An Unceremonious Departure

Within the large, round house screams could be heard. People were running from the bakery, one of many shops that lined the circumference of the building. Within there a customer`s hair was ablaze like a bonfire. Another, was being electrocuted so hard their bones could be seen flashing between bursts.

"Sizzle! Itchy! Stop it!" A tall, yet short-haired girl shouted. A tattered and baggy shirt hung from her torso towards the ground. Tregg heaved her breaths as if a mile or two had been run, when only a hallway had been traversed from her storefront and the running was more like a brisk walk.

Sizzle ran over, his small red legs shuffling black marks along the floor. The spirit of fire looked up at her with large eyes.

"Help me stop Itchy." Tregg pointed towards the yellow spark bouncing off the wooden walls towards a new target. Her eyes grew wide as she puffed out her cheeks. Sizzle`s flames formed a shape suggesting a question mark above his head. He was the most obedient spirit, but that doesn’t mean he responded to very specific instructions.

Tregg hung her head. "Fine." She had forgotten her bag in the confusion. It held all the spirits and getting any back was even more difficult without it. Impossible even, if you didn’t want to be in the hospital for a few weeks. She moved off towards the spark causing havoc. She stopped and began to place only the tips of her boots on the ground. Everyone in the store was staring, not because of the loud squeaks still occurring; but because to their eyes, she was sneaking after an invisible friend. Tregg was far to old for such a thing.

Itchy landed on some white cloth. His bulging, multi-surfaced eyes became filled with chocolate and yellow cake; light-pink frosting oozed out and over the flavorful layers. He moved forward, sparks zapping off the table, his sharp fingers clicking, ready to indulge.

Tregg lunged. Itchy disappeared like a fly dodging a broom. The crowd winced as a crash let out. Shattering and squishing sounds came together for an odd symphony.

An "Argh!" was followed by the customers covering their faces from flickering white lights. A large man in thick glasses was now the victim, covered in dark soot. He blinked a few times, then levitated the cupcake towards his mouth for another bite. "Wow, these pack a punch."

The cake was now a pile of mush, frosting stuck out every direction on splintered wood pieces. Sizzle sat on this mound, smiling flame to flame licking up some frosting. Tregg’s pale face popped out the heap, heavy air escaped her lips. She looked around the store at the people applauding and racing towards the glass counter to buy the cakes. Seems she gained some time to get the bag. Not that there was any other choice. Sizzle continued to grab the frosting out of her hair. She scowled. He responded by walking off.

"Are you ok my dear?" A very wide shouldered man asked, antlers protruding from his head.

"Ya, I`m fine" She grimaced and slid into the crowd. Unfortunately, only the fattest came to this bakery, she felt her clothes begin to stick to her body as they absorbed sweat. Putrid smells began to sting her nostrils.

"I`ll take the triple sugar frosting covered chocolate bar please." A short man with curly black hair said, tongue hanging out his mouth nearly hitting her with his spit. He was seemingly always here late afternoon looking like he just rolled out of bed; today he was working as the final obstacle for her to get past the counter.

Tregg peered around the wide load before her. His mounds unrolled from side to side blocking her. Where`s Itchy when he’d actually be useful? She began to feel that hollowness in her sinuses. The distinct feeling of nausea. Ugh, white spots flashed and colors began to smear. Her legs are shaking, every breath makes her head feel like its going to explode. No, there she is. He’s out of the way at least.

"Tregg what-" She slumped past the counter and her mom grabbed her with magic. Mom turned to her cousin. "Lacy, can you handle things for a few moments?"

"Sure Pitta."

Pitta pulled Tregg out back, her boots screeching across the hardwood.

Lacy looked at the black streaks left behind. "I`m not going to attempt to save the floor this time."

Pitta stood Tregg up straight. "What you doing here? Why aren’t you at the greenhouse?" She looked at Tregg closer, who was now peeling the stranger`s sweat off her arms. "Is it you who brought all the customer`s here?"

Tregg gagged from the smell. Their moisture has been pressed deep into her skin while her mom dragged her. "Yes. Yes it was." It wasn’t a lie exactly. She looked around at all the doors surrounding them. None were open thankfully.

Mom twisted her hands together beside her face. "You’ve finally found your ambition."

Tregg gave up trying to fix her clothes. She refrained from commenting otherwise, at least she wasn’t in trouble.

