Bizarre Day 7

“Mom?”

The woman at the door reached down and lifted Geri into a hug. “Oh, you're getting so big.” She let out a slight moan as she put Geri back down.

“Funny, Mom. Why are you here?”

“You are getting bigger. When you first told me you had turned into a little girl, the picture you sent me was of a girl of about eight years old. You are taller now. And heavier. I won't have many more chances to pick you up.”

“I'd prefer if you didn't.”

“Oh, don't be like that. Between you and your brother Roy I never had a chance to spoil a little girl. Nor pick her up and squeeze her tight.”

Geri mumbled about that part feeling nice but Mom did not press her on it. “How is Roy?”

“Same old. He and Vera are expecting their first child, yet another boy I hear. My second grandchild.”

“Second?”

“Well, look at you. I can't introduce you to anyone as my daughter. I'd have been in my fifties when you appear to have been born. So you are my first grandchild, George's little girl. Yet another reason to spoil you.”

“I suppose for appearances sake this makes sense.”

“Oh, you'll love having a grandmother. You never met your father's or my mother's mother. They died young.”

“No, growing up, the other kids always talked about big family gatherings. But we were just you, Dad, Roy, and me."

“Your father and I were both only children, probably some of the reason why we couldn't make the marriage work. We were both use to being the focus of attention.”

They sat in the living room and reminisced for a while. The door to the apartment opened and Tammy entered. “Oh, hi, Mrs. Tyler. I didn't know you were in town.”

“Hi, Tammy. Or is it Fifi?”

“It'll be Fifi once I put on the hat.”

“And I surprised dear Geri with my visit.”

“Well, I don't want to interfere,” she said putting on her hat. When the hat touched her head her clothes were replaced by a French maid's outfit. Nothing else physically changed about her. Her sneakers were replaced with high heels so she did seem to get taller. Her posture also straightened as she was standing at attention. She continued in a French accent, “I will get to work now, Mademoiselle.” She curtsied and stepped into the bedroom to start cleaning the private bath.

Mom leaned in close and whispered, “Why does she wear that ridiculous costume?”

“That was her idea,” Geri said. “I was new at witching when she became my servant.”

Geri's Mom looked around the room. “Are they all bizarre body changes?”

“My magic seems to be centered around physical transformations.” Geri said. “People appear in my dreams asking about becoming something else. Something tangibly different. Sometimes it's odd but they seem happier afterward.” She tells her mother about the neighbors and how the wife like to play dolls with her daughter and Geri. And how the father becomes a dog.

“A dog? Who would want to be a dog?”

“Mrrrrrrew,” the cat hissed.

“Cat's are different, Margaret,” she said to the cat who had just entered the room. “I didn't hear her come in.”

“She is a cat.”

“I thought she was human.”

Margaret jumped into Geri's lap and Geri rubbed her back. “She was. She's a cat now.”

“You hated cats.”

“George hated cats.”

“So you are different than George.”

“In subtle ways,” Geri sighed. “Look at my work desk. What do you see?”

“Clutter.”

“Did George ever let his work desk get cluttered?”

“No, what's wrong?”

“Nothing's wrong really. I can still do the job. I remember all the computing stuff I've always known. But the drive is missing. I can't remember the last time I worked on a hobby project. I don't enjoy George's job like George did.” Geri said. “I'll probably go to high school and college when I look the right age. Take up a different job after that. I'm squirreling away money to pay for college.”

“Now you sound like someone with a plan,” she said. “What do you think caused the change?”

“I think it has something to do with the witchcraft. It's not like girls my apparent age can't be passionate about what I use to do. I'm thinking about studying history. Maybe learn where my abilities come from.”

There was a knock at the door. Fifi appeared from the bedroom door and swiftly went to the front door. “Allo.”

“I was told I could talk to someone here who might help me with a problem.”

“Oui, come in,” Fifi said ushering the woman in. “Mademoiselle, you have a visitor.”

The woman stepped into the living room. She was obviously upset.

“What can I do for you?” Geri said. She had never seen this woman before.

“Are you the witch?” The woman said looking back and forth at the young girl and the older woman.

“I am,” Geri said again. “Please sit so I don't have to look up at you.”

