Let the Buyer Beware
by Michelle Ann King
‘Is it done yet? Is it done, Gran? Is it?’
Willa Rafferty ignores the hopping child at her elbow and peers at the box in her hand. Its roughly printed label–Environment Expansion Kit! Need More Room? Create Extra Magical Space With This Quick And Easy Spell!–is now smeared with small, sticky fingerprints. ‘Wait a second, Chloe, let me–’
‘I’m Evie, Gran. Is that bug supposed to be in the bucket? Shall I catch it?’
‘What? Oh.’ Willa flinches as a large, black-shelled beetle skitters past her foot. Did that come with the kit? Must’ve done. ‘Shit. I mean, yes. Get the bug, Chloe. I mean, Evie.’
The girl cups the fleeing insect between her palms and drops it into the bucket. It lands with a splash and an aggrieved-sounding hiss.
‘Are we going to set fire to it now, Gran?’
Willa hesitates. Not if there are bugs involved, surely? Aren’t there regulations about not setting bugs on fire? (Continue Reading…)