NOLA by Alexie Aaron Page B

honest with me.  You honor me.”
    “Did you read his mind?”
    “Yes.  I also must warn you there are others that read minds in this bunch.”
    “Wanda?”
    “She and Monique.  Monique is a Satanist.”
    “Well there goes my Hollywood mind again.  That soft-spoken grandmother is a Satanist?  I would have never cast her as one.”
    “She’s a great grandmother, little bird.”
    Mia frowned.
    “Is there a problem?  I assure you, Monique isn’t dangerous.”
    “No.  It’s not Monique. It’s that you call me little bird. It’s kind of a sore spot with me.  Why did that endearment come to mind?” Mia asked.
    “Mia Martin, you are a little bird or were or will be.  The mark of the birdmen is upon you.”
    “Not by my choice,” Mia told her.
    “No, but it’s still there.  You can and have used the power that was left there when the gray bird left you.”
    “It’s not my intention to take anything from that order,” Mia insisted.
    “Honey, is honey okay?”
    Mia nodded.  She was used to tall people thinking she was a sweet little thing.  Honey was better than little bird.
    “Honey, use the power.  It won’t bind you to them.  It is a gift.  As is Judge Roumain’s interest.  He, like your Ralph, protects you.  We strong women aren’t lessened because male entities want to protect us.  They need protecting too.  The judge may need you someday.  Don’t reject his help now,” she counseled.
    Mia could see that the woman was adamant about Mia accepting the magical world around her.  She didn’t want to have an argument, so she simply nodded.
    This seemed to satisfy the older woman.  She asked Mia to open her hand.  “I hear that you don’t like spiders, so I’ll give you this.”  Candy place a carved image of a snake in her hand and explained, “This snake is called Weebee, and Weebee eats spiders.  Just squeeze the charm, and Weebee will come and eat that nasty spider, or anything else that tries to eat you.”
    “Thank you.  I wish I could give you something in return,” Mia said.
    “Perhaps you will help me in the near future.  There could be a battle ahead.  I would like you to have my back.”
    “I’ll be there,” Mia promised.
    The door opened, and Ralph appeared with Yum-Yum and Monique on each arm.  “Mia, these wonderful women have made my night.  Becky has told me about a cream to battle these laugh lines of mine, and Monique has a recipe that will diminish my gout.”
    “I didn’t know you had gout,” Mia admitted.
    “Oh yes, one of the many burdens of growing old…”
    “And drinking too much wine,” Mia added.  “Are you ready to leave?  I’d like to call Ted before it gets too late,” she said as she texted George that she was ready to depart.
    “Ladies, if you will excuse me.  I hope to see you tomorrow,” Ralph said graciously.
    Mia and Ralph moved down the long front walk, and by the time the gate was opened, George had pulled the sedan up.  Mia and Ralph got in, and as they drove away, their last view of Honor’s home was the three witches standing arm-in-arm.
     

     
     

    Chapter Four
     
    Ted had insisted that Mia video call so that he and Brian could see her when she talked.  Mia ran her hand through her hair before placing the call.  She put the phone on speaker and leaned it against the alarm clock so she could see them and they could see her.
    “You’ve reached Ted and Brian’s video chat room,” Ted said before his image moved into focus.  He was wearing a Chiefs hat on backwards and held up a sleepy Brian who had a smaller, softer version of the hat on his head, backwards too.  “There’s your mommy!” Ted said and picked up the infant’s hand and waved it, voicing for Brian, “Hello, Mommy.”
    “Hello, boys.  I miss you two so much!”
     
    Ted looked at Mia’s image on the large monitor and felt his heart beat faster.  She was unused to using the smartphone for self-videos and unaware that her chest was