Updated 6/22/03

After I had deposited my plate at the top of the tippy-toppy pile of dirty dishes in the sink, I went for a short walk to clear my mind before starting work again on the spell. I drummed my fingers and chewed on my eraser; stared into space and occasionally scribbled a few words, and by about seven o'clock, this is what I had come up with:

Help me spirits, come to me
Grant me the power of magic glory
I need the essence of this child
And the Earth will be mine, I brave and wild
The gem of will into this stone
For me to reign on my powerful throne
All the magic I possess
Make this spell be good, the best
O Spirits, that is all I ask
To help me with this worthy task.

Smiling contentedly, I read the spell over and over, until I had it memorized. Then I poured the potion into a fragile glass bottle, sealed it, and wrapped it in tissue paper. I place the bottle and a written copy of the spell into a small, back bag, and put the bag in an empty room with only a lit candle for company. I was too excited to sleep, but I went to bed anyway and alternated reciting the hex in my head and thinking about my project for the nest day: B.B.

* * *

Right after school the next day, I hurried to Todd's house, hoping B.B. would be there alone. I knew that Todd and Alice both had a Student Council meeting and wouldn't be walking past this way for a while. Luckily, I found B.B. right in the front yard, taking a nap.

This should be easy, I thought to myself. I patted B.B. and scratched his ears until he woke up, then pulled a dog toy out of my backpack and waved it in front of his face. Like any ordinary dog, he was eager to fetch the ball for me time after time, and after a while I was almost having fun. We kept playing until about quarter to four, at which time Alice walked past. I tried to ignore her, but the next time I threw the ball to B.B., she intercepted it and threw it into the street. Realizing that I couldn't afford to counter her power again, I picked up my backpack and hurried across the road with my head down, barely missing being hit by a tan minivan. I heard a squeal of brakes and, assuming the driver was furious at me, hastened home.

I woke up the next morning with one thought on my mind: T-minus 3 days and counting. I decided to go to school again - maybe strike up a friendly conversation with Todd - and to see B.B. again later to do the Spell of Possession. I arrived a little bit early and, upon entering the classroom, saw the teacher at the desk, crying quietly. Most of the kids in the classroom looked pretty upset too.

I whispered to Marie Turner, "What happened?"

She gave me a long look and managed to mutter, "Alice died. She got hit by a car yesterday." Then she burst into tears. Not wanting to take the blame for making her cry, I left Marie and went to my desk. Alice. that minivan. I hadn't looked back as I hurried away. was that.? I blinked a few times and shook my head.

But, thank Isis, that's when I stopped being preoccupied with trying to look sad and realized what a blessing this was. Alice was dead! No more interfering; no more magic wasted. No more suspicion. It was almost too good to be true! I couldn't believe my luck. I didn't have to worry anymore about how to get rid of Alice; the problem had been solved for me. I tried to counter the smile creeping across my face with thoughts of what I could do next.

* * *

Class started a little late, of course, and the principal came in and made a bunch of pointless announcements. Finally, we were instructed to open our math books, and then I sat through that until lunch time. I still had a few things to do. As soon as kids started heading toward the cafeteria, I rushed away from school and toward Todd's house. Forget learning. Who needs it, right? I hugged and patted B.B., then took out a Possession Spell I had worked hard to find in my book, along with my crystal. I picked up B.B. and put our heads together, with the crystal on her forehead. I said the spell nervously:

Tahshu eztarza liscium azora nota binquind
Nosala hosecus nogethadid alafa isquiti athotimm

It was written in an ancient language that all magicians learned. The spell I wrote was in English because I had written it myself. But before that thought had finished its run through my head, I began to feel something amazing. It was like another consciousness in my head, as if I had two to control. When I commanded it, B.B. moved. I could tell him what to do, control him completely. I'd never imagined anything like it, and definitely never felt it before. I felt so free, like I could do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted and no one would care. It was a rush of new senses - dog senses - like I'd never imagined. It was terrific.

I was reluctant to leave, but I knew I had to. I headed home.

* * *

I had done some research (and a lot of snooping) and gotten a rough idea of who would be in Todd's house when today. His father has a full time job, and I found out that Todd would go shopping with his mother after school. It made sense that they'd come home around 4:00. After school, I set B.B. in their living room, near the front door. B.B. would lead Todd upstairs, where I would say the spell. This way, it would take his mother a lot longer to figure out where he was. I removed from my black bag the crystal, the bottle containing the potion, and the spell. As soon as Todd came near enough, I would throw the potion onto the floor. I would hold out my crystal say the spell, and then grab the gem that would emerge from his head, the real source of his thought and will. Then I would stuff everything into my backpack and split before his mother came in. Todd would look perfectly normal, but he would essentially be a zombie, under my complete control, if I decided to control him. All his mother would find was some broken glass and a bluish stain on the carpeting.

At about 4:15, their car drove up. Todd hopped out and ran inside. He was carrying a huge grocery bag. His mother started driving around the house to park the car. I felt myself grabbing a hold on B.B.'s brain, getting ready.

The door opened. Immediately, B.B. started jumping up and down, barking loudly. He ran to the stairs and back, indicating for Todd to follow. Setting the bag down, Todd did. I could see him making his way upstairs, anxious to see what B.B. was so excited about. He finally got to the middle of the hall, just at the angle where someone downstairs wouldn't be able to see him. I jumped out from where I was hiding and threw the potion on the floor. The glass broke, the air became thick. I imagined that through the blue fog, I looked like a freakish harridan, robed with my own magic and ready to cast spells that would cause lightning to shoot up from the ground, oceans to dry up, and the Earth to spin towards the sun. I caught my reflection in Todd's eyes: I looked beautiful and cruel. I held out the crystal, and, summoning all the power I had in me, recited the spell.

I struggled to hurry and not to cough.

Halfway through, Todd started yelling. "What are you doing? Is this some kind of joke? Stop it!" As he realized that I was serious, his cries changed to, "I always knew you were evil. Stop! You can't hurt me!" and then to just plain screams.

I had completed the spell. I waited for something to happen, but nothing did. The realization hit me like a shock of icy water. The spell hadn't worked. I hadn't had enough power. I had to try it again. Choking on the smoke swirling around me, I anxiously repeated the words, speaking as loudly as I could. I could hardly concentrate; the noise level was so high. My frantic recitation, Todd's screaming, and the shouts from downstairs of, "Todd? Todd, honey? What's going on? Where are you?" followed by the pounding of feet on the stairs, were all making everything maddeningly difficult.

Todd's mother came into view at the top of the stairs. Her straight black hair flew behind her as she ran down the hall to us and started yelling. "What do you think you're doing?! Stay away from my son!"

I finished the spell again. The air began to glow faintly, but then the glow died down. I was too tired and too weak to try it again, and now, as my eyelids began to droop, as my movements became soupy and slow, it finally occurred to me what the consequences would be. I was about to pass out, but I felt a sharp pain in my ankle and a bang on my head. Through a blanket of slow motion, I realized what was going on: Todd's mother had kicked me in the shin, trying to keep me from her son. Then Todd had punched me, backing me up toward the stairs. Todd lifted his foot to kick me in the stomach, but at the last minute I dodged out of the way, jumping up and to my left, thinking I had outsmarted them. But I relaxed too soon, because as I landed I felt myself leaning backwards over the banister. I windmilled my arms, but it was too late, and I was diving towards the floor.

November 4, 2000
Dear Diary,
An ambulance came and took Jacqueline away. Our neighbors, the Newtons, had called 911, but by the time she got to the hospital, it was too late. I was too much in shock to be paying attention right after it happened, but my mother told me about the event later. She also told me she had lied to the nurse. She had said that Jacqueline had come to visit, spilled some soda, and tried to run downstairs, but tripped over the top step and fell over the banister. I'm wondering what really happened. Mom threw out all the stuff she brought with her.
It had been scary having Jacqueline around. I know this is the most terrible thing to think, but I'm grateful I don't have to worry about her anymore. I'm not quite sure what she was trying to do to me, and I don't think I ever want to know. I'm glad it's over.
Well, goodnight, I'll write tomorrow.

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