Goodbye Normal (10 page)

“Are you a wizard?”

“Yes, my daughter is Gigi Turnpod. That is how I got to know about you, you are Zoe Brown right?” he rechecked her license, and gave her a scrutinizing glare.

She weighed her options and hoped she was not being naïve by believing him. At least they had the same color of hair.

“Y-yeees.” She stammered.

He looked suspicious and disappointed when he realized there was no chain on her neck.

“But where is the chain?”

“I forgot it at home, please forgive me officer. I am rushing to see a friend who needs my help.” she gladly took advantage of her insane situation.

“Be careful next time you may not get so lucky,” he warned and “It’s an honor to personally meet you” he added insisting on every word.

She was not sure what she should answer to that, instead she smiled and said

“Thank you so much officer, tell Gigi am doing my best” she delivered another of her many white lies while releasing her brakes.

“I was just compensating for his kindness.” she said judging herself condescendingly.

When she skidded away toward Liz’s street, she watched as Mr. Turnpod observed her leave and queries were flooding in her head. Is everyone a witch in this town? How many witches are there in Doomsberg? How blind are the ungifted to the unprecedented side of the entire county? Or is the notion simply oblivious to the people.

She got to Liz’s driveway with a dubious mind but was relieved to see Liz’s car parked in their garage. She walked to the main door but sadly after trying out the large brass knob and a number of knocks, there was no response.

“Great! now what?” She looked at her phone and dialed Liz. She was marking her tenth dial and this time desperately wishing to hear the owner’s crazy voice. It was still in voice mail and she was running out of choices and had to end up with leaving a message.

“Liz I’m outside your house worried sick, will you please call me as soon as you get this.”

Halfway back to her car, Liz called her back. She stopped and slid her display immediately.

“Payback is a bitch huh.” Liz jeered in between chuckles. Zoe signed in relief and a smile crept on the corner of her lips. She continued walking to her car.

“Oh I will so kill you. You didn’t have to write such a scary message. You almost cost me a speeding ticket plus my license.”

“WHAT! Ya got pulled over? Aaaaaawww!’ she faked a pity cry “Oh am so not sorry. Those are things we do for love.” She laughed annoyingly “And about the message, wait” she heard her talking to her mother and telling her she would be back in a minute. Zoe was blatantly puzzled as she settled into her car.

“You’re hanging out with your mom” she sounded less surprised than she really was.

“That was the emergency you fool, I needed you to come save me from the nightmare.”

“What are you doing and where are you?”

“I’m in town. We are
bonding
and…frankly speaking, it’s really not that bad.”

“Wow, improvement you two…That is really awesome Liz, don’t screw it up.”

“I never screw it up, she is the busy boss not me. You know it’s really something that she had to leave her office today to spend time with dear daughter here. I can’t help but give her credit for that, which is absolute sacrifice for her. Not yet mother of the year, but we getting there.”

For Liz’s sake she hoped Margaret would not disappoint her. She could feel the joy in her voice.

“Haha, I can’t believe my ears. So what are you two beautiful Donaldsons doing?”

“It gets better; she is letting me choose places and everything. I seriously think she has a new shrink.”

“What are you making her do Liz?” Zoe cried, all sorts of nasty ideas coming to life.

“Haha, lots. Like we are now shopping, which she is enjoying. We may go bowling, which she hates and best of all am planning on making her eat at Alexandro’s, which she despises.”

“You are out of your mind. She will not eat greasy stuff, not the Margaret I know.”

“Oh you may never know. Apparently today her box of surprises is on the loose.”

“You’re right. Guess you are in for a lot of treats today.”

“You can say that again. So how did you make an officer let you pass?”

“I have a box full of surprises too Lizy love” she said sub textually.

“Huuh!  Nooo. I can’t believe you flirted your way out of a ticket, you are such a bad bad girl Zoe Brown” Liz emphasized each word with a lot of sassiness.

Ok. So I think I should roll with this, and it is not my lie this time.

“A girl got to do what a girl can do” she fueled her subtext.

“Oh, we have a lot of catching up to do. Mom is calling me, call you later.”

