Lily was stretched out on the floor supporting her chin with her hands and watching a carton. Hearing him enter the room she turned to look at him. Smiling, she asked, "Are you going to watch cartoons with me?"
"Yes," Sean said taking a seat on the couch.
Lily got off the floor and jumped on the couch. She pointed to the television and said, "You'll love this. The cat is going try to hit the mouse with that frying pan."
"Really?" Sean asked knowing that he was going to get a running commentary of every action a minute before it happened.
"That's right. The mouse is going move the cat's tail to where the frying pan is going to hit," Lily said.
"That's going to be so funny," Sean said smiling at his little sister. Other kids might complain about their younger siblings, but he enjoyed his little sister. He didn't necessarily enjoy the cartoons, but the time spent with his sister was always fun.
"It is so much fun watching television with you," Lily said looking up at her big brother. She adored her big brother. He was the greatest big brother that any girl could want except for in the morning. Then he was just a big grump.
"It is fun watching television with you, Lily," Sean said rubbing her on the head.
Looking in the direction of the kitchen, Lily asked, "Is Mommy upset with you?"
"Yes, she is," Sean said.
"Why?" Lily asked, "Did you put too much toilet paper in the toilet?"
"No," Sean said.
"Mommy got so upset with me when I did that," Lily said. She had been paddled on the bottom and sent to her room.
"I remember," Sean said recalling when Lily had done that last year. The water had flooded the whole floor. It had been made worse when Lily kept flushing the toilet thinking that it would make the water go down.
"So what did you do?" Lily asked.
"I may have gotten into a fight with Max," Sean said. He looked down at the rock in his hand and ordered it to spin once. When it did, he had to admit that the events that morning had probably happened just as he remembered them.
"I hope that you beat him up real good," Lily said, but she didn't think that was possible. Max was a really big man and she had seen Max hurting her brother in the past.
"Fighting is never good. According to Mom, he's in pretty sad shape," Sean said. He wondered how Max was feeling and wondered if he should go over there to find out. Almost as soon as the thought came to him, he dismissed it.
"He scares me sometimes," Lily said with a shiver. She was afraid that Max was going to hurt her big brother sometime.
"Tell me if he ever touches you, okay?" Sean said getting serious.
Lily said, "He's big and mean."
"Don't worry, I'll protect you from him," Sean said. He remembered why he had charged at Max that morning. Just the idea of Max doing something like that to any girl had made his blood boil. He was pretty sure that he'd kill Max if the guy ever touched his sister. He looked at the rock in his hand and thought about what he could do now.
Lily looked at the television and said, "The mouse is going to paint the cat's tail so that it looks like a mouse. The cat is going to eat itself."
Sean hugged his sister and said, "That will be funny."
Their mother stuck her head in the room and said, "Rub a dub dub, time to eat the grub."
"Scarf scarf scarf, barf barf barf," Sean replied.
Lily giggled and said, "That was a good one."
"In the kitchen, kids," their mother said.
Rising from the couch, Sean went over to the video player and turned it off. He said, "Let's get to it."
"Okay," Lily said getting off the couch.
Walking to the kitchen with his sister, Sean asked, "What do you think we're having for lunch?"
"Soup and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and milk," Lilly said skipping happily at the idea of having her favorite lunch.
"You're probably right," Sean said. Just because his mother had sent him to the store for soup didn't mean they were going to actually have soup. When they entered the kitchen, he saw that she had been right.
Taking a seat at the table, Sean reached for his soup spoon. It met his hand about halfway surprising him. He hadn't consciously called the spoon to his hand. He looked around the table, but no one had noticed the unusual behavior of his silverware. He hunkered over the soup eating it.
He ate his lunch wondering if he was supposed to keep his magic abilities a secret. He thought about secret government agencies coming in the middle of the night to carry him away. With his active imagination he could see organized crime families wanting to exploit his abilities in pursuing their criminal activities. Images of witches getting burned at the stake came to mind. By the time he had finished his lunch he was halfway convinced that rather than being gifted he had been cursed.
Watching him sit back in his seat upon finishing his sandwich, his mother was worried about him. It seemed that he was just a little out of it the whole day. Normally he made smart-ass comments about everything. She wondered just much the fight that morning had affected him. Trying to get him to talk about it, she said, "You're quiet today."
