“I don’t suppose you’ve seen three little girls dressed as witches tonight?”
“Too many to count, I’m afraid. I believe there might have been a group of three. I’m not sure where they got the wand from, but it dropped sparks on the ground when they left.”
“That sounds like the girls I need to find. They accidentally got hold of Hazel’s wand.”
Lucy laughed hysterically. “That sounds like something that might happen only to you, Petunia.” When Petunia gave her a hard stare, Lucy quickly added, “Sorry.”
Floyd stood up and rubbed his round belly as they moved back into the living room.
“Have any of you noticed where those three witches with that interesting wand went after they left?” Lucy asked.
“I believe I saw the witches heading over to Mystical Remedies,” Floyd said.
“They won’t be able to do much there. My aunt and her friends are parked at the refreshment station in town.”
“Didn’t you say they had Hazel’s wand?” Lucy asked.
“Thanks for the tip. We’d better head them off!”
Petunia, Noah and Pansy jogged across the street. The lights inside Mystical Remedies were on, and the door opened when Petunia turned the knob and led the way inside.
“Are you sure we should go inside?” Pansy asked. “I don’t want to be changed into a toad.”
“I’m positive we won’t be turned into toads,” Petunia said out loud.
“I hope not!” Noah exclaimed. “That’s ridiculous.”
“That’s not what Cora thinks. I believe those girls turned her into a toad, I tell you.”
Noah cocked a brow. “I should wait outside. I don’t think I’m qualified to discuss what a witch can or shouldn’t do. You know more about that than I do.”
Noah turned to leave, and Petunia exchanged a look with Pansy.
“I never took him for a chicken butt,” Pansy began, “but then again, he is a lughead.”
Chapter 11
Petunia all but ignored Pansy as she crept into the back room. She didn’t want to admit that three mortal children with a witch’s wand frightened her. Sure, they had figured out how to cause sparks to fly ... and changed Cora into a toad, but were they capable of harming a witch?
In the back, a cauldron was positioned on a large gas burner. Pansy jumped on the rim, wobbling before he fell in the pot.
Petunia rushed to him, “Are you okay?” she asked fishing Pansy out.
“Luckily the girls didn’t try to make a potion,” Pansy whimpered.
Once Petunia searched all of the first-floor rooms, she scaled the steps two at a time. She sighed as the door to the roof was locked. “Blazing broomsticks,” Petunia cursed.
Petunia and Pansy shook in fear as the door slowly creaked open. “Oh, it’s you, Petunia,” Aunt Maxine said. “My alarm went off and I came to check on the store.”
“We must have missed you. Did you happen to catch sight of the girls?”
“No, you?”
“No. Did you check to make sure your spell books and other magical items are still here?”
“That’s the first thing I checked. It appears you have more than one reason to find those girls before there’s even more trouble tonight.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Bonnie Hopkins has been acting strange tonight. She has an odd green aura about her.”
“What about her cousins?”
“The same. Maybe it’s the costumes they’re wearing.”
“I believe that’s the case, but I haven’t had much of a chance to investigate because I’m supposed to watch the trick-or-treaters I’ve lost.”
“You could always take one of the brooms,” Aunt Maxine suggested. “You know, to search from above.”
“I can’t fly a broom. I don’t know the first thing about it. I’m a potion witch.”
“You can’t put witches into categories, especially when your powers have been changing all along.”
“I don’t have time for that now. I have to find those girls.”
“Of course you could wait by the bus. They have to leave town sometime,” Aunt Maxine suggested.
Petunia was about to leave when she asked, “Where is Cora? I thought you were keeping an eye on her.”
“I’m sure she’s just fine. She’s in the capable hands of Hazel and Wanda.”
Petunia wasn’t sure “capable” defined Wanda or Hazel. “It might be a good idea to stop by and check on Cora,” Petunia said to Pansy.
“I’m sure she’s okay. I don’t think your aunt’s witchy friends would harm her.”
