‘Oh Sparky, what are we going to do?’ Alys wrung her hands as a sludgy yellow substance seeped from the bottom of her cauldron.
It had all been going so well. Business had been brisk following her success with the skin potion she’d made for Agatha of Aladore*. Agatha had been the subject of a beauty feature in the Weekly Witch, and Alys had also had a spot in the same publication, although the journalist who came to interview her hadn’t been best pleased when she’d inadvertently turned her photographer into a frog.
Alys sighed again and stared mournfully at the leaky cauldron. ‘How much is a new cauldron going to cost Sparky?’
The diminutive dragon quickly consulted Acme’s Catalogue for Practitioners of Potions. ‘A Number Five Cauldron is six hundred and twenty four witch-gilders.’
‘I don’t even have the twenty four witch-gilders after paying compensation to that journalist.’ A plump tear ran down her cheek.
Sparky hopped up on her shoulder and nuzzled her neck. He began to weep in sympathy, their tears mingling as they dripped into the leaky cauldron.
Psst-psst-psst! The cauldron hissed. Whooosh! A cloud of blue smoke issued forth from its depths. Ping-ping-ping! A shower of shiny silver objects rained down on the floor.
Sparky hopped down to investigate. ‘Look at this Alys,’ he exclaimed, releasing a cloud of excited steam.
Alys crouched down to look. ‘Coins! Oh Sparky, are they real?’
The diminutive dragon examined the nearest coin. ‘Sure they are!’ He gathered them up. ‘Six hundred and twenty-four witch-gilders!’
‘Exactly the amount we need… but how?’
The cauldron sputtered again and a thick piece of parchment flew out, flapped about and presented itself to Alys. It read: ‘Your cauldron is due for retirement and has bestowed a parting spell. Please treat her kindly in her old age and do not use her as an umbrella stand.’
The parchment promptly vanished.
Alys and Sparky looked at each other. The cauldron gurgled happily and showered them with tiny pink roses.
Written in response to a prompt from Susan T. Braithwaite
Genre Scribes Friday Fiction Writing Challenge #38
The challenge this week was catalogue. Photo credit: clipart-library.com
It’s a little longer than the suggested 250 words, but Sparky didn’t want me to leave any of the story out.
luna's on line 
Fabulous magical Law of Attraction cauldron! I love it! An excellent chapter for these equally fabulous characters, Chris.
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Thanks Tom! I’d never realised that cauldrons have distinct personality; a suppose I should have done.
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In the realms of imagination, everything can have its own personality. It’s just magic!
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…and where would we be without that 🙂
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Don’t you just love it? Acme has Everything, even bigger than Amazon! Good luck is with those two. What to respectfully do with an old cauldron? How about using it as a base for a Christmas tree to be used when spirits are high? A fitting thank you for six hundred and twenty-four witch-gilders!
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Maybe the old cauldron could be persuaded if we asked her very nicely. With the residue of so many past spells, I’m sure she’d decorate it… interestingly?
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Quite a magical story this is ❤️
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I’m always up for a spot of magic!
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With you on that all the way
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This is lovely!
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Thanks Alex! 🙂
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How delightful! I daresay I’m still smiling.
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🙂 I’m pleased the story made you smile, Denise!
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Its magical and it made me wanna skip and hop in a meery go around..😊
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🙂 that was the idea! I’m pleased you enjoyed.
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Such a sweet installment of Alys and Sparky’s story. Where can I find my own Sparky?
As always, thanks for taking part, Chris.
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We all need a little Sparky, don’t we?
And, also as always, a pleasure!
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And that’s how the name came. I was thinking that it might be a spin-off of leaky cauldron. 😄
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I’m sure you’ve noticed the occasional nod to Harry Potter. I couldn’t think of anything better to call this particular adventure.
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Ohh yes. I’ve definitely noticed all of them. Do keep writing more. 🙂
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Oh yes, Shweta, I plan to. Thank you so much for the encouragement! 🙂
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