Mission Tipsy Topsy

 

Maudster had to go to the shop today. She dreaded these visits. The shop that was closest and most convenient to visit also had a most unpleasant old man as its keeper. He commanded his tools with in a very dismissive manner. Unfortunately, though he was thorough.

“Ugh Pebbles, Jinx this is literally all your fault. you broke all the good bottles and I have none to keep new plant specimens in”

Pebbles looked at her disdainfully like this complaint wasn’t worth her time. Jinx flattened his ear looking down pretending to be sorry.

At least jinx tried to mollify her even though she could see the unrepentant sparkle in his eyes.

Oh well no use putting of the inevitable. She put on her walking shoes, carried as much change as she could. Old Man Traun insisted on it. It was so unfair she was a long-time customer and he always had change.

Her bad mood carried her to the Tipsy Topsy  whimsical name from the grumpy shopkeeper. People have layers.

 

 

There was a long line of customers so she prepared to wait patiently. Jinx and pebbles had been left to guard her home; they weren’t allowed inside the shop anyway.

Traun was as usual annoyed at the fact he had customers. She entered mid scolding. A young man wanted to purchase a box of undeveloped film, with a spell.

“We only accept real shells! No spells! It’s on the shop board “shells not spells” Did you not check? I had to find this old box, dust it off check undamaged film and you come to me with spells! The audacity of you, young people right in front of me” His tirade was interrupted by another customer who had come to fix a beautiful lapis bowl. “Please let me pay for him”

This calmed Traun down immediately and his tone turned condescendingly lecture like “This is a lesson. Next time young man you should check and read the signs” The poor guy thanked the man, promised to pay him back the shells and scurried out of the store.

Maud sighed If Traun wasn’t so good at his job she would take her business elsewhere. Oh well.

“Ah Lapiz is a delicate  material to make a bowl out of. It will obviously crack with rough use. You should be careful with this one. It seems you also hurt its feelings? Lapiz is a delicate lady you dolt”   

It seemed a scolding was free with every fix and purchase.

The man must be a student at the nearby school. Lapiz was generally used by them to help them focus.

A mother and daughter waited their turn in line. The cute little kid waved at everyone in the shop. Friendly and outgoing. Maud had to stop herself from sending a blessing instead she sent a protective cast for the day. She had been scolded many times by her Father for overusing her spells. “Magic should be used balancing your heart and mind Maud. You can’t send spells just because you feel like it. You know just moving a rock from one place to another can change the life of a lady bug (an old saying Maud had heard all her life). You should be mindful how you wield the power you were gifted”

He was right, but a protective cast of the day was everyday magic. The witches did this for themselves all the time. It’s probably fine hopefully. The child needed her image taken and registered in the directory. After this she could talk to her friend either telepathically or using everyday objects like crystal balls or paper. She would get updates from her school sent to her like an adult. The kid Pan was her name, was very excited. She had come wearing her best dress with an askew bow, that her mother fussed over. Traun waited with barely concealed irritation and his camera. But refrained from his usual scold. Once the mother had finished, he told the kid to keep her eyes open and booped her nose with his wand.

 Mauds eyes widened at the uncharacteristic display, oops

Pans shocked  picture was taken, and siphoned into the wand to be registered. Favourite colours and age noted. The mother seemed speechless. Hopefully she would chalk it up to her child’s cuteness. Which seemed the case when she paid her fees and left.

It was finally her turn.

Maud braced herself “Traun I need new jars, cleaned and blessed 8 of them”.

He narrowed his eyes, “Did I not just give you 18 jars? How many have you used? Are you plucking our plants without a care? Or did you find so many injured little one?!” Both were cause for alarm for Traun. If she didn’t say anything he would report her or the uptake of injured ones to the council member of the village. So, she had to confessed they were broken by her familiars  

“Such undisciplined Familiars!” He exclaimed “of course they will be like that look at their keeper!” He gestured to Maud. “Look at my familiar”. Dory the sweet old dog, looked at Maud with haughty dignity. “She sits with me in my shop and has never disturbed me or anyone! This is exactly why your unruly Familiars aren’t allowed in the shop.” Never mind that he did not invite anyone’s familiar here. Maud kept her scoff to herself.

“Right, I know Traun. Anyway, I need 8 medium jars, 2 need to be with a green hue, 1 pink” she plodded on. He would scold but he would do it with a preciseness she appreciated.

“Do you think Blessing 8 medium Jars, or even holding these many jars is easy? You want a blue hue, a green one a red one”  Well we don’t have them right now Go away!

Before maud could protest and give him a piece of her own mind for his rude manner, Traun’s son spoke up. She didn’t even know he was in the shop! Tall good looking, and his hands! it always made her so conscious. She avoided the shop when he was here. Now not only was he here, he heard her getting an earful and knew her familiars were “undisciplined” Maud groaned.

“Its ok, Dad, I’ll go get them from the glassmaker. I can clean, bless them and drop them off at your house Maud”. Maud resisted wiping the sweat on her upper lip, suddenly very aware it was there. “Oh, thank you so much Gayn”
“Its Rain” he smiled

“Right, I knew that so sorry thank you”

Maud left the shop skirts a flurry

She put her hand on her cheeks to calm herself down. She was supposed to be a stoic and proper witch. Having a crush is really inconvenient for that.

 
She sulked all the way home kicking herself “Thank you so much Gayn” her memories were mocking her

Unsuccessful trip to Tipsy Topsy over.