn’t let down for anything or anyone – the thought that somehow I had a flaw in my armor, caught me off guard. I suddenly realized my place, the situation, and that there may be other students around and I immediately disengaged myself from my mother.
With my face towards the mighty oak tree behind us, I lifted my black framed glasses and quickly used the sleeves of my well worn AC/DC sweatshirt to wipe away any traces of my breakdown. I could immediately tell by the smudges of black on my sweatshirt that I had smeared my eyeliner.
Ugh, great. I nervously peered around me, looking for any signs that anyone had seen me cry. Thankfully, no one was around.
Mom gave me a reassuring smile. “No witnesses, Merc. You’re safe.”
“Thank God.” I gave her a half smile. “I’ll miss you Mom,” I told her honestly.
Mom’s chin began to quiver. “How am I ever going to live without you Mercy? I miss you already.”
I looked around once again. “You’ll manage. You’ll start to date. Maybe you’ll take up a hobby.”
Mom laughed through the tears that were falling again. “No one wants to date a dried up old witch like me.”
I laughed despite myself and gave her a real hug. One last hug before she drove away and I didn’t see her again until a holiday of some sort. “You’re not dried up, Mom. And you’re not old. You’re what I like to call, vintage. Besides, you’re still hot. Maybe you should get some Clairol and wash away the gray.”
“They are white thank you, and I owe every last one of these to you, my sweet Mercy Bear.”
I rolled my eyes. “Mercy Bear? Really Mother. I’m 19 years old. I think it’s time you think of a new nickname for me now, don’t you?”
Mom smiled at me adoringly and sniffed away her runny nose while dotting at her eyes with a tissue. “You’re all grown up, that’s for sure. Well, sweetheart, if you don’t need me. I guess I’ll get back on the road. I’m going to try and make it as far as Akron tonight.”
“Ok, drive safe. Don’t do any chanting and driving, you know how that’s worked out for you in the past.”
My mom’s eyes rolled and she snorted out her nose at me. “I blame you for that.”
“You blame me for everything, Mom.”
She smiled. “Promise me you’ll try hard Mercy. This school is a big deal. Your life is a big deal. I need you to focus your energy here. Work hard and then you can come home. Alright?”
I nodded. I’ll try, Mom. I swallowed hard and gave her a little wave as she walked off towards the parking lot.
When she was halfway to the front driveway, she swiveled on her heel and turned back around to yell at me. “I love you Mercy!”
“Love you too, Mom.”
{ Chapter Three}
I was the first one seated on the marble picnic benches at the family luncheon, so I got front row seats to the crazy train of families that had accompanied their students to school. The variety of people that had come to the Institute was wide.
It was easy to pick out the rich kids. They were dressed in designer clothes, had two parents along for the ride, and looked like they never scored below an A on anything in their perfect little lives.
There were a few poor kids, but not many, the school was too expensive for poor kids, but some had made it on scholarships. Those kids had mostly arrived by plane, as the school had flown them in. They came without family fanfare and many had already grouped themselves as they’d ridden together on the plane and then bus into Aspen Falls.
Then there were the book worms, those who already had their noses buried in books. And then there were the kids like me. Somewhere between rich and poor. Not a book worm, but not completely clueless. We were scattered amongst the rest. Like little dandelions in a sea of sweet Kentucky Bluegrass.
Lost in thought while waiting for the show to get on the road, I was disengaged from my thoughts by the sound of an all too familiar saccharine
voice. “Mercy! Mind if I join you?”
I looked up to see Jax’s tiny little frame hustling towards me excitedly. Ugh.
“No, go ahead,” I uttered, lowering my head in embarrassment that my roommate was dressed like that. I just knew people were going to think that we were both a joke. And then Mom’s voice popped into my head, Mercy Habernackle! Don’t concern yourself with what other people think! Their opinions are not what matters. Your opinion is what matters. Unfortunately my opinion, in this case, sided with other people.
Jax looked around. “Did Mom leave?” she asked, her bottom lip jutted out.
“Yeah, she needed to get going. She wants to try and make it as far as Akron before it gets dark.”