"I guess," Sean said shrugging his shoulders.
"Tell me about what happened this morning," his mother said.
"I told you about the dream I had," Sean said deciding that sticking to his original story about the events was the best policy.
"Do you really believe it was a dream?" his mother asked.
"I guess," Sean answered thinking that she would never believe the truth. He had experienced it and still didn't quite believe it.
Giving up, she said, "Go and mow the lawn."
"Yes, Mom," Sean said rising from the table.
She looked at his clothes and asked, "Aren't you going to change into something a little more suitable?"
Sean looked down at his clothes. Looking embarrassed, he said, "I keep forgetting about that."
"You're a strange boy," his mother said watching him leave the kitchen. Sweat pants, plaid shirt, and flip-flops. She wasn't sure what kind of fashion statement that was, but it was definitely not normal.
Lily said, "I don't think he's strange."
"That's because you are used to him."
"Oh," Lily said.
"After he's done mowing the lawn, you can play in the backyard."
"I'd rather watch cartoons," Lily said with a frown.
"I'd rather be a fashion model in Paris vacationing in San Tropez, but I'm not," her mother said mispronouncing Tropez. She pronounced the z because she liked mispronouncing foreign words.
"Huh?" Lily said. She didn't understand half of the things her mother told her.
"Never mind," her mother said. Pointing towards the bedroom, she said, "Get into some clothes appropriate for playing outside."
"Yes, Mom," Lily said. She stopped and asked, "Where is Sand Troops?"
"What?" her mother asked.
"You said you wanted to vacation in Sand Troops."
"It is somewhere in France," her mother said, "Now change your clothes."
"I'd rather be in Sand Troops," Lily said heading off to her bedroom.
"Put on a bathing suit and we'll pretend to be in San Tropez," her mother said.
"How can I pretend to be in Sand Troops when I don't know where it is?" Lily asked.
"Just put on your swimsuit and I'll explain it," her mother said. She muttered, "Kids these days just don't know how to play anymore."
Sean changed into a pair of blue jeans and a clean t-shirt. It appeared that his mother had refilled his drawer with clean shirts. He dug out a pair of socks and put on his shoes. Now he was dressed like a normal teenager.
Sean went out and mowed the lawn. One of the problems with living in the country was that the lawn was very large. Fortunately, he had a riding lawnmower, but it still took almost an hour to do the whole yard. While he steered the mower around the yard, he discovered some limitations to his magic ability. He couldn't move large sticks that weighed more than a couple ounces. It was actually pretty useless when it came to mowing.
After putting up the mower, he walked around to the backyard. His mother was stretched out on a lounge chair drinking a coke. She was wearing her bathing suit and dark sun glasses. His sister was similarly attired and occupied with a glass of coke as well. Stopping in front of them, he asked, "What's up?"
Lily answered, "We're fashion models vacationing in Sand Troops."
It took Sean a few seconds to figure out what she meant. He said, "You're lucky you aren't in San Tropez. They require women to sunbath topless."
"Mommy! Sean is a pervert," Lily shouted.
"You're right, Lily. There are a lot of perverts in Sand Troops," his mother said.
"What are you drinking?" Sean asked.
"Mind Ties," Lily answered.
"Mind Ties?" Sean asked trying to figure out that one. He gave up and said, "Don't drink too many of them. You'd hate to end up with your mind tied to some bad idea."
Lily looked at her mother and asked, "That won't happen, will it?"
"Look at your brother. His mind is tied to all kinds of bad ideas," her mother answered.
Lily looked at the soft drink and said, "I don't think I want to drink any more of these."
"Those are pretend Mind Ties," Sean said.
Worried, Lily looked at the soft drink and asked, "Really?"
"Really," Sean answered.
"Okay," Lily said.
Sean shook his head and wondered how she was going to survive to adulthood. He said, "I'll leave you to your sun bathing at Sand Troops while drinking pretend Mind Ties."
"Where do you think you are going?" his mother asked.
"I was going to go play in the woods," Sean answered.
His mother said, "Aren't you forgetting that you're grounded?"
"If I remember correctly, I have to sleep in late in the morning," Sean answered trying to look contrite and as if that was the most horrible punishment he could imagine.
