As Luck Would Have it

When the paperwork took flight, all the office staff except Betsy went into the hallway. They had been through this before. Betsy put her hands on her head and thought about the paper settling down into nice neat piles. The paper flew around in a blizzard of white, cutting into Betsy’s arms and face, causing her paper cuts. The adding macs shs shook. One machine took to the air.

Just then the door opened. “Leave,” cried Betsy.The adding machine was somewhere within the cyclone of paper. As Betsy tried to get through the biting papers, she heard the adding machine fall with a bang and a scream. “Helen,” Betsy cried. The adding machine and several books made loud clunks and bangs. She heard more screams. At least, three women were hurt. The papers calmed down. The office was covered in a blanket of paper. In the mess, she saw Lois cradling a lady half buried under paper. Betsy focused her eyes through the tears. The adding machine had implanted itself into Helen Martin’s skull.

Blood was soaking the papers red. Betsy screamed, “No. Helen, please, no,” as she saw that Lois had a few bruises and paper cuts. Betsy’s chaotic magic had caused property damage and some bruises, but she never killed anyone before. Betsy put her hands through the papers. “No, no, no!”

Lois said, “Tina is getting Mr. Newcastle. You didn’t mean it. It was an accident, a horrible accident.”

“She’s dead. I killed her.” Betsy sat down. Her feet were too weak to stand on. Her whole body felt limp as she covered her face with her hands. “I want to die.”

Lois put her hand on Betsy’s shouldeYou You have the baby to consider.”

“I want to die. Please, leave me alone. I’m not safe to be around.”

Henry came over to Betsy and hugged her. “Tina, treat Betsy’s and Lois’s injuries. Betsy, do you want Lois to walk you home?”

“I’m a monster. How can you stay married to me?”

“I love you,” said Henry. “You didn’t mean for this to happen. It was an accident. Betsy, I’m sorry, but I’ll have to let you go.”

After Tina attended their cuts and bruises, Lois walked Betsy home. Henry didn’t even want her to stay and clean up her mess. Every time things went flying before Betsy always cleaned up after herself. This was different. Someone had died. Not someone, Helen Martin, who ate egg salad sandwiches and sang Irish lullabies. Betsy packed up the last of her things from her apartment. They were subletting until the lease ran out. Henry had a nice two-story house, three bedrooms and a maid who came in once a week. He could afford better with two working textile mills and an empty factory, but what would they do with all the extra space?

As Betsy unpacked her belonging into Henry’s room, the clothes from her bag started soar about the room. She sat on the bed and decided to watch the clothes instead of fight her sporadic magic. He had large walk-in closet. His suits covered only part of the one of three walls. He had the movers put her plain oak dresser near his fancier cherry one. The movers had moved the dresser with the clothing still in the drawers. She checked and everything seemed in place. Betsy smiled as her clean clothes landed around the room. Henry had brought her several dozen wooden skirt and blouse hangers. He was so sweet. Betsy hung her clothes smiling to herself.

Betsy checked the bathroom that had a large porcelain tub. The cabinet under the sink had enough space for her shampoo and soap. She put her small bottle of after bath splash in the medicine cabinet. She would need to buy a new toothbrush but there were drugstores on Main Street. She would write a list of everything she needed and would picked them up in the morning. Betsy went to the kitchen. The pantry was full with staples. Henry didn’t want her to worry about anything. She started her list by thinking about groceries she would like. She never thought about food as a luxury. She could now eat food for the taste not only to survive. She decided to get a cookbook with her shopping order then take her carpet to a bookstore after she did her other shopping.

“I you you made a shopping list. This should do it.” Henry counted out a few bills and handed them to her.

“Two fives, three tens,” Betsy counted back. “I can’t go out. What if I kill someone else?”

“Do you have more than one episode a day?”

“No.” Betsy looked at the money in her hand. “Ask one of your secretaries to shop for you. I can’t risk it.”

“Shop after you have an incident. Your psychic energy will be low. You can’t hide in the house.”

