The rest of the afternoon and early evening, Karl tried to think about what else he could do. For some reason, his brain was foggy and he just could not think straight. It was like something had sucked memories out of his head. He decided to take a nap on the couch hoping his head would clear when he woke up. Karl dozed off, but woke up as his phone was ringing. Looking down at the display, it read Daddy. Karl answered in a forced cheerful tone saying hi, daddy bear, what was up. His father smiled and replied that it was nothing. Karl had just been on his mind lately and he thought he would give him a call. Was anything going on with him?
Karl thought about telling him about getting weak and shrinking, but decided it was too crazy to bring up. He said no, daddy, he was doing peachy. His job was going great and he even won a silly old karaoke contest last night. He did not tell his dad that they thought he was a woman.
His father said that was great to hear, son. He asked how his race training was coming. Was he still planning to run? He planned to be there for the race. He knew this was to be a special race for Karl and Lisa, and he knew it would not be easy for him, son, he added.
Karl said yeah, he was going to run, daddy. He had put in too much effort to miss running the race. It would be swell to see his big strong daddy there cheering him on, Karl said trying to sound upbeat.
His father said he would be there cheering the loudest. He loved him, son. He was proud of him. He wanted him to know that. Karl choked up a little and said he appreciated that, sweet daddy. He really did. Have a good night.
They hung up and Karl smiled thinking that he at least had his big daddy sugar. Around eight pm, he thought about making dinner. He really needed to eat. He was losing weight, and skipping meals would not help. Instead, he opened up the freezer and took out a pint of bubblegum flavored ice cream. He sat down on the couch, turned on Sleepless in Seattle and ate the entire carton. Somehow, the ice cream made him feel a little better and Karl went to bed in a lighter mood.
Just like every night recently, he fell asleep quickly. Around midnight, he thought he heard something loud, but did not quite awaken fully.
Karl dreamed of Lisa and on this night, the dreams had the touch of reality, a different reality. He remembered their meeting that day on the trail. Remembered how she actually complimented his pink helmet and long blond hair and did not seem put off by his voice. Even while Jeannie snickered when he struggled to pick up Lisa's bike to put it in her truck, Lisa patiently let him keep trying rather than laughing or helping. Karl thought then he had found the one woman that could understand him and might accept him just as he was. He had to woo her. She was perfect.
Last Friday: Lisa, Jeannie, and Grandmother Ingrid
Around nine thirty pm on the fateful Friday for Lisa that had started with so much hopeful optimism, she stood crying at the entrance to Fortis Beach Pier waiting for Jeannie. After almost two hours of waiting in misery, she was getting ready to leave when Jeannie pulled up. Jumping out of her car, Jeannie ran over to Lisa and hugged her tightly, stroking her hair and whispering that it would be alright.
After a few minutes, Lisa stopped sobbing and looked around to see Jeannie's grandmother. She said oh, hello Granny Ingrid. She did not see her there. Granny responded that it was okay, child, she came to see if she could help. Jeannie told her some of what Lisa was going through and she was so sorry.
Lisa sadly said thank you, Granny Ingrid, but she did not think there was anything anyone could do, the tears once again flowing down her cheeks.
Granny responded with a gentle, knowing smile, telling her not to be so sure of that, liebchen. There was always something that could be done if she knew the right things. Continuing, she asked now, if Lisa was able, to tell them what happened tonight at Karl's apartment. She knew it was painful for her, but it was very important to understand what she saw. She asked her not to leave out any details.
Lisa took a deep shaky breath and then went through her exam exemption, buying groceries, taking the training run with Jeannie, and then heading over to Karl's. She talked about the lights and TV being on and walking into the den. She said she looked over at the couch and Karl and Vicky were sitting side by side lit by the TV in front of them. They appeared to be looking down at something with their heads together. She saw Vicky turn to Karl. She could see Vicky mouth something with those cherry red lips, but did not hear what she said. She thought, in a panic, she was going to kiss him. She screamed, dropped everything and ran out. Finishing, Lisa again started to tremble and sob. Granny Ingrid said very good, child. She knew that was difficult.
Jeannie turned Lisa toward her and said that they were not going home. She did not want to take any chances that asshole would show up at their place and upset her more. She was also afraid she might kill him if she saw him right now. Granny had offered them her guest room for the night. They would get a good night's sleep and everything would be better in the morning.
