The Curiosity Shop: A comedy of errors about witchcraft

by Francken, Lillian

Lucinda took the bottle to the counter. She took out a small sheet of paper, poured a small portion into the center of the sheet, then folded the sheet and handed it to Rosy.

  “That will be five dollars.”

  Rosy handed Lucinda a ten-dollar bill and smiled, thinking how different things would be.

  “Be careful,” Lucinda whispered as she reached over and patted Rosy’s hand. “This is potent stuff.”

  Lucinda rang up the purchase and gave Rosy her change.

  “How soon will it work?”

  Lucinda smiled sheepishly. “Make sure no other woman is around when you use it,” she said while shaking her finger. “You don’t want an accident to happen.”

  Rosy eyes widened while Lucinda talked. Rosy picked up the packet and put it in her purse. She turned and walked out. Rosy felt confident now that the problem with wandering eyes would finally be put to rest.

  Cassandra walked into the shop as Rosy walked out.

  “Has it been busy?”

  “No more than usual,” Lucinda said as she turned to Cassandra.

  Spider jumped up on the windowsill and watched Rosy strut down the street. Neither woman took notice of the cat.

  Cassandra motioned to the door. “What kind of potion did you sell her?” she asked, curious for some unknown reason.

  “A love potion.”

  Cassandra just shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t know how you can sell that stuff with a straight face.”

  “Because I truly believe in the power,” Lucinda said as she sat down behind the counter to rest.

  “Not me,” Cassandra said and then walked away.

  “Maybe I should mix up a potion for you so you can see firsthand how it works,” Lucinda said mockingly.

  Cassandra turned to Lucinda quickly and pointed an accusing finger. “Don’t you dare.”

  “That nice officer who comes around may just need a little help.”

  “Not from you,” Cassandra snapped. “Do you understand?”

  The door suddenly opened just then, startling the two. A customer slowly walked in, a curious look on her face. Before the door closed, Spider sprinted out of the shop, unnoticed by either woman.

  Cassandra turned to Lucinda and stared at her for the longest time. Finally Lucinda nodded that she understood and would not interfere in her life.

  Lucinda took a deep breath and turned away just then. Cassandra stared at Lucinda a moment and could see the tired look on her face. She feared that maybe she was trying to do too much too soon.

  “If you want to rest, I can handle things down here.”

  The old woman just got up from the stool and walked out of the shop. She knew Cassandra was right. In reality, she was doing too much and if she didn’t rest she feared she would have a relapse.

  *

  Spider scurried off down the street and kept a safe distance behind Rosy. It was when Rosy suddenly stopped that Spider was able to get closer. She opened her purse, smiling to herself when she took out the paper-wrapped potion.

  Without warning Spider jumped out in front of Rosy, startling her. She screamed as the cat humped his back and meowed at her.

  Rosy quickly swung her foot at the menacing creature, but Spider was too quick and jumped out of harm’s way. Before doing so though, the cat’s front paw took a swipe at Rosy. She screamed out in pain. In doing that, she dropped the packet with the love potion. Spider quickly recovered the packet and scurried off.

  Rosy was shaken by Spider. Her nylons had a big hole where Spider scratched at her. She examined herself, then stood up abruptly and stormed off, not realizing she’d dropped the packet because of her anger.

  Meanwhile, at The Curiosity Shop, customers had been coming and going. Once the shop door opened, Spider slipped in and quickly ran through the shop and into the back room, going unnoticed by anyone in the store.

  Chapter 12

  Gino was busy shooting a game of pool, his favorite pastime when he wasn’t in the backroom playing cards. He looked at his opponent and called the eight ball in the side pocket. The game was so intense and his concentration was so deep on his next shot that he failed to notice Rocco entering the pool hall. Rocco quickly walked over to the pool table and picked up the eight ball. Gino, not seeing who took the ball, quickly straightened up and was about to swing his pool stick at the culprit, and then he saw Rocco. Rocco stood with one hand leaning on the table while the other tossed the eight ball in the air and caught it before it could fall on the table.

  “What’s this I hear you’re thinking about not collecting from the old woman on the corner?”

