“There was a time when things were different.”
“No duh, Becky. Like, two hundred years ago, we’d be swinging from a tree for what you just did.”
“Squawk! Three hundred years ago! Squawk!”
Becky’s eyes widened. “Trisha. What. Are. You. WEARING?”
Trisha glanced down, almost blinded by the neon shirt. Her gaze traveled to her jeans. Acid wash. She shivered when she saw her feet shoved into LA Gear high tops with hot pink laces. “What did you do to me?!”
“Squawk! Magic comes with a price. Squawk!”
“Shut up, Melissa!” The two girls shouted in unison.
“Where are we?” Becky asked.
“Um, we’re at the Shell station, but it looks different. Everyone looks different.” Trisha reached out to touch Becky’s bangs. “How much hairspray did you use?”
“Excuse me, sir,” Becky stopped a man as he tugged on the door to the convenience store. “What’s the date?”
“February 2nd.”
“What year?”
He shook his head. “Dang, girl. You trippin. It’s 1992.” He backed away and pushed through the door without looking away from her.
“I told you to leave that book alone,” Trisha said.
“No, you said you didn’t think spells were real.” Becky grabbed Trisha’s elbow and dragged her to the side of the building. She’d found the book in an old trunk in the attic and now regretted her eagerness to prove its authenticity.
“I guess I was wrong.” Panic welled up in Trisha’s chest. “We’re trapped in a fashion nightmare and the class nerd just pooped on your shoulder.”
Becky could feel Melissa’s claws digging in but didn’t dare look.
“So, how do we get home?”
Becky shook her head. “Good question. The chant was just supposed to turn know-it-all Melissa into a bird to show you the spells were real.”
“Unbelievable,” Trisha muttered.
“Squawk! The book. Squawk!”
“Oh!” Becky had forgotten about the book clenched in her left hand. She scanned the pages for a spell that would get them back to 2014.
“Squawk! Any year now. Squawk!”
“Why couldn’t you have turned her into a slug?” Trisha asked.
Becky shot her a glare before turning her attention back to the spell book. “Oh, oh! What about this one? Reverse, reverse, the spiteful curse. Trade the wings, back to twenty-fourteen.”
“I-I don’t think you-” Trisha began. For a few moments, she felt woozy. When the fog cleared from her mind, she looked down at her clothes. Skinny jeans, Vera Wang shirt and red Madden Girl shoes. Elated, she reached out to hug Becky. She gasped.
Melissa smiled, parrot on her shoulder.
“Squawk! You tricked me! Squawk!”
“Let me give you your best friend,” Melissa said as she removed the bird and placed her on Trisha’s shoulder. “Oh, you might need this, too.” She handed over the spell book.
“You’re not going to help me?”
“You wanted to turn me into a slug!”
Trisha’s mouth turned into a pout and tears sprouted from her ducts.
Melissa rolled her eyes. “This was too easy. Please. Do you really think spell books just appear? You guys have had it in for me since third grade. It was high time you learned a lesson.” She plucked her book from Trisha’s weak grip. She closed her eyes and whispered a spell:
“Feathered bird return
To Becky’s human body;
Mean girls turn nice-
Forgotten are
The different times.”
Becky transformed next to Trisha.
“Hey, can I buy you a soda, Melissa?” Becky asked.
“Thanks, but I have some studying to do.” Melissa hugged the spell book to her chest as she walked away, confident her senior year would turn out to be the best year ever.
~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-
This is my response to the Speakeasy weekly prompt, which is to write is piece in 750 words or less (mine is 605) and (1) use “There was a time when things were different.” as the first sentence, and (2) make some reference to the photo prompt, which is of 2 parrots.
The challenge is open to anyone, so join in if you are inspired to tell a story! Click the badge below to see complete submission details. Have a wonderful Sunday 🙂
Ah, the 90s. Good times. 🙂
As a teen in the early nineties, I find them both nostalgic and scary. Thanks for reading, Michael!
This was such a fun story, I’m glad that Melissa had a plan all along, it sounds like she’s going to have a great senior year.
Thanks, Mandy. My last few have been emotional, so I wanted to lighten things up a bit. I appreciate you reading!
Very imaginative, Janna. Woo! You were having too much fun writing this one! Blessings to you…
I did have fun with this one Carol Ann! (This is what I come up with when I write at midnight 🙂 )
Great story, Janna! I love the squawks and chatter. Great fun indeed 😉
Thanks so much for reading, Dianne! At least no one was permanently harmed, and niceness will prevail 🙂
Ah, what every girl would dream of. Cute!
I’m familiar with being on the nerd side of things, so I thought it would be fun to write in some harmless revenge 🙂 Thanks for reading, Phil!
The revenge of the nerd! Bullies beware!