“Harm, no. I’m more worried about them losing Cora.” Petunia sighed.
“I assume you didn’t find the girls,” Noah said when Petunia rejoined him.
“No. I had visions of them stealing one of my aunt’s potion books, but Aunt Maxine checked and none are missing. She was checking an alarm at the store.”
“I’d expect your aunt to have the books locked up.”
“She does.”
“So where to now?”
“I was hoping to find the mayor’s wife and her cousins. Aunt Maxine said they were glowing. So unless they were exposed to nuclear power, I believe it might have something to do with the store on wheels.”
“And you hope we run into those girls along the way?”
“It can’t hurt to hope.”
Petunia picked up Pansy as she crossed the street with Noah. It was unusually dark. She glanced up at the light poles, but the lights were out.
“This is the evidence that the girls might have been here.”
Noah pointed out the rocks and glass peppering the sidewalk. “Or that kids have been throwing rocks at the lights.”
“You can think what you want,” Petunia smugly said.
“Hate to be proved wrong, do you?”
“I’m never wrong.” She frowned. “Okay, I’m wrong some of the time.”
“And I’m right the majority of the time.” Noah laughed. He pointed out a group of children dressed as zombies who were throwing rocks at the lights.
“Hold up there, boys,” Petunia shouted. “What do you think you’re doing?”
The taller of the boys exclaimed, “Duh! Can’t you see? Grownups are so stupid sometimes.”
Noah took hold of the boy’s arm. “Drop the rocks or I’m hauling you to the sheriff’s department. I’m positive they have a holding cell full of misbehaving trick-or-treaters tonight.”
“Pervert!” the boy screamed. “I told you I don’t talk to strangers!”
Noah dropped his hold on the boy’s arm, and the boys ran off, presumably to break more lights.
Petunia sighed. “I should have asked them if they were with the group of children from outside Lake Forest.”
“I thought you knew that for certain.”
“Not even close. I need to take a pit stop to speak with the mayor’s wife.”
“She can wait.”
“Not if she’s wearing one of those enchanted costumes. I need to talk to her about changing out of it.”
“And you expect for her to listen to you this time?” Pansy asked.
“I have to try to convince her that no good will come of wearing an enchanted costume,” Petunia said to Pansy.
* * *
Petunia waved to Wanda and Hazel as they drew near.
“Hello, ladies,” Noah greeted. “Have you seen the mayor’s wife?” When Petunia gave him a narrowed eyes look, he continued, “I thought it might be quicker if I asked them.”
“Do you still have Cora?” Petunia interjected.
“She’s right here,” Wanda said as she held up the jar.
Cora was snuggled against the side of the jar looking quite miserable. “She doesn’t look happy.”
“Would you if you were put into that little jar?” Noah asked.
“No, I suppose not.”
Petunia widened her eyes when she saw green orbs moving away from them.
“Have you seen Bonnie recently?”
“Follow that orb!” Hazel said with a witchy chuckle.
Petunia didn’t waste time to glare at Hazel. She loved her aunt’s friends, but sometimes they were a bit much.
“Bonnie, stop!” Petunia called out.
“I don’t think she can hear you,” Noah said.
“How can you tell?”
“Because they’re not stopping.”
Pansy let out a meow.
“Are you okay, Pansy?” Petunia asked. “You rarely meow.”
“I do when you’re as dumb as a box of rocks.”
“Meaning?”
“Bonnie might not want you catching up with her. I have a feeling she thinks you’re a major buzz-kill.”
“Why ... what did I do?”
“She crossed the street,” Noah pointed out.
Petunia had to stop to catch her breath after they crossed the street.
“What’s going on here?” Bonnie asked. “Why are you following us?”
Petunia shrugged. “I was wondering how you managed to get such a lovely green aura.”
“I told you that the costumes sold at the bus are out of this world.” She giggled. “You’d have the same effects had you opted to wear the costume I bought for you.”
