The Magic Shop

"Grandma, I think you need a bigger store," Andrea said as she nearly tripped over a large black cauldron.

The tiny shop overflowed with old books, brightly colored glass bottles, and jars of dried herbs.  Andrea's grandmother, Cassandra, finished dusting a table laden with crystals of all shapes and sizes.  She brushed one gray curl away from her eyes and said, "Maybe someday I'll get a bigger place.  Right now I like the cozy feel of this one."

"Are you a real witch?" Andrea asked, thinking that her grandmother resembled Cinderella's fairy godmother more than the witch who gave Snow White the poisoned apple.

"Why, yes I am," Cassandra said proudly.  "But a very good witch.  I would never give anyone a poisoned apple."

Andrea looked relieved. "And all the stuff in the store is magic?"

"Of course it is," her grandmother answered.  "Magic is all around us, inside everything and everyone."

"Inside me?"

Cassandra ruffled her granddaughter's hair.  "Especially inside you."

"What's that man doing outside?" Andrea asked.

A young man had been standing outside the shop for about fifteen minutes staring through the window and smoking a cigarette.  The man was tall and thin, with dark hair that needed some shampoo and a trip to the barber.  He stubbed out the cigarette, walked to the door, and stood with his hand on the knob.  Suddenly, he pulled his hand away as if the knob were hot and hurried across the street.

"He'll be back," Cassandra said.

A few minutes later, the man did indeed come back.  He stared at the door again, looking as if he was going to be sick.  Then he took a deep breath and opened the door. 

"Good morning, sir.  How may I help you?"  Cassandra asked.

The young man jumped at the sound of her voice.  Andrea wrinkled her nose as he came closer.  His clothes smelled like beer and the inside of a dirty ashtray.

Running his hand over bloodshot eyes, the man spoke to his shoes.  "I-I need...Do you have something...I mean a spell, or whatever, that would help me get more money?"

"I think I can help you sir, but I need to know more," Cassandra said.  "What do you need the money for?"

"Well, my girlfriend, Jenny, I want to ask her to marry me but I...I don't have enough money for a ring." He looked up suddenly. "It's not that I don't work.  I work hard, but there's never enough money.  It's always gone at the end of the month.  She says she doesn't care about money, but I'm too embarrassed to ask her to marry me when I can't even afford a ring."  He looked as if he might cry.

Cassandra patted him on the shoulder.  "I think I have just the thing for you." She went to a shelf and came back with a tall jade green bottle.  "Just put a drop of this potion in a glass of water every morning and drink it.  You'll have all the money you need in no time at all."

The man reached for the bottle. "I'll try anything.  How much does it cost?"

Cassandra held up her hand.  "There's one more thing you need to know.  This potion won't work at all if you smoke or drink alcohol.  In fact, it will make you very sick.  I can't be responsible for what will happen to you if you use tobacco or alcohol while taking it."

The man hesitated.  His hand went to the pack of cigarettes sticking out of his shirt pocket.  Then a determined look came into his eyes.

"Okay, I'll take it.  How much is it?"

"The price is fifty dollars," Cassandra said, handing him the bottle.  "But you don't owe me a cent until you and your girl have set the wedding date."

"Why thank you, I...I don't know what to say.  I promise I'll come back and pay you."

The man left the shop cradling the bottle as if it were a newborn baby.  Andrea looked out the window and saw him throw his cigarettes in the trash can on the street corner.

"Grandma, what was in that bottle you gave him?"

"That's a witch's secret, dear.  I'll share it with you if you cross your heart and promise never to tell anyone."

"I promise," Andrea said, drawing a big x over her heart.

"Water with a little honey and cinnamon."

"But how will that help him make money?"

"Oh it won't."  Cassandra's blue eyes twinkled.  "But when he stops smoking and drinking, he'll be able to save enough money to buy his girl that ring.  If he never starts again, he'll have a good chance of living to see their grandchildren."