Witch Wish

Val Williams believes she will never be as pretty or popular as her older sister Ailene. When Ailene dumps her on an unfamiliar road after an argument, Val decides to ask directions of the only person she sees--an old woman engaged in a garage sale. Val purchases a music box that the old woman claims has magical qualities and will grant Val one wish. In a fit of pique, Val wishes that that her sister would stop being so perfect. When Ailene starts acting oddly, breaks up with her boyfriend, stops talking to her friends, starts dating a bad boy, and cuts classes, Val is troubled. She begins to fear she caused all this to happen by making her wish and suffers a guilty conscience. How she goes about setting matters right makes for some unusual complications and surprises.

KUDOS FOR WITCH WISH

In Witch Wish by Jacqueline Seewald, Val Williams is kicked out of the car by her sister, Ailene, on the way home from school. Although Val doesn’t really mind walking since it’s not that far, she isn’t really sure where she is as Ailene had to take a detour and ended up on a lonely country road. So Val goes to the first house she sees where an old woman is having a garage sale. The old woman convinces Val to buy a music box that she says will grant Val one wish. When Val gets home, she argues with Ailene and accidentally wishes for Ailene to not be so perfect. So when Ailene starts acting strange, Val is terrified that her wish was the cause. A story of sibling rivalry in a dysfunctional family, this is a coming of age story that is as compelling as it is entertaining. ~ Taylor Jones, The Review Team of Taylor Jones & Regan Murphy

Witch Wish by Jacqueline Seewald is the story of an average fifteen-year-old girl with a beautiful older sister and a mother who clearly favors the older sibling. When Val argues with her older sister, Ailene, on the way home from school, Ailene pushes her out of the car and makes her walk home. Since Val is not exactly sure where she is, she stops to ask directions from an old woman having a yard sale from whom she buy a magical music box that will grant her one wish. The old woman cautions her that her wish cannot be taken back once she makes it, so she needs to choose her wish carefully. But when Val gets home, she is still angry at her sister and rashly wishes that Ailene wasn’t so perfect. Val feels a funny sensation, and Ailene begins to act weird. She defies her mother, breaks up with her boyfriend, and even skips school. Val is afraid that her wish has cause her sister to act this way, but she doesn’t know how to make it right. A coming-of-age story that is both poignant and compelling, Witch Wish is charming, intriguing, and very entertaining. A great read. ~ Regan Murphy, The Review Team of Taylor Jones & Regan Murphy

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to acknowledge the help provided to me by the editorial team at Black Opal Books. Their input has been invaluable.

Witch Wish

Jacqueline Seewald

A Black Opal Books Publication

Copyright © 2018 by Jacqueline Seewald

Cover Design by Jackson Cover Designs

All cover art copyright © 2018

EBOOK ISBN: 978-1-626949-44-7

EXCERPT

I was angry and didn’t really mean to make that wish. OMG, what had I done?

Dinnertime in our kitchen was another battle in a continuing family war.

Mr. Hartman tells me not only did you cut that day last week, but several of your teachers are concerned about you. You’ve always been an exemplary student, and now suddenly you’re failing tests and not handing in homework. What is going on? I want to know.

Maybe it’s just a case of senioritis, Dad suggested. You know how they slump off at the end of school once the college acceptances are in.

Not our Ailene. She’s always been conscientious about everything.

"Mother, I don’t want to be your Ailene anymore. You act like you know everything. Well, you’re wrong about a lot of things. It took me a long time to realize that. I was totally naïve." With that, she got up and left the table.

What’s wrong with her? What’s happened to our wonderful girl? Mother said, dissolving into tears.

Father went and put his arms around her.

I left them alone together and decided it was time Ailene and I had a real talk. Even if I couldn’t take back my wish, I was determined to do something to make matters right.

DEDICATION

This novel is dedicated to Monte who supports me in every possible way. It is also dedicated to four wonderful, unique young people: Abby, Ella, Jonah, and Leah.

Prologue

Central New Jersey, 1985:

My sister Ailene pulled the car to the side of the road, reached over, and opened the door on the passenger side. Get out right now! she hissed through gritted teeth.

No way!

Yes way. You’re an obnoxious brat. I don’t have to put up with you, and I won’t for another minute.

Maybe I had gone a tad overboard in the rude department today, but she’d deserved it. I had to stand and wait while she giggled and gossiped with her airhead friends by the lockers for what seemed like forever. I stood there being ignored and feeling like a leper. Then finally when she finally turned to me, all she said was: Come on. Hurry up. Like she’d done me this great honor giving me a ride home.

