Agatha Primrose's Halloween

October the first swept in on tiny little breezes.  The heat of summer, the dryness that followed, left scatters of leaves in varying stages of decay, tucking themselves neatly into Agatha's herb garden.  Shin deep in gardening boots, her wide brimmed hat tucked tightly on her head, lest a pesky witch-wind came by to lift it away, Agatha was finishing up the last of the harvest.  

The recent rains helped some of the struggling plants, but many by now had gone dormant from the early setting of the sun and the cooling earth at night.

Her basket full for this season's last time, she headed back to her little stone house built by her great, great grandmother, still in the family and lovingly occupied and cared for by its current occupant.  As she approached the door under the large, covered porch, a little breeze blew a sheaf of paper, no, a white envelope down the steps, that had been tucked into the

metal scrollwork on the front door.  Agatha carefully placed her gathering basket down and took off after the envelope as it danced its way across the porch and down the walking path.  Having retrieved the now soiled delivery, she walked back inside to settle her gatherings and placed a copper kettle on the stove for a much-needed cup of chamomile tea.

Agatha's kitchen held a large fireplace in which a black kettle could be suspended above the freshly placed logs that would be lit for warmth or cooking.  Her shelves were lovingly filled with labeled jars and corked bottles of this, that and the other thing, and drying herbs were suspended from the rafter beams, tightly bound and awaiting their future purposes.  

Mug in hand, she fired up her computer to browse the latest on social media, and current potions and elixirs.

The small kitchen window was open to the autumn air, and the yellowed lace curtains ruffled ever so slightly as the sun began to set.  It had been a beautiful day filled with hope and the holiday spirit.  Rested and refreshed, Agatha picked up the envelope and carefully sliced it open with the ornate letter opener that had been passed down from mother to daughter over these many years.  As she did so, a tiny spark flew from the opening and a whisper of cedar and cinnamon rose from

the broken seal.  Unfolding the contents, she read, "Your presence is welcome at an All Souls Night Gathering on the 18th of October.  In other words, get your fanny to Denver, Colorado for the best Halloween party ever!".  It was signed, The Doll Coven.

The 18th?  Denver?  Agatha shook her head in dismay.  There was the great distance to travel, and her car was not travel worthy.  There was also very little time to conjure up a costume should she even be able to attend.  The invitation also noted that the incredible wizard, Tonner, would be in attendance bringing his special brand of magic with him.  She vowed to find a way to attend this gathering for this wizard's magic was powerful.  Agatha's class schedule was heavy, and homework was due in her biology class.  Attending appeared impossible.

She sat and stared out the window as the moon rose.  Autumn's little bats were dipping and spinning in the twilight when an idea came to her.  She rose and walked over to the shelves that lined the kitchen on all sides and pulled down the family grimoire that had been tucked among the many cookbooks and magical tomes with crumbling leather spines.  Certainly, she thought, there must be a spell to aid me in my quest.  After thumbing carefully through the pages yellowed with time, she came upon an enchantment that looked promising.  She gathered her mortar and pestle, a few candles, and lit a fire beneath a small iron pot on the old wooden table and began preparations.

Midnight arrived by the time she had a nice little pot of herbs bubbling in the pot.  As she stirred and sprinkled in the last ingredients, she chanted, 

"Moon that sails the night on fire, map the path to my desire.  Time is of the essence now, open the channels and show me how."  Twice more she spoke the words and with a flourish, dropped in the last ingredient.  A puff of smoke and terrible odor filled the little kitchen.  Agatha didn't recall this kind of result when she watched Grandmama work this spell.  What could have gone wrong?

Frustrated, she cleaned up and went to bed a bit despondent but ready to try the next night.  Twice more she tried.  Twice more she failed.  "Fiddlesticks!", she thought.  Just one wrong herb picked out of season could upset the spell.

Agatha was anything but a poor student.  Smart as a whip, she worked her studies, aced her biology exam, and only then did she come back to the issue

at hand of how to attend the All Souls Night party.  Even through her studies the question was never far from her thoughts, but Agatha, a very practical young lady, knew the answer would come if she'd just learn to relax, breathe and envision.  This was when the idea stuck her of asking her mentor, Goody Hillcomb, the witch who worked in the science department at University, for help.

Goody Hillcomb, also a very practical, very wise woman, then asked Agatha over for tea.  Shortly after, a desperate rapping came at Goody's door.  Agatha thanked her exuberantly for giving her audience with very little notice and began to describe her plight.  She reluctantly confessed to Goody, the failed attempts she'd already tried.  Goody nodded, listened carefully, and told Agatha that sometimes spells only worked in the absence of the obvious.

Wide-eyed, Agatha looked hopeful at Goody and asked what 

she meant by "obvious".  As Goody was a friend of the great wizard herself, she'd received the same invitation.  She knew that The Doll Coven was a virtual online group and everything to be enjoyed could be done magically online!  Such an obvious and simple solution.

Sometimes when we have priorities and constraints, there is yet a little bit of magic to make our desires come true.  The Virtual Doll Coven was brilliantly conceived for such a purpose to include everyone far and near.

So, Goody and Agatha made plans to attend the party together by computer.  They'd decorate Agatha's home for Halloween, magically carve many pumpkins and set them on the porch.  They'd light every candle in the house, and send the wizard and the coven of three, a special Samhain blessing.

Happy Halloween, Agatha!

This story is a small tribute to the wizards in Denver, Colorado, who continue to bring magic into our lives every day.