“Oh, okay.” The woman sat down and took a few deep breaths.

Geri waited until she had settled herself. “Now, what can I do for you?”

“My sister is missing.” As she spoke she placed a couple photos on the coffee table. “She's been gone for almost two years now. I've gone to the police. I've called the FBI. I've hired two different detectives. Nobody can find her and I don't think anyone but me is looking for her.”

“I'm sorry to hear that. What do you think I can do?”

“Well, I was told you were young but I didn't expect you to be this young. Still, I've heard you are a witch and I think Diana, my sister, ran afoul of witch. So...”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, I also contacted a psychic and while I expected her to be a fraud, the woman I spoke with did a séance or what looked like one. When she finished she was visibly shaken. She said the spirits could not find my sister and then she rushed me out of her house. She didn't even take her payment. I hounded her for several weeks before she suggested that witches were involved and would say nothing else. It took me half a year to find any credible leads on a witch I could talk to. You.”

“That is disturbing. I am a young witch but I do not know everything that other witches do. I certainly hope that doesn't include kidnapping.”

The woman pulled a hefty folder from her arm bag and laid it on the table. “This is all the research I did; all the reports from the detectives; Diana's last known address; a list of her friends; where she worked; etc.”

“Thank you. Yes. I will help you find her.”

“I don't know how much I can pay you. I spent a lot on the detectives and...”

“No, no. There will be no fee. I will help you. In fact, I think I already have an idea. You're phone number is in that stack of papers?”

“It's on top, yes.”

“Great. I have another engagement to attend to, um, Sara. So unless you have any other information.”

“Oh, no. Thank you so much. How did you know my name?”

Geri reached out to shake Sara's hand. “It'll be all right. I promise. But you do have to leave. Fifi, show Sara out, please.”

“Okay. Thank you,” Sara repeated.

After the front door closed, Geri's mother said, “Well that was rude.”

Margaret hissed at Mrs. Tyler.

“Be good,” Geri said to the cat. “Not rude. Just worried.” She uttered a few words of power. A thin silver glowing line appeared connecting the top photograph of Diana with a certain doll on the shelf on the far wall of the room.

“Esmerelda,” Geri said. “Why are you connected to this young woman?”

* * *

Geri retrieved the doll from the shelf. “Well, she said I would know when the right time was to revive Esmerelda. And this is not the time. But I do need to talk to her.” Words of power were spoken and the doll, while still a doll, animated. “Hello, Esmerelda.”

“Hello, Mistress Geri. Are we going to play?” the doll said. “I can speak? Oh, this will be such fun. Where is Miss Elizabeth?”

“This is just a short chat between you and I. Look at this photo.”

“Such a pretty woman.”

“Yes, do you know her?”

“I only know other dolls, Mistress.”

“That is not true. Think back to your former life.”

“Former life?”

“Before you were a doll.”

“Oh,” the doll paused. Its demeanor changed from one of confusion to one of anger. “You!” she growled. “You did this to me.”

“There you are. No, you did this to yourself. You did this to me.”

“At least you are the proper sex for a witch.”

“If you say so. Now answer my original question. Do you know this girl?”

“Of course I do. She was a barista. She would write witch on my coffee cup.”

“And this bothered you.”

“Disrespectful.”

“What did you do to her?”

“Figure it out yourself.”

“You aren't going to help?”

Esmerelda did not respond.

“Very well.” Geri said as she began speaking words of power.

“No wait, I-- I hope Miss Elizabeth will be joining us.” The doll's face was grinning happily.

“Not today. I'm afraid I don't have time to play.” She said some more words and the doll became inert.

“Mreow,” the cat said.

“Yes, I suppose I have to deal with her sooner than I expected. But first I need to find her lair. You wouldn't happen to know, would you?”

The cat somehow managed to shrug and then went to the kitchen for a drink.

“Mom, I think we need to call your visit short so I can do some witch business.”

When her mother and Fifi were no longer around, Geri tapped on a contact in her phone.

“Hello, Geri. Are you finally taking care of your house guest problem?” Prudence said without preamble.

“Of course you know.”

“I directed Sara to you.”

“I did speak to Esmerelda. She was as pleasant as I remembered.”

“Yes, she's like that. Why'd you call me?”

“I guess I really don't understand this witch stuff. I can't invade her lair. You told me that was why she ended up as she did invading mine.”

“Ah, the difference is you now own her lair because of her current state.”

“I own her lair? Might makes right?”

“It isn't what we strive for but when might is used, it does overcome most other rules.”

“Okay. So where's her lair?”

“Your lair. And you can figure that out.”

“Of course. Nice talking to you.”

“You too, young lady.”

Geri hung up and stared at the doll. It blankly smiled back at her. She put Esmerelda back on her shelf and picked up the photograph. She cast another spell to mask the connection between Esmerelda and the photo. Now she wanted a connection between the photo and the subject's current location. After speaking more words of power and dim yellow line appeared running from the photo to the front wall of her apartment with a slight slope downward.

By the dimness of the line, she realized the other end of the line must be at least a mile away. She was going to have to take the subway. On a shelf not far from the former witch doll was a figurine of a woman in a traditional gi making a high kick. She touched the figurine and said, “Fully dressed, purse, comfortable shoes.”

The figurine grew and shifted in shape until Mei appeared dressed as described. “Are we going out?”

“Yes, I have to follow a magic trail and at the other end is probably Esmerelda's former lair.”

Mei demeanor became more serious. “You need to get dressed as well.”

Geri looked down at her pajamas. “Oops. Be right back.” She dashed into her bedroom.

Mei smiled at how youthfully Geri had just run.

* * *

Triangulating their destination by taking three different trains in different directions, the pair found themselves in a section of the city undergoing gentrification. Soon they were standing in front of an old brownstone that was distinctly not revitalized. The much brighter yellow line that only Geri could see ran from her pocket directly into the basement apartment on the left of the stoop. The apartment had its own entrance under the stairs.

Mei stepped forward and knocked at the door.

“Why knock?” Geri asked.

“Appearances. And who knows if someone hasn't moved in while Esmerelda's been gone. It's been over a year since she's been here.”

“True.” After a moment passed, Geri muttered something under her breath and the door knob turned, the door jumped a bit and stood ajar in front of them.

Mei was about to enter but Geri stopped her. She muttered a few more words and both of them could see various tendrils of red lines. “Traps.” Geri pointed to a safe spot and Mei stepped to the spot. Geri followed her inside and closed the door.

After a few moments and two close calls, Geri had dispatched all the traps. They stepped into the living room. The place was thick with dust. The yellow line now ran from Geri's pocket to a shelf along one wall, touching a coffee mug. Geri dismissed the line and picked up the mug. It was white. On the outside in black lettering it read “Diana.” Inside the mug, on the bottom, was covered in dust. Geri rubbed the dust away revealing what seemed to be a picture of Diana, her eyes closed like she was sleeping. The image opened its eyes and stared up at Geri. It's mouth opened soundlessly but the plea for help was obvious.

“Calm down, Diana,” Geri said. “I'll restore you in a moment.” She set the mug down on the floor. Within a moment, the mug started growing and changing into the shape of woman in her twenties.

The woman stood perfectly still. She was wearing the work clothes of a barista from a popular coffee store.

“How are you?” Mei said.

“Is it safe? Where's that old woman?” she said, still unmoving.

“She can't hurt you now,” Geri said.

“Good.”

“You know you can move.”

“What?” Diana said. She raised one of her arms and slowly moved her hand in from of her face. “Oh, yeah.” She turned around and looked down at Geri. “I've forgotten I can move.”

“Yes, you were probably a coffee mug for at least two years according to your sister.”

“Two years?” She almost fell over. “I can't believe it's been that long.”

“Mei, can you take Diana outside? I'm guessing she might want to see the sun.”

Mei nodded and ushered Diana out the door.

Geri looked at the shelf and the shelf next to it and the shelf on the other side of the room. They were filled with knickknacks. She cast a spell and most of those knickknacks shined with a blue glow, as did an end table, two lamps, and even a couple appliances in the kitchenette.

For once Geri was nonplussed, turning in a circle to take in all the glowing objects. “There are so many souls here.”