"You remember incorrectly," his mother said.
"Really?"
His mother said, "We're out of soft drinks. Go to the store and get some."
"Okay," Sean said. It was normal for his mother to send him to the store a dozen or more times a day. He was convinced that it was a secret program to make sure that he got some exercise. He sighed and said, "I need some money."
"It's on the counter," his mother replied. She preened and whispered to Lily, "It is so hard to be one of the beautiful people. Everyone stares at you in envy."
"I know," Lily said acting like she was fanning herself.
"Oh brother," Sean said heading into the house. He stepped in the house and spotted the money on the counter. Holding his hand out, he commanded the money to come to him. It flew across the room and landed in his hand. Smiling, he said, "That could be useful."
He turned and headed towards the woods. He walked along until he got to the part of the path that split off to Max Baxter's house. He stood there remembering how many times Max had jumped out from that section of the path to rough him up. It wasn't that Max beat him bloody, although that happened on occasion. Usually, Max would stuff Sean's head under his armpit and scrub his head with his knuckles or give him wedgies.
Using his new magic powers, he gathered together a small pile of stones at the base of a tree. He noticed that using magic was getting easier with practice. Smiling at the result, he said, "Let's see Max bully me now."
He headed to the store. Once there, he headed over to the cooler to get a six pack of soft drinks. He picked up an extra one to drink on the walk back. Going over to the counter, he set the drinks down. The clerk looked at the drinks and said, "I take it you're here for a six pack."
"That's right."
"So you get seven," Sam said.
"One, two, three, three, four, five, six. That's six," Sean said.
The clerk rang up the sale and took the money. Handing the change back to Sean, he asked, "Do you want a bag?"
"Of course," Sean said.
The guy grabbed a plastic bag and put the drinks in it. He held up a second bag and said, "As many times as you come in here, I should insist that you wear one of these on your head so that I'm not bothered by your looks."
"Ha ha, very funny," Sean replied rolling his eyes.
"How many more times will I see your ugly face today?" Sam asked.
Sean looked at a pack of cigarettes and ordered it to hit the clerk on the head. When the pack didn't move, his first thought was that he'd lost the magic ability. It took him a second to realize that it weighed too much. He tried one item at a time until a three pack of condoms hit the clerk in the back of the head.
Rubbing the back of his head, the clerk bent down and picked up the package of condoms. Holding them up, he said, "I wonder how that happened."
Standing at the door, Sean said, "It was a message from God letting you know that your parents should have used those nine months before you were born."
"Your parents should have used them," the clerk said as he threw the box of condoms at Sean.
Sean caught the box of condoms and grinned. He held it up for the clerk to see. He said, "Thanks for the present. I shall cherish it forever as a reminder of your fond affections for me."
"Get out of here!"
"See ya' later," Sean said as he stepped out of the store.
After Sean left, the clerk said, "I can't believe I did that. I'm going to have to pay for them."
Pausing at where the trail entered the parking lot of the convenience store, Sean slipped the package of condoms in the bag with the soft drinks. He pulled out the extra soft drink and opened it. After taking a drink, he headed home. He played with the leaves along the trail as he walked.
Reaching home, he passed by his mother. She snapped her fingers to get his attention and said, "You can leave the soft drinks here."
Sean handed the bag to her and headed for the house. He had nearly reached the door when his mother screamed, "Sean Connery Michaels!"
He turned and looked at his mother puzzled by her shout. He asked, "What?"
"What are these?" she asked holding up a box.
Lily asked, "What are they?"
"Oh, God," Sean said staring at the box of condoms. He had completely forgotten about them being in the bag. He said, "They were a present from the clerk."
"And what would the clerk be doing giving you these?" his mother asked.
Sean grimaced and answered, "He suggested that you should have used them."
"What?" his mother asked getting out of her chair.
Not understanding what was going on, Lily stood up and put her hands on her hips just like her mother. In the same tone of voice, she asked, "What?"
His mother turned to Lily and, in a false sweet voice, said, "Lily. Why don't you go and watch some cartoons?"
"Okay," Lily said heading into the house.
"I'll go with her," Sean said looking for a good excuse to get out of the way.
"Stay where you are, Sean," his mother commanded.