Petunia felt like a complete heel, but she had to convince Bonnie the costumes were dangerous.
“It was never my intention to offend you, Bonnie, but the costume you gave me caused me to break out in the hives. Hazel’s costume did the same to her.”
Bonnie stomped her foot. “I suppose the next thing you’ll tell me is that a spell has been cast on the costumes to cause mayhem in Lake Forest.”
Petunia gasped at the faces of Bonnie and her cousins. They’re skin had broken out with green dots.
“Okay, so you’re not concerned about the green aura, but what about the green spots on your face? You look like you just stepped out of a Dr. Seuss book.”
“She’s quite right,” Wendy declared, pointing at Bonnie’s face.
“You mean I have spots just like yours, Wendy?” Bonnie asked, her mouth slacking open.
“Oh my! You mean we’re all sporting polka dots?” Wendy asked with a goofy face. “And you’re not worried, Bonnie?”
“Why should I be? I’m sure the effects are only temporary.”
“What if they’re not,” Petunia suggested. “It would be awful if you looked like that forever. It might hurt your husband’s re-election bid next year.”
“Or cause people to wonder if you’re a witch,” Noah said. “I know you thought the Festival of Witches was a great event for the town, but what about tomorrow? Will people in Lake Forest accept the idea that the mayor’s wife is a witch?”
“Noah is right,” Petunia said. “I bet by tomorrow people will come to think that having witches in Lake Forest is bad thing.”
Bonnie’s hands slipped to her hips. “I don’t believe that at all. Everyone in town has supported the festival and the witches who live in town.”
“We’ll find out tomorrow.”
“Do you think this is going to work with her? Bonnie won’t believe that until it happens, if it happens,” Pansy said.
“Would you be quiet? I’m trying to think,” Petunia shot back.
“You know you’re the only one who can hear me, Red.”
“I know you must think I’m crazy,” Petunia began, “but... .”
“Of course she thinks you’re crazy.” Pansy laughed.
“What I mean is, you don’t seem to believe me that there is something wrong with the costumes, Bonnie. Would you like to prove it?”
“Prove it?” Noah asked.
Bonnie’s brow arched sharply. “Prove it how?”
“We could go back to your house to see if the spots and aura go away after the costume is off.” Petunia smiled. “If both the aura and spots go away, I won’t bother you about the costumes again. But if they don’t, I might have to check what kind of magic they’re doing in that store on wheels.”
“What Petunia means is that she’ll take the costumes back for you.” Noah winked.
Bonnie glanced at her watch. “Why not? Trick-or-treating is about over.”
* * *
Noah and Petunia waited until Bonnie and her cousins changed out of the costumes. Pansy snooped in the other room.
Noah pulled a nickel from his pocket. “I bet the aura and the spots are gone when they come down.”
Petunia frowned. “I’m hardly in a betting mood, and this certainly isn’t a situation that would call for a bet. I’m concerned about Bonnie ... and well ... Lake Forest.”
“Because?”
“Because if those costumes cause the aura and spots to remain after they’re taken off it means that something quite magical is taking place.”
“And I suppose that makes you responsible for sorting it out.”
“I was hoping you’d help.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You might be worrying for nothing. Or you might ... not!”
Petunia turned to stare open-mouthed at what Noah had just seen. Bonnie’s face was still full of green polka dots.
“O-Oh my!” Bonnie exclaimed. “You were right all along, Petunia. I should have listened to you.” She stared at her reflection in the entranceway mirror. “I can’t let my husband see this. He won’t schedule another Festival of Witches for next year!”
“That might be for the best,” Noah said. He pulled at the neck of his costume. “I’m a little nervous about all this magic.”
“You are?” Petunia asked with a stomp of her foot.
“I wasn’t talking about the witches in town. I meant the witches who might have come to town to cause mayhem.”
“You have to admit that mayhem and Lake Forest have always gotten along,” Bonnie said.
