Page 43 of Bewitched & Bewildered
“Oh.” She pauses. “Is it bad if that makes me feel better?”
“Nah. That’s human nature.” I uncross my arms. “Have you ever run a business before?”
“Are you going to tell me I’m unqualified?”
“No.” I smile softly. “Just that you have a lot to learn. We all do. You’re doing fine, all right? Stop beating yourself up.”
“I’ll try.” She smiles. It’s a rare sight, at least for me, but it doesn’t bring me joy. It’s a sad, halfhearted smile. “What am I doing wrong? Can you tell me?”
“No,” I say, “but I can give you advice if you really want it.”
“It doesn’t matter what I want. Ineedit.”
Some would tell me not to advise the only competitionin town, but I don’t care. I’ll do anything to make her smile a genuine smile.
“Your business is going through changes,” I say. “It’s going to be hard.”
“That’s it? That’s your advice?”
“That’s the biggest thing.”
“Is it the prices?”
“No. It’s going to be an adjustment period at first, but the prices are good. Pricing yourself too low makes it seem like your products aren’t quality.”
“Then what is it?”
“Well… they’re going to compare you to your mom—your mom’s prices and how she ran the shop. Hell, they’re going to compare your personalities.”
“Which couldn’t be more different.”
“Exactly. It will feel impossible to measure up at first. She had been running the shop for thirty years. Everyone in town knew and trusted her. They’re still getting to know you as a business owner and a witch, not as little Juni from down the street.”
“Then they’ll always see me like a kid? Is there nothing I can do to make them take me seriously?”
“I didn’t say that. You need to find a way to make it your own. Just because you’re doing it for her doesn’t mean you have to do itlikeher. That’s where you went wrong.”
Her shoulders drop, and her eyes turn misty. All of her unbelievable pride leaves her body. I nearly flinch at the sight of her falling apart right in front of me.
“I messed up,” she mutters.
“You didn’t.” I take a chance, tentatively squeezing her shoulder.
To my surprise, she doesn’t push me away. I still can’tbelieve she’s opening up to me like this. It shows how down in the dumps she is.
“There’s still time to make it your own,” I say. “Businesses aren’t built in a day.”
“I thought that was Rome.”
“Exactly. Your business is Rome.”
She sighs and rolls her shoulders. I let my hand drop away.
“You’re bad at this.” She gives me another small, sad smile. “But thank you.”
JUNIPER
My sisters are sitting in our kitchen when I carry my groceries inside. I can’t look at them. It’s been a long, hard week. I open the fridge and carefully set the egg carton down.
