Page 84 of Seer

Ms. Jackson flashed their board.

I rubbed my face. “Um, it sort of worked. It was night and in a home improvement store parking lot. There was a car parked at the back of the lot under a light that’d probably been broken, because it was out.” I grimaced. “I didn’t think to look at the license plate.”

I stood up. “I need a beer. Anyway, it didn’t tell me when, and the store could’ve been anywhere. But it’s a start I guess.” I grabbed a jar of peanuts out of the pantry before getting my beer.

Back in the living room, I plopped down on the couch and put my snack on the coffee table next to Ms. Jackson.

T-E-L-L-E-D-G-A-Rthey flashed.

“Oh, good idea. Maybe he can try and get more info than I did.”

I pulled up the group text with Edgar and Greg, and I told them what I’d seen. Edgar texted back congratulating me on calling a vision, and he said he’d try to call one later with the same prompt. Greg texted that none of the Wonders he was connected to worked at a Build Barn, but he’d warn everyone on Discord not to shop at one alone or late at night.

The rest of the afternoon I sat on the couch chatting with Ms. Jackson in between contacting magic carriers and Wonders on Discord.

I found out Ms. Jackson didn’t know much about their origins, just that they’d become aware of themself when they were already on Earth, but they weren’t sure exactly where they’d been. A series of Wonders, concluding with Bettina’s friend Karsha, had brought them to Texas.

But apparently even Karsha hadn’t realized Ms. Jackson was sentient. She’d stuck Ms. Jackson on a shelf in the book room and left them there.

Karsha had passed away in the 1960s. At the time, the building had been a sort of boarding house for Wonders. It had been added onto and remodeled over the years, becoming the TWIST house as it stood today.

Ms. Jackson had entertained themself through the decades listening to everyone’s radios and televisions, so they had a decent knowledge of Earth and technology. Something in their magic enabled them to know what things looked like, but they insisted they’d never actuallyseena television show before now.

“Okay, Ms. Jackson, I’ve got to get ready for my date.”

Greg had told me dinner would be casual, so I opted for dark jeans and boots with a light blue button-up—actually buttoned for once—over my “Are You a Software Update? Because Not Now” t-shirt.

I trimmed my beard a little but otherwise there wasn’t much to do since my hair was pretty short.

I went back into the living room. “How do I look?” I asked Ms. Jackson. I could feel Greg getting closer. Was it wrong to be a little smug about how nervous he was?

The board spelled outG-O-O-D.

“Thanks. Do you want to watch something while I’m gone?”

Yesflashed.

“Any preferences?”

P-R-O-J-E-C-T-R-U-N-W-A-Yflashed.

“Interesting choice.” Especially for a being who couldn’t wear clothes.

T-R-A-N-S-F-O-R-Mflashed. ThenM-A-K-E-I-T-W-O-R-K.

“Got it. I can think of a few other shows you might like as well. Do you want to start with the final season or go all the way back to the beginning?”

B-E-G-I-N-N-I-N-G

“Gotcha.” I worked the remote and searched until I found it. As I pressedPlay, Greg knocked.

I checked for my keys, wallet, and phone before opening the door. “Hey, you didn’t have to come upstairs. I would’ve met you at the car.”

He wrinkled his nose. “I asked you out, so I pick you up at your door.”

Outwardly I rolled my eyes, but inside I felt kind of melty.

“Um, you look great,” I said. He had a bit of a bad boy vibe going on, with faded jeans, black cowboy boots, and a white v-neck tee with a black denim jacket over it. His hair, of course, fell in perfect waves around his face. I could honestly say I’d never been out with anyone as attractive as Greg was.