Croaked Magic

“Delia!” I cried, frantically hopping around, trying to get her attention. “Delia! Over here!”

She looked up from her spell book. Delia was three years older than me. My father had taken her as an apprentice when her working-class family realized she had a propensity for magic.

My little sister, Posy, looked up also. She was the first to spot me and let out a blood-curdling scream.

“Stop that! Shhh!” I wailed.

Delia was far less high-strung than Posy. She shushed the younger girl, then watched me as I jumped around on the table. The ink pot overturned as I leaped back to avoid knocking over the lit candle. She reached out to grab me before I could cause more damage. Delia held me in her hand, inspecting me closely. “Tanner?”

I struggled in her grip. “Not so tight.”

Having calmed down, Posy peered over Delia’s shoulder. Her eyes were wide with surprise while her mouth twisted in disgust.

“Tanner, how did this happen?” Delia asked, loosening her grip.

“I don't know. Well, I mean, I do, but...it was an accident. I was practicing the transformation spell.” I said.

Posy rolled her eyes. “You’re not supposed to use it on yourself, you idiot. At least not until you know what you are doing.”

“I know that!” I yelled.

“I’m going to get Dad,” she said, turning.

“No! Please don't. You know how upset he’ll be.” I begged.

Delia glanced at her. “Hold on, Posy. Let's hear what happened and then decide what to do.” Posy agreed but was annoyed. She always liked getting me in trouble.

Just as I opened my mouth to explain, Colton walked in. “Hey, Delia? Do you have any mugwort I can borrow?”

“No. Go buy your own supplies, lazy,” she said, not taking her eyes off me.

I groaned. Colton was as bad as Posy. My older brother took every chance possible to prove to our father how inept I was.

“Uh...what’s up with the frog?” Colton asked.

Posy grinned. “That’s Tanner.”

“Tanner? No. I just saw him in the garden. He was walking around in the pond.”

“He turned himself into a frog,” Posy replied.

“He...?” Colton couldn't finish. He was too busy rolling on the floor, laughing.

“I was trying to transform an ant into a fly.” I always found it best to start small when attempting to do something I had no aptitude for. “Just as I said the last word, this frog jumped through the window and ate the fly. It bumped my hand. The spell hit the mirror and then ricocheted back on us.”

“Dad is going to love this!” Colton wheezed.

“What are we going to do?” I moaned miserably.

Delia shook her head. “Well, I can tell you one thing. I’m not going to kiss you.” This set off another round of giggles.

I felt myself go hot with mortification, not just because she was teasing me. I had a crush on her. “Great. Now you’re making fun of me.”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist,” she said. “All we have to do is reverse the spell. Colton, pull yourself together and get the other Tanner from the garden.”

It felt like an eternity before Colton returned, dragging the creature masquerading as my gawky thirteen-year-old body with him. I was terrified our father would come to check our progress with our spell work before Delia could fix my error.

“Croaaak!” Fake Tanner said as it tried to get away from Colton.

“Colton, get it into the chair. Posy, use the holding spell to keep it from moving.” Delia ordered. “I don't want it getting away or eating Tanner.”

“What?” I cried. “Frogs don't eat other frogs, do they?”

“I don't think so, but with the size difference and its natural instincts, I don't want to take that chance,” she replied.

Colton wrestled Fake Tanner into the chair. Once Posy had it subdued, Delia set me on its lap. I felt myself trembling with fear that Posy could falter with her spell.

“Croaaaaaak!” Fake Tanner complained.

“Hurry up!” I begged.

Delia waved her wand with an expert flick of her wrist and said the words required.

Again, a bright light hit with a warmth that bordered on uncomfortable. I felt disoriented as my body morphed. Before I could take a second breath, I was kneeling on the floor. I glanced up to see the frog still held in place on the chair, croaking frantically.

Posy released the spell, allowing it to escape. I was surprised when she embraced me as I got to my feet. “I was so worried we wouldn’t get you back.”

“You were ready to make sure Dad knew how badly I screwed up,” I said.

She appeared hurt. “I was going to get him so he could fix it. I didn't know if Delia could do the spell, and I didn't want you to be a frog forever. Gross.”

“You might have held on to the frog until we were sure Tanner was okay,” Delia said.

“Oh, I didn't think about that.”

“He’s fine,” Colton said. “You’re fine, right?”

“What do you care? You probably tossed the frog in the window in the first place.” I was feeling grumpy after that ordeal.

Colton looked shocked. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you always try to sabotage me.”

“I like to play pranks. You need to lighten up,” he said. “You’re too hard on yourself. That was some pretty serious magic, even if it didn't turn out the way you expected. None of us could do that spell.”

“Speak for yourself,” Delia said, arms akimbo.

“Okay, you and Delia are the only ones to do the transformation spell successfully.” Colton amended.

“Are you going to tell Dad?” I asked.

“He should know what you are capable of,” Delia said. “But we’ll leave that up to you.”

They grabbed me in a four-way hug. Somehow, my escapade brought us closer than we had been in a long time.