It’s A Real Witch’s Birthday

“To light the dark. To honor the day. To ease the path down memory lane”

With that incantation two birthday candles ignite. The number sixteen burns bright on a birthday cake along with an array of other candles outlining the walls of the backroom at The Black Unicorn. The Black Unicorn is a small botanica located in The Bronx. It sells all the supplies to help you with your spiritual needs but the real conjuring happens in its backroom. It's facilitated by its owner Celeste, a beautiful Black Trans Woman who loves daytime soaps and anything leopard print. She’s a very powerful witch who has recently taken some younger amateur Black witches under her wing.

Celeste takes a deep breath. She stands back and admires her work. A perfectly pastel pink and black gothic birthday scene.

“Perfect.” She professes.

“Almost.” Jayden declares, gently announcing his presence as he enters the backroom. Jayden is 16 going on 30. He loves dying his hair to accentuate his colorful personality. Today’s color is blonde. A pleasant contrast to his beautiful brown skin.

Jayden takes a pack of balloons out of a shopping bag, opens it and sprinkles its contents all over the floor. He does the same for another pack. And another.

Within seconds balloons start to expand with air and float to the ceiling. It takes only a few minutes before Celeste’s roof is clustered with pink balloons.

“Nice touch.” Celeste affirms.”Did you remember the table cloth?”

Jayden nods his head and pulls the packaged table cloth out of his shopping bag.

“Yup!” He boosts.

Celeste places Jayden’s face in the palms of her hand and kisses his cheek. “Thank you pumpkin.”

“You’re welcome. Lift the cake off the table for a sec.”

Celeste complies.

Jayden places the plastic draping on the table and it slowly starts to unfold and expand. Covering it completely.

“Nice job. You’ve been practicing.” Celeste acknowledges with pride. She gently places the birthday cake back down.

“Thank you. You know, I think we might need a little more than a blessed candle to get us through tonight”

“Oh please don’t tell me Micheal and Stacey still aren’t talking?”

“Nope.” Jayden confirms.

“I’m used to you and Stacey bickering. But Stacey and Mike?

“Trust me I’ll be the first person to call out Stacey when he’s being…Stacey. But Mike hasn’t been himself since…”

“No one's the same after losing their mom.” Celeste concurs. “That's why we need to stick together. Now more than ever”

Jayden nods. Their conversation is interrupted by loud knocks at the backroom's street exit. Jayden walks to the door, unlocks and opens it. Stacey slowly enters the dimly lit backroom. The constant jokester and gentle giant, Stacey stands at a hefty 6’1”. He appears before Jayden and Celeste lethargic and doe eyed.

“You're High.” Jayden accuses.

Stacey’s face contorts with a huge grin. “You are annoyingly observant.”

“Boy get in here and help us decorate” Celeste interjects.

With three fourths of her coven accounted for Celeste delegates a few more tasks for her young fledgling witches to complete before the birthday boy arrives. Stacey teeters around the backroom with burning sage as Jayden continues to magically hang up decorations.

There's a knock at the front entrance. Celeste exits the backroom and makes her way to the front of the shop. Celeste and Micheal lock eyes through the glass paned door. She opens it and they embrace immediately.

Micheal is an artist and a wallflower. He is usually quiet and reserved. Today more than usual.

“Happy birthday pumpkin. I’m happy you made it'' Celeste whispers into Micheal’s ear.

“Thank you.” He responds.

Celeste grabs Micheal’s hand and leads him through the empty shop towards the back room. They enter but stop at a puzzling sight. Stacey’s hands cover Jayden’s face as they both stand in front of a mirror.

“Ready?” Stacey inquires.

“Yes.” Jayden affirms.

Stacey steps back and releases Jayden from his grasp. Stunned, Jayden examines his reflection.

“Stacey! I hate you!” Jayden screeches before he runs to the bathroom.

“What? Every birthday party needs a clown.”

Impressed with himself Stacey is overcome with laughter. Celeste and Micheal join in. A moment passes before Micheal and Stacey make eye contact. Stacey’s joy instantly retracts. Micheal’s smile fades when he notices the shift.

“I’m going to check on Jayden” Celeste declares before she excuses herself.

For the first time in weeks Stacey and Micheal are face to face. Silence lingers between them for a few moments.

“Happy birthday.”

“Thank you.”

Silence again. Stacey turns his back to Micheal and begins to walk back to his seat.

“I’m sorry” Micheal blurts, causing Stacey to freeze in his tracks. “I was a jerk to you. I’ve been going through so much shit and I took it out on you. You didn’t deserve that. I’m sorry, Stace.” Stacey’s hard facade melts away as he turns to give Micheal a hug.

Their embrace lasts for a moment before interrupted by the re-emergence of Celeste and Jayden.

“Well, would you look at that?” Celeste observes.

“Too easy. I would’ve made him grovel.” Jayden teases as walks by the reunited friends.

“Oh you guys just missed the begging portion of his apology” Stacey mocks as Micheal breaks their embrace.

“Oh please.” Micheal playfully pushes Stacey away as they laugh light heartedly to themselves. He takes in the sight of the festively decorated sacred space. “This is beautiful guys. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome my love.” Celeste comforts.”Now, sit.”

The small coven each take a seat along the round table. The pink frosted birthday cake at their center.

“Happy birthday my dearest Micheal. It's not lost on any of us that this year has been very rough for you. So in honor of your special day I present to you a very special gift. That is no mere birthday cake before you. It’s candles have been enchanted with a very potent recollection spell. I want you to take a deep breath, think about the fondest memory you have of your mother and blow out the candles.”

“Is it a glamour?” Mike asks.

“No. Just a deep dive into your subconscious”

“How long will it last?”

“Only a few minutes.”

“I understand.”

“Ok then.” Celeste looks at Jayden and Stacey and the four sorcerers join hands. Micheal closes his eyes and extinguishes the candles with one slow breath. When he opens them he finds himself back home in his room. It feels different. Like a dream. Micheal sits for a moment until he hears his mother’s voice.

“Micheal!”

“Yes!?”

“Get in here.” Michelle demands.

Mike gets up and walks towards his mothers room. He enters cautiously.

“I don’t want you hanging out with that boy anymore.”

“Stacey? Mom, he’s my friend.”

“Your friend is trouble.”

“Its not his fault. He was defending me”

“Defending you from what?”

Micheal doesn’t respond.

“You’ve been acting strange for months Micheal. You don’t talk to me. Now you’re fighting in school and getting suspended? I feel like I don’t know who you are anymore”

Micheal bows his head and swallows the lump in his throat before he speaks again.

“Mom, I'm gay.”

Michelle rises from her bed and stands in front of Micheal. She lifts his head so that his eyes meet hers.

“I don’t care about that. I love you and I just want you to be a good person. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” Micheal answers softly.

“Come here”. Michelle wraps her arms around Micheal and he does the same. Tears start to flow down his face.

“I love you mommy.” Micheal professes as the dreamlike world dissolves around him. He closes his eyes and when he reopens them his mother is gone. His tears remain, as well as his friends and mentor.

The group unclasp their hands and scurry to comfort their beloved. Closing in on Micheal, they form a big group hug.

“You ok?” Stacey asks

“Yes. Thank you. Thank you all. I love you guys so much. Thank you for being my family”

“Awe! No problem Mikey.” Jayden adds. “Can we cut this cake now?”

The group laughs.

“Yes. Lets” Celeste declares.