It was the command voice and Sean found it impossible to disobey. He froze and looked back at his mother. He said, "I'm staying."
His mother waited for Lily to enter the house. Once she was in there, she said, "Now tell me about what happened at the store."
"The clerk doesn't like me," Sean said. Looking sheepish, he said, "We trade insults."
"You seem to provoke the worst in people," his mother said shaking her head.
Sean shrugged his shoulders and said, "What can I say? It is a natural talent."
"You have the worst natural talents of anyone I know," his mother said.
"I must have inherited them from someone," Sean said pointing at his mother.
"Maybe the clerk was right," she said. She threw the box of condoms at him.
Sean caught them and asked, "What am I supposed to do with these?"
"In the highly unlikely case that you should ever get laid, I suggest that you use them."
"Before or after getting laid?" Sean asked.
His mother laughed and said, "Get out of here, smart ass."
Sean went into his room and levitated the box of condoms into the drawer by his bed. He reached over and closed the drawer. Glancing down at the drawer, he said, "It just struck me that I should probably use them while getting laid. Hmm, I'm going to have to think about that."
"I've got to learn a bit more about this gift of magic," he said. He picked up the rock given to him by Pip. He said, "I guess I should start getting a feel for what I can move."
He sat down on the bed and looked around the room. Looking from item to item, he gave each a command to wiggle once. Some items surprised him when they responded. He had never realized how many things were made of plastic. His plastic comb moved, but not his wood hair brush. He said, "It is amazing that I never noticed how much individual items weigh."
He noticed the sock that he had taken to the woods earlier that day and decided that it was time to put the coins back in the cardboard holders. Thinking that the sock weight too much to move, he went over and picked it up. Taking it over to his desk, he dumped the coins out. As he reached for a coin, he ordered it to turn heads up. The coin flipped over so that it was head side up.
He went through the coins one at a time putting them in the cardboard holder. There weren't too many empty spots in the coin folders covering recent years. The coin collection folders that covered coins more than thirty years old still contained lots of empty spots. Occasionally he'd come across an old wheat penny or liberty dime and add it to his collection. He was always thrilled when he filled an empty spot in the cardboard coin folder.
Coin collecting had not been his first choice in hobbies. He had initially wanted to collect stamps. There had been one problem with that choice. It seemed like no one used stamps any more. He'd come across one or two stamps a month that he didn't have. It just wasn't the kind of hobby that filled hours of boredom.
He had switched over to coins when it dawned on him that everyone still used coins. In the first month, he had collected an impressive number of coins. Even when he didn't find many coins; going through the coin jar consumed hours of his time.
Coin collecting wasn't his only hobby. He had one other hobby; cruising the internet looking for porn. Of course, he couldn't talk about that hobby with anyone although he was convinced that it had replaced every other hobby in popularity world-wide. The only problem with that hobby was that he could only pursue it after everyone else went to bed. Of the two hobbies, coin collecting came in a distant second in terms of how much time it consumed.
He turned on his computer and looked up the value of the coins he had traded for his magic gift. They came to a little less than a hundred dollars. Thinking about it, he decided that he got a pretty good deal for his money. He chuckled at the idea.
Lily charged into his room and said, "Mom says that you have to go to the store to get some spaghetti noodles."
"Okay," Sean said getting up from his chair.
He followed his sister to the kitchen. When he got there, his mother said, "We need some spaghetti noodles."
"I need some money," Sean said.
"It is on the counter," she said.
Sean picked up the money and paused. He asked, "Do we need spaghetti sauce?"
"No."
"Are you sure?" he asked thinking that he might be able to get out of one trip.
"Positive," she answered.
Sean trudged to the store and bought a package of spaghetti noodles. He made his way back and dropped the change in the change jar. He spotted the bills on the counter and groaned. He handed the noodles to his mother and said, "Here are the noodles you wanted."
"Go get some spaghetti sauce," she said.
"You said that we didn't need any," Sean said.
"I was wrong," she answered with a smile.
He said, "I need some money."
"It is on the counter," she said.
Sean grabbed the money and walked out the back door. His mother went over to the pantry and looked in it. She said, "We're going to need some garlic salt for the garlic bread."
Lily said, "We're going to need some bread, too."
"We'll worry about that later," her mother answered with a chuckle.