"Why can`t you do that for me? Huh?" Well now she is. That was her aunt Wabbar’s ear scraping voice. She trudged through the side door, not even touching the knob. No, it wasn’t magic this time, not that she couldn’t use it; she just didn’t care about things such as tact. "My pottery barn is now empty because they are eating cake and cookies; not to mention there`s a broken pile of glass `cause someone took a dive. If you don`t care about making money in your greenhouse you could at least not try and stop others from getting it."

Tregg`s eyes sagged along with her heart. The usual spit and spatter was ramping up again.

A long set of hair opened another door. It was a short, but lanky figure that strolled out smoking a pipe. "Don’t you listen to her, Tregg. You’ve done stupendous... now you can help your ol` cousin Dwitghy, right?" Flashes of light and terrified screams came from beyond the newly opened door. Everyone flinched.

Dwighty gave Tregg a hard set of pats on the back that knocked her over. "By golly it`s like you were reading my mind.. Hoo, hoo, hoo." He strolled away, beard trailing behind. Tregg’s eyes gave an uneven look as she pushed herself up.

"That`s why I wasn’t at my shop." Tregg said.

The floor rumbled forcing her to catch herself again. She looked up and every other door flew opened. Aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandparents, godfathers, in-laws and everyone else you might even slightly consider calling family spilled through from their shops in the building.

The spit and spatter began. The short ones screaming twice as loud to proclaim their presence. "Why have all my customers left?"

"You better give some of that to me." A greasy man shook his fist, a ball of circling wind appeared in his palm.

"And why shouldn’t it be for me? I`m her mom after all." Pitta stood nose to nose with greasy uncle Milty. She snapped her fingers, a stream of candle wax swarmed around them.

Tregg stuck to the floor. She looked up only moving her eyes. Everyone was bouncing against each other like penguins.

She moaned and rubbed her forehead, feeling sick again. She spotted the hall to her room and shuffled towards it. A pain shot up her arm, followed by a pop. She bit her tongue and peered up to meet a set of beady eyes squished to fit on a narrow head.

"Ah, hi Karl." Tregg gave a nervous smile, then bent her body and inched forward like a worm quickly. A nervousness hit the pit of her stomach, which turned out to be his hand clasped around her body. She turned her head and saw her own dirty blond hair in a single tiny eye.

His single buck tooth wiggled while he gave a chuckle. "Give me some of that money making stuff."

"I don`t have anything like that." Tregg’s voice quivered. This was positively the last family member she wanted to run into. Despite being ten years younger, he was five times her size. At least in muscle, if not height. She wiggled her body, nothing between his fingers actually budged.

"Sorry, the products been sitting to long. Just hand it over and- Rahhhh!" His body became enveloped in yellow sparks and white flashes. Everyone in the room felt their legs vibrate from his deep shout.

Tregg too, was caught in the electrical shock due to her moist clothes. Karl’s grip cut off any chance of breathing, if you could even take one while being electrocuted. Sharp pain flew through every muscle. Her vision became a collection of blue and white.

Then with a thump she was on the floor. Adrenaline forced her eyes back open. A tiny white bug’s eyes was looking into her own, it was Itchy. He looked concerned, hand up to his mouth. Just as quick, he gave a giggle and zipped off.

"Itchy." Tregg groaned between her teeth and stood up without noticing the pain. The distant smell of charred flesh hit her. She knew it well from when Sizzle first showed up. Many times she awoke to her bed on fire. Karl’s body was grilled like a pig taken off a spit. Tregg wiggled her nose. Everyone was still fighting among themselves.

"You might want to get him some some brumlo." She announced quick and ran off to the greenhouse down a hallway made with a tarp that separated it from the rest of the round house.

Tea shrubs waved as she pierced the doorway. She worked her way through the plants, wishing she could stop to steep some. When her loose sleeves got caught on a branch or two and she`d pull it, swearing when either the branch or cloth gave way.

A head popped out the tree beside her.

Tregg screamed, "Wah!"

"Excuse me, do you work here?" The pimpled man said.

"I... do."

"Very nice. I want to purchase some of this semi-green oolong and whatever these stems in a bag are."

"The stems are the trimmings. You steep them as normal. They don`t keep you awake th-" Tregg shook her head. "Wait. The shop is closed."

"The door was open."

"The sign says closed."

"But the door was unlocked."

"Ok. I`m still closed like the sign says. I can`t assist you right now."

"All you got to do is take my money."

"I need to weigh what you have bagged before that. You can wait if you want. I`ll be open a bit later. I have a family issue to attend to." Like always. She kept that last bit to herself.

"You know, it`s really hard to navigate this place with plants all around. I got a scratch too." He held out his wrist.

"It`s self serve. Look, I really gotta go."

"The customer is always right."

Tregg winced at such a painfully idiotic statement as she worked her way to the corner of the greenhouse. There, next to the decade long unmade bed, was her bag of spirits. At first glance it looked more like a rolled napsack then a backpack. She unzipped it to reveal a dark, bottomless chasm with many eyes and other glowing... things staring up at her. She breathed a sigh of relief and closed it back up, no others had escaped. Tregg had been sitting at her desk when she heard the screaming coming from the storefronts. She had ran out, expecting to return quick. It never does work that way.

With the bag on her back, Tregg entered the center doorways again. She looked at the floor, wondering what they did with Karl`s charred body. It sure didn’t hurt business. People were munching on cupcakes and hooting. In the reflections on the glass front she spotted Sizzle licking frosting off some unsuspecting customer’s cake. Flames shining brighter with each mouthful.

Tregg snapped her fingers. Sizzle’s baby face peered over a large shoulder. Tregg motioned downward. Sizzle closed his eyes and shook his head, giving a stern no. Tregg shook her fist, a vein protruded from her head. A breath drifted past her ear.

"Tregg, stop being weird." Her mom whispered and walked away.

Tregg shoved her fist into her sweater. She felt her hair stand on end as lighting bolts twisted out from behind her. The sound of shattering glass punctuated it. It’s getting worse she thought to herself.

She turned around and entered the door to Dwitghy`s Sauce Shop, the smell of alcohol filled Tregg`s nose making it sting deep inside where you can`t scratch. It also filled the floor, judging from the shine and broken glass. The shop’s namesake was no where to be found.

Sizzle jumped onto Tregg`s shoulder, his face still smeared with icing. He tried to smear her’s to.

"About time, now will you help me get Itchy back in the bag?" Tregg said. He shrugged in response. She took it as a maybe.

Itchy bounced about the room, white streaks filling Tregg`s vision. One of them bounced off the wet floor. The spark turned to fire, the alcohol smell grew fierce along with the flames. They swayed to and fro before lunging towards Tregg.

She threw her bag in front of her on reflex. As the flames spun out and around, sweat began to pour from her brow. The air was thick, even the shallow breaths she took burned her throat. Her lungs felt as if they might turn to ash and fall away.

The barrage ended. Tregg stumbled back, dropping her bag off her shoulder. It only lasted a few seconds, yet she felt wasted. She opened the bag.

"Go Pura, put out the flames." She said. Nothing happened, except a burning beam crashed to the ground. Tregg turned the bag towards her face. "Come on, please."

A small aqua colored creature with a shell looked out both ways wearing a disconcerted expression. It’s flipper waved sideways towards Tregg and went back in.

"Sizzle can you do anything about the fire?" The girl was nearly in tears.

The red boyish creature looked up and puffed his chest out. He shuffled towards the flames, stopped in place, patted his stomach and began to inhale. His mouth grew huge, the fire bent and twirled into it, getting absorbed into his body. As this happened Sizzle`s stomach grew big, large, huge and finally, for lack of other words, we`ll say it was barely off the ceiling. He fell backwards with a big smile, the flames on his head flashed orange. He patted his stomach again or attempted to anyhow.

Tregg jumped up, for once actually excited. Moving around Sizzle she exclaimed, "Holy crap you did it. At least the place won`t burn down. I`ll go after Itchy."

Sizzle let out a high pitched moan of satisfaction.

Tregg moved between racks, looking through any possible hole for Itchy. She jumped. The sun gleamed through the windows, red and brown liquids sparkled in its rays. It was just booze. She breathed heavy out her nose and walked with light steps. Her face peered back rolling along the bottles. She noticed her hair was black on her right side. Scorched bad, she’d need to bathe today on top of everything else. What a burden. Maybe she could get by with just a sponge.

A tingle ran through her ear. She turned, dust wafted in the window’s light. Then it flowed the opposite way faster than she could blink. A zip echoed through the room. She rotated her head. Nothing there, but tapping glass. A bottle spun on it`s edge. Tregg’s stomach tightened, her arms went numb.

Clink. Clack. Clink.

"Zzzzz." She looked down, Itchy approached, buzzing out the side of his mouth. His feet were pointing sideways and tripping over each other. He tilted to far right, head almost on the floor, then the other way.

Tregg rubbed her cheek, a chuckle escaped. As she leaned back it grew into an audible laugh. She caught herself. But it was amusing she thought. She had never seen a spirit get drunk. Anyhow, she walked up to him and opened the bag. Itchy stumbled up to the hole.

"Go on. Thats right." Tregg motioned.

The spirit fell over flat in front of the bag. His stomach bobbed up and down.

Tregg shook her head and felt a bit of second hand embarrassment. She picked him up between her thumb and index finger. Her body lit up again. Her muscles tightened, her ears buzzed. The pain stopped. Before she could look down, her vision blurred white and body stiffened. Again, it stopped. Her arm moved up on its own. Pain shot through her spine, liquid flew all around her, the sound of wood splintering filled her ears. Tregg threw out her arm and dug into the wooden floor, twisting her nails.

"Damn it..." Was all she could mutter as Itchy bounced from floor to ceiling again. Flames began to lick the booze. "Sizzle, help." She whimpered angrily.

Elsewhere Sizzle was now on his stomach, snoring soft notes. His own flames wiggling in delight. Onlookers couldn’t figure out why they were sweating.

Why, why, why was all Tregg could think to herself as she covered her head trying to navigate around the maze of flames. A wall of orange roared to life, her eyes burned and felt as if they were welded shut. She stumbled left, her arm grew hot, it began to sting. She tried to fan the flame with her other hand. It made no difference. She gagged from the smoke.

She wandered blind, when her skin felt as if it was going to melt she knew it was the wrong way. She can’t use magic like other humans, the spirits consume that for their own energy. She’s always on her own to solve problems.

Tregg forced her eyes open using her fingers. The flames before her parted with a swirl then sealed themselves back up. Not even a second later she saw Itchy blast through a wall creating tiny gaps.

It reminded her of all the times she jumped out of bed because Sizzle lit the sheets on fire. She was never hurt, well not to much anyway. Some clothes were ruined, but her’s are all the same anyway. A few singes on her skin, those were an inconvenience. However, her whole body never caught on fire like in plays or books. Next to everything else going on, she always considered that a win.

She eyed her bag beyond the flame, well here it goes. Tregg placed her left foot back, elbows in front of her face and... faltered. The sleeves of her clothes ruffled from shaky hands. She tugged on her collar, steam may or may not have rolled out. But, she was most defiantly perspiring heavily. If she wasn’t so nervous she would be cursing the fact a sponge would not suffice for a bath any longer.

The tip of her boot pushed off and she sprinted. Now a professional athlete would say her form was all wrong, with her arms flopping like a deranged lama’s neck. You would say `that`s not even running, that’s just a brisk strut.` But for Tregg this was moving exceptionally fast.

Just before the flames licked her eyebrows she jumped. The warmth passed over her body like running beneath a waterfall at a hot spring. She rolled and grabbed a strap, holding it out before her. Minor relief for sure.

Poing. Poing. Whoosh.

Tregg`s feet vibrated. Wood creaked and the fire nearby flailed about before a loud crack let out. The fire parted and began to bounce about the room. Itchy was now, more than a bouncing spark. He was a literal ball of fire.

He turned and was heading right for Tregg. Her eyes widened, her stomach dropped. She readied her bag as a shield. Itchy made contact. Bolts of lighting and lapping flames arced around her. She was pushed back into a shelf. It toppled over, glass cut her face as alcohol exploded behind. Her pours wanted to sweat, the static causing her body to tighten made it impossible. She leaned forward centimeter by centimeter, angling the bag down. The opening just needed to be a bit lower.

She twisted her head, gritting her teeth. She eyed the glistening zipper. She bit it, tearing it down. The opening grew wider, flapping rapidly, the wind howled, piercing even her ears.

She fell forward, landing on the bag. Her eyes wide, the silence echoed in her head. The fire and lighting was gone, Itchy absorbed the elements into the bag with them. She sighed and closed her eyes.

But on cue, footsteps vibrated the floor. Tregg groaned.

"And here I thought you changed." Her Mom gave a few tsks to hammer it in. "In the end you scared the customers away again. You know where the water and broom are.."

Tregg didn’t even bother to look up. She laid face down on the bag of spirits, a source of so many problems. But, it also controlled them, or solved them at least, kind of. Her days before it were worse for sure, at least the spirits could be contained with it.

More footsteps shook her from drifting to sleep.

"Please, I’m sorry. Just give me at least a few minutes." Tregg’s muffled voice pleaded.

An unfamiliar male voice spoke. "Umm, hello miss. I couldn’t help but notice your spirit problem."

She squinted up at the source of this voice using one eye. It was trying way to hard to be friendly. "Huh?" Through the blurry haze she could make out antlers.

"If you could meet me outside when you..." his wide frame turned side to side. "get a chance I could possibly help you."

It moved away and Tregg placed her head down again. When Sizzle let out a deep burp, it hit her. He could see the spirits?

-----

There was the source of that voice, it was impossible not to notice him. His shoulders were wider then the bench he sat on, wearing a bright purple coat and of course, the antlers to literally top it off.

His eye shook upon seeing Tregg plod toward him. He stood with a curt smile and extended his large tapered arm. "Snare. Pleased to meet you."

Tregg flexed her fingers as she lifted her palm. Her hand clasped his, it felt like it was being chaffed. "I`m-"

"Tregg, ahem, my apologies. I overheard." He loosened his grip, returning it to his jacket. The flex of her brow told Snare he shouldn’t intrude, but intrude he must. He wiped the smell off and pulled a small pamphlet from his coat.

Tregg took it, looking back a few times between him and the object. The paper tore a bit as she unfurled it and flexed like newsprint.

"I would like to invite you to a school. One for those with special abilities and, in particular, those who have trouble controlling them."

Tregg adjusted her bag and shook her head. "I don`t have any money, sorry."

"No, no, no honey. This is free, nada, cost you nothing." He tapped his thumbs together, pulling them apart for emphasis.

She looked at him with a tired scowl. "People don`t work for free."

Snare`s fox-like nose flared and his heart raced a bit. The hunt was on. "This is all payed for by Phisil, you know him right? Big money man. He believes everyone should have schooling for free, their talents recognized."

As Snare rambled, a green tentacle slithered, slimy purple oozed over the strap. This ooze smelled something tender. It moved like a worm, inching towards its prey. Crunch.

"Wahh?" Tregg was jolted awake. The pamphlet was gone and being consumed by a tentacle in her bag. There was no mouth, the paper was simply disintegrating into the ooze.

"He appreciates the production they..." Snare pulled another leaflet and handed it to Tregg. She mumbled an apology under breath. He continued. "bring to society. Food, clothes, bedding, etc is all-"

"Tregg hurry up, your mum says you gotta finish cleaning my store!" The voice of Dwitghy interrupted Snare`s speech.

Tregg sighed, Snare couldn’t tell if it was one of relief or sadness. "Give me some time to at least think about it, ok." She turned to leave.

"I`ll see you soon. Don`t forget its all paid for." Snare pointed at the sky, causing others around them to look up.

Tregg was sure she’d see him soon, solicitors always come again.

-----

Tregg grit her teeth, the muscles tightened in her head. She had forgotten to ask Snare why he can see the spirits. She blew out her nose, the cup of red tea on the desk swirled, a few bubbles came and went as detail became lost.

The deal is hard to turn down. He said she gets free boarding, right? Possibly. Don`t remember, that`s to good to be true. Those leaves are floating odd. Life here is really bad. Everyone thinks she’s a freak. Stuff just goes missing and ends up around her bed. That hasn’t happened at least since she moved that bed near the far corner of the greenhouse. Nobody can find it. Sometimes customers do and that gets weird, but, whatever. If she left here she would need to leave all this behind. Mom would never let her, so asking is out of the equation. If she could learn to control these spirits...

A man stood in line with a curious look at Tregg, he turned to the short and furry creature behind him. The Mobilian shrugged, then gazed up. Tregg was staring off into space with her brow jerking every direction but normal.

The Mobilian tapped her foot. She had business to attend to and no time to stand in line. She placed her bag on the ground, the leaves spilled out. The other customers all looked on as she pulled a pistol. It`s metallic grey was dulled as if on purpose, her large gloved paw barely fit in the guard.

The cylinder spun with a whirr, she cocked the hammer and pulled the trigger.

The crowd covered their ears, but no one was in time to protect themselves from getting stabbed by the sharp echo bouncing off the glass of the greenhouse. Least of all Tregg, who’s eardrums were sliced in half. This metallic whammy grabbed her head and plated it right into the tea. Her faced laid there for several seconds. All eyes were turned to this surprise splash.

Tregg pulled back with a stuttering howl, like a seagull that swallowed a golf ball. She had avoided any major burns during the fire, but now her beloved tea had betrayed her. She waited for the horrific, stinging burns, but the dripping liquid was cool. She relaxed her neck to take a sigh of relief, then noticed everyone around her was staring. Her face burned red from embarrassment instead.

The male witch customer gave a small bow, levitated his tea and left.

The Mobilian strut up to the counter, slammed her bag upon it then hoisted herself up on her elbows, feet dangling below. "I`m sorry I had to do that, but you deserved it."

"Mhm." Tregg gave a nod. She pushed the leaves around a bit, before scooping them in small spoonfuls on two sides of a scale. A chain connected the two plates with a orange bell up top, the sides bobbed up and down before the bell rung, indicating they are equal. The left side of Tregg’s face broke into a smirk. "Thats 357 grams. Would you like them loose or as a cake?"

The Mobilian rolled her head on her arm. "Ummm, I don`t have any clue what that means. Are you gonna add sugar and bake it?"

"I highly recommend taking the cake. It creates a much more intimate experience." She instinctively clasped her hands together and used her foot to push the bag of spirits under the desk.

"Hey, if it gets you to show emotion, these cakes must be something. Go for it."

Tregg’s heart sank a bit into the abyss, then catching a second wind of determination rose again to her chest. She turned without a word, grabbing the scales with the leaves still piled high, tilting far off the edge. Yet not a single one flew away as they fell interconnected into a metal pot sat beside another.

She ran a match along the logs beneath the second pot. Water could be heard roaring, then all at once a puff of solid white caused the purple leaves to flutter. She placed the pot on top of the steam.

"Hey, why are you working like this?" The Mobilian said.

Tregg rubbed some ink on her thumb and stamped it on a tiny piece of paper. It fluttered down into the leaves. "Like what?"

"You know, like us Mobilians. Where`s the fireballs and levitation, the magic?"

"I can`t." Tregg kept watching the pot.

"Oh."

Tregg dumped the leaves into a netted bag, pulling on the top, the bag spun and spun until your eyes couldn’t find it. The opening was so tight you wouldn’t think even water could bypass it. It hit the floor, a flat stone squished it and boots mounted the stone.

"Next." Tregg said.

"Hey. Why are you stepping on my tea?" The Mobilian cried out.

"To press it into shape." Tregg turned to the new customer. "Ah, that`s fresh stuff."

The Mobilian tapped her foot.

A few more customers passed and the cake was dried.

"Thanks." Said the Mobilian. Her dark orange fur looking fiery in the sun.

"Wait just a moment." Tregg grabbed a piece of paper and began writing, her pen tip a blur. "Here. Those are stepping times and amounts. Also, take this too. It`s on me."

"Why did you just give me a shank?"

"It`s a pick. You`ll need it to take apart the cake."

Her dark eyes looked at the pick closely, spinning it around. "Interesting, thanks again." Her tail wagged while exiting the door.

-----

How does someone even talk about this? How is it even brought up? Tregg pressed her fingers together while working on carving a long hole in the hall with her boots. The clanging of metal wracked her thoughts back and forth. Do you just walk up and say `Hi mom, I'm thinking about leaving.’? Ya, great idea, the pans would be banging off your head fast. Not to mention the crying and screaming.

Tregg's stomach felt as if it was a fireplace churning and burning. She peered around the corner. Mom was starting to clean up. She didn’t have much longer to make the move. After this she heads out to chat and drink with a bunch of aunts, cousins and grandmas.

"You know, your free to come in."

The voice made Tregg stand straight against the wall. Oh no, sure, it figures mom was aware of her presence the whole time. Even when she was little and tried to sleep in the trees or garbage cans her mom would find her. What followed was a scolding and chores.

"Tre-"

"Hi, I just came here to see how you were." Tregg revealed herself, waving using her fingers.

Pitta's eyes widened. "Aww. You remembered you have a mother. Of course you can come help."

Tregg's eye flinched. She was supposed to be breaching a topic, not washing dishes. Nevertheless she began washing while searching her brain again.

"You know aunt Wabber doesn't mean anything when she`s talking about making money." Pitta began. "She's just concerned about us."

About herself you mean. It was always her own money she was referring to. Me, me, mine, mine. She never even thanked Tregg the few times she did help out with the pottery.

"She came to live with us after all and the extra income fixed a lot of problems. Karl doesn’t mean anything either."

The black and blue on Tregg's arm says different. Tregg shook her hands, she could feel them cracking in real time. It was nostalgic in the wrong ways. Washing was always the chore she would be given by her mom. But at least she would be thanked afterwards.

"Everyone was happy when you built your greenhouse. Remember that? But I do wish it didn’t need to be outside the home."

Tregg could not find an opening in the conversation. If she even did find it, she knew her head would just end up in this trough. "Well, you can't build everything in here. Plus it would heat this place up, even more then your bakery."

"Ha. Of course."

"I do really love my tea shop though. I feel right at home in it. Everything is just... right."

Pitta tried to subdue a smile. “Its wonderful that you found your place in Higher Falls and next door to me still at that.”

The corner of Tregg’s mouth jittered. She wiped the plate harder. Now is the time to say it. Yes, right now. There’s the opening. You know mom I really would like to learn to handle these spirits, so they don’t keep sapping my anima. Ya, just like that.

“Tregg, I think that plate is clean.”

Smoke drifted from the hole now formed in it.

“Sorry.” Tregg said as she threw the plate towards the trash can. It missed.

They worked in silence. Passing the dishes, banging and splashes were all that could be heard. Tregg remembered another topic.

"What exactly did happen back then?" Tregg said.

"What? Then? When?”

“When you left home to start the bakery.”

“You already know. The wheat tax put us under, prices went up."

“Yes but, you know, you left home to start the bakery. The very beginning. The bread bakery.”

The bowl slipped out Pitta’s hand almost missing the rack. Tregg actually wanted to hear this? After pushing her heart back down from her throat she began. “I started with a cart in the street selling bread. It went well, so with your grandpappy’s help, who was so excited to see me leave. Maybe too excited. He was so giddy he knocked over the outhouse when trying to jump off the pot.”

Tregg caught herself smiling during this. Her hands slowed and the thumping in her head stopped.

“After that he helped build the small front. Back then it was just passing the bread over a single counter. No standing area at all. Then it expanded slowly over time. To this beautiful round house today.”

“When did you meet him?”

“Who?”

"I'm talking about dad."

The last of the dishes hit the rack with a clang. Tregg’s eyes watched the water shift. It curved up and down, the light arched and slid along the waves.

"Pitta. Are you done?" A brittle voice called out from beyond the doors.

"Yes. Yes. I'll be right there." Pitta shuffled out the room.

The water came to a stop.

-----

The leaves waved in the wind, sparkles dotted them all over, glimmering in chorus as Tregg walked down the aisles, if you could call them such. That was a complete failure. If she can't even inquire about her own father, how can she ask about something as big as leaving home? This was too confusing. She brushed against one plant ready to trim it, the sparkle rolled to the floor with a clink.

It was glass. Multiple customers had complained about getting a cut. Tregg thought nothing of it as in a pick-your-own setup people are bound to get splinters or stung by insects.

She looked up, Rerun was brighter tonight, it’s cerulean color standing out against the grey and dark blue of tonight’s sky. Course the reason for this was a glass panel had been blown out of the ceiling. That damn Mobilian. She’d need to brush off all the tea trees. What a pain.

The greenery bounced as soft feathers glided over them. The glass flew away along with Tregg's worries. Something poked at her leg. It was Sizzle along with a few other spirits.

The more friendly ones came along to help once in a while. They crawled around finding any harmful bugs, watered the plants and turned a bit of fresh soil. Despite being elements such as fire they never brought harm to the gardens. Tregg patted some dirt along with them.

"Oh, he said what? What an asshole." Tregg’s chest felt as if sludge was filling it as a herd of family squeezed through her doorways like mice through a hole. One was punching the other, another kicking aunt Wabbar’s huge rump through the door, squirming and wriggling their bodies as if it was an emergency exit.

Tregg’s hair hung low with her sleeves on the ground. The spirits gave a coo. Tranquility exited her body.

"Sorry Tregg, this is the only place outside without being outside. Ha. Ha." Grandma shouted.

Her nephews waddled forward, hands hung limp like a dinosaur. "Got you." One tackled the other, cracks and snaps let out, leaves flew past them.

Tregg's stomach twisted in panic. "My berries. Don’t played in there." She ran over to them, hopping about.

"Leave them alone Tregg, their just kids." Aunt Wabbar’s gruff and nasal voice proclaimed. "After all your always destroying our product."

"That’s not me. It’s the spirits, I can`t control what they do." Her voice trailed off to barely a whisper.

"Ya, sure. Always the same excuse."

Her nephews were far from the only ones destroying property. Her cousins were spinning small tornadoes, grandparents spitting chew wherever; causing holes in the floor, every adult drunk and spilling cups directly into dirt. She counted with her eyes. All sixty-two people who live in this building were here.