“That’s great she could drive you here,” Jax said with a little tilt of her head. “Where are you from again?”
“Illinois. Dubbsburg. A little town outside of Chicago. You?”
“Mmm, I’m from all over,” she shared cryptically. I could feel she was holding back on me, but I didn’t care enough to ask more. “Are you hungry?”
I nodded and rubbed my stomach. “Ravenous. We had breakfast at 5 this morning and we didn’t stop for a snack anywhere.”
“It looks like lunch should start any minute,” she said as we watched them bring out the side dishes from the dining hall and set them on a long buffet table.
I took a moment to look around the courtyard. It was a gorgeous place to be, if I were being honest. The colors of the trees over our heads were all the lovely shades of fall. The ground was covered with red cobblestone in a circular design and there were low sandstone walls, just high enough to sit on, partially enclosing the courtyard with openings at each of four sidewalk paths. One path led to Winston Hall, my dormitory, another path led to the front parking area, and there were two other paths that I didn’t know where they led.
“Have you done much exploring yet?” I asked Jax.
She nodded and pointed to the path behind the buffet tables. “Yes. That sidewalk there leads to our classrooms and the one to the left there is to Warner Hall, the men’s dormitory.”
My eyes grew big. I had seen the sign on the way in that had suggested there were wizards here, but I didn’t know what to make of it. My mother had told me it was just a school for witches. “There are boy’s dorms here? I thought this was a girl’s only school?”
“Well the Paranormal Institute encompasses both schools – one for witches and one for wizards. They keep us separated. So we won’t have any classes with the men. But I think we do have socials and whatnot with them.”
I wonder if my mother knew she was putting me in a co-ed environment. She hadn’t said a word to me about the wizard side of things – it was quite possible she wasn’t even aware that there would be guys here.
Suddenly a loud voice boomed from the full-size speakers hanging around the courtyard and our eyes all swiveled to the podium set up in the middle of the commons area.
“Good afternoon. Welcome to the Paranormal Institute for Witches!” the announcer said as excited applause filled the open air arena. The announcer was an extremely tall thin woman with a long, flowing white dress belted at the waist. Her straight white hair was long as well; it rippled down her back and ended just above the swell of her bottom. She was a beautiful woman, and despite the fact that she looked fairly young, I got the feeling that she was much older than she appeared.
“My name is Miss Saralynn Stone. I am the Supreme Sorceress of the Paranormal Institute for Witches. You may call me Miss Stone or Sorceress Stone. I have been with the Institute for as long as I can remember. I’d prefer not to put a number on my years of experience, but let’s just say I’ve been practicing the craft for longer than many of you have been alive.” She paused briefly while chuckles could be heard. “I’d like to thank all the parents for bringing your daughters to our hallowed halls. Without you and the care you have for your young women, they would be nothing. Ladies, let’s give your parents a warm round of applause in thanks.”
Sorceress Stone led the room in a hearty round of applause for the parents. As the claps died down, she spoke again. “I would also like to thank our teachers and our staff. Without you this school would be nothing. Please stand so that we may acknowledge all the good that you do.”
A row of faculty and staff seated in the first two round marble tables next to the dorm entrance stood and waved at the crowd as the clapping resumed.
“We have so many things to teach these young women, so many ways to focus their energy and hone their skills and abilities. I simply cannot wait to get started!” She clapped her hands together with emphasis. “I don’t want to delay their educations any longer. So, ladies, let’s enjoy one last dinner with your loved ones and then let them say their final goodbyes. Students, at one o’clock there will be a quick assembly in the Winston Hall lobby and then you shall be released to your rooms until classes begin tomorrow morning. I shall see you at one o’clock.”
Jax and I ate lunch together while she did about 98% of the talking. I mostly sat and nodded and threw in the occasional, “Oh really?” to hold up my end of the conversation. She was an exhausting girl, but I learned that she was what they called a legacy at this school. Most of the women in her family had gone to The Institute and she felt a lot of pressure to measure up. There were a few moments, only a few mind you, don’t go thinking I was getting soft, where I actually felt for the girl. She seemed to be a genuinely nice person with a good heart, and obviously she had her own life issues she was dealing with, but she was also genuinely annoying.
