Marian Rakestraw - A Little Touch of Magic

A Little Touch of Magic

a novel by

Marian Rakestraw

Copyright 2021 Marian Rakestraw

Published by Woodneath Press

8900 NE Flintlock Rd.

Kansas City, MO 64157

Cover design: Mikhail Shadeed

Copyeditor: Emma Hintch

All rights reserved. This book, or part thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission from the publisher or author, except for the inclusion of brief passages in a review.

The Kraken by Alfred Lord Tennyson

This poem is in the public domain. poets.org/poem/kraken

Publishers Cataloguing-in-Publication

(Provided by Woodneath Press: A Program of Mid-Continent Public Library)

Rakestraw, Marian

A Little Touch of Magic / Marian Rakestraw

p. cm.

ISBN-13: 978-1-942337-19-5

1. Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / General
2. Young Adult Fiction / Literary

Praise for A Little Touch of Magic

A Little Touch of Magic sweeps you into a bewitching world, sure to enthrall young readers as they witness a totally normal girls life turn upside down. With delightful, quirky characters and a well weaved plot, A Little Touch of Magic is guaranteed to make to make anyone laugh. Alisha, 9 th grade

Endearing characters and magical calamities combine to make a book you can't put down. Allie, high school senior

With its otherworldly feel and charming characters, A Little Touch of Magic is sure to leave you spellbound. Divya, high school freshman

It's like Percy Jackson meets Harry Potter. Jaylen, 7 th grade

Elwood was funny, entertaining, and definitely my favorite character. This book is packed to the brim with magical action and amusing situations. Kivrin, 7 th grade

This whirlwind story about a magical girl and her wacky family is filled with hilarious and honest truths that come with growing up and getting to know yourself that is sure to leave you wanting more from this amazing new author. Lauren, high school senior

A Little Touch of Magic is a brilliantly written fantasy novel that delves into family relationships and has excellent character building while also incorporating an intriguing setting that involves lots of magical creatures. Mallory, high school sophomore

Rakestraws fantastical tale of fairies grounded in the seemingly mundane world of Oregon is peppered with laugh out loud moments that are sure to leave you anticipating the next bit of witty commentary from the wildly lovable cast of characters. Neha, high school senior

With its whimsical plot and mystical characters, A Little Touch of Magic will charm you into believing in the impossible! Soumya, 9 th grade

The Bright Powers are always beautiful and desirable, and the Dim Powers are now beautiful, now quaintly grotesque, but the Dark Powers express their unbalanced natures in shapes of ugliness and horror.

William Butler Yeats, The Celtic Twilight

Chapter One

T he desk sergeant was Officer Calhoun. He was the same middle-aged, soft-bellied, squinty-eyed man who had worked as the crossing guard in front of Fairhaven Elementary every single day of my school life until last year, when I had flown the nest and entered middle school. He was the same guy who came every year to tell us all not to take drugs and handed out ribbons to all of the Healthy Choices poster contest winners. He was the same guy who patrolled slowly through downtown on Halloween, making sure speeding cars didnt squash little wizards and monsters crossing the road to trick-or-treat businesses. Now, he was standing behind the desk trying to look official and serious.

If you could just spell your last name for me, please, Miss. He licked the tip of his ballpoint, like that was necessary, and stood there waiting.

Officer Calhoun, not to be rude, but you know how to spell it. And the first. I think you sang me a verse of Rowan, Rowan, Rowan Your Boat every morning all through Kindergarten.

He sighed. Just spell it, please. For the register.

F-I-N-N-E-G-A-N. R-O-W-A-N. I shifted my bag to my other hand, then decided it was too heavy to keep carrying and set it down. Who knew getting into jail was so hard? I guess it only is if you want to get out again right away. Otherwise, you can just throw a brick through a hardware store window. Or stab a police cruiser with a sword fifteen times.

Officer Calhoun carefully wrote my name in the register. Now. Who are you here to see today?

A folded newspaper sat on the counter next to the register. Only half of the front-page headline was visible, but I knew the whole thing. A Sworded Tale and then in smaller type Famed Academician and Theater Director Attacks Police Car .

My father. Then, seeing that Officer Calhoun was going to stick with his I-have-no-idea-who-you-are-despite-having-known-you-since-forever routine, I added, Hugh Finnegan.

You can see him for ten minutes. He glanced at my bag. If you wish to do so, you may leave him some basic items to assist him in his stay here. No explosives. No firearms. No sharp implement of any kind that can be used as a knife. No liquids greater than 3 ounces. No alcohol at all.

He wasnt drunk, Officer Calhoun. My father never drinks.

Calhoun actually rolled his eyes at that. I mean, really rolled them up so that you could see the whites. I hadnt expected him to have a flair for the dramatic. There certainly hadnt been any evidence of it during any of those Healthy Choices presentations. I felt a little pang somewhere in the region of my heart. Here was another person that looked at my father and saw a weirdo.

Has anyone ever actually come in here with a bag full of explosives?

Calhoun shifted his weight from one foot to the other and leaned an elbow on the desk. That isnt the point, Rowan. People come in. I give the standard speech. Everybody follows the rules. Everybody is happy. Things run smoothly.

Well, I definitely dont have any weapons with me. Just tea and his tablet with a bunch of meditation podcasts downloaded. Is that okay?

Yeah, thats okay. I still have to check the bag, though.

He reached out a hand and I passed the bag over. He grunted a little from the weight. I might have packed a few extra things in there besides the tea. Calhoun spilled it all out onto the counter. A bag of Chamomile tea, excellent for relaxation. A mug. A silver tea strainer. The aforementioned tablet and its headphones. A box with a dozen fresh-baked organic oatmeal cookies. Officer Calhoun paused there a little longer than he had at the other items. A sleep mask. Lavender oil, in a bottle well under the three-ounce limit, for dabbing on the temples. A tiny pair of finger cymbals to ring at the end of meditation. Officer Calhoun looked at all of it, except the cookies, with the sort of bafflement that verges on bedazzlement. I shoved it all back in the bag and tried very hard to look confident and ready.

He led me through to the interview room. Really it was just another room off the lobby that they used for everything from public meetings to the annual Fairhaven Police Department Christmas party. There were only six officers on the entire force so I doubted it was much of a shindig, but Id never been invited so I couldnt prove that.