Lisa said looking at Granny Ingrid that was very sweet, but she had been thinking while she was waiting. Maybe she had overreacted again. Maybe Karl was just there with Vicky to work. Maybe she had read too much into it. If he came to their apartment, she wanted to give him a chance to explain.
Jeannie grabbed Lisa's shoulders again and turned her to look her in the eye. Slightly shaking her as she spoke, she said no. She told her not to give that bastard another chance to betray her. He disrespected her at the restaurant that day by leering at the waitress and he had been cheating on her with that Vicky whore for who knew how long. Looking over at Granny momentarily, Jeannie continued that she happened to know that Vicky and her fiance broke up. She thought Karl broke them up to get Vicky for himself.
Lisa shook her head and said that was not possible. He would not do that to her, to her.
Jeannie again shook Lisa saying to think about it. Was not Karl only too happy to move to only seeing her on the weekends? Sure, he blamed her exam prep and his working hours, but was that the real reason? No, he was just wanting to have uninterrupted fucking time with that Vicky bitch. Seeing the stricken look on Lisa's face, Jeannie added that she was sorry about that last part. Lisa did not need her to say that.
Lisa's head started spinning. She thought, did she even know Karl? Had she been this naive and stupid? Karl never showed any signs of anything but adoration. Finally, she said slack jawed and confused that she did not, she could not, how could.
Hugging Lisa again, Jeannie said softly that she knew. He had fooled her, too. Then, icily, Jeannie said through gritted teeth that never again would he fool anyone.
Opening the passenger door to Lisa's truck, Jeannie motioned her in. She said she would drive. Granny would bring her car.
Arriving a few minutes later at Granny Ingrid's little bungalow, they all went in. Lisa sat down in a comfy lounge chair while Granny and Jeannie made cups of hot tea for each of them and then Jeannie handed one to Lisa. The hot sweet brew smelled wonderful and, after taking a few sips, Lisa felt more relaxed and less troubled. Finishing her cup, Lisa's eyes were heavy and she curled up and fell asleep.
Jeannie turned to Granny saying thanks for doing that. She needed to sleep. Granny nodded and then said with a sharp look that she needed to be sure about this. Did she know for certain that this Karl person was evil?
Jeannie did not hesitate. She said yes, Granny. He was a bad person. She did not know how many other women he had mistreated, but Lisa alone justified his punishment and preventative changes.
Granny said alright, liebling, she loved her and trusted her, cupping Jeannie's cheek. She reminded her to remember their vows and the consequences of breaking them. They would have to present this to the High Council next full moon. If any of what she had said was false, then they would all pay.
Jeannie responded that she understood, Granny. Lisa had to be protected from Karl. He was evil and she was the naive innocent. She saw her tonight. She saw how she was already ready to forgive his sin and take him back. She could not resist him. They had to make it so she never had to again. Not taking this action and letting evil succeed would be harder to explain to the Council.
Granny nodded and said they would proceed. This was going to require a great deal from both of them, but especially from Jeannie. Granny could develop the spells, but she was too old and frail to cast them. Even for Jeannie, casting this strong magic with its ability to shape reality, would weaken her. She asked if Jeannie was ready for this.
Jeannie said confidently yes, Granny. She could handle it. She asked what about Sister Artemis, referring to the third witch that had been a part of their discussions earlier that night. Could she help?
Granny said sipping her tea that Jeannie had heard Artemis earlier tonight; she was reluctant to do this. She thought Artemis was right that Jeannie's original plan went too far, but she knew Jeannie liked Sister Artemis, but she was afraid she would be in the way. No, she thought they needed to keep this just between the two of them. As Artemis was on the Council, she would eventually hear their account, but until then, they needed to do this themselves. Once the first spell was cast, Artemis, too, would be part of the altered reality. Only they would know both lines of history.
Jeannie, looking over at Lisa sleeping, asked what about her. Even with what they did to Karl, she was still going to be in pain. Granny stood up saying she had thought about that. There was a distraction potion they could try. If done properly, whenever she started thinking about Karl and their relationship, a different idea would pop into her head. For example, if she thought about Karl, she would remember she needed to study or make dinner. Something like that. Granny had seen it work wonders for mothers mourning after losing a child. Eventually, enough time would pass that the pain would dull and they could stop the potion.
