The 12th Candle by Kim Tomsic

Author:Kim Tomsic
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2019-07-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Bye, Mr. Melvin.” I climb off the bus and convince myself that I’m not sneaking to Minerva’s. That I’m going alone because Bailee went home after lunch, and I can’t call her to meet me here since I don’t have a phone.

Cars roll by. A cool, light breeze blows across my face. I rush past the graffitied walls and barred windows. At the city bus stop, I cross the street to the lavender building with the Hansel-and-Gretel red door.

Just as I get there, Minerva steps out of the store with a huge purse on her shoulder, holding the largest key I’ve ever seen. The key is shiny and black and has a lavender silk ribbon looped through the end.

“Well, hello again!” She sings her greeting. “Don’t tell me you’re here for another candle. You can’t get greedy. It’s one per customer, you know.” Her eyes shine.

“No. I’m here to ask more questions about the magic.”

“Shh shh shh shh shhhhhhhhhh.” Minerva looks side to side.

“Umm, sorry,” I whisper.

“Just kidding!” Minerva laughs and slaps the side of her leg. “I’m practicing my joking skills. Pretty good, huh?” The red-raspberry leaves on the maple tree rustle and a dozen or so float to the sidewalk.

“Uhhh?”

“Come in, come in.” She drops the key into her purse and opens the door. “Quickly, though. I have just a few minutes before I need to dash.”

We go inside, and the lights automatically turn on their warm golden glow. The store smells of vanilla spice, and once again a feeling of enchantment glides across my skin. Minerva sets her bag on the counter and sweeps her long red hair from her shoulders to her back. “What brings you in today?”

“I’m here because I need to . . . to unwish a wish.”

“Oh my!” Minerva takes hold of my wrist and checks my pulse: “Seven, eight, nine.” She releases my arm and leans close, inspecting my eyes. “Please don’t tell me you wished you could fly.” She places a hand on my forehead. “That would take quite a few lessons, plus there’s rumors about an incident in 1973 when a boy who received a candle—”

“No,” I say. “I wished to quadruple the number of crickets I brought to school.”

“Mm-hmm.” Minerva folds her hands together. “And?”

“Well . . .” I stare at the “Be Kind” button pinned to Minerva’s collar. “Um, I would like the quadrupling to stop.”

“To stop? Did you not designate an end? Quadruple one time or quadruple until noon? Please tell me you designated an end time for the wish.”

“No.” I gulp. “I didn’t.”

“Oh dear. Ohdearohdearohdear!” Minerva walks round and round in a circle. “At least you said quadruple the number; the magic could have quadrupled their size. That could have been a disaster. But still, what shall we do? What shall we do? I thought you understood the rules.”

My shoulders sink lower. “I know I’m not allowed to unwish a wish, and since I’ve already used up my one wish today I can’t wish for an end time.

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