As Luck Would Have it

A month had gone by, Thaddeus Logan tested it on customers at the door. He discovered that it had to be made up by a magic user while Betsy was very busy at the factory.

Billy showed up at the factory on magic carpet. “Your ad said that you needed a magic user.”

“I need you to stir my vat each time I change potions. You have to stir them thoroughly. Then, you can help box until the next batch needs to be stirred.”

“How much will you pay me for this?”

“Forty cents an hour.”

“I have never been offered that much.”

“That isauseause your job is very important. You’ll be putting the magic in the potion.”

“Then, I should get paid better.”

“Billy, I can continue doing it myself.”

“I get the message. Fifty cents.”

“Fair enough. It makes my job easier. I’ll be checking samples to see that they aren’t inert.”

“I understand.” Billy stirred the vat after all the ingredients were poured in.

“You have to stir all of it then the mechanical stirrer can take over. Do you have sufficient magic?”

“Would you like a demonstration? I’m an alchemist.” Billy continued stirred the vat.

“You should have made cheap whiskey for my brother.” Betsy’s telekinesis took over.

“I have.” Billy picked up a pencil and it turned to a copper rod. “It isn’t gold but it’ll have to do.”

Betsy takes the rod and bangs onto the kettle. “It’s solid metal.”

“May I have it?” Billy returns it to being a pencil. “Frank was jealous that I had magic. He said it wasn’t fair that you had all the magic and didn’t use it.”

“I created the potion that stopped you from drinking.”

“That was after you came back home.”

“I made it while I was living on my own.”

“But you returned home and rubbed it in his face.”

“I didn’t mean to. Frank discovered that it was more than a glamour potion. I tested it on Alex and she was able to smile first time since her childhood.”

“Why haven’t you marketed it?”

“Because we don’t have the manpower. Now, you’re stirring we will.”

“Now, if you didn’t need magic carpet delivery service.”

“That is our trademark. We’ll find more witches. Pop is interviewing three people this week for sales position.”

“It sounds better than stirring.”

“It\'s a lot of work. Ask my delivery people. They get here at seven thirty. I have to fill each carpet with merchandise. They have to go to seven to ten stores a day. Peter goes to fourteen. He has been working for us much longer than the rest of our staff. We have a three to five day rotation for stores. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. A few of our magic shops need to be stocked every morning.”

“I think I’ll stir.”


“Your job is the most important on the line. Without you, we’re selling pretty bottles.” Betsy watched Billy stir for a few moments. “Billy, I have to check paperwork and filing out the orders for the next day.”

“I’ll fill boxes with bottles between times.”

“Thank you.” Betsy went back to her paperwork. After the vat was empty, Betsy shouted that everyone had a fifteen-minute break. She checked a bottle at the end of the line for magic. It was good.

As everyone returned from their coffee break, Billy and she poured the ingredients for the next potion into the vat. “Another job I need a witch for,” Betsy said.

“Doesn’t anyone else have magic here?” Billy asked.

“Some estimate it is one in twenty,” Betsy said. “I test all my potential employees. I would swear it was closer to one in a hundred.”

“Then, I should get big bucks.”

“Billy, the door isn’t that far away.”

“Fifty cents is much better than anything I got before when I could find work. Do we have to say any magic words?”

“I always recite what potion I’m making but I don’t know if it is necessary. It makes the men in the line happy. Billy, do you want the honor?”

Billy poured in the last batch of herbs then turned on the water. “What kind are we making?”

“The good stuff.”

“Male stamina potion. Anyone caught removing bottles of it will promptly fired,” Billy shouted. “Can I stir this one myself?”

Betsy whispered, “If you think it’ll perform better with your girlfriend, why not? I’ll start the other line.”

Betsy started the other line. She bottled the male stamina potion most of the day. The following day they would make the glamour potions and their other aphrodisiacs. Betsy counted sales as her salespeople arrived. Peter was the first to arrive back. Betsy counted his money and checked his receipts. “Everything sold.”

“I have my order here for tomorrow,” Peter said.

“Good man.” Betsy added up the columns to get the total of for each of the seven potions they sold. She put the cases on the carpet while waiting for the next salesperson.

Alfred, a new salesman, in the Boston area arrived. Betsy took care of the money and receipts. “You’re doing very well. I’m sorry we were short on your order this morning. I’ll fill your order for today.”

“I have people ask about a long term spell,” Alfred said.

“We sell no long term spells,” Betsy said.

“The kind you took.”

“I take a potion at the healer’s office every three months. It’s for my health and no use to anyone else.”

“Rumor has it that it made a woman into a man.”

“Rumor is wrong.”

“Daniel, people say that you were a woman.”

“I’m a woman,” Betsy whispered.

Alfred’s face went rather pale. “I’m too old for such nonsense.”

“I take something that causes me to have male characteristics. I look too manly to use a woman’s name. It’s all rather embarrassing.” Betsy put her hand in Alfred’s wider ones. “These are the slender hands of a woman.”

“Your wedding ring?”

“Yes, I’m married. When I started going by Daniel, I put my engagement ring in a safe deposit box. I hated taking it off.”

