The Trouble With Spells Read Online Free PDF

him.
    “It’s my little
girl’s sixteenth birthday! I couldn’t miss it!” He tightened his bear hug hold
on me. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner, but I came on the earliest flight
I could get.”
    “I’m just glad
you’re here.” I hugged him even tighter. “Mom will be so happy to see you. Did
she know you were coming?”
     “Yes, she did.”
    “And she didn’t
tell me?” I asked, wondering why she would keep such a secret from me.
    “It was a
surprise!” He laughed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders while we walked
back toward the kitchen. “Plus, I didn’t want her to get your hopes up in case
my flight was delayed for some reason.”
    “It’s midnight
now, Lollipop,” Grandma broke into our conversation. “It’s probably time for
your guests to be getting home. Why don’t you go say goodbye to everyone and
get them moving in the right direction? Then you can visit some more with your
dad.”
    “All right. Be
back in a minute!” I bounded out the backdoor with a happy spring in my step.
    I said goodnight
to all my friends and thanked them for coming, opening the side gate to the
yard so they could get out easier. I walked them out to the street and waved to
them while they loudly piled into their different vehicles and drove away.
    I went back into
the yard, through the gate so I could close it and secure it tightly. Then I
proceeded to go about picking up plates and cups that hadn’t made it into the
garbage can.
    Soon Grandma was
at my side helping me clean up. We visited while we made quick work of
restoring the place to its normal order. We left the Chinese lanterns hanging
though, because Grandma said she wanted to enjoy them for a little longer.
    After we were done
carrying the last of the dishes into the kitchen, I turned to start loading the
dishwasher, but Grandma stopped me.
    “I can do those
later. Come sit at the table for a minute. I want to talk to you about
something.”
    “Okay.” I walked
over to the table and sat down. “Where did Dad go?” I added, looking around and
not seeing him anywhere.
    “He’s doing
something for me,” Grandma said, picking up a flat rectangular black box off
the counter. It was tied with a purple ribbon. She came and sat down at the
table and pushed the box across the surface toward me.
    Even though I knew
what was in the box, it still took my breath away when I opened it. My
beautiful purple pendant on its silver chain lay stretched out across the black
velvet lining. I gently lifted it.
    “Thank you,
Grandma,” I said, and she helped me to fasten it around my neck. I fingered the
smooth purple stone once again. “I can’t stop looking at it. I don’t know why,”
I whispered. “It feels special already, almost … magical.” I laughed at my
stupid statement.
    Grandma sat back
down next to me and reached to take my hand.
    “I told you there
was more, remember?”
    I nodded,
wondering what else she could possibly have in store.
    “I’m going to tell
you something you’ll probably find a bit unbelievable. All I ask is that you
listen to me openly, without judgment, and try to understand.”
    “Okay,” I said,
feeling a little bit apprehensive at her sudden seriousness.
    Grandma squeezed
my hand. “I am a witch,” she said with a sudden twinkle in her eye.
    I looked at her,
scrutinizing carefully, before I burst out laughing.
    “Yeah right.” I
rolled my eyes, looking round the room. “So is this some kind of candid camera
joke you and Dad are trying to pull on me? Nice try. I know you two have a
wonderful sense of humor, but sorry, I’m not buying it.”
     Grandma patted my
hand, stood up, and went over to pick up a candle off the counter. She brought
it back to the table and set it squarely between us. She cupped her hand around
the unlit wick and blew on it slightly. It immediately burst into flame.
    I jumped up,
knocking my chair over in the process, and stood for a moment just staring at
the flame. After a