The Magic Touch by Jody Lynn Nye Read Free Book Online Page B

Clarice’s whole body quivered. She stared upward, watching the magic go, and Rose surveyed her handiwork. The girl’s long legs were now clad in royal purple stirrup pants. On top she wore a thin fuchsia sweater with white and purple tiger stripes swooping down from one shoulder to the opposite hip. Clarice looked down at herself and squeaked with glee.
    “This outfit is a one-night rental,” Rose warned her. “Tomorrow, you’re on your own for duds.”
    “Yes, ma’am!” Clarice exclaimed. She tottered to the mirror on top of the nearest dresser to look at herself, and her mouth dropped open. Rose had to admit the spell had been first-class.
    A little magical hairdressing had combed the girl’s hair, puffing here, braiding there, and tucked in a little pink star over one ear. Clarice looked radiantly happy, a transformation from the depressed, withdrawn child she’d been when Rose and Ray walked in on her just a short time ago. Rose nodded to herself. A little self-confidence. That’s all it would take to bring out all Clarice’s natural beauty. That Dyland would be sorry he walked away from such a treasure.
    Clarice turned around, radiant with joy. “Now what do I do?” she asked.
    “Now? You go skating.” Rose felt in her purse. “Here’s five bucks,” she said, extending a bill to the girl. “The local roller rink is only about six blocks from here, isn’t it? You go down there and have yourself a wonderful time, all right? Those are magic skates. I promise you, you won’t fall on your can—not even once ,and you’ll be able to dance, or race, or whatever daredevil thing it is kids do.” She raised a warning finger to still the girl’s rising enthusiasm. “But be home by midnight, or these things turn right back into those old, moldering cabbages. Got me?” Clarice nodded, speechless. “Now, go get your daddy’s permission to go, and you have a wonderful time, honey.”
    “Yes, ma’am! Thank you, ma’am,” Clarice said, clutching the greenback like a lucky piece. Almost in a trance, she wandered out of the room.
    “They won’t really turn back into cabbages, will they?” Raymond asked, wrinkling his nose.
    Rose smiled at him and patted his arm. “No, but I’m not going to tell her that. She’ll need those skates. It’ll take more than one successful night of people making a fuss over her before she comes out of her shell and sees the good things in her family situation. She needs to be home in bed long before midnight. Her father’s a strong-minded churchgoer, and she’ll have to be up with the family in time for service.”
    Raymond’s brows went down. He must think the old lady’s trying to sell him a load of clams again , Rose thought. Ah, well. And just when they were starting to make some progress in trust.
    “How do you know this family goes to church?” he asked.
    “I smell it,” she said, tapping the side of her nose with her forefinger. “Duty, piety, and faith are strong in this house. You start to pick these things up after a while.”
    “What’s he going to say about her new outfit? He gonna think she stole it?”
    “Hah! It’s just clothes. He won’t notice.” Of that Rose was certain.
    Raymond had just one more question. “How do you know this will turn her around?”
    “This is her miracle,” Rose said. “You’ll see.”
    O O O
    Clarice flew past them on the long side of the big oval rink, her cheeks glowing. She glanced back over her shoulder, and let out a playful shriek as two tall teenage boys bore down on her. She tried to pick up speed by swinging her arms. The teenagers bent lower, pumping their powerful arms and thighs to catch up, then overtake her. Each of them grabbed one hand and pulled her out into the center of the floor, spinning her in circles, shouting to her all the while. Ray couldn’t hear what they were saying over the loud music, but he could tell the girl was having a wonderful time. She pulled away from them, and skated a