  Gino stared at Rocco for the longest time before responding, “I don’t think it wise to mess with her.”

  “You don’t think it wise?” Rocco said, glancing at Gino for the longest time. “I don’t pay you to think.”

  “But Rocco... There’s something weird about that place.”

  Gino glanced around the room to see if anyone else was listening and then he leaned into Rocco and whispered.

  “The Belzoni brothers tried messing with her and look where it got them.”

  Rocco turned and walked away from the table. He picked up another ball from one of the other tables and turned to Gino. “Are you saying you believe that crap about the old woman being a witch?”

  Gino shook his head and forced a smile. “No, why would you think that?” he stammered. Gino didn’t want to admit something so idiotic to Rocco.

  “Good. Then you call on her today,” Rocco snapped as he threw the ball against the mirror-covered wall in the distance, shattering it into small shards that fell to the ground. Everyone turned to the two while the bartender started walking over to them. Rocco just put up his hand. The two thugs at the door stepped closer into the room and when the bartender saw them, he returned to the bar.

  Rocco turned his attention back to Gino. “Comprendo?”

  “But, I gave her until...” Gino stammered uselessly.

  Rocco reached over and grabbed a hold of Gino’s shirt. He pulled Gino closer to him and then whispered sinisterly.

  “You heard me.”

  Gino swallowed hard. “Okay.”

  Rocco released Gino and then turned and quickly walked out of the pool hall, followed by his two men. Gino glanced around the pool hall and when he saw a few of his cronies laughing at him, he threw the pool cue at them.

  *

  Cassandra was resting on a stool behind the counter while Lucinda was helping Mrs. Wilcox. From what Cassandra could tell, Mrs. Wilcox was a regular customer. She seemed to come in the shop at least three times a week and always seemed to know what she wanted. Lucinda handed the young woman a bundle of sagebrush sticks. It was a special order for the woman and Cassandra had yet to understand the necessity of the item. She just sat back and listened to the two.

  “Remember to do it on the waning moon,” Lucinda instructed with concern in her voice.

  “That’s another two weeks,” Mrs. Wilcox argued.

  Lucinda just shook her head before replying. “No sense in wasting good sagebrush doing it any other time.”

  “Okay, I’ll wait. I just wish it would have come in sooner.”

  “The time wasn’t right, remember.”

  “I guess patience isn’t my strong suit.”

  Lucinda looked at her sternly. “And remember the time,” she said, while pointing a finger.

  Mrs. Wilcox frowned as she anxiously glanced around.

  “My husband leaves for work at midnight. Can’t I do it after he’s gone?”

  “No!” Lucinda snapped.

  Mrs. Wilcox was taken aback by Lucinda’s blunt response. Cassandra was startled by Lucinda, also; it was as if she was seeing another side of the old woman. Normally she had been very kind and soft-spoken to the customers, but Mrs. Wilcox tended to try her patience, and Cassandra wondered why.

  “Please. Don’t perform any of these spells after midnight,” Lucinda whispered and then quickly added, “They can only be per
formed successfully if you do exactly as I say.”

  “That’s going to be difficult.”

  Lucinda took the sagebrush and other items from Mrs. Wilcox. The woman had a startled look on her face when Lucinda quickly continued.

  “Then I’m sorry.” Lucinda said softly. “But unless you can assure me you will not try this after midnight, I can’t sell you these items in good faith.

  Cassandra was startled by Lucinda’s actions and even more startled when Mrs. Wilcox stared Lucinda down and offered no assurances. All she did was turn and storm out of the shop.

  As Mrs. Wilcox left, Spider quickly entered the shop before the door closed. He scurried across the shop, jumped up on the windowsill, and just watched Lucinda as she restocked the shelves with the items Mrs. Wilcox didn’t purchase.

  Cassandra cleared her throat to get Lucinda’s attention. When Lucinda purposely avoided her, Cassandra could wait no longer.

  “Was that necessary?” Cassandra quickly added, watching Lucinda put the sagebrush back on the shelf above the potions.

  “It was for her own good!”