After lunch and all the parents had gone, the group of women gathered in the Winston Hall lobby as we were instructed by Sorceress Stone.
“Ladies, we have set up displays of the extra-curricular activities that we offer here on campus. You may sign up for as many as you would like. But I do encourage each of you to get involved. It will make your time here at the Institute most rewarding and memorable. Each organization has a current member or officer standing by to answer any of your questions and assist you in any way they can. Once you’ve had an opportunity to wander through the lobby and visit each station, you may have the rest of the afternoon to finish unpacking or to tour the campus and get yourselves acquainted to your home for the next two years. Dinner will be served promptly at 6:00 in the dining hall.”
With that she clapped her hands twice in the air and headed to the back of the hall. Her long dress trailed behind her, giving her the impression that she was floating across the marble tiled floor.
“Oooh! I want to join this one!” Jax cooed as we looked at the bright pink poster board that read Potion club.
I lifted one corner of my lip, wrinkled my nose and grunted. “Why?”
“Why not?” she gushed. “I love potions! And I love clubs!”
I rolled my eyes as we strolled to the next table. The girl standing behind the table gave us each a free pen and invited us to karaoke night on Friday. The chant club would have their first welcome party for new recruits. Of course Jax wanted to join that one too.
“You like chants too?” I asked her with a little chuckle.
“Of course I do. All witches like chants. Don’t you like chants?” she asked me incredulously. Like if I didn’t like chanting I wasn’t a real witch or something.
I shrugged. “Chanting is alright.”
The next booth was a recreational sports club – Witches Broomery Golf. If only I brought my broomstick, shucks. Of course Jax wanted to join that too. She bent over to sign her name on the registration list, but I stopped her. “Jax, don’t you feel like you might be over committing?”
She held a hand up to her mouth and sucked in a breath. “Is that a thing?” she asked nervously.
I nodded with wide eyes. “Yes. If you over commit you risk getting burned out. You don’t want to get burned out right away do you?”
She shook her head reverently. “No, I certainly don’t want to get burned out.”
“Rig
ht. So you pick a few things to sign up for. Not all of them.”
Jax nodded as if the words I had spoken were the supreme almighty word of witchcraft. “Yes, of course,” she said quietly, setting the pen gently back down on the sign-up table. We walked along in silence for a few moments and then she asked me inquisitively, “What are you going to sign up for?”
I looked around the booths and sighed deeply. “I’m not exactly what you call a social person.”
“I could tell,” Jax admitted, there was a hint of melancholy in her voice. “But it’s ok, I still like you. And we’re still going to be lifelong friends.”
The fact that Jax still wanted to be my friend despite my moodiness surprised me. I’d never known anyone who could see past my hard outer layer and want to be my friend despite the rough edges. I looked at her briefly. Her crazy red dyed hair bounced around her shoulders under her wide brimmed black hat and her bright blue eyes beamed up at me. What a nut. But then it occurred to me. I was the nut where I came from. And I literally hated it when I was younger and people wouldn’t give me a chance – I’d grown accustomed to it the older I got, but as a child that was really hard. The thought made me exhale a deep sigh of regret and caused me to throw one arm around Jax’s shoulder. “You’re alright, Jax,” I told her with a little smirk.
“I am?” she asked, astounded.
“You are.”
Her face lit up like a Christmas tree as we finished the loop around the lobby, stopping to check out the Animal Powers Club, the Nature’s Healing Club and the Sisters of Witchcraft Sorority.
“Ooh, I want to join a sorority!” Jax said excitedly and signed up at the registration table.
“Why would you want to join a sorority?” I asked her.
“Sisterhood. That’s what witches are all about – sisterhood and working together for the greater good.”
I shook my head from side to side. “No, that’s not what all witches are about. Didn’t you ever watch cartoons when you were a kid? Every witch I ever saw lived in a secluded cottage in the woods. You never see a team of witches solving the world’s problems, do you?”
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