“Why do you take it?”

“Because it would be dangerous for me not to. Alfred, I don’t want everyone here knowing I’m a woman. I’m going to talk to my healer about the side effects the next time I see her.”

“A healer gave you it.” Alfred looked like he was losing his balance. Alfred lowered himself to the carpet carefully.

“Yes,” Betsy whispered. ”When I cycle, my telekinesis goes crazy. I killed a woman at a previous job. I’m on medication for the health of others, more than my own health. Don’t let it out to the other workers. No one wants to work for someone with dangerous magic.”

Alfred’s voice squealed with panic. “Your magic is under control now?”

“Yes, as long as I continue to take my medication.”

Alfred touched Betsy’s shoulder. “Danny, you’re really a woman under your clothes?”

When Betsy nodded, Alfred took his hand from Betsy’s shoulder and blushed.

Betsy still whispered although it wasn’t necessary, “How do you manage to talk about the male stamina potion?”

“I say the good stuff. People know what it means. I don’t know how my wife handles it,” Alfred said.

“Women seem to have less trouble talking about these things,” Betsy said. “One of our saleslady used to tease me about my blushing when I started in the sex potion business.”

“It’s your father’s business.”

“As child, they never told me what it was for. Believe it or not, I was an innocent as the day is long. Alfred, everything seems in order. You can go home.”

“I’ll wait for my wife.”

Betsy continued to load the first carpet. She finished the first carpet and started Alfred’s carpet. “I’m glad to see that everything is added up right. Peter still makes me do all the addition. This store,” Betsy pointed on the order form, “gets a daily delivery.”

“I’ll correct it from now on,” Alfred said.

“No big deal. I’ll add it in,” Betsy said.

Alfred’s wife and Agnes arrived. Betsy was guessed that Mattie and Alex had stopped somewhere to talk. “Mrs. Hartman, I’ll try to get you out of here.”

“I’m in no hurry,” she said. “It’s Dot.”

“Dot, your paperwork looks good. Mrs. Logan has your order for tomorrow. It’ll be ready when you get here. Thank you for doing the addition.” Betsy counted the money and put it in the till.

After Betsy finished with Agnes, Mattie and Alex still hadn’t shown. They must have stopped for dinner. Betsy remembered Paul commenting about Alex gossiping. Betsy filled the carpets for the next days order. As she was about to lock the factory for the night, they showed. “Next time, you girecidecided to go out for dinner, drop the receipts off first.”

“Nobody robbed us,” Mattie said.

“With the magic you two have no one would try,” said Betsy. “That isn’t the point. I want to get home.”

“Our receipts are good. Has either of us ever shorted you?”

“I know where both of you live so you wouldn’t try. I’ll fill your order in the morning. Give me the money so I can drop at the bank and go home.”

Mattie didn’t bother to add like usual. Alex’s numbers were on the mark. Betsy counted Mattie money and did her addition. At least after spending all those hours with a former bank teller, Mattie could have asked Alex to do her addition. Betsy counted Alex’s money and it was number she wrote. Betsy added up all the money and put them in the leather lock bag. She took her money to the deposit drop at the bank.

Finally, Betsy could go home. Three people were waiting to speak to her. Two appeared to be female, but Alex said they smelled of magic. “I have no long term sex change potion and I don’t intent to make one.”

“People say that you used one.”

“People lie. Please, go.”

Betsy climbed into bed beside sleeping Alex. “I need your advice as a healer.”

“In the morning.” Alex yawned. Alex said to Betsy as they filled the carpet with the daily orders. “You were so cruel to those ladies.”

“The factory is closed the next two days. You can show me the work done on your house.”

“I don’t want our business discussed here.”

“Darling, I love you. Getting the factory open has been very stressful. I’m sorry if I have been ignoring you. The factory is closed on the weekend. We’ll have time together then.”

“You think I’m a joke.”

“I don’t think you’re a joke. Alex, you’re the sweetest person that I have ever met. I still can’t believe you risked your life for a total stranger. We’ll talk this weekend.”

“Danny, I don’t know who you are anymore.”

“I have a factory to run. I wish I could spend more time with you. I would like nothing more than to lie in your arms.”

Betsy went back to filling the carpets. Billy arrived. “Make the simple glamour potion. The ingredients for a vat are listed.”

“Can you show me?” Billy asked.

“Can you read?”

“Of course,” Billy said.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed about if you can’t. I can help you with the potions until you memorize the right ingredients. Peter, help the men load the last two carpets with merchandise. I have to help Billy.”

“Will do, sir,” Peter said.

“Danny. We’re all on the first name basis.” Betsy walked over to Billy. “I’ll open the packages. You dump them in.”

“Secret ingredients,” Billy asked.

“I wouldn’t tell you. It’s prepackaged. My father mixes the secret ingredients in the basement.”

Betsy dumped the potion into the vat. Billy stirred it. Betsy returned to getting back to his salespeople. Henry arrived during lunch. “Dan, I’m so sorry for how I treated you.”

“I’m not going back to you.” Betsy led them to a private office and closed the door.

“I wouldn’t suggest it.”

