The Witch's Gift

By Marcy Italiano

She bought none of it herself. Someone once told her that items have to be given to you, to have any power. She was not going to challenge the words of an older and wiser guide, but how closely do you listen to your mother? There were other words said that she didn't quite hear that day. Things said like, "protect yourself", "pay attention to what nature tells you", and "meditate and visualize and you do not need tools" were not half as much fun as talking about candles, knives and altars.

It was spooky and cool, she would be able to freak out kids at school. Or better yet, she would be hiding a great secret. A secret as empowering as having a gun in your back pocket. She would be able to pick and choose who she would put a spell on, just like Santa. Whoever was mean to her that day, or those that were nice, were put on a list that started fresh each day. Every night she chanted out verses that she had written especially for those individuals, and hoped they would work.

"And it harm none, Do as you will."

She started to wear black clothing from head to toe, along with dark makeup, died her red hair black, and wore huge jewelry to announce both her attitude and beliefs to the world. That's what people do at her age. Her secret was safe - locked up tight in a vault with windows. She was a witch. Lisa Etafon was old enough to begin her lessons and continue the family tradition. Maybe her parents waited too long to start, maybe they should have explained it all to her as a child, maybe this was their only option. There were no religious paintings or pictures on the walls, no symbols to be found and no covens met at their house. You would never know that Anna practiced witchcraft, or that she was preparing to pass that knowledge down to her daughter.

On Lisa's sixteenth birthday, her father sent her a card, "Sorry I can't make it out this year honey, but I love you more than ever. Maybe over the summer we can fly over the mountains together." He always said that. Richard always talked about the day when he would build up enough courage to become a pilot and fly small planes. Promising her made him feel like he had no choice but to go through with it, but things always came up. This year her mother was suing him for decent child support, and Lisa knew that the last place he wanted to be, was in town with her mother. He sent her candles of all colours.

She understood the situation, and comprehended the troubles her parents were having, but she was still deeply hurt. She was angry her father didn't come, the coward. The school day was normal, the sleepover party was on the weekend, and Anna let her have a glass of wine with her dinner. She walked out onto the balcony of their seventh story apartment and smelled the air of the city. People below walked around not caring about anything higher than seven feet tall. Nobody looks up. She closed her eyes to listen to the wind and felt it getting colder on her face. The sky would bring snow soon. Her mother cleaned the dishes inside, and Lisa decided it was time to start. She cleared off one of her night tables, set up her new candles in a circle, and opened the window a little.

"Tonight I think of my father," She lit the black candle.
"Tonight he was not brave." Yellow candle.
"I aim at him all my power," Red candle.
"I send it like a wave." Blue candle.

She waved her hands around in a wave like motion repeating the words to the candles on her make-shift altar. She cried quietly to the powers that be, and went to bed exhausted and disappointed.

The next morning she wasn't sure what to expect, but her mother made a strange face at her that she didn't understand. Anna suspected Lisa was stretching her magical wings, but she only said "You have discovered Air. Just remember the Threefold Rule." Not completely sure what she meant, Lisa gave a quick "Uh huh" and darted out the door.

The following month Lisa spoke to her father to find out about an accident he had, she had forgotten about the spell. Standing on a ladder to do some painting in the stairwell he had fallen and broke his leg. "But the worst part of it is Lisa, that I think because of that fall I am starting to be afraid of heights. That whole plane thing may be out of the picture all together. I'm sorry sweetie. Are you enjoying the candles I bought you? Have you had a chance to use them yet?" He sounded relieved to discover his new fear. She was furious.