You have quite an imagination, Janna. A fun filled read – and, as you say, harmless revenge.
Cheers,
Eric
Absolutely, Eric… you never know who has a spell book and who doesn’t 🙂
Good one, Janna. 🙂 Wouldn’t it be nice if bullies get their comeuppance right when they are being mean?
Thanks, Imelda! It is kind of nice when bullies are put in their place, and no permanent harm is done 🙂
I love your imagination! This was so much fun!!♥
Thanks so much for reading Kathy – glad you had fun reading it 🙂
I don’t know, Janna. Methinks they should leave those spell books alone! Who wants to go back to the ’80s??!
You’re onto something, Debbie- the 80s were fine…one time around 🙂
What a fun story! Very imaginative.
Thanks so much for reading, Znjavid! I did have fun being goofy with this one 🙂
I loved it! The story is very well told and so funny – I really loved the sqwaking too!
Thanks so much for reading, Aisha…I’m glad you liked the story 🙂
Spell book,is there such a thing? I know you’d say this is fiction.Seriously though does this thing exist? I could turn some undesirable people into toads. Ha Ha just kidding!
Hmmm… I can’t say 🙂 If I hear news about the toad population exploding, I’ll know you found the spell book, Ranu!
That is too funny! Glad I’m not in the same class!
I wouldn’t get on her bad side, Patti!
“Dang girl. You trippin.” Love it.
Haha, thanks, Monique!
Cunning! Never underestimate and prepare for the consequences ha. Fun story 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed the story, Rubyemz! Yes, they should’ve been more careful around Melissa!
Love the idea of a little bit of magic in our midst. Very well written 🙂
Thanks, Zeudtigre! I had fun imagining this scene and I appreciate you taking time to read it 🙂
Clever story. I like the way you revealed things throughout the story. I was trying to figure it out before it happened, but I couldn’t.
I’m glad the ending was obvious, Themagzee. Thanks so much for reading!
Awesome story, Janna! Finding myself dressed in high-waisted acid wash jeans and neon anything would be a real nightmare. Love everything about this – the revenge, the parrot, the guy at the convenience store, the trip down memory lane… 🙂
Those jeans are a nightmare, Suzanne 🙂 I’m happy you enjoyed the story – thanks for reading!
I love stories that involve magic and time travel. The squawking was awesome.
You always have to watch out for those nerds. They’re sleepers : )
No one suspects the nerds, but they should 🙂 I appreciate you reading, Valerie!
Ah, this was SO much fun to read. It would make a really good novel too. You’ve done a fantastic job.
Thanks for your encouraging comment, Tinsenpup. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on the story.
Ha!ha!Janna,girl,you did it again!Such a creative take and so enjoyable to read-loved it,of course:-)
Your comment made me smile, Atreyee! I’m glad you enjoyed the story 🙂
I did 🙂
This was great fun, and it was neat to read something with a totally different feel this week. Love the parrot!
I thought about going serious but in the end, decided to go silly instead. I’m glad you enjoyed the story, Silverleaf!
Ingenious …. fun story. I liked it very much.
Isadora
Thanks so much for reading it, Isadora!
Cute, I enjoyed revenge with wisdom. No wonder Melissa didn’t fit in. I’ve watched senior citizens get pretty catty much less teenage girls.
I taught at an evening high school. I had a student who was going to put spells on me. Sheer childishness, she looked so surprise when I told her if magic was real, I would be teaching it and kids would not do their homework.
Thanks for reading, Ann! She fit it a lot better once the lesson was learned, though 🙂
Never mess with the nerdy girl with a spell book. Don’t these girls watch movies? Loved the dialog and the way it moved the plot along. Great job!
Haha, they probably should’ve paid more attention, EagleAye! I appreciate you reading and sharing your comment.
Great story…the dialogue is fantastic and I sure could do with a book like that…any hints where I can find one?
Thanks so much for reading, Bastet! Haha, if only I knew where to find a book like that 🙂
Ah…wishful thinking I guess.
‘Fraid so 🙂
Darn…congratulations Janna, just saw you were awarded second place at Speakeasy…nice go! 😀
Thanks, Bastet! It was quite a surprise. I’m honored that it was liked well enough to place in the top three 🙂
It was a great post truely merited the mention!
Thank you, Bastet- I’m honored you (and others) felt that way!
I envy your imagination and the skill and artistry with which you crafted this fantastic story line.
I appreciate your complimentary words, Joanne. Thanks so much for reading!
I LIKE this high-school-time-travel-mean-girls story! Ah, the 90s. So many fond memories, except the fashion stuff. 🙂
Nineties fashion is a little scary. I hope they don’t try to recycle and revive those trends! Thanks for reading my story, Sandra!