Page 11 of Sweetheart and the Grouch
“How did I become a magician?” I ask with a chuckle.
“Well, because you show up right when you’re needed. That’s called having a sixth sense which is a lot like magic.Andyou know how to make stuff better. Like how you turned vegetables into something tasty, and you made this smelly stuff for the walls with stuff from your pantry. It’s all magic!” Ever since breakfast, Ellie has been singing my praises. She ate three muffins and took some in a Tupperware container for later. Ainsley couldn’t believe it.
“As much as I’d like to be magic, this is all just regular old-fashioned homecare stuff. I learned it all from my mom growin’ up.”
“Even the vegetable trick?”
“Yup. My little brother, Rafe, hated vegetables like you do. So my mom came up with ways to make food that used vegetables and tasted like treats. Did you know you can make chocolate muffins with beets?”
She gasps. “Witchcraft. Wizardry!”
I laugh again. “Almost.”
“How many brothers do you have?” she asks, dipping her cloth into the bucket and wringing it out.
“Three.”
“Wow. I don’t haveanybrothers. Just my one sister. What are their names?”
“Dylan, Nelson and Rafe.”
“Are they old like you?”
I chuckle. “I’m the third oldest, so I guess they are. Only Rafe is younger than me.”
“How old is he?”
“Thirty-four.”
“How old are you?”
“Thirty-five.”
“Hmm. I’m only ten.”
“Only? Don’t be in a hurry to grow up.”
“Why not? Growing up seems fine. Have you seen your house, Ajax? It’s pretty cool. Way better than any place I’ve ever lived in.”
“What about this one? What do you think of the cabin?”
“It’s real nice. Ainsley sold her car and all her furniture for this so she said I better be grateful.”
“Are you?”
“I haven’t spent much time here, Ajax. So I can’t give a proper review.”
“But based on what you’ve seen so far?”
“I’m grateful she brought me here.”
“I’ll bet.” I pause my wall washing and turn to face the little girl’s eyes.
“Yeah. I didn’t wanna go into foster care. But I am kinda sad I had to leave most my stuff behind. We couldn’t bring much with us since we had to go before they—”
“Ellie!” Ainsley’s voice cuts through the conversation faster than I register her return to the room. “Ajax doesn’t need to knowallour business.”
“But he’s our friend.”