Now she was all indignation. Well, I wasn’t going to stand for it. I’m not getting out of the car, I said.

Unfortunately, Ailene was taller and weighed more than I did. She shoved me out, hurled my backpack after me, and drove off, burning rubber. She didn’t even look back. So there I stood at the side of a rural road with no idea exactly where I was.

Ailene had veered off the main highway when traffic stopped. There’d been an accident on the highway. No way of getting through any time soon. That pissed her off, too. She’s not the most adaptable individual.

It was a warm afternoon. I didn’t mind walking, but the road was totally unfamiliar. I’d have to travel back in the direction of the highway. From there, I could find my way. Maybe my sister had done me a favor. Anything was better than being around her. She found me annoying, but I felt the same way about her.

As I walked, I fantasized.

Cheerleader shot dead at football game--mystery as to who pulled trigger. As a student of journalism, I considered this possible headline. Were I to murder my sister, I wouldn’t want to be caught.

Don’t judge me in haste. If you had a sister like Ailene, you’d probably hate her too. I’d like to say Ailene was nasty, selfish, and spoiled, but it wouldn’t be true. I have my share of faults. Lying isn’t one of them. The truth? Ailene was polite, intelligent, beautiful, and even charming--when it suited her.

So why did I hate her? Maybe because she was everything I wished I could be but didn’t think I ever would be. Someone like Ailene, who was so much better than most people, you envied, idolized, or hated her. It wasn’t easy living in the same home with perfection day after day.

A house came into my line of vision. It was an old Colonial with white clapboard shingles and black shutters that had paint peeling. There was an old woman sitting in a chair with all kinds of items set out on folding tables in cardboard boxes.

I guess she was having a garage sale. I figured I’d stop and ask for directions back to the highway. She was kind of creepy looking, dressed all in black. But she was the only person around.

So I walked over to her. She stood up, smiling through crooked yellowed teeth.

I’m kind of lost, I said.

She nodded. I can see that.

She had dark, penetrating eyes. She studied me in an eerie way that made my blood freeze.

Can you direct me back to Route Five-Sixteen?

Certainly. But first why don’t you look at these things I have for sale. They are unique.

Sure, I said, figuring to humor the old gal.

I began looking around. She had a lot of weird stuff, old crap that I had no interest in. But I figured if I offered to buy something I maybe could get the directions quicker. So I glanced at the stuff on one of the tables. A polished wooden box caught my eye.

I see you like my music box. Actually, I have a bit of a collection. She picked up the box and wound it up. "It plays Fur Elise by Beethoven."

I listened and liked what I heard. How much does it cost?

Whatever you can afford.

I was surprised. I checked the pocket of my jeans. I had some allowance money with me but there wasn’t much. I’ve only got four dollars.

Just the right amount, she assured me. There is one thing about the box itself. She hesitated. You see...how should I put this?...the box has a certain unusual quality. If I bestow ownership upon you, the music box will grant you a wish.

I blinked and stared at her open-mouthed. Clearly, the old lady was a few slices short of a loaf.

Sure, I said, trying to appear agreeable and humor her. Great.

You don’t believe me, do you? She gave me a knowing smile. Then she laughed, except I swear it sounded more like a cackle. The wind lifted her long, steel-gray hair, giving her an otherworldly look. It’s all right. I don’t mind. But I think I should warn you. Once you open the box and make a wish out loud, you won’t be able to take it back. You get only one wish, you understand. So think carefully about it. Make certain you wish for something you truly want.

The way she looked at me was just plain scary. I handed her my crumpled dollar bills and took possession of the box. She gave me the directions back to the highway, and I walked home from there. I placed the music box into my backpack and forgot about it.

It was a long dusty walk home, and I silently cursed my sister. I dumped my backpack in the front hall, eager to get a cold drink.

My sister walked into the foyer and looked down her nose at me. Pick that up and put it where it belongs. You know Mom doesn’t like you leaving your stuff around.

I’m hot and tired, I said. I narrowed my eyes accusingly.

Serves you right. She smiled for spite.

I picked up my backpack upside down. I guess it wasn’t fully closed because the music box fell out, hitting the marble floor along with two of my textbooks. I picked up the box and looked it over, hoping it wasn’t broken. I wound the mechanism but it didn’t play the tune.

I opened it up. There was nothing inside but a red velvet lining.

