late." He stood for a moment, acting unsure, like he thought maybe we should kiss goodbye or something. Surely not? Or, maybe. "Bye." He waved and walked away.
Yes, I know, I'm an idiot at times.
I turned left at the end of the street where he'd turned right, and picked up my pace. The evening was cooling now so I spared a little magic to warm myself, just a hint, plenty of magic inside me after the meal earlier. Sure, I could have worn a sweater or a coat, but I don't like the feel. I always itch something terrible if my arms are covered. Gotta have a few perks to being a witch.
I didn't have far to go, and I was glad for it. Somehow it was hard to believe it was the same day I'd been chased by the troll and watched life being eradicated by its timeless foot, but it was, and I knew I'd pay for it. Best to keep going, find out as much as I could now. I'd never sleep otherwise and I'd be in an unfamiliar place. I like my routine. Need it.
I smoked a cigar while I walked and thought, trying to put the day into order and make sense of the mess. Would Fester really be lying about Pumi? Stupid question. He was, unless he was a complete fool and had himself been duped. And he wasn't that kind of person, trust me. Plus the description by Pumi had matched.
Was he being coerced somehow? Possible, everyone has skeletons in their closet and I doubted he was any exception, but that didn't ring true either. The most likely answer was the most obvious—he was playing me and involved in this child's death. He wanted to cover it up. The only question was why?
"Hey, watch where you're going?"
Coming out of my reverie, I realized I was being watched closely by a group of young girls. I was in the road, using it as most people did now. Even though they were often crowded with bicycles, it became a habit and it's everyone for themselves. But I was in a side street, a quiet place, so thought nothing of it. Neither did the kids by the look of it.
The group of girls pouted at me, looking angry, annoyed, or worried at the reaction an adult would have to being yelled at. The girl that had shouted at me put her hands on her hips and said, "Well?"
"Well, what?" I was nonplussed. They didn't appear to have any games or toys with them, no bikes or anything like that.
"You're stood in our game. We're playing hopscotch."
Looking where she pointed, I saw a series of squares in a pattern, numbers in each. I had no idea what that meant. "What's hopscotch?" So I was out of touch. You try keeping up with everything when the years go by in the blink of an eye.
"You're stupid." The other girls gasped and the braver ones tittered behind their hands.
"Am not."
"Are too.
"Am not. Fine, how do you play? Bet I can beat you, bet I can beat you all."
"Yeah, right. You're an old lady. You must be at least forty."
If only they knew. "Let's bet. If I win then you say sorry for being mean. If you win then I will, um?" What did kids want these days?
"You will buy us sweets."
"You're on."
Fifteen minutes later I was sweating from jumping onto squares and seriously out of pocket at the corner shop.
I think it was probably the most fun I have had in my entire life.
Time was getting on and I didn't want to be late meeting Pumi—I really didn't want to miss the opportunity. I walked fast. I still had somebody to see, but I couldn't shake the game of hopscotch. What joy to have no more worry than playing games and wondering if your mum will call you for bedtime rather than let you play until dark.
I didn't even know they still did that, assuming everyone would be inside because of the Strange, but, of course, that's mostly my world, my contact with the darker side. Mostly everyone, Normal, Strange, whatever, aren't so bad, I guess.
Visiting Old Friends
The increase in magic across Strangetown, spreading out from ground zero, meant things went a little skewed in many Strange minds, their magic distorting, out of control, especially in those
Yes, I know, I'm an idiot at times.
I turned left at the end of the street where he'd turned right, and picked up my pace. The evening was cooling now so I spared a little magic to warm myself, just a hint, plenty of magic inside me after the meal earlier. Sure, I could have worn a sweater or a coat, but I don't like the feel. I always itch something terrible if my arms are covered. Gotta have a few perks to being a witch.
I didn't have far to go, and I was glad for it. Somehow it was hard to believe it was the same day I'd been chased by the troll and watched life being eradicated by its timeless foot, but it was, and I knew I'd pay for it. Best to keep going, find out as much as I could now. I'd never sleep otherwise and I'd be in an unfamiliar place. I like my routine. Need it.
I smoked a cigar while I walked and thought, trying to put the day into order and make sense of the mess. Would Fester really be lying about Pumi? Stupid question. He was, unless he was a complete fool and had himself been duped. And he wasn't that kind of person, trust me. Plus the description by Pumi had matched.
Was he being coerced somehow? Possible, everyone has skeletons in their closet and I doubted he was any exception, but that didn't ring true either. The most likely answer was the most obvious—he was playing me and involved in this child's death. He wanted to cover it up. The only question was why?
"Hey, watch where you're going?"
Coming out of my reverie, I realized I was being watched closely by a group of young girls. I was in the road, using it as most people did now. Even though they were often crowded with bicycles, it became a habit and it's everyone for themselves. But I was in a side street, a quiet place, so thought nothing of it. Neither did the kids by the look of it.
The group of girls pouted at me, looking angry, annoyed, or worried at the reaction an adult would have to being yelled at. The girl that had shouted at me put her hands on her hips and said, "Well?"
"Well, what?" I was nonplussed. They didn't appear to have any games or toys with them, no bikes or anything like that.
"You're stood in our game. We're playing hopscotch."
Looking where she pointed, I saw a series of squares in a pattern, numbers in each. I had no idea what that meant. "What's hopscotch?" So I was out of touch. You try keeping up with everything when the years go by in the blink of an eye.
"You're stupid." The other girls gasped and the braver ones tittered behind their hands.
"Am not."
"Are too.
"Am not. Fine, how do you play? Bet I can beat you, bet I can beat you all."
"Yeah, right. You're an old lady. You must be at least forty."
If only they knew. "Let's bet. If I win then you say sorry for being mean. If you win then I will, um?" What did kids want these days?
"You will buy us sweets."
"You're on."
Fifteen minutes later I was sweating from jumping onto squares and seriously out of pocket at the corner shop.
I think it was probably the most fun I have had in my entire life.
Time was getting on and I didn't want to be late meeting Pumi—I really didn't want to miss the opportunity. I walked fast. I still had somebody to see, but I couldn't shake the game of hopscotch. What joy to have no more worry than playing games and wondering if your mum will call you for bedtime rather than let you play until dark.
I didn't even know they still did that, assuming everyone would be inside because of the Strange, but, of course, that's mostly my world, my contact with the darker side. Mostly everyone, Normal, Strange, whatever, aren't so bad, I guess.
Visiting Old Friends
The increase in magic across Strangetown, spreading out from ground zero, meant things went a little skewed in many Strange minds, their magic distorting, out of control, especially in those
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