Page 7 of With the Potion in the Courtyard

"Oh, dear, no. I'm quite where I need to be," the woman said. "I'm Agnes, here to interview for the headmistress position."

Jessie’s eyebrows knit together in surprise.

"Indeed." Agnes nodded, then she leaned in closer, as if sharing a secret. "I know some of what you seek. Mysteries are afoot, secrets, and lies. Be careful about the missing girl, or you may find yourself lost too."

Jessie and I exchanged glances, the air suddenly thick with confusion.

"Wait, do you know anything about Jaylyn? Where she went?" My pulse quickened at the mention of our missing classmate.

Agnes looked at me, her smile never wavering. "Gone in a flash. Danger in every corner. You must find your own answers to that which you seek." With those cryptic words, she spun on her heel, her coat flaring out like a kaleidoscope.

"Have a great rest of your day!" she called over her shoulder before skipping off down the hall.

Jessie and I stood there, rooted to the spot. "What was that about?" I muttered.

"Your guess is as good as mine." Jessie looked just as baffled.

In the cafeteria, Jessie and I grabbed our trays and piled our trays up with chicken, fruit, and veggies. Most of the tables were empty, but a few of them had people in them, including one with Alicia, Marcus, and Edith. I gave a little wave to my classmates, and they comically gave the same little wave right back, all at the same time. It wasn’t a happy wave, but at least they did it.

"I really made a goodimpression on them."

"Yeah, you did," she said with a laugh.

Glancing around for a good spot to sit, I noticed every other face was turned in our direction. When I made eye contact with anyone, they immediately looked away. But, otherwise, they stared, like I was their new favorite show.

"Maybe we should start charging admission to our exclusive dining experience," Jessie said, nudging me with her elbow.

I chuckled. "Yeah, 'Dine with the Pariahs: Guaranteed Space and Privacy.'"

"Or maybe we could give them spots if they keep avoiding us like this."

We plopped down at a table by the window, the glass warm in the afternoon sun. The chatter around us felt distant.

"Agnes sure was a character, huh?" I speared a piece of carrot with my fork.

"Characters are a dime a dozen here." Jessie sipped her drink. "But sometimes, they speak the truth."

"Think we can trust her riddles?"

"Trust is a strong word." Jessie set down her cup. "But cautious consideration? Absolutely."

"Great," I said with a sigh. "Another puzzle to add to the pile."

"Good thing we’re excellent puzzlers," she said, flashing a smile.

We started to eat. And, as always, the food was delicious. Being a mom meant that I was always happy for any hot meal that I didn’t have to make. Since being single, and alone, that was even more true. Food that I didn’t make just tasted better.

"Anything else going on with you?" Jessie asked between bites.

Was there? "Last night I kept thinking about what you said about starting my own little garden here with magical plants. I think I want to do that."

"Then, you should talk to Mrs. Willowbee. She teaches Magical Gardening to the upperclassmen. She’ll be able to give you a plot to work on, seeds, and some instruction."

"Will do," I said, but my thoughts keep working. "What’s she like?"

"Mrs. Willowbee?" She shrugged. "She can be tough and a bit harsh, but she loves when students take an interest in gardening. I’ve noticed she can talk about gardening forever and is eager to help plant lovers."

That was reassuring. "I’ll definitely reach out to her."