A web of confusion and helplessness started spinning in her stomach. She covered her eyes. The smell of putrid alcohol replaced the soft sweetness of plumeria. She placed her head in her hands. This small paradise she built and grew with her own hands was being defiled without even a sorry.

On the ground, behind the wooden counter sat her bag of spirits. It’s zippers began to shake, this spread to the straps and then, the entire thing was vibrating. It tipped over; condensation dripped down it’s sides. Metal slates separated as the zipper moved on by. A draft of white mist exited the bag followed by a pack of spirits, they now wore a cloud around them. It filtered out like a long scarf through the air.

Sizzle and the few others with him watched as they exited in droves. The bottomless abyss inside the bag became empty. The fog turned in their direction, making motions as if it had fingers. Sizzle shook his head no. It approached.

"Yeah, my wood just can’t be gotten anywhere. There's no reason it shouldn’t sell." Said Karl.

"Don`t get to cocky. There is another guy opening up down the way." Dwighty said.

Karl grunted. "This stuff tastes like piss." He moved to dump his cup into the pot beside him. His hand went numb. He pulled away and couldn’t stop it on the return. Confusion invaded his mind for an instant before his own fist crushed his nose. He tasted blood and snot. He felt nothing beneath his feet, cold wind flew embraced him as he crashed through the iron doors.

"What in the blimey was that?" Dwighty said.

Leaves shuffled. The bushes spit the children out.

"Hey, why’d you do that for?" Said the oldest one. A cool breeze crossed him. White mist dangled out like thin fingers. It weaved up and down, stretching just a bit more, it tickled his chin. Fear ran through his jaw and down to his toes. Their bodies went limp and fell to the ground.

"Wha- what. What`s going on?" Aunt Wabbar said. She spotted her children on the ground. Panic tightened around her. She ran to them. A foggy cable stretched itself across the ground. She cried out as the world tilted and it went dark.

Clouds began to surround the remaining people. It moved around them faster and faster, till you could no longer see there was ever anyone standing there. All at once it stopped. The mist hovered like fog over a river.

Pitta was the only one still standing free. Darkness spread around her eyes. They shook as water formed on their surface. The walls tilted as her stomach began to feel sick. She fell to her knees, the air felt like ice on her skin. She grabbed her shoulders. Her mind began to form thoughts again. What happened? Where was she? She looked towards her daughter.

Tregg lifted her head. Her vision was covered like frost on a window. She blinked a few times. She saw tears fall from her mom's eyes. They froze upon hitting the floor. She ran away, almost tripping over her feet. The doors slammed with a metallic thud.

Tregg grabbed her own shoulders. Sharp pains pierced her from the inside. She looked everywhere, turning her head in quick bursts. What are those clouds hovering? Her little cousins laid limp beside her. She touched them and felt his stomach rise. They were alive. Why did her mom run away? Why was she crying?

A cloud burst into smoke. Dwighty laid on the ground. The mist came back down into a pile, it swirled and formed into Sizzle.

She made a stiff walk over and touched Sizzle head. Running her thumb over his forehead.

"It was me?" She said.

The other clouds burst, forming other spirits and materializing her family members. Each one injecting her with more guilt. She felt her arms go numb and her mind raced. She fell to her knees and cried.

-----

The bell jingled. The customer’s long muzzle moved around the bushes lit in pink. Their leaves torn and scattered along the ground.

"Wow, can`t say I expected to you be an early riser." Snare said.

Tregg pushed a fourth potted bush onto the cart. "A lot of unexpected things can happen." Her eyebrows moved towards the middle of her face. It wasn’t an angry scowl today. She held up a piece paper. "This is yours. If, I can bring these with me and have a place to safely grow them."

Snare tilted his head. It was the filled application. He looked past her and around the room. Holes were in the cement and the dirt was kicked up with odd tracks as if something was dragged around. Curious, but not his problem.

"I will accommodate it."

"Good, it`s yours." Tregg shoved the paper into his palm, along with a rope. "Hold that end."

Snare looked from the rope and back to her, then back again. He placed the application into his coat and grabbed on with both hands.

Tregg did laps around the plants. Her face was determined, yet dark tracks showed beneath her eyes in the morning light. She took the other end from Snare and tied it multiple times, shook the pots, wiggled some branches and grabbed the cart’s handle.

Tregg looked up. "Ready to go?"

"Whenever you are." Snare bowed with his arms towards the street.

The two began the walk to her new life. Tregg never turned to witness it, but the round storefront behind them transformed from pink to yellow and finally, blue as the day dawned.

She mumbled, "Goodbye." beneath her breath.