Jeannie said yes, let us do that, smiling. Let us make it as easy for her as we can. Granny walked toward her makeshift apothecary and pulled down a large old tome. Opening it, she found the appropriate page and then assembled ingredients. Grinding them into a fine yellow powder with a mortar and pestle, Granny consulted the book again and recited a long incantation over the mixture. A slight glow emanated from the powder for a few seconds and it turned a slightly greenish color. Pouring it into a small vial and sealing it, Granny came back into the den and handed it to Jeannie.
She explained that tomorrow morning, pour a little of this into Lisa's coffee or water. It would dissolve and had no flavor. Jeannie would have to give her some about every week or so to keep the spell going. After she thought Lisa was okay, she could stop giving it to her and the effects should dissipate over the next week.
With that, Granny headed off to bed, kissing Jeannie on the top of the head as she sat in a kitchen chair. She said goodnight, sweet girl. She reminded her that it was not too late. If she changed her mind in the morning about doing this, they could stop. Jeannie nodded and Granny shuffled off.
Jeannie stood and moved over to the sitting area, looking down on Lisa sleeping peacefully and said in a low voice that she was going to make this all right. Lisa would see. And she would see who really cared about her.
Grabbing her keys and Lisa's, Jeannie slipped out the door and into her car.
Despite her relative calmness with Granny and Lisa, Jeannie was anything but calm. She was so angry and vengeful that she decided she could not wait till the next day for Karl to start paying. She drove over to Karl's apartment and saw his Jeep was not there. Quietly, she opened the door with Lisa's key and sneaked in, making sure no one was home. The groceries that Lisa had dropped had been reassembled, presumably by Vicky, and were on the counter. A couple of beer bottles were broken, but everything else was still okay. Jeannie saw the note left by Vicky and her rage went up another level. She started to tear the note down, but thought better of it, studying the handwriting for a moment.
Instead, Jeannie took a sheet of blank paper from Karl's printer. Grabbing a small paring knife, she sterilized it with alcohol and set it down. Looking around the kitchen, she found a cocktail toothpick. Setting the paper on the counter, she carefully made a small cut in the palm of her left hand. Dipping the toothpick in the blood of her palm, she started writing a note. You have hurt the innocent and you must pay.
Finishing the note, Jeannie put a bandage on her palm. Opening drawers in the kitchen, she found a small hammer and a nail and then proceeded to nail the note to Karl's front door. She thought this should scare him with a mischievous grin. Remembering one of the basic spells from her time in Europe, Jeannie found some charcoal dust from Karl's grill and held it in the palm of her uninjured hand. She closed her eyes, said a short rhyming phrase in German and then rubbed the note with the charcoal. Momentarily, the note looked smudged, but in a few seconds it was completely clean and legible again. This finished, she washed the remaining dust from her hand in the kitchen sink, grabbed Lisa's groceries, and left Karl's apartment.
Jeannie figured Karl was at their place and drove over, pulling in a back entrance. She did not know what she would actually do if she found him, but thought she would figure that out when she got there. She immediately saw Karl's Jeep parked in a dark corner. Jeannie parked her car in another visitor's spot and crept around behind Karl's truck. She saw his cheek resting on the window and the window fogging and clearing in a slow rhythm and realized he was asleep. How could that bastard sleep after doing this to Lisa, she fumed.
Jeannie quietly walked over to her apartment and inside. What could she do to him? She thought as she scanned around the apartment. First, she grabbed a box cutter to slash his tires, but thought that was so ghetto. She thought about a bunch of things like putting sugar in his gas tank or a potato in his exhaust, but stopped herself and said out loud what was she, fourteen years old and a boy? Looking in the bathroom, it dawned on her. She took one of Lisa's lipsticks and a piece of her stationery and wrote in lipstick a note telling Karl that she, Lisa, wanted him to go away and never come back. Completing the effect, Jeannie sprinkled drops of saline on the paper to simulate tears.
She reasoned that she did not think Karl had a heart, but at least he would know how much he had hurt Lisa. Moreover, he would know that she knew he was a cheat and was done with him. It would not matter later, once his changes were complete, but this might also prevent him coming around in the meantime. It seemed such a pathetic way to get at Karl and she looked over at the sugar bowl one more time before walking out of the apartment. Quietly she placed the note under his wiper, noting how tall his macho Jeep was and thinking that this gave her an idea for later. Stepping back from the front of the Jeep she raised two middle fingers to Karl, whispered fuck you, and then went to her car and back to Granny's home.