  “You don’t honestly believe that mumbo-jumbo about midnight being the witching hour?” Cassandra said with a mocking grin.

  Lucinda turned to Cassandra and stared at her in disbelief. Cassandra had been at the shop now going on almost a month. In that time, she had hoped her niece would have gained some understanding of the importance of all the items she sold in the shop and what they could do.

  “Witching hour has nothing to do with it. The hours before midnight are for good spells. The hours after midnight are for the dark side.”

  “Dark side?” Cassandra repeated with a puzzled look on her face. It was the first time Lucinda had addressed the subject in such a way. Normally they just danced around the subject of witchcraft. It bothered Cassandra the way Lucinda talked about the dark side.

  “Yes. You can perform a spell before midnight and conjure up good spirits. But if you perform the same spell after midnight, there’s no telling what you may conjure up.”

  “How do you know this?” Cassandra asked, challenging her aunt for the first time.

  “I was born knowing it.”

  “You’re starting to believe your own press.”

  Cassandra had never had the nerve to ask her aunt about all the rumors. It was a subject she was rather embarrassed to bring up. Lucinda had her eccentric ways, but to raise the fact people thought she was a witch seemed inappropriate. The timing was never right. Besides, she was her mother’s sister. They were all raised under one roof: Surely if she believed Lucinda was a witch then what did that make her mother? As far as she was concerned their household was normal and no black magic was ever performed by Grandma or any of her mother’s siblings. But the fact remained, Lucinda seemed to dabble into the unknown in the items she sold at her little shop.

  “You doubt what I say?” Lucinda asked, finally breaking the long silence.

  Cassandra stared at Lucinda for the longest time and then just shrugged.

  “I never bought into the stories about you being a witch, if that’s what you mean?”

  “That’s too bad. I had hoped we had an understanding.”

  “I’ll never be a believer.”

  Lucinda turned and glanced around the shop. She had had such high hopes for Cassandra and now she was disappointed to hear the way she was talking.

  “You will see the bright light through the trees one of these days, and you will come to an understanding.”

  Cassandra was startled by this revelation and just stared curiously at Lucinda. She hadn’t shared her dreams with her aunt, but it was eerie hearing her talk about the light through the trees.

  “What’s wrong, child?” Lucinda asked when she saw the look on Cassandra’s face.

  “Funny you should mention the light.”

  “Then you have seen it?”

  “In my dreams. But how did you know?”

  “I know all.”

  “What does it mean?” Cassandra asked. She was curious why she would keep having the same dream. And it had all started since she came to the shop to help out her aunt during her period of recovery.

  “It is for you to find the meaning,” Lucinda whispered.

  Cassandra had a troubled look on her face. It irritated her that Lucinda brought up the light and now would not explain its meaning. She never had reoccurring dreams like that before.

  “I find the whole thing troubling,” Cassandra said, almost begging for an explanation.

  The door opened suddenly and Gino walked in. Cassandra turned and looked at Gino and then at Lucinda. She remembered him from earlier in the week. Cassandra finally took a deep breath and walked behind the counter. She didn’t know how Lucinda would handle him. It didn’t take long to find out.

  “I’m surprised to see you so soon,” Lucinda said, which puzzled Cassandra.

  “I don’t care, old lady. I got my orders. Pay up, or else!”

  Cassandra quickly stepped between Lucinda and Gino and then pointed a finger at Gino. “You can’t do this,” she said, as if that was enough to get him to change his mind. Cassandra knew there was a reason she did not like this man.

  “Oh yeah, and what are you going to do to stop me?” Gino said, as his chest puffed out to intimidate Cassandra.

  “It’s against the law,” Cassandra demanded.

  Gino glanced around the shop and laughed at the absurdity of Cassandra’s statement. He had never had a woman speak up to him like that. He just shook his head, dismissing her with indifference.

  “And who’s going to stop me,” Gino laughed as he stepped closer to Cassandra. He was inches from her when he continued. “Besides, me and the old lady have a business arrangement.” Gino turned to Lucinda and pointed. “Right, old lady?”

