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“That’s such an old person’s joke,” I say. Peter is standing behind a small table, unstacking plastic cups. He smiles when he sees me. “I’m going to get some wine,” I say. Mom says, “Good idea,” then she follows me to the table. “Hey there,” she says, “your name’s Peter?” she asks. He nods: yes. “Is there a limit on drinks?” I ask. “Can you give her half a cup,” says mom, then she whispers, “she’s not twenty-one yet,” and gives me a nudge in the side with her elbow. “Either I drink, or I kill myself right here,” I say. Mom calls me dramatic, but Peter laughs. He holds up his index finger, then he winks at me. Thank God, Mom doesn’t see. I can’t help but notice how Peter has got these really lovely dimples. For a second, I want to bite …show more content…

“No peeking!” she says. Then she points at me, “I see you peeking!” she says. Once our eyes are closed, Mac tells us to hum. We’re supposed to do it one-after-another. “Feel the energy build!” she says. She explains how she’s studied meditation. “Meditation, medication, magic!” she calls out. I open my eyes to look at mom, but she’s still got her eyes shut. Dahlia sees me, and mouths: CLOSE. YOUR. EYES. So I do. “What do these words have in common?” I whisper, “they all start with a m? Meditation, medication, magic, mac, madness, mental, m–.” I hop in place. Mom elbows me, but I can feel her laughing through my hand. “These are our tools!” Mac cries, suddenly ten times more passionate, “These are our strengths, if we choose to own them.” She lets out a wild scream. I open my eyes again and am surprised to see that everyone seems relatively okay with Mac’s outbreak. Mom’s eyes are still closed, but she is snorting with the effort of not laughing. “Will you own these strengths with me?” asks Mac. Dahlia and a couple of other women yell, “YES!” “I can’t hear you!” says Mac. “YES!” scream the woman, their teeth bared. Dahlia lets go of Mac’s hands and punching this air. “Now,” says Mac, “I am going to pass around some Mandrake. You needn’t take very much, just a pinch. Historically, Mandrake has been used by witches to prevent demonic possession. If used correctly, it will strengthen the mind, spirit and heart. Peter–”

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