FROM A MERCHANT’S POINT OF VIEW
August 26/27
Trevor sat on a large oak leaf and leaned against Brownie. Sparkles lay on the ground and dotted the mushroom. The air always felt colder when he was small. He snuggled deeper into the cat’s fur.
When Trevor and Brownie had arrived in the clearing, the pookah was flying around muttering about rocks and mushrooms. He seemed to be taking notes on what looked like a small notepad.
Silverthorn and Electrum had stayed just long enough to explain the plan for unenchantment before flying off.
“I don’t like the idea of Electrum putting dust on me,” Trevor said.
“It’s probably no worse than that flea stuff.” Brownie scratched his ear.
“We need a plan for the big night.”
“You mean like how much catnip can we carry off?”
Trevor shook his head. “Like an agreed on place to meet, how to get over the wall, things like that.”
They discussed plans until Trevor felt the familiar tingling that meant he was growing. He jumped up. Immediately the air felt warmer.
“Time to go home,” he said.
“Mrow,” Brownie replied.
Stars filled the sky as they walked back from the woods. He wished that Brownie could talk so he could fine-tune his plans.
When they reached the yard, he scratched the cat’s head and whispered, “Maybe Mom and Dad are watching TV and won’t notice how late it is.” The cat purred, and slipped away into the night. “Goodnight Brownie,” he called softly.
Timidly he opened the door and tiptoed into the kitchen. Holding the knob to keep it from making noise, he pushed the door shut and slowly released it. It latched with a soft click.
“How’s the stars?” his father boomed.
“Ahhh!” Trevor jumped and spun around.
His dad grinned. “I share your enthusiasm. Almost a full moon tonight.”
His mother put a plate of cookies on the table with a big smile. “There’s milk in the frig.” She tipped her head listening. “I think the commercial is over. Do you need anything else?”
“Um…no thanks,” Trevor said.
She kissed his cheek and followed his father back to the living room. “Don’t stay up late,” she called over her shoulder.
Trevor climbed the stairs in a daze as he munched on a cookie. How long would that pookah dust work anyway? It had already been three days and his parents were still acting funny. It gave him the creeps.
Would the pookah dust affect him the way it had his parents? Would it really cure him? Or would it just make him think he was cured? Maybe he would continue to shrink every evening for the rest of his life and not even know it!
Closing the door to his room he glanced around. No little visitors sat in the window or on the table. He looked under the bed. The ship was still there. At least he thought it was there.
This was crazy. He pushed the confusing thoughts aside. Before he could worry about being unenchanted, he would have to face getting the catnip from the garden. The eclipse would occur in four nights.
Electrum was thinking up powerful dust to use on Mrs. Hayworth and the dog and cat. He wasn’t sure he wanted anything to do with Electrum’s thought dust. What if he spilled it on himself?
He crawled into bed and fell asleep. In his dream he was walking through tall grass. The grass turned into barrels and he was on the ship again. It creaked and shifted. He started sliding down the sloping deck and tried to scream, but nothing came out. He crashed into the railing and his fingers closed around the wood. Over the sound of his panting he heard singing.
It was a familiar tune. Jingle Bells? But the words were strange.
As golden twilight falls
It’s like a fairy tale.
The merchant ship sets out
With warm air in the sail.
A cargo rare and prized,
Every stitch and seam,