“You just gave me more than you pay me in a week.”

“You’re my wife not my employee. My money is your money.”

“I’m not use to seeing that much at once.”

“Your parents probably have as much money, but they hide it in a mattress instead of using a bank.”

“Mom opened a bank account a few years back. She claimed the mattress was getting full. Besides, Frank was emptying their mattress for his drinking expenses. Pop didn’t tell me how much money they had but they filled several crates with it. Pop tied the ones in bundles of a hundred and put all the coins in rolls.”

“They must have had several thousand.”

“That is their secret. They still live like hillbillies. My father and mother don’t have running water and mother cooks over a wood-burning stove. They grow most of the food they eat in their yard. I doubt that they know they\'re richer than their neighbors.”

“I’m sure that they know. Your pop was wearing silk pajamas when we visited.”

“They may have money but they still don’t have any class.”

“They seem like nice folk.”

“Only because you don’t know them very well.”

“I like to get to know them better.”

“No, you don’t.” Betsy rather embarrassed about her parents. They might have had money but they sold love potions and other snake oil for lack of a better term. Her father and mother wanted her to help with the business but she left home instead. “Darling, I was wondering how much money did James take when he left.”

“Let just say that it was enough for him to live off the rest of his life if he manage finances carefully, but knowing James, it didn’t last two months. I love to stand around and talk but I need to get to work.”

“Take the carpet to Boston.”

“I hate those things.”

“It’s much faster than train. After a few round trips, you’ll be wondering how you got along without it.”

“Another time. I have to catch my train.”

Betsy found being a full-time housewife didn’t give her as much reading time as she hoped. The once a week housekeeper meant she still needed to do the laundry and the daily chores. After two weeks, Betsy was still not able to convince herself to leave the house. She had worn the same dress three days not caring about the way she looked. Annabel arrived with Sarah as Betsy was mopping the kitchen floor. “I thought you might like some company. Since Will hired me a housekeeper and cook, I find I have lots of time on my hands.”

“I enjoy cooking,” Betsy said.

“So do I, but Will insist that we can afford the luxury. I used to spend half my day in the kitchen.”

“I spend at least that much time in the kitchen.”

“You have gained some weight.”

“Thanks. It’s hard to tell myself to finish my plate. I’m so use to going hungry. I rather buy books than food.”

“It must be nice that Henry can buy you both.”

“It is. What are Will’s views on magic? I don’t want to cause strife between you and your husband.”

“He tolerates magic,” said Annabel, “in everyone but his wife. He sees my aura reading as silly woman’s magic. He would be happier if I was clairvoyance or had some other practical form of magic.”

Betsy sat on a chair in her kitchen. “Will is a practical man?”

“I wish I had magic like yours.”

“No, you don’t. My magic killed Helen Martin. Some days I spend all afternoon cleaning up the mess I make in the morning. Clothing, books, papers fly everything. It gets so bad I feel like finding an active volcano and jumping in.”

“If you ever feel like jumping into a volcano, tell me or Henry.” Annabel walked into the kitchen noticing the sink with running water, a modern coal stove and also an icebox with drip pan. “Let’s see what you have in the pantry.”

They peeled then put the potatoes in water to boil for mashed potatoes. Betsy set aside gravy made with the trimmings of yesterday’s roast. Annabel helped Betsy cut up the roast to add to a stew. “Roast is always better the second day,” said Betsy.

“See you know how to cook,” said Annabel. “Things will get better. You have to believe. I’ll let you in on a little secret. Some auras shine better than others. Once you let God into your soul He never leaves you.”

“I don’t believe in the Christian bible.” Betsy cut up carrots and onions for the stew. She could cry while chopping vegetables and blame it on the onions.

“Hindi souls and Jewish souls can shine just as bright. The path to enlightenment doesn’t seem important. In fact, more Hindus and Jews seem to have this glow than Christians. That may be because it\'s hard to be an outsider in a Christian state and they need their religion more.”

