I watch as the candle flickers in my parent’s bedroom, casting funny looking shapes on the wall. Is that… an eye?

I turn to the window. From here it looks like the moon is resting on our apple tree, smiling at me. In that crescent shape—

“Focus, Mindy!” I chide myself. At this rate, I’ll be an adult before I ever start my training.

You see, I turned thirteen yesterday. The age where young ladies who have demonstrated magical competence can begin sorcery training—with their parent’s blessing of course. It’s that last part that echoes in my mind as I pull out my wand.

“I want to become a great sorceress,” I had told my Mom. “Like you!”

Instead of a ‘sure, honey, we’ll get started right away’, as I’d hoped, I was told I had to ‘meet a condition’. Nothing major. ‘Using everything your father and I have taught you, steal my wand.’ Easy peasy you might be thinking. Unless you’re a magicless, like my Dad. But my Mom, as it turns out, is Madeline Rune. Why does that name sound so familiar? Well, because she’s the most powerful sorcessess alive. That’s why!

And in case the prospect of stealing that wand was not daunting enough, I also had a deadline. ‘Before the next full moon’ she had said. That was less than a month to find a way to do the nigh impossible.

I swallow hard then start flicking my wrist at the wall, trying not to wake my parents while reciting the command words:

_Magics flowing from across the land_

__

_Move that wand from the shelf to my hand_

My Mom’s wand shifts slightly then freezes. And then I see it. The shadow eye I’d noticed earlier is open. And staring at me.

I realize two things instantly. Although she is in her bed with her eyes closed, my Mom is _watching_ me through this mystical… thing. And second, she is counteracting my spell… in her sleep.

Of course she did I think. I leave the room disappointed, but hopeful.

It’s not until the moon gets halfway to full that I’m ready for my next act. This time I stalk carefully, watching as she leaves her wand unattended on the kitchen counter, as she always does when she goes back and forth to bring the groceries from the car.

During a moment she is outside, I make my move. Knowing better than just to take it, I attempt to coax it instead:

_Wand so nice, oh wand so nice_

_Wand so nice, I say it thrice_

A bit amateur hour I know, but it works. To the untrained eye, nothing happened. But I can see the faintest glow before it goes back to normal. I did it, I think as I go to pick it up. Only, there is nothing to pick up. I can see it, but I cannot touch it. I’ve touched it many times, even accidentally knocking it over onto the floor once before. But now—it’s a hologram? Shouldn’t be surprised.

I try everything until I’ve tried every trick I know. I knew she was powerful—master mages run in fear at her name—but, somehow I was supposed to get the better of her. I replay her words in my mind.

_Using everything your father and I have taught you, steal my wand._

Days goes by until the moon is three quarters full. I resign myself to failure. I’ve run out of ideas, short of asking a wizard. As if I knew a wizard anyway. And what wizard could possibly win against her?

Several more days pass, until on the last day, I see my Dad sitting on the front porch outside, staring at the now nearly full moon.

I join him. “Hey, Dad.”

“How’s it going, Melinda?” Have your Mom’s wand yet, he asks almost playfully.

I look down in reply. “I’ve tried everything Mom has taught me. Nothing works. I mean, she’s invented some of these spells. