It Will Happen Tonight

In a normal little home on the edge of town, it's about to happen.

Bathtime.

The old water heater has been clanking all afternoon for this. Clean fluffy PJs are warming in the airing cupboard right now. A small girl with sparks in her eyes and a toothy gap under her milk moustache will stand on tiptoe to lean across the sink and squeak her finger through the steam on the mirror. Hot water churning into bubbles in the tub.

“In you get,” her mother will say, “And you're not making Potions with my good shampoo!” She'll take it away.

Niamh will eye the colourful plastic bottles still standing to attention on the edge of the bath.

Having sustained a semi-mortal injury today, climbing (or more accurately, falling from) trees, she'll mix her first Potion. A facecloth will work as a bandage. She'll supply the gruff voice of the herb-wizard:

“It’s made from... rare mountain flowers,” he'll explain. “Put it on like this,” he'll smear the colourful goop on her ankle and wrap the bandage neatly round it. “But for best results,” (they say this on TV adverts) “for best results, you pour it into water like this, and soak the hurt leg in it.”

Swish swish to activate the magic.

“You gotta soak it ages,” he'll add, very wise. “'Til your toes go wrinkly. That shows the magick's working.”

The clear plastic bottle on the end is bigger than the others. Niamh will steady it between her knees and unscrew the cap.

“Niamh! Are you ready to get out yet?”

“One more potion!” she'll call back.

A thin layer of blue slime still coats the bottom. Niamh will splosh a little water in each bottle, shake it, pour it in.

Dragon blood. Scrambled phoenix eggs.

It glows with powerful magic. Delighted, Niamh pours it on her hands and rubs it all over herself and into her hair.

The power will crackle over her body. She'll grins at her distorted reflection in the tap, laughing to see her hair streaked with white and sticking out in all directions.

Tomorrow, Shockwave will fly fearless from branch to branch.

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Author's Note:

Word count: 366

(NB. This excludes the title, subtitle, and authors note.)

Submitted on Sunday 25th August at 22:00

A Year of Stories: I'm writing (and submitting, here) a story every day this year. This one continues my 238 day streak since 1st January.

Please consider lending your support to the other creators on this madcap "a story every day" adventure. They're putting out excellent content every day!

Rachel Deeming

Gerard DiLeo

The story behind the story: this is an idea I had for the Epic Beginnigs Challenge. I'll try to edit this one and submit a more streamlined version to the challenge.

Thank you

Especially if you are one of the wonderful people who has been staunchly reading these daily scribbles since the start of the year. I see you, and appreciate you very much indeed!

If you enjoyed this one, the very best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another!

Here's a recent Top Story of mine:

A recent Runner Up placement for one of my Wanky Poems:

Another recent challenge entry:

My look back at July:

My reflections on the recent nonet challenge:

My current Dollar Challenge:

And now for something completely different:

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Thank you again!