“Then this glow can’t mean I’m saved. Only Christians and non-Christian who do not know about Christ can be saved.” Betsy dumped the cut vegetables into the stew with the roast and broth.

“I can’t answer that. I only know that people with this glow are happier, even when sadness touches their lives. I know this glow is God’s light because I helped kindle the glow in both my sisters by leading them in prayer.”

“How do you find this light?”

“Belief in God or any other power (powers) outside yourself is all that’s necessary. You need to give yourself tis His Higher Power.”

“Now we need to wait for the potatoes to cook,” said Betsy. “The stew can simmer until the potatoes aree.” e.”

“Did your mother teach you to cook?”

“Survival cooking she called it.” Betsy went into the living room with Annabel. The baby was now awake and playing with the blocks Henry bought for the children to play with. Annabel took a doll from her bag and handed it to the girl. Betsy looked at the child, playing on the floor beside her mother. “Mom said that I would have to cook for myself and company. She also taught me to mend my own clothes.”

Annabel sat by Betsy on the sofa. “Betsy, you need to believe you’re worthy of God’s love. God made you. God doesn’t make rubbish.”

“He allows me to suffer.”

“We’re made stronger though our hardships. Many women would be jealous of you. Many are in loveless iageiages. I can see that Henry is devoted to you. You’re blessed with his love.”

Henry arrived as Annabel was leaving. “Annabel, don’t leave on my account.”

“You should spend this time with your wife,” Annabel said. “Besides, Will doesn’t like me to be out all hours.”

Betsy put her arms around Henry. She kissed Henry’s coarse cheek. “How can you look at me?”

“I love you.” Henry kissed her deeply. Neither of them saw Annabel leave the room.

“I miss working.”

“I’m sorry. I know you loved your job.”

“I’ll get another one when the baby is old enough for a nanny.”

Annabel put out some blocks for the two year old to play with. “Henry will just give you another one.”

“I won’t let him,” said Betsy.

“How are you going to stop him?” said Annabel. “You’re his wife. You have certain duties.”

“I need you to teach me how to care for a baby.”

“You can help me with Sarah and Jack when he arrives.” Annabel sat the two year old on her knee and rocked her. Annabel’s lilting soprano voice sang, “Rock-a-bye baby, in the tree top.” Betsy, looking at the pret wot woman in a housedress resting a baby on her breast, didn’t want to be her in four years. Henry needed to get her a nanny.

“Darling, you have to go shopping. We’re nearly out of fo Hen Henry said.

“I’m on my way out,” Annabel said gathering her child and her toys.

“I can’t leave. I tried. I get as far the yard. I’m terrified.”

“I’ll go with you today. Tomorrow, you’ll go by yourself.”

“An added machine was implanted in Helen’s skull,” whined Betsy. “I can’t leave the house. Annabel puts her life in jeopardy each time she visits me. What if my magic kills Sarah?”

“It won’t.”

“You can’t guarantee that.”

“Something could happen to me now, but I’m holding you. Honey, go shopping with me. Talk to Mary Jane about a solution. You told me that the incidents were less violent when you weren’t cycling or pregnant. Mary Jane can give you something after the baby is born to stop you from cycling and allows you to maintain a normal weight. Trust me.”

“I’ll talk to her about it.”

“Now, put on your coat and let’s get some food to eat.”

“Sure. Can I bath and comb my hair first?”

“Hurry. The shops aren’t open past six.”

After Betsy put her dirty dress in the hamper and washed herself quickly with a washcloth, she put on a clean dress and put a scarf on her head to hide her messy hair then gave Henry a fast hug. “I’m ready to go.”

Henry took Betsy’s arm. “We’re off to the grocer. Do you have your list?”

“No, we need everything. I hope there’re still fruit stands open.”

“Probably not. You’ll have to get produce in the morning.”

“Go with me.”

“You have to go alone. Betsy, you can’t imprison yourself in a house the rest of your life.”

“You didn’t kill anyone.”

“You can do this. Betsy, believe in yourself. You aren’t a demon.”

“I feel like one.”