“Your boyfriend split.”

“He didn’t get any of my money this time.”

“Henry, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. As tough as nails.”

“I thought I was.”

“You are.”

“Visit Cynthia. I’m sorry that I took her from you.”

“Does your lawyer know that I look like a man?”

“No.”

“Thanks for not embarrassing more. I can’t take a potion to make me look female. I’ll have to look like this at the hearing.”

“That’s partially my fault. An employee told the insurance company how Helen Martin died. If your magic kills someone while you aren’t under medication, a judge can force you to be medicated or worse.”

“I can be hung for witchcraft.” Betsy swallowed hard. What happened to Helen was an accident. She hadn’t been ordered by a judge to take her medication, but the judge might not see it that way. A judge could say that she knew her telekinesis could go chaotic and her medication could have prevented it. Betsy remembered the boxes flying. No potions.

“Dan, I’m sorry.” Henry put his arms around her.

“The insurance company was bound to find out,” said Betsy. “I’m so sorry for Helen’s family. I’m thinking about having my breasts removed. I’m going to ask Alex if she can remove the breast tissue without me needing surgery.”

“Dan, if you need a friend, I’m always willing to listen.”

“Henry, you told me to get out of your life.”

“I was jealous. I miss you. I can’t tell you how good you look.”

“It’s an illusion.”

“I don’t mean that. You look in control; you look like you are finally getting your life together. You’re a successful businessman.”

“I have a business to run.”

“If you want to talk about anything, I have two ears.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

Betsy was very busy with teaching her crew to make potion when Mattie arrived. “Billy, make the male stamina potion next. Mattie, read the ingredients for him.”

“Will do?” Mattie said.

Betsy counted her out. “Didn’t talk to the distributors today?”

“No sly comments,” Mattie said.

“You’re short ten dollars.”

“A retailer shorted me,” Mattie said.

“I see the note. No problem. If it happens three times, we’ll no longer use their location,” Betsy said. “Mattie, help Billy. Then I want you to take me to the retailer shorting you. I’ll show him some real magic.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“I’m going to shake things up a bit.” After Betsy gave Wayne the floor, she sat on the carpet beside Mattie.

“I miss you.” Mattie touched Betsy’s knee. Mattie put her hand on Betsy’s pants. “You’re still female where it counts.”

“Alex and I are getting a house together. I want to be faithful to her. Please, don’t tempt me.”

“Carpet, to Sam Levin’s Drugs.” Mattie folded her hands on her lap. “I’ll be good.”

“Henry told me one of his workers told the insurance company that my magic caused the death of a co-worker. If I don’t take the medicine Mary Jane gives me or if I take something to counteract it, I can be held responsible if something happens if my magic go off.”

“That’s a lot of ifs.”

“I didn’t mean for her to die.” Betsy felt a tear roll down her cheek. “I didn’t know her very well. Nothing I can do can bring her back.”

“We have to move on. It was an accident.”

“Taking the potion that reversed the effects of Mary Jane’s potion wasn’t an accident.”

“You wanted to show Alex it was safe to drink,” said Mattie. “You were being a good friend. Don’t blame yourself.”

“What if the factory was full of people when my magic went off? It was foolish luck that only one other person was there and he was working on the other side of the factory.”

“Maybe, Mary Jane can lower the amount of male hormone in her mix. It would still keep you hormones in balance without the other effects.”

“It doesn’t matter. Hair follicles and a deeper voice are permanent changes. Taking female hormone won’t make them go away, and Mary Jane doesn’t want me taking any potions. My mother claims that I have another daughter. I don’t see how
“I
“It’ll all work out.” Mattie placed an arm around Betsy. Mattie hugged her and they sat silently the rest of the way. Finally, the carpet landed outside a corner drugstore.

“Sam Levin.” Betsy walked over to the druggist counter and smiled at the small man with glasses. “I’m Daniel Logan of Logan Products. I hear you\'re shorting one of my saleswomen.”

“You can’t threaten me,” said the small man, wiping dust off his white coat.

Betsy fixed the hat on her head before opening the door to the backroom. She focused on a couple glass bottles containing pills and made them shake a “Th “The insurance company is going to wonder why you had an earthquake and the neighboring buildings didn’t.”

“You can be arrested for using magic,” said the small man.

“You can’t prove I was even here. The pill bottles broke on their own,” said Betsy. “Are you going to pay up or are you going to learn what happens when you short a witch?”

The little man opened his cash drawer. “Here is the twenty I owe her. ‘Do not suffer a witch to live.’”

Mattie took the money then handed ten to Betsy. “The first ten is mine. The first time he shorted me I took it off my commission. I thought I could handle it. No one ever shorted me before.”

“Seeing the color of someone’s underwear has its uses, but nothing scares someone like some old fashioned telekinesis.” Betsy watched the little man touch the fringe of his undergarment.

Mattie took Betsy’s hand and led her back to their carpet in the alley. When they were in the air, Mattie said, “You didn’t have to frighten him like that.”

“No one cheats Logan Products. If he is so against witchcraft, he shouldn’t sell our products. He’s a hypocrite.”