“Good luck sweetie. Call me when you need real help next time.”

She drove away still amazed by the glorious and unbelievable details. It was rare enough for Liz and her mother to stand each other’s presence in a room, let alone spend the whole day doing stuff together. She wished that she was around them just watch this incredible bonding time. It had to be a total entertainment. They were just incredibly different. Margaret was all about serious while Zoe was sure the word didn’t exist in Liz’s lexicon.

She slued her thoughts to people on the streets and whatever was eye catching.

Zoe peered through a couple of local stores and her eyes were pulled in by a new advert on the local bookstore she often frequented.

 She had just completed her novel and had no doubt that she needed another time consuming plus captivating distraction like a dosage.

The owner of the bookstore was a good friend of her mothers’ and as a result they automatically become acquainted. Sandy Ching and her mom had gone to one collage. She had three boys, all of whom were in high school.

A doorbell rang as Zoe launched her presence in the bookstore and Sandy’s small china eyes that were initially absorbed in a book with tiny glasses clinging to the flat nose abruptly veered to the door. She smiled warmly placing the book carefully, not to lose her page.

“Hello dear, My! you are a rare one.”

“Hello Mrs Ching, not really, the last time I came, I found Mr. Ching.”

“Oh, he must have forgotten to tell me. I saw Carol last week, the one I haven’t seen for such a long time is Zack, how is he?”

“He is good, how are the boys.”

“Good to know. The boys are just being boys, complete headaches.”

She chuckled politely “I can only imagine. Well I see you have a number of new titles.”

“Yes I do. And you are in luck, because I stocked in this weekend, so there is a lot of new treasure you could hunt.”

“That’s awesome, lemme look around.”

“Go ahead dear.”

The store was not very large in size, but had always been able to yield her demands. She lingered on the Romance fiction segment, surveying through the newest titles until her eyes took notice on the religious, spiritual and necromancy section. Obviously she had never held interest on the segment until then. She did even know it existed until then. She restored a harlequin novel back to place and her eyes feasted upon the few but eye catching titles.
Witchology Explored
by Xavier Xavier,
The old religion
by Marylyn Baker.
Wicca, Journey with the positive sorcery
by Gwen Evans.

Some were sealed with transparent nylon. Zoe held the Witchology explored and started skimming over the contents. Her fingers trailed from Tarot cards, Magic spells, Incantations to personal strength and casting a ritual. Before she could skim further she heard Sandy call out for her. She couldn’t risk getting caught red-handed with a witchcraft book. It would look suspicious, paranoia or not she was not ready for dubitable glances. Peculiarly not from someone who had no idea about the craft. And since she was not in school, she couldn’t lie it’s a term paper. She quickly returned the book and her face was onto the self- help and relationship aid shelf. She heard footsteps enclosing and the closest book to her reach was
how to satisfy your partner.
Thoughtlessly she grabbed it immediately then opened a random page which had an intimate depiction.

She swallowed unconsciously and blushed all together when Sandy walked on her. Sandy blushed along and blinked numerously to the encounter. Subsequently the awkward moment took effect.

“Uhumh...I thought you…you…am are you still interested in historical romances?” Sandy stammered

Zoe felt her face flood with embarrassment; inwardly she was hoping Sandy was not the judgmental kind.

 “Sure, sure, this one had an eye catching title, very alluring by the way. Can, can I take a look at that?” she smiled abashedly, not really having a reason for her defensive blabbers. She was neither accused nor had she done anything wrong. Hitherto she was the sagacious one.

Sandy smiled uncomfortably, not knowing what to reply. At that moment Zoe was almost certain the bulletin will find its way to her dear mother.

 “Here, it is a beautiful book based on the war period.”

She took the book still holding on to the cover up. Am an adult for God sakes, this shouldn’t be so awkward.

It had an interesting synopsis and a descent cover which was an added fillip.  

“Thank you so much, I will take it” she said while returning the cover up to its rightful place.

She paid for her most recent possession and cheered for ending the humiliation when she got back in her car.