  Lucinda studied Gino for the longest time and then she walked over to the cash register. She slowly opened it and took out the stack of fifties out of the register. Lucinda stared at the money for a moment and then quickly moved the other hand over the money.

  “I ask that the money begotten of ill means,” she said as she reached in her pocket before continuing, “brings nothing but negative energy to those who touch it,” she continued, and then threw a powderlike dust into the air, startling Gino for a moment.

  Cassandra was irritated with Lucinda but dared not say a word as Lucinda continued with her curse.

  “And only the truth shall be spoken from your lips.”

  Gino appeared puzzled. He knew people called her a witch but he really never believed in all the gossip. The talk about the brothers being cursed by the old woman was only an urban myth. Yet, to be on the safe side, he was willing to give her a wide berth. Gino felt the Belzonis got what was coming to them and just got caught up in their own greed. But watching the old woman now, he was having serious concerns as to what she was doing. He didn’t like what she was saying even though a part of him didn’t believe.

  “What did you do?” he demanded.

  Lucinda just smiled sweetly and then quickly added, “So be it, and so it is.”

  Cassandra turned to Lucinda and then looked at Gino. All she did was shrug as Gino grabbed the money out of Lucinda’s hands and hurried to the door. Before he walked out, he turned to Lucinda and pointed his finger.

  “You’re crazy, you old witch.”

  Lucinda didn’t say another word as a sinister smile crossed her face. In time things would take care of themself. They always did.

  Spider walked in and brushed up against Lucinda’s feet. The old woman bent down and picked up the cat and held him firmly into her chest. Spider purred loudly as he snuggled his head into Lucinda’s neck.

  *

  Gino hurried out of the shop. He didn’t want to let on, but the old woman scared the hell out of him as he quickly ran down the street. Gino glanced back at the shop to see if anyone was following him. He tripped on a crack in the pavement, causing him to fall flat on his face.

 
Gino was out for only a moment, just long enough to see stars when he finally managed to get back on his feet. His nose bled like a faucet as he pinched the bridge of his nose to get it to stop. He leaned his head back. Mr. Sanchez walked out of his store to see what the commotion was. When Gino saw him, he just yanked the apron off the old man and used it to catch the blood. Gino quickly wiped his face and then looked back at The Curiosity Shop. A cold sweat overcame him thinking about the curse the old woman put on him.

  Mr. Sanchez just watched Gino as he crossed the street and quickly walked around the corner. He knew Gino was in The Curiosity Shop and wondered what Lucinda had done to cause such fear in the young man’s face. He laughed to himself because, although he didn’t believe the rumors about Lucinda, he knew the power of suggestion and how it could make things happen.

  Chapter 13

  Cassandra turned to Lucinda with chastising eyes. She had never seen her aunt act so irresponsibly. It was one thing to let people’s imagination get the better of them, but to actually pretend to put a curse on someone was beyond common decency.

  This was the first time Lucinda lost her composure to the point of actually putting a curse on someone in their presence. Lucinda regretted it now and most importantly she regretted losing it in front of Cassandra. She’d always thought of herself as a good person, one also in control of her faculties, but Gino brought out the worst in her at that moment.

  Lucinda held onto Spider tightly as she chastised herself internally for what had just transpired. The cat appeared to be talking to Lucinda, giving her the assurance she so desperately needed. After a long silence Lucinda kissed the nape of the cats neck and set him down and watched him scurry off out of the shop to the apartments upstairs.

  “That was really smart!” Cassandra snapped sarcastically. “Now you have him angry on top of everything else.”

  Lucinda turned to Cassandra. “He had it coming.”

  Cassandra shook her head. “Making believe you were casting a spell,” she said, pointing a finger. “That was childish.”

  “What makes you think it was make-believe?”

  Lucinda stared at Cassandra for the longest time before she turned and walked out of the shop, leaving Cassandra looking on. This was the first time Cassandra had harsh words with Lucinda and she felt bad now for what she said. It wasn’t that she liked Gino, in fact he gave her the creeps, it was just that Cassandra didn’t like the idea of pretending to put a curse on someone, no matter how much they deserved it.