A Charming Potion by Tonya Kappes Page A

how
special we really were, but they felt the magic while they were here, which was
why they continued to come back for more.
    Ahh. . .I let out a deep exhale and
looked up at the colorful awning hanging over the ornamental gate that read: A
Charming Cure.
    Every day the amazing life I was living left me
breathless.
    A Charming Cure was a sight to behold.
    Beautiful , I thought, standing there.
    The two little windows covered in moss, along with the
purple and white flowers that grow up and around the front door, add to the
magic that happens right inside the door.
    Meow, meow . Mr. Prince Charming
ran up to the door.
    “Where did you go?” I bent down and ran my hand down
his body and up his long white tail.
    Meowl , he answered, as if he knew
exactly what I was saying. Which I’m sure he did.
    “Time to work,” I said, as I unlock the front door.
    The warm smell of pumpkin spice, allspice, thyme,
and many other ingredients waifed out of the shop and into the street, tangling
with the fog.
    Flipping on the light, I looked around the shop. All
the round tables that were scattered throughout the shop were decorated with
different styles of lamps and unique shades. Thanks to Izzy Solstice, who owns
Mystic Lights, a local light company with many unique lamps. Sitting on the
tables were beautiful little bottles that held the most amazing homeopathic
cures.
    The magic happened when the customer picked out the
cure they thought was going to help them and handed it to me. That was when I
would take the bottle behind my little petition that sits off to the side of my
counter and mix a little of the ingredients in my cauldron. With a little extra
umph, the real cure was made and everyone was happy.
    With one more look around the shop before I opened,
I tapped each ingredient lined up behind the counter and one-by-one they filled
up.
    Walking up to the front door, I made a little
adjustment here and there to make everything appeals to the customer.
    While turning the sign to open, I glanced out the
window. As if someone had turned a light switch on, each unique shop in
Whispering Falls was now open for business.
    Today was usually the busiest day of the year for
all the shops in Whispering Falls. After all, tomorrow was Halloween.

 
    Two
     
    “You’ve got to help me,” the young woman pleaded,
the leaves whipping around her ankles as she rushed in A Charming Cure. She
planted herself against the door with her arms out to the side. “June, I heard
that you would be able to make a cure for anything that ails you.”
    Her short sandy-blond hair was a little windblown,
but I couldn’t blame the wind for her mismatched buttoned shirt.
    “You are June Heal, right?” Her eyes were sharp and
assessing.
    “I am,” I answered, grabbing a couple of Ding Dongs,
because if there was ever a Ding Dong moment, it was now. Plus, I just needed a
chocolate fix of my own.
    Meowl, meowl. Mr. Prince
Charming stretched, his back arching. He was always up for a little taste of a
Ding Dong. I know that you shouldn’t give cats chocolate, but Mr. Prince
Charming wasn’t just any cat.
    He’s been my fairy god cat since I was ten years
old. Mr. Prince Charming didn’t have nine lives; he was going on one-hundred
lives. At least, that was what I was told from the other spiritualists in
Whispering Fall, Kentucky told me.
    “Come on over here.” I gestured for her to come sit
on one of the stools that butt up to the counter. I put the Ding Dong on a
little plate and left it there for her to indulge. “Let’s have a little chat.”
    I wanted to make sure I was getting the right vibe
from my intuition. Her heart was hurting and she wanted me to fix it, only love
was a touchy subject when it came to psychics.
    “Oh my! These are delicious.” Her eyes popped open
after she took her first bit of the chocolaty heaven. Tears dripped down her
face.
    “I know they are good, but they aren’t worth crying
over.” I pointed out.
    “No, no.” She