Be careful what you wish for 

A cautionary tale with a modern twist?

Written by:

Jolene Rice 

Michael Raven

Judy rummaged around the floor of the passenger side of her car for the compact umbrella that she kept around for days like this. At first, she could not find it and thought she had forgotten to bring it back out to the car after that dreary grey day of persistent spring showers a few weeks back. But then she found the umbrella had just rolled under the seat and she held the rainbow-colored wand up with the air of triumph, as if it were the Excalibur of umbrellas — only not so triumphant as to bang it against the roof of her car. She was not sure she would have any money left to replace it if she broke it after today. 

Rain had been forecasted and the woman she was meeting had been circumspect about how much it would cost Judy for her services; Judy only knew that everyone agreed on Yelp that Margaret Butterfield, an accredited alchemist and certified cunning woman and sole proprietor of Margaret Butterfield’s Apothecary and Folk Medicine Atelier, charged less than the other hedge-witch across town. Until a few days ago, Judy had not even known that one could get such validations from authorizing bodies. Gertrude’s webpage, the other local option, did not mention any certification or accreditation, although she did sport 4.8 out of 5 stars with over five hundred reviewers. Margaret had fewer reviews, only thirteen, but Judy assumed that was because she was new in town.

Judy had scraped up as much cash as she could, hoping it would be enough. Living paycheck to paycheck, she did not have much of a nestegg tucked away for such things.

Part two

Be Careful What You Wish For