Get your junk out of here before Mom gets home. You are such a slob!

I felt my cheeks start to burn. You’re so judgmental. I wish you weren’t so perfect and made mistakes like the rest of us.

At that moment, I felt a strange vibration like a seismic tremor. My hands shook. I looked down and realized the sensation was coming from the box. All of a sudden it slammed shut. So weird! Was the old woman right? Was the box magical? If that was true, I’d met up with a real-live witch. I shook my head to clear it of such far-out notions. Impossible! Absurd! No such thing existed.

Without the exchange of another word with my sister, I carried my things upstairs to my bedroom, and then I tossed the music box into my closet, consigning it to the back area at the bottom. I never wanted to look at it again.

Chapter 1

On Saturday night, the doorbell rang slightly before seven in the evening. I answered it and found super stud Jimmy Saunders standing there. This was no surprise. Ailene had dated Jimmy for the past two years. Although Ailene hadn’t dated him exclusively, he was her special boyfriend.

His friendly, open face greeted me with a questioning look. Is Ailene ready?

Dreamer! She’s upstairs, primping and fussing as usual.

He sighed and followed me to the recreation room where the evening news was blaring on the television set.

Better dig into the trenches for a while, I told him.

He nodded his head in a resigned manner, the veteran of many such evenings.

Want anything to eat or drink while you wait?

Jim shook his head.

Well, I’ll tell Mom and Dad you’re here. I sauntered off to the kitchen where the folks were sharing an after-dinner cup of coffee.

They both looked pleased to hear that Jimmy had arrived. My mother’s eyes beamed like big blue headlights. Jimmy was just the kind of boy she wanted for Ailene: handsome, intelligent, well-mannered. My father and Jimmy discussed the political scene briefly while Mother went upstairs to personally let Ailene know that Jimmy was waiting for her.

When Ailene did walk into the room, all eyes turned to her in admiration. She looked like a princess in a fairy tale. Tall, slim, and regal, she could have been taken for a model or an actress.

You look great, Jimmy said, expressing it for everyone.

Her natural blonde hair had a sheen to it, and her bright blue eyes sparkled like sapphires. But Ailene frowned at his compliment. We better be going, she said in her soft, silky voice.

Such a nice boy, don’t you think? Mother said, turning to Dad after they left. Ailene has good taste in everything, including boys. We’re very fortunate to have a daughter like that.

I knew it shouldn’t have been, but I felt as though her comment were a knife twisting a wound in my heart. I turned and walked out of the room. Just because she complimented Ailene didn’t mean that I should feel put down, I reasoned. But feelings aren’t logical.

I decided to take a light jog around the neighborhood. It was a beautiful May evening. The weather was mild. The air smelled like perfume. Still, I felt lonely. I thought about the way Jimmy looked at Ailene, the way everyone looked at Ailene, and I felt depressed. Why couldn’t I be beautiful the way she was? I used to think it was only because she was more than two years older than me that she had the advantage. But since I got to high school, I realized it was something more. Here I was a sophomore, fifteen years old, and no boys were looking at me the way they looked at her. Ailene was already being asked out by lots of boys when she was my age. She could pick and choose. The evening had turned into night and lost its charm for me. I walked back to my house.

My father gave me an odd look when I returned to the family room. We wondered where you were.

Just taking a jog.

You should have asked me along, he said.

I wasn’t lonely, I lied.

As a favor, he responded, because I need the exercise. I’m too good a cook. He smiled and patted his mid-section. He wasn’t really sensitive about his gut, which I found kind of endearing.

It’s better when you cook, I told him. Mom always goes for that low-calorie health food gunk.

I heard that, Mother said, coming into the room with a dish towel in her hand. That gunk would do wonders for you if you stopped rebelling and ate nutritionally the way I do. I know you sneak unhealthy food when I’m not around. Your complexion would be so much better if you cut out greasy foods like potato chips and chocolate. Your sister never has your problems because she eats sensibly.

I turned away from her. I hated it when she lectured me. We can’t all be beauty queens, I said.

My mother won several titles back in her youth. Even though she was older now, she kept herself in perfect shape. Ailene favored her, and I guess it bothered me. My complexion did show a zit every now and then--okay maybe two or three zits--while Ailene’s face was radiant.

"Don’t sneer. It’s ugly. You could be much more attractive if you wanted to be. You should be wearing make-up, for instance. I don’t know why you won’t. Maybe you don’t want your mother making suggestions to you, but Ailene could. And you should do something with your hair. That