Chili Cauldron Curse - Lynn Cahoon Page 0,1
school supplies. Especially in the larger families. Her grandmother was on the local sorority who supported several community outreach programs like the food bank. Unfortunately, they hadn’t taken responsibility for the program until last week, when Tasha had called for help. Mia loved her grandmother, but looking at this mess, she thought this time Grans might have bitten off more than she could chew.
She started opening boxes, making notes, then moving boxes to their designated areas. Fruits, vegetables, meats, soups, snacks, and paper products—they all had their own section. From the amount of peanut butter and jelly she’d unpacked, she might make that a section of its own near the snacks. And there were random other items bagged up like paper plates, cups, personal items, and lots of paper towels.
She glanced up at the already divided areas and tried to see where she could make a section of household products as well as personal care items. No wonder Tasha had become overwhelmed. She pulled out a package of diapers. And there was another section she needed to set up, baby items. She rocked back on her heels, ready to call it a day.
If she could just get rid of that smell, this wouldn’t be such a bad job. She glanced around the stacks of boxes still needing to be sorted. She decided to take a chance. Maybe karma wouldn’t kick her in the butt for taking the easy way out, at least not this time. She was working for charity. She took a deep breath and almost choked on the smell. Her protection against the stink had already faded. She should have dealt with the issue and not just taken the easy way out. Grans was right, she really needed to work harder on her craft.
That did it. She closed her eyes, prepared her spell to find the rotten produce, and then exhaled with the words. “Inveniet foetidus.”
A glow came from the back of the room and she could see the offending box. And, as an added benefit, her spell had covered up the gagging odor in the room. She cleared a way to the leaking box, shoved it in a trash bag without even opening it, running the bag outside to the dumpster in the alley.
Ten minutes later, she’d sprayed and cleaned the area, putting the used paper towels in another bag, and when she’d taken that out, the odor was gone. Not just hidden, but gone.
“Thank the Goddess.” Mia went back to her charts and lists and broke open another box that this time, held canned green beans.
A noise came from the front door and she looked up to see Pricilla Powers enter the warehouse. Pricilla was one of Grans’s friends from the local coven, and had tried to recruit Mia after finding out Mia wasn’t practicing in Boise. A fake smile curved the newcomer’s lips. “Mia! So nice to see you again. I didn’t know you were up from town.”
Boise wasn’t that far away from Magic Springs, but everyone here seemed to think it wasn’t drivable in a few hours. They also thought Boise was filled with traffic and crime and all sorts of big city vices. Really, the opposite was true. Boise was the biggest little town there was. “Good afternoon, Pricilla. I’d get up but I’m a mess. I’ve been cleaning for the last few hours. A hot bath is on my list as soon as I’m back at Grans. She’s in the office.”
“Oh, I came to help.” Pricilla stepped closer in her three-inch-high heels and what Mia would call a Sunday dress. The ruffles on the bodice bounced as she walked. Not quite a work outfit.
“It’s crazy dusty back here. I hate to see you get that lovely dress dirty.” Or break a nail. Mia pointed to the office. “I’m sure Grans and Tasha could use some help with the flyers they’re developing. I believe they’re having trouble with the software.”
“I guess I’m being called to help the technologically challenged.” The smile she put on her face reminded Mia of a snake slithering around the woman’s face. She sniffed the air. “Besides, since you’re using magic to get the warehouse in shape, I’m sure it won’t take much longer.”
Mia opened her mouth to respond, but then clamped it shut. She watched as Pricilla clacked her way to the office and disappeared inside. She’d been called out.
Mia tried not to use magic to solve everyday issues, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
“What a witch.”