 Zoe signed heavily and shrugged. What is wrong with me? Why did I blabber like that! It was so guilty like.

“Aarrgh” she groaned driving towards phase two of an anticipated humiliation.

 She got home safe musing over her eventful day. A smile stretched on her lips when she saw Carol’s wagon on the driveway. That partially meant there would be something mouthwatering to fill her empty stomach. At times she would find herself wondering how liable it would have been for them if Carol was not a passionate cook. She herself was mediocre in the art and Zack had yet no idea what a whisk was. They would have probably been regulars at Jose’s dinner.

 Zoe’s feet hastened inside with her novel clenched to her chest. She found her mother by the kitchen counter looking not very welcoming. She must have been on the phone, because she was clinging to hers like a chalk.

“How to satisfy your partner Zoe? Seriously?” she squalled.

“Great! How about, hello daughter, how was your day? Then you can start interrogating.” Zoe retorted.

“I don’t even want to think about the person who is behind you reading those titles. But what bothers me the most this minute, is the fact that you cheated and I am disappointed that you lied to my face.” she shouted.

Zoe expected a little reaction but this was too much. Way above her anticipation. She never though her mother distrusted her to that extent. It was simply heartbreaking.

“When did I do that mom? About the book I am only human, It’s not like I did anything wrong. It. Is. Just. A. book! Jeez mom, when did it become such a crime to look at a book in a freaking book store? Didn’t it cross your mind that it was just honest curiosity and for God sakes I am old enough!” Zoe cried, she could feel here hands shake with growing anger. 

“No way, you have no right to lie to me just because you are eighteen Zoe, I am still your mother and I look out for your wellbeing no matter the age. I did not deny you having boyfriends. What I can’t tolerate is you lying to me.” She ranted on.

Zoe was hurt by the accusations that had no truth or substance. She never knew her mother could be so inconsiderate and over reactive to those kinda ridiculous allegations.

“And what lie are you talking about mom?” Zoe fumed.

Zoe was sulked in her bewilderment. It was unbelievable. She watched as Carol rushed into the kitchen and returned with a big bouquet of roses. Not the ordinary red but beautiful rare white on red roses.

“How do you explain these? Huh” Carol dropped the roses on her hands. 

“What? who brought these?” Zoe asked with genuine surprise.

“I should be asking you.”

A card was tucked in between the fresh petals. She placed the bouquet carefully on the counter and read the note. It was written by a blue pen and the handwriting was neat and decipherable.

Dear Zoe.

A wise friend once told me,                      

“Forgiving is an asset to the giver and a liability to the receiver.

With it the bestower gains wisdom and strength while as

The recipient is burdened with guilt and hope for redemption.”

Hoping to be forgiven and asking for your hand in friendship.

Josh Mickels.

Pls call me +99634532

“What the….” Zoe cursed. She was beyond stupefaction. 

 “Unbelievable.” she mumbled.

Carol watched as her daughter display a sincere astonishment. It was either that or Hollywood was missing out on a- could be award winning actress. Carol wanted to know whatever the cause of their dissonance was. Scrutinizing at Zoe’s composure, she had to let herself be heard or else she would surely be disregarded.

“Am waiting.” She said. Holding her daughter’s confused gaze with her eyes.

“Didn’t you read it?”

“No. I’m not that nosy.”

“Clearly.” the reply had more to it than meets the ear.

Zoe breathed noisily and braced herself ready for a long story time. All this time the heated conversation was thanks to Josh. How unlikely, he was the last person she expected to get juggled up in the messy dissension.  

 It was just midday and craziness was already peaking. She felt tired, drained and hungry. Too much thinking was taking a toll on her. She hovered around for a seat before she could begin her fairy tale gone bad.

 Carol was still supporting her frame on the kitchen counter. She watched Zoe with interest as she sat in the kitchen table looking confused.

“Do you remember Josh Mickels?”

Carol looked up as she recalled then replied “Isn’t he the boy you have a poster of in your room?”

“Past tense mom, Had a poster. Yeah that was him.” She directed her gaze to the bouquet.

Carol eyes flickered and her brows pulled up. “Why?”