“We’ll take the costumes back now,” Petunia offered.
Bonnie glanced at the clock. “You’d better hurry and find that missing wand, Petunia. The bus should be leaving anytime now.”
“Pansy, where are you?” Petunia called as Noah pushed her to the door.
“We’ll have the costumes ready when you return,” Bonnie called after them.
Chapter 12
“I don’t think we should have left Pansy at the mayor’s house,” Petunia said.
“We don’t have much time before the buses leave. I can already smell the diesel exhaust.”
They raced to the drug store just as the bus pulled from the curb. Petunia jumped in front of it, waving her hands frantically for the driver to stop. Noah pulled her to safety just as the bus skidded to a stop.
Mr. Robbins slipped from the driver’s seat and scrambled from the bus, shaking a finger at Petunia. “I almost killed you young lady!”
“I’m sorry, really I am, but I need to speak to Velma, Samantha and Tabitha. They forgot to return my wand.”
The driver went back inside the bus and ordered, “Girls, outside, now!”
The little witches winced as they met Petunia’s eyes. “Where is my wand?”
“We’re sorry we caused you any problems,” Tabitha exclaimed.
“I don’t care about that. All I want is the wand. It isn’t mine. I borrowed it.”
“So witches don’t usually carry wands around with them?” Samantha asked.
“We don’t all use wands,” Petunia began explaining
Noah pushed ahead of Petunia. “Can you please give us the wand?”
The girls looked at one another for a few moments. “We don’t have the wand anymore,” Samantha finally said.
“W-We gave it to someone,” Tabitha added. “She promised to give it back to you if it doesn’t sell.”
“Let me guess, you gave it to the woman who operates that store on wheels?”
“Yes, Forgotten Relics,” Velma said.
Petunia had to choke back the tears. “Why would you do that?”
“We traded it for these witch hats.”
�
��I’ll be taking them now,” Petunia said as the girls handed the hats over.
”That store is infested with bedbugs,” Noah offered the three girls and Mr. Robbins by way of explanation.
Petunia sighed as the bus rolled away. “We better head to the bakery. We need to find that store before they sell the wand.”
* * *
Noah and Petunia made it to the bakery before it closed, and as they expected, the store on wheels was gone.
Petunia reached the bakery door just as Chastity was locking up. “I’m glad you’re back from checking over that candy.”
“We finished earlier than I expected, but we’re heading out for a Halloween party.”
“I hate to bother you,” Petunia said, “but where did the Forgotten Relics bus go?”
“They planned to leave town, but Steven mentioned they were heading to the corn maze before they left.”
“Steven spoke to the owners?” Petunia asked. ”I’d like to speak to him if he’s back.”
“Go ahead. He’s waiting in my car.”
Petunia knocked on the window of Chastity’s car. Steven thumped his head on the steering wheel. He quickly powered down the window, wiping at the blood that dripped from his nose.
“I’m so sorry, Steven,” Petunia said.
He dabbed at his nose with a napkin. “Nothing to worry about here.”
Noah shook his head as Petunia continued, “Chastity mentioned that you might have spoken briefly with the owner of Forgotten Relics.”
“Huh?”
“She means the store on wheels that was parked across the street,” Noah explained.
“I kind of had to. Melba approached me on the street and asked if I was in need of any accessories for my Halloween costume. She was a little disappointed when I told her I wasn’t dressing up this year.”
“Smart move,” Noah said, “especially when Petunia here believes the items she sells are enchanted.”
Petunia gritted her teeth. “Did you happen to go inside the bus?”
“Melba invited me, but I declined. That bus looks too creepy.”
“I suppose you’re right about that. I appreciate your help all the same.”
Petunia and Noah hurried past the refreshment station, city hall and the ticket booth for the corn maze. The craft tables were being taken down, but they found the bus parked near the corn maze.
05 Meows, Magic, & Wands Page 8