05 Meows, Magic, & Wands

by Madison Johns

  Meows, Magic, & Wands

  Lake Forest Witches

  Madison Johns

  Contents

  Copyright © 2017 Madison Johns

  Disclaimer

  Blurb

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  About the Author

  Also by this Author

  Copyright © 2017 Madison Johns

  Meows, Magic & Wands Madison Johns

  All rights reserved.

  http://madisonjohns.com

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  Disclaimer

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Blurb

  Lake Forest is hosting the first Festival of Witches, showcasing the witches in town. Nobody asked Lake Forest witch Petunia Patterson her opinion, as Aunt Maxine assigns her to keep a group of trick-or-treaters who have been bused into town Halloween night out of trouble. But when the children get their hands on a real witch’s wand trouble is the last thing Petunia will be able to stop.

  The festival also brings strangers to town, some who might be witches. Add one store on wheels that sells magical items and you have the makings of quite the mystery as Petunia is convinced Lake Forest is now enchanted!

  Will Petunia and her cat Pansy be able to solve the mystery before a catastrophe happens?

  Chapter 1

  Petunia’s eyes widened as she walked Pansy into Mystical Remedies. Her Aunt Maxine’s witchy friends, Wanda and Hazel, didn’t even glance up. They continued carving pumpkins on the counter.

  Pansy shook his head sadly. “What are the old witches doing now?”

  Pansy, formerly a man until Petunia transformed him accidentally into a cat, held his nose up in disdain. That was a valuable lesson -- never give anyone a love potion. And certainly not to a scoundrel like Pansy used to be. Fortunately, they had formed a bond and put the past to rest and learned to communicate telepathically.

  “Tomorrow is Halloween,” Petunia announced.

  “So I suppose that means you’ll be riding your broom?” Pansy snickered.

  “Only if you ride with me,” she joked.

  Pansy ducked as pumpkin guts flew his way. “Lucky for me you don’t have a flying broom. What kind of witch are you again?”

  “I make potions. I’m shocked you’ve forgotten that.”

  “You really can’t take a joke, and I’d rather not discuss that incident with the love potion, if you don’t mind.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  Aunt Maxine waltzed into the room with an orange bowl studded with black stars. Once she set it down, Petunia asked, “What’s the bowl for?”

  “Halloween candy.” Aunt Maxine gave her a hard stare before bubbly laughter filled the room.

  “I thought you told me we should downplay Halloween this year,” Petunia said.

  “She says that every year,” Wanda chirped.

  “So what if I do,” Aunt Maxine asked, plopping down in a nearby chair. “So what brings you by?”

  “I was wondering where you’ve been lately. I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

  “I must apologize for that, but I’ve been preparing for this year’s festivities.”

  “Festivities, you mean Halloween?”

  “Of course! I spoke with the mayor’s wife today, and she thought it would be nice if we helped bolster the Halloween festivities in town this year.”

  “What kind of festivities? A pumpkin-carving contest, bobbing for apples or a candy corn eating contest?”

  “Sign me up for the candy corn eating contest,” Hazel said, flipping a pumpkin seed at Pansy. “I love candy corn.”

  “I hardly think you need to eat a five-pound bag of it,” Aunt Maxine said.

  “Maxine always ruins our fun,” Wanda complained.

  Petunia shook her head at Wanda and Hazel, turning to her aunt. Aunt Maxine plugged in strands of purple and orange lights. “Be a dear, Petunia, and hang these in the window for me.”

  Petunia sighed and did as she was asked. “I hope none of the festivities involve me.”

  “You know, for a witch, you certainly are gloomy. Halloween is the best time of the year for us. It’s the only time of year we can go out acting and looking like witches.”

  “You mean she actually wants us to act like a witch for the entertainment of everyone else in town?” Petunia frowned. “We’re witches, not zoo animals.”

  “I told your aunt you’d say that,” Hazel said, pointing her knife to well ... make her point!

  “Seriously, Aunt Maxine, the last I heard, people don’t much like that they share a town full witches,” Petunia reminded her.

  “I hardly think four witches is a town full of witches, Petunia. I have a list of a few things that you could do to contribute to the festivities.”

  Petunia took the list, but only because her aunt wouldn’t take no for an answer. That much she knew.

  She gripped the paper as she read, nearly ripping it in two. “Greet the trick-or-treaters when they come in on the bus? What bus?”

  “Children from nearby towns will be bused in so they can trick-or-treat in Lake Forest this year. We’re the only town in this part of Michigan where witches are known to live.”

  “So all I have to do is greet them?”

  “Not so fast. You’re going to help the drug store hand out candy, too. You’ll see that if you look further down the list.”

  “That sounds boring. Anyone can hand out candy.”

  “Which is why your aunt was joking,” Wanda said. “You’ll have to come up with something to entertain the children. You know, something witch-like.”

  “How about I just change one of the children into a frog?” Petunia asked with a sly grin.

  Pansy hid his face under a paw. “This is going to be a long conversation.”

