Title: Re-branding
Source: Thursday photo prompt: Sign #writephoto
Word count: 410 words
Circe came to an abrupt stop in the middle of the busy sidewalk.
“You can’t be serious?” she said. Glinda turned to look at her.
“What?” Glinda tilted her head and batted her eyelashes.
“Don’t play innocent with me, Glinda. That,” Circe said as she pointed at the shop’s sign depicting a pointed black witch’s hat.
Glinda’s hand rested on the shop’s door handle. She sighed and walked back to Circe.
“Dear, Circe. I’m not sure I understand your problem.” Glinda tilted her head again and smiled.
“When I agreed to go shopping with you, I was expecting ‘goddess’ shopping not ‘witch’ shopping. Especially not clichéd witch shopping.”
Glinda smiled and batted her eyelashes again.
“Come on Glinda, even you don’t wear a black pointed hat. You don’t expect me to, do you? Do you?” Circe’s eyes widened, her mouth gaping as Glinda continued to smile at her.
“No,” Circe exhaled the word, and she took a step backward. Glinda attempted to touch Circe’s arm. Circe recoiled, jerking her arm beyond Glinda’s reach.
“It is a requirement of the coven,” Glinda said.
“Geez, Glinda. Seriously? Next, you’ll be telling me I have to adopt a black cat and carry a wand.”
“Oh, no dear, your staff should do nicely.”
“And the cat?”
“With your propensity for transforming people into wild beasts, I’m sure we will find something acceptable.”
“I’m wondering why I agreed to this,” Circe shook her head.
“We both know why.”
“I am a goddess. People line up to worship me. They perform sacrifices in my honor. They fear my wrath.”
Glinda looked at the people passing them in the street. They hurried past them, giving them no notice.
“Yes, you are causing quite the stir. Perhaps you need to consider hiring bodyguards?”
Circe said nothing. Her shoulders slumped, and she could feel the hot sting of tears in her eyes.
“Darling, Circe, it’s not that bad. You’re just in need of a little re-branding. Nothing major. The coven is the first step. You’re lucky they agreed to accept your application.” Glinda moved to Circe’s side and slid her arm around her shoulder, giving her a gentle hug.
“If you work your magic, people will soon remember you. You’ll be great on social media and you’ll have millions of followers in no time.”
Circe brushed the tears away and attempted to smile.
“That’s better. Shall we see about that hat? You know, it doesn’t have to be black.”
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Keep on writing.
Jo Hawk The Writer
Jo Hawk 