Page 79 of The Neighborhood Witch

Alice whispered, “Are you ready?”

He tried to conjure the words, but they failed him. He simply nodded his head. Alice twisted the ring. It caught on the meaty part of his finger, not wanting to leave the place where it had rested for so many years. She twisted the ring even more, like she was pulling off a cork from a corkscrew.

The ring refused to give up. Hugo wanted to look away, but forced himself to watch. With a few more twists, the ring gave way, and Alice removed it from Hugo’s finger. She held the ringin her hand.

Hugo collapsed his hands together. He examined the smooth skin that molded itself to the shape of the ring. He twisted at the now invisible ring. Tears rolled down his face. He locked eyes with Alice.

He tried to speak, but could only whisper, “Thank you.”

She dove at Hugo and wrapped her arms around him. They buried their heads into each other’s shoulders and cried together.

Alice pulled back first and wiped her tears. “Let me see the box.”

Hugo handed it to her, and she placed the ring inside. It fit perfectly into the indented circle. She closed the lid, sealing the ring safely within.

“I know the best place for this.”

Hugo wiped the tears from his eyes. “Where?”

Alice marched over to one of her bookshelves filled with macabre odds and ends. Crystals, flowers frozen in time, a set of keys, a quill, and pictures of her long-gone relatives. She moved a small crystal ball out of the way and set the black box in its place.

“This is where I keep some of my ancestral remembrances. Things from the past that keep my ancestor’s memories alive. It will be safe here. I hope you don’t mind.”

“No. Not at all. That seems like the perfect spot,” Hugo replied with a smile.

He joined Alice and hugged her from behind. He gave her a small kiss on the cheek and then placed his chin on her shoulder. He focused on the black box now resting on the shelf.

“Merry Christmas, Alice Primrose.”

She touched her head to his. “Merry Christmas, Hugo Dodds,” she replied. “I hope it was a special one.”

“It was. It most certainly was.”

Chapter 19

Auld Lang Syne

The bleak nighttime air was cold and stung Alice and Hugo as they strolled down the sidewalk. The exterior lights of Newbury Grove High School fought back against the winter darkness. Large, black tarps covered a portion of the entrance to the two-story building. The brick facade was weathered, chipped, and worn with age. Years of environmental torment damaged the hardened exterior. Scaffolding rose from the ground where, before the holidays, workers valiantly fought back against the structural decay.

A large banner hung over the entrance and welcomed guests to theAnnual Newbury Grove New Year’s Eve Celebration. It thrashed back and forth in the winter wind. It clanged against the steel of the scaffolding, held tightly by its straps. Various people of all ages braved the winter cold for the warmth of the communal celebration.

Hugo Dodds and Alice Primrose were amongst those who entered the high school. Hugo grabbed the door from someone who held it open for them. With a grand gesture to welcome Alice, Hugo invited her into the building for a walk down his memory lane.

“It’s over here.” Hugo guided Alice to a glass showcase.

The showcase was filled with various photographs, trophies, and awards the students had won over the years. Most importantly, the showcase was filled with memories. Hugo’s eyes fixated on the sports trophies. He scanned for one photo in particular, but he was unable to find it.

“Are you sure you’re in here?” Alice teased.

“They moved it,” Hugo said. “Every time I stopped in to visit Elizabeth, I always double checked to make sure it was still here. They moved it, probably to make room for new stuff.”

He scanned every photo of various athletic championship teams. Their trophies were right in front to display their winning achievements. Each photo he passed raised a concern that the school had erased the memory of his achievement. He hurried past each one before stopping. He double tapped the glass.

“This is it,” he exclaimed. “Right here.”

Alice took a closer look. “I don’t see you,” she replied.

“What?” Hugo said in disbelief. “I’m right there. The one in the back. Second from the left. Regional Hockey Champions.” Hugo pointed to a picture of his high school hockey team.

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