By David “Daveykins FoxFire” Gonterman

Episode 1-2

“Emm. New flavour of Kira’s favoured brand,” Shazell said when she got to the canned cat food stand. “Ay think I’ll toss this in wit’ h’r fav’ites.”

Like the simple home she lives in, she also don’t have much needs in life outside of her pagan practices. She’s gets by with cheese, eggs, sausages, and whatever else she can fry in her small kitchen. The most expensive thing she buys is wine by the box and cat food. That leaves plenty for the herbs, parchments, and whatever else she needs for her magicks. If she wanted to splurge, she’ll go to the mom and pop coffee shoppe for a cafe au lait.

She was thinking about getting such a drink when someone bumped into her near the cash registers.

“’cuse me.” “Sorry”

Shazell looked back to see a young man who could have been a hunk, with a well built body and military style hair. Hunk, that is, except for the crutch he was using to walk with, and even then he wasn’t going very far. She didn’t have to sense the pain and the sadness inside him; anyone could see it in his face. Especially when he placed that braced right leg the wrong way and he winced in pain.

She wanted to find out more about this guy, so that she can help with his spirit as well as his leg, if that were possible. As she was thinking this, she felt herself led to the Coffee Shoppe. Being a Witch all her life she knows; if she’s led to go somewhere or do something, or to see someone, it’s for a reason. It didn’t take long for Shazell to find out why.

Local 90s Gulf War veteran Rudy Kronos was talking to Gervase, the owner of the coffee shoppe. “You didn’t have to upgrade my cups, Pal. It ain’t like I’m putting anything in it.”

“It ain’t every say I get to support the troops, Rudy,” Gervase said. “Especially in these days, with all the protests. By the way, I heard that one of your family members move in.”

“Yeah, my nephew. Name’s Richard. High School Grad and, if you would believe it, a Marine since his Junior year. He went to Parris Island last summer.”

“Whoa! I bet he really wanted to get at those terrorists, didn’t he.”

“Yeah. Too bad he won’t be going to Afghanistan, Iraq, or anywhere. He’s medically discharged from the Corps last winter.”

“Medically discharged? What happened.”

“Football accident one Friday Night in December. He had his right leg shattered in so many places it’s a shock he still has it attached to his body, but even so he isn’t able to walk much.”

“Ouch!”

“That’s what they all said. Getting discharged like that has really put a crimp to his spirits. I asked to take him in because I know what he’s feeling, after the two war wounds I got in this first Gulf War.”

“Aye. Ye should’ve been paralyzed if it weren’t for ye stubbornness.”

With that feminine Irish voice came a jar with “Rudy” on the cap sliding Rudy’s vision.

“Shazell, dear, how you’re doing?” Rudy said giving the Witch a nudge of his elbow. “I hope that everything’s orderly over at that forest behind my Ranch. Dead ain’t giving you grief, aren’t they?”

“Bless you, Rudy,” Shazell said with a smile and a blush. Even though members of the Kronos family are known to be gruff and abrasive—there’s a history of services in the military, especially the Marines—it would be easy for some to tell when they’re just pulling someone’s leg. “If aye need any mo’ of ye help, Ay let ye know.”

“I’ll have my Smokey Bear at the ready.”

“And maybe ye cute nephew would join in and release some of his frustration over what happened to him. I could tell he’s disappoi—”

“You’ve met Richie? Over at the store?”

She nodded at both questions.

“Just got here yesterday,” Rudy said shaking his head, “And he’s already getting girlfriends!”

That got most within earshot to chuckle.

“Maybe you can help him out, Shaz.” Gervase said after finishing up Shazell’s drink. “I heard that your homemade Icy Hot’s great for pain relief, and you could even pay him some visits to . . . lighten his mood.”

“Och,” Shazell rolled her eyes. “I’ve only met ‘im fer ten measly seconds, and already people think we be an item?!”

But still, she thought, she could drop a little welcome basket on his doorstep, with some items she can pick up on the way home.

“And maybe even send him some special brownies.”

“RUDY!!”

“I’ll look the other way.”

“I do not have cannabis in me herb garden.”

“You’ve got every other herb in there, girl, and with your religion you can get away with it.”

“Oh, Piss Off!”

She could hear Rudy’s snorting and cracking even after he left the place. Some people there could think that Rudy’s laugh would have been more suitable for the Irish beauty with the purple robe and pointy hat instead of that soft flowing melodic voice of hers.

At least her eyes would be closer to what they think of a witch: A closer look in them would tell that the brain behind them were thinking up something, accompanied with a sly, mischievous grin. She kept that expression as she got a cheap basket and filled it with a couple rolls of bread, a sausage, a wine cooler, and a good luck charm over a card with a Celtic greeting. On it she produced a pen from her sleeves and written “To Handsome” on the envelope and “A Friend” inside the card.

With that little welcome package tucked inside her sleeve Shazell wound her way back to her cottage and caught up with the young Richard Kronos using a motorized scooter to make the walk home that less painful. As she walked, she chanted something in a voice as light as a breeze, using a language unheard of in centuries. The incantation wrapped itself around her, masking any and all sounds she made as she followed him close behind. She knew that, as Richard pulled up to the driveway of his Uncle’s ranch, she won’t even be noticed, seen or heard, even if they were looking right into her eyes.

---To Be Continued

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