Wednesday's Words on a Friday

On Wednesdays, Delores, from Under The Porch Light, has a word challenge meme which she calls “Words for Wednesday”.

She puts up a selection of six words which we then use in a short story, or a poem.

I’m hopeless at poetry so I always do a story.

It’s a fun challenge…why not join in?

This week's words are:

1. embezzle

2. disintegrate

3. retroactive

4. duster

5. spellbound

6. untimely

we also have : a wish, a wand, a wizard :: a dark and moonless night 

Here is my story: 

It was probably no use at all trying to explain, a six year old couldn't possibly understand.

Could she? I'd give it a try...

Her father's untimely dismissal after accusations of embezzlement meant our bank accounts had been frozen while investigations were underway; her plans for a wizard themed birthday party were disintegrating. 

What could I do? How could I make this happen for her? 

I'd planned on hiring costumes, special effects and a "real" wizard to perform a few magic tricks, "spells" he called them. The demonstration afternoon at the store had looked quite impressive. If only I could make a wish and have it all happen!

Sally was about to turn seven and had been spellbound by tales of fairies, witches and wizards as long as I could remember. Probably her birthday had a lot to do with that. October 31st. Halloween.

I already had her costume, a wizard outfit she had worn to book week at school last term, she was happy to wear it again, it even had a wand included, I just needed to glue a new crystal star on the tip of the wand. A new star was out of the question now, I'd have to get one from the Christmas decorations box stored in the shed. 

I decided to ask the wizard himself, perhaps he could suggest a few tips on how to do this; a few books from the library would come in handy too. I wasn't sure about the food however. Was there such a thing as Wizard food? The caterer I'd planned on hiring had been optimistic, saying he could supply such things as "magical smoking jellies" etc, there was dry ice involved somehow, but I could never do such a thing myself at home. 

(thank you cakewrecks.com)

I dragged my duster across the dining room table as I thought. I still had a few weeks to plan and organise, perhaps by then the real embezzler would be caught, or at least Jonah would be found innocent. He would get his job back, the pay rise he was supposed to have received would be made retroactive, (a nice boost to the budget).....damn, there I was going off into dreams again. 

The phone rang and I rushed to answer it, I knew it was Mum, she had said she'd call today if any of her friends had any ideas. I'd spilled the beans to her last Monday, crying my eyes out as I stammered out the words and Mum had hung up on me only to appear at my door within the hour, bringing hugs, scones and bustling about my kitchen making me cups of tea. 

At the end of the phone call, I was much cheerier. A visit to the Wizard would not be necessary after all. I could phone the caterer and tell him the plans were definitely off.

Mum's friend Joan had been extremely helpful. 

A few years ago they had been living in Sacramento, USA, and her children had been very enthusiastic about Halloween. Joan still had their costumes, a couple of wizard cloaks, a witches outfit, and all the cake tins used to make crescent moon shaped cakes and star shaped cookie cutters too. 

Mum asked if it was convenient, could she and Joan come to visit on the weekend? Joan would bring "the goods" as mum called them and between the three of us we could work something out. Joan had even suggested black paper to cover the ceiling to create a dark and moonless night theme for the party. 

I was looking forward now to Sally arriving home from school; it was Maggie's turn to carpool and they would be here by three-thirty.  I'd have to forego the Wizard and his "spells", but maybe the three of us could find someone who knew a few magic tricks and would work for cake.