  “I wasn’t aware you’d worked your way up to turning humans into frogs. I hope you haven’t been experimenting on that handsome neighbor of yours. I rather like Noah. I’m still hoping for a wedding next year,” Aunt Maxine said.

  “Noah and I only recently went from dating to being in a relationship. Please don’t push me, Aunt Maxine.”

  “Merely a suggestion, my dear,” She said to Petunia while winking at Hazel and Wanda.

  The bell over the door rang and Lucy Winters strolled in. “Oh, there you are, Petunia. I’ve been looking all over for you. I believe you forgot to drop your famous salve off for me.”

  Lucy, in her seventies, was once riddled with arthritis until one of Petunia’s potions changed all that. Lucy is now the most agile senior citizen in all of Lake Forest.

  Petunia pulled out a small container and handed it to Lucy. “Here you go.”

  Lucy frowned at the container. “Isn’t this a little small?
And I was quite certain I ordered twelve, not one.”

  Petunia sighed. “You know I can’t allow you to have more than one can. Why would you need twelve at one time anyway?”

  “I’m having a Halloween party, and planned to give a can to each of my guests.”

  “I’m sorry… . ”

  “Petunia hasn’t made enough yet. She’ll bring along the rest of your order later,” Aunt Maxine said.

  Lucy threw up her arms and gave Petunia a big hug. “I just knew I could count on you!”

  Petunia waited until Lucy left the shop before she turned and sighed. “I hope you’re aware I can’t allow my salve to be given to anyone besides Lucy. I’ve convinced everyone that I accidentally destroyed my recipe.”

  “That’s not even a believable lie,” Aunt Maxine scolded Petunia. “All you have to do is tone down your salve. I agree that we don’t need any more senior citizens running marathons in Lake Forest.”

  “Don’t you think I’ve tried? That salve is dangerous. Why, if one of Lucy’s friends keeled over with a heart attack I’d go straight to jail. You know how Sheriff Pinkerton feels about us witches.”

  “He’d rather look the other way,” Hazel said.

  “Or tell us not to concoct our spells in a cauldron in your back yard,” Wanda added.

  Petunia put a finger in the air. “I believe that ban is already in place.”

  “I understand how you feel, Petunia, but you can simply fill the tins with ordinary beeswax with a hint of fragrance. I’d hate for Lucy to be upset,” Aunt Maxine said.

  “Well, I’d hate to lie to her.”

  Petunia faked a glance at her invisible watch. “I better get going. What time did you say the bus arrives tomorrow?”

  “I knew you’d come around,” Aunt Maxine said with a nod of her head. “Five o’clock. And don’t make me check up on you. Remember to dress appropriately, too. The children are coming to Lake Forest to see witches, and that’s what we’ll give them.”

  “You can even borrow my wand for your ensemble,” Hazel suggested. She rushed into the back and returned with the wand. “Now be careful, it’s loaded,” she laughed, placing it in Petunia’s hand.

  Petunia grumbled all the way home.

  “No sense in being a grumpy Gus,” Pansy said. “It might be fun.”

  “Easy for you to say. You don’t have to parade in front of the entire town like you’re a zoo animal. I rather like my anonymity.”

  “Which you totally have never had in this town. What I’m wondering is why all of a sudden the residents of Lake Forest want the witches in town to reveal themselves.”

  “It’s hardly a secret, I suppose, but I imagine the mayor set this whole thing in motion.”

  “Why would he do that? It’s not even election season.”

  “I know that, but I believe he wants to generate more business in Lake Forest. From my recollection, Lake Forest has never carted in trick-or-treaters by the busload. Of course, I must admit I’ve never seen the residents so happy about the festivities taking place.”

  Petunia’s neighbor Noah was attaching corn stalks to a metal archway he put up last night. She gave him a look with a shake of her head. “I suppose you’ll be attaching lights and playing spooky music to frighten the trick-or-treaters tomorrow.”

  “I’m putting up purple and orange lights. Do you think I’m going overboard?” Noah asked, scratching his tousled hair.

  “I suppose not, but I must admit I didn’t expect you to go all out with the Halloween decorations.”

  “Well, my girlfriend is a witch.” He laughed. “Hey, what guy can say that?”

  Petunia’s brow arched sharply. “Just because I’m a witch doesn’t mean that Halloween is my favorite holiday.”

  “It’s not?”

  “Of course it is, but not because I’m a witch. I love the whole atmosphere that Halloween brings. I prefer to downplay my being a witch, but unfortunately my aunt has other ideas.”

  “Such as?”

  “She volunteered me to dress like a witch, in some kind of stereotypical costume, no doubt. I’m meeting a group of children being bused in Halloween night.”

  “A busload of trick-or-treaters?” Noah frowned. “Is that wand part of your costume?”

  Petunia lifted the wand. “Yes. Hazel loaned it to me.”

  “I suppose you’ve never had the chance to use a magic wand because you’re a potion witch. Just think; this is the one time of the year you won’t have to pretend you’re not a witch.”

  “I’d prefer people not talk behind my back. Once people see a witch out in the open I can imagine she’d be blamed for everything that went wrong in town, especially on Halloween.”

  “Unless that person is Cora, in which case you’re accused of a variety of things every day of the year. She just power walked past here not long ago. She gave me quite the look when she spotted the decorations. I hope I bought enough candy for the children.”

  “So does that mean you won’t be helping me out tomorrow night?”

  “I think you can handle it. How much trouble can a group of trick-or-treaters be?”

  Noah gave her a quick kiss to soften the blow that he wouldn’t be joining her. The thing was, she had never actually been around children. Her one attempt at babysitting had resulted in her playing hide and seek with the boy, who she could never find, even after frantically searching the entire house and yard. Of course he appeared like an angel when his parents returned home.

  Chapter 2

  Petunia put the wand on a table when she walked in the door and worked on the ritual of feeding her cats, Merlin, Gem and Sassy. Of course Pansy also had a bowl set out. Four bowls for her four cats. It shouldn’t be that hard for her cats to figure out, but more times than not Merlin managed to steal one of the other cat’s food. Today the victim was Gem, her Himalayan. Gem wasn’t in the mood and went into attack mode, swiping her razor cat claws across Merlin’s face.

  When he hid under the table Petunia asked, “Are you okay, Merlin?” Her attempts to coax him out from his hiding place were fruitless.

  “I don’t know why you’re worrying about Merlin,” Pansy said. “He terrorizes us cats every day. He must have a tapeworm, because he never gets full.”

  “Merlin is much bigger than the rest of you, Pansy.”

  Pansy paced. “Have you wondered why that might be?”

  “I suppose it’s because he eats too much, but it’s not as if I can constantly police the food dishes. I have preparations and a costume to purchase.”

  “You mean you don’t have one in your closet already?”

  “I’ve never had much use for one until now.”

  “Well, we better head out, Red. The costume store might sell out of witch costumes if you don’t hurry.”

  “I suppose you’re right. Are you coming along?”

  Pansy yawned. “Actually, I’d rather stay home and take a nap.” He snuggled into Petunia’s knitting basket. “You know how we cats love our catnaps.”

  Petunia grabbed her purse and was out the door. She strolled down the sidewalk, enjoying the fall weather. It felt very much like an Indian summer, which was a shocker the day before Halloween in Michigan. Most Halloween nights it rained and was quite nasty out. She hoped it wouldn’t be this year. What are you saying Petunia? You know how much you’re dreading looking after those trick-or-treaters, she told herself. It simply wasn’t right to wish for bad weather this year. Not only would it ruin the night for the children, it would ruin the festivities in Lake Forest.

  Petunia stopped at the Halloween store that had been set up on a temporary basis. The building once housed a sporting goods store until they built a much larger one in the mall. For the Christmas season it would change over to decorations, trees and ornaments.

  She entered the store in high spirits, nearly bumping into a woman who wore a large brimmed hat, a store bag clutched in her arms. “I’m sorry,” Petunia exclaimed.

  The woman elbowed
her way out the door and Petunia raced after the woman asking, “Is that you Cora?” The woman narrowed her eyes at Petunia as she hurried across the street. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Cora,” Petunia called after her with a chuckle.

  Okay, so it probably wasn’t nice to call out Cora like that, but Petunia knew her nosey neighbor hated witches, and, Petunia assumed, Halloween.

  Petunia proceeded into the packed store. She hoped it wasn’t too late to find a costume. The bell over the door rang again and she narrowed her eyes as she was spun around and socked the man who was breathing on the back of her neck. “Ow,” Noah exclaimed.

  “Why did you do that? I-I mean I’m sorry.”

  Noah rubbed his eyes. “Remind me not to sneak up on you again.” He laughed. “I was hoping I could catch up to you. I should probably dress up for Halloween too.”

  “Good idea. They must have a smurf costume somewhere.”

  “You can be my smurfette anytime.”

  “I believe I’m expected to dress up like a witch.”

  They browsed the costumes and Noah donned a hockey mask. “How about this one?”

  “I hardly think anyone would want their children trick-or-treating at your house,” Petunia said. She then frowned at the selection of witch costumes, which were much too sexy for her tastes.

  “I love the witch costumes,” Noah remarked. “I don’t think I’d care for my girlfriend to be traipsing all over town in one of those skimpy costumes, though.”

  “Me either. I mean I’d never wear a costume like that. It’s hardly appropriate to meet a group of children wearing a getup like that.”

  Noah’s eyes lit up. “I see the perfect costume for me,” he said as he dragged Petunia along with him. “What do you think of this pirate costume? Arrr!”

  “Why don’t you try it on,” Petunia suggested.

  Petunia waited, looking over the witch costume accessories. She examined the wand, made of plastic, and was glad that Hazel had loaned her one. She’d have to be extra careful with it. The last thing she needed was to accidentally change someone into something dreadful like a spider or snake.