Page 17 of Witchful Thinking

Lucy knew certain things.

Never run a broom across your feet. Carry coins in your pocket in case you need to pay a spirit. Always keep an eye out for future friends and lovers. And there was no way she was spending Sunday night grading exams, drinking chamomile tea, and grumbling over Instagram posts while the festival was in full swing. She still had a taste for funnel cake.

She waited for the universe to deliver a sign that their wishes were in motion. So far nothing had tipped her to their impending wish windfall. The Caraway house was alive and well with anxious waiting. Callie scrubbed out every iron cauldron in the kitchen. Sirena double-checked the pantry for herbs, charms, and potions that might have spoiled. Footsteps rattled the wooden floors. Curses echoed against the walls. Queen B blasted from their sound wave speakers. Even Shadow busied himself with yarn scraps. Everyone seemed jumpy after casting the wish spell, and nerves were tighter than Aunt Niesha in a pair of queen-size tights.

Lucy kept opening and closing her email in between sipping tea. All she could do was wait for the newsletter. What would the Grove think about her and her life? She had a sneaky feeling that everyone seemed so disappointed that she wasn’t cursing her neighbors or dosing lovers with potions. All she wanted to do was to be worthy of the magic she’d been blessed with by blood.

After indulging in two—no, three—more servings ofBathwater Brew, she sent Quentin her class note.

He’d responded, saying the e-newsletter would be delivered Sunday night.

Lucy checked the inbox again. Nothing. She needed a distraction. She needed something fried on a stick.

“I’m headed out.” Lucy snatched up her purse from the bench in the entryway.

There were three dozen festival tickets in her purse. Tonight was the last night she had time to use them, and she wasn’t going to waste money.

“Buy me saltwater taffy,” Sirena said from the couch.

“Stay away from the Ferris wheel!” Callie yelled from the kitchen.

Lucy laughed and closed the back door behind her with a snap. There was mischief to be made. Festival food solved all problems. The amusement rides and booths set up in the park twinkled in the near distance against the late afternoon sky. She parked and headed over to the festival. Tonight she was going to have fun, dammit—or at least she’d try. As she wandered the grounds, she noticed the sparks of small magic on the grass. Something special was happening tonight.

After thirty minutes or so, she’d ridden two rides and spent half her game tickets on trying to win a stuffed elephant. No luck. Couples cuddled up together, and gnomes roamed the grounds in pairs. The evening had been pleasant enough, but it would have been nice to share the night with a sister or a friend. If Alex were here…Lucy waved the thought away. He was probably cave dwelling in Mexico or had gotten an invitation to view volcanoes in Iceland. Alex had better things to do than to eat delicious fried dough with powdered sugar.

Oh well. More funnel cake for me. Lucy rubbed her hands in anticipation.

A group of her US History juniors and AP History seniors waved to her from the snack line. She was greeted with a chorus of shocked hellos. Lucy held back a smile and waved. Why did students act so surprised to see her out in the world? They probably half expected her to live in the school’s book closet with the mice. One student, a junior named Asha, approached her with a wide-open smile. She was wearing a skater dress and her hair was dyed a neon pink that stood out against her dark-brown skin.

“Hey, Ms. C,” Asha said. “What’s good?”

“Hey, Asha. I’m just trying to decide between funnel cake or fried Oreos.” Lucy gestured to the snack booth. The scent of frying sugar brought pure joy.

“Get both. You only live once. Live it up,” Asha said.

Whenever Asha, a thoughtful student, had a question she wanted to ask, she scrunched up her face—just like she was doing right now.

“What’s on your mind, Ash?”

Once the familiar nickname slipped out, Asha relaxed. She fumbled for her phone, pulling up a page and showing her an internship posting.

“I need a letter of recommendation. I know it’s late, but I just heard about this cool internship!”

Lucy scanned it quickly, reading over the requirements. The letter needed to outline the specific skills and why the person was qualified for the position. A wave of nostalgia hit her. Just yesterday she was asking her teacher for a recommendation in her name.

“Should I go for it?” she asked nervously.

Lucy looked at Asha. Her lips were pressed shut tightly so no sound would burst out. Her entire being emanated possibilities that shimmered before Lucy’s eyes. An acceptance. Job at the local museum. Next summer working at a museum in the city. Lucy blinked back at Asha.

“Absolutely.” Lucy handed her phone back. “Send me an email reminder.”

Asha’s eyes softened in appreciation. “Thanks, Ms. C. I’ll see you later.”

Lucy ordered the jumbo funnel cake. She went around the booths, stuffing tasty pieces of powdered sugar dough into her mouth. Her blood hummed in delight as she sat at an empty picnic table. Between the spellcasting and all her teacher work, she’d earned the cake tonight. Her phone buzzed, but the sticky sugar kept her from reaching for her purse. It was probably the e-newsletter, but it could wait another ten minutes.

This cake was getting colder by the second. She had at least a wedge slice left to stuff in her mouth when she ran into Mayor Walker. She, in her belted dress, stared at Lucy with an odd expression. Was there powdered sugar on her face?

“I just read this week’s In the Grove. I have to say I’m impressed. I didn’t know you had so many hidden talents.”

---