Page 21 of Practically Magic

“Now that your magic has come in, these are some spells that might come in handy,” Aunt Diane explains.

“We know you’re tentative, dear, but look how far you’ve come,” Aunt Viv says encouragingly.

My fingers shake with fear, and I let the book close. I haven’t mastered my magic, I want to confess. But if I do that, they won’t leave town on Samhain. It will be fine, Kat. You’ve seen the Samhain rituals a dozen times. Don’t fall apart now. So instead I say, “You’re right. I have. Which is why you and Uncle Jeff and Uncle Owen should go on that cruise you’ve been eyeing. I found the cruise pamphlet.” Only because I’m the one who planted it in your rooms.

“Uncle who?” Aunt Viv starts to say, then shakes her head. “Oh, them! How’d you know about the six-month cruise?”

“You told me about it,” I lie. “You said it sounded amazing.”

“It does! But I’m sure it’s sold out by now.”

“Why don’t you check?” I ask, my heart hammering. I can feel it beating in my fingertips. As the aunts bend into their phones, bickering about how to open the web browser, I scrounge in my backpack. A stick of gum, a lip gloss, Laney’s bookmark, the broken POP bracelet from seventh grade.

That’s sort of a ticket, isn’t it?

Quick as I can, I submerge the paper in my water glass, dunking it beside the ice. The paper prunes, wrinkles, and dissolves. A sacrifice. I close my eyes tight and whisper, “Please get them a ticket.”

“Oh! Look at that! Two cabins. It’s fate!” Aunt Diane trumpets.

I snap eyes open at the swirling water glass—all clear. The POP bracelet is gone. Did I just cast another spell?

“Buy it! Quick!” Aunt Diane says.

Aunt Viv pauses, finger poised over the screen. “But if we go, you’ll be all alone for Samhain. He seems like a lovely boy, but I’m not sure it’s wise to leave you and Peter here alone.”

“Though I guess we could use a portal if we had to get back quickly,” Aunt Viv murmurs. “Or you could call Harry.”

Not that I ever would. I try to keep my face neutral.

“Oh, that’s true,” Aunt Viv says happily. “Your sister isn’t far. She could get here to help you.”

I clutch the new magic book to my chest. “You don’t need to worry. I can do this with Peter. I don’t need Harry.” I stare directly at Aunt Viv, who has picked up on my divide with Harry more than anyone in the family. “I’ve got Samhain under control. And if something comes up, I’ll call you. I promise.”

Aunt Viv purses her lips and thinks for a moment. “Okay,” she finally says. “This Samhain is all yours.”

Inside, I’m screaming. I can’t wait to tell Laney! The house is mine for Halloween! We can finally start getting ready. I stare out the window across the green at the navy-blue Victorian, which is the Croft house. It’s all happening. This is going to be the best Samhain ever.

8

Mystic Hollow Community Page

New post from Mayor Croft: Halloween is just three days away! You know the drill, people. No street parking this weekend. Buy extra candy. Keep your porch lights on for trick-or-treaters. Put your best holiday foot forward. We want our tourists to see that a trip to Mystic Hollow in the fall is one they’ll want to take every year—especially for Halloween.

When I wake up Wednesday morning, it feels like Christmas. I can hear Dad and Mom talking quietly and the sound of luggage thunking down the stairs. The old pipes in the house creak when someone is showering, and I can picture my aunts in their wing of the house rushing to get ready to leave for their flight to Miami to catch their cruise (whether Uncle Jeff and Uncle Owen are going, who knows). I still can’t believe I cast a spell to get them tickets. In a strange coincidence, Mom and Dad’s flight to Florida leaves around the same time so they’re sharing a car service.

Which means that in less than an hour, I’ll have the entire house to myself.

I pick up my cell phone, turn off Do Not Disturb, and click on the evite I sent. There’s quite a few new RSVPs. Tom Callabra has invited three people, I see, without asking me. Grrr. I couldn’t get out of inviting him. He practically hunted me down in the halls, he’s so excited to see our “haunted house.” Still no RSVP from Colton, though.

I text Laney: House will be ours tonight! Can you come over after school and help me make a list of things we need to tackle before the party?

Even though it’s seven a.m., Laney replies right away, like the best friend she is.

Laney:

Ummmm . . . yes!

Me: