Free Family Magic by Patti Larsen Page B

knowing those days were gone and I ended them, not Mom.
If she had her choice, I know we would still be very close. The
fact I chose to cut myself off from her was something I either had
to live with or do something about. I knew my mother would welcome
me back into the fold with open arms, no questions asked. Exactly
how much was I willing to give up, to compromise? Could I really
find a way we could both be happy with the consequences?
    I felt a heavy weight land on the end of the
bed and a fat, warm cat body made its way up between my sister and
I to settle in the small valley between us. I opened my eyes and
looked into Sass’s golden ones. He curled up, face next to mine,
tail brushing my chin.
    “Don’t get any ideas,” he said. “I was
cold.”
    I laughed and kissed him on the head.
    “Thanks, Sassafras,” I whispered.
    “Anytime,” he winked one amber eye in his cat
way. He settled, chin on his paws.
    I’m not sure if it was the comfort of two
extra bodies or total emotional exhaustion but I had no trouble
falling asleep.
     
    ***
     

Chapter Ten
     
    Despite the endless promises I made, the next
day while prepping for school I found myself yet again a slave to
trend setting and lip-gloss. So much for the new and improved Syd
who didn’t take crap from anyone. In fact, by the time I hit the
front steps, I was a nervous wreck. How much damage had I done? If
they thought I was a freak before, what was I classified as a
target now?
    Unfortunately, yes. Might as well have had a
bull's-eye painted on my chest. From the moment I set foot in the
front lobby of Wilding Springs High, I opened myself to the
bombardment of Alison’s revenge. Not just Alison, either, from the
looks I took from the general population. I was in it deep and even
those who might have felt some sympathy gave me a wide berth. They
knew a sinking ship when they saw one. Nobody wanted to get sucked
in when the vortex of Alison decided my doom was at hand.
    Still, they started small, bless them,
softened me up a bit, eased me into it. Nothing overt, at least not
at first. If I was doing the bullying the whole dissection of
self-esteem would have been way more messy. I would never give the
sucker a chance to see what was coming. Hit them with both barrels
right away. But then again, I wasn’t an expert in emotional and
psychological torture like Alison and the ‘Fem Bots’. They were far
more subtle, insidious, breaking down the spirit and will of their
chosen prey, chipping away at all self-esteem with their French
manicures and evil hearts.
    The people who think witches are dangerous
were never bullied in high school.
    So, like clockwork, the subtle, nasty stuff
started it off. At least I was expecting it. Not wanting it, hoping
I could avoid it, but otherwise knowing in my soul it was
inevitable.
    It began with the ‘innocent’ bump knocking my
trendy bag into a puddle of spilled chocolate milk that just
happened to be there. I managed to get to a bathroom and get most
of it out before it stained. Of course, the milk already had time
to turn rancid, naturally. Fresh stuff wouldn’t do. So, stinky
purse it was, then.
    I was vaguely surprised to make it to my
locker with only minor tripping and secretive name-calling
incidents. Surely they would attempt something else in the three
minutes it took me to get to homeroom? I needn’t have worried. They
thought of everything.
    Someone scrawled ‘bitch’ across my locker
door with black marker. I suffered glares from the people with
lockers around me. Goody, Syd’s making more friends.
    I took a deep breath and chose to ignore it.
I think it’s probably one of the bravest things I have ever
done.
    I tried to put it in perspective. After all,
someone went to all the time and trouble to decorate my locker
door. Wow, that took talent. And, hey, I was part of something
normal, wasn’t I? Amazing I could cheer myself up at a time like
this.
    But more was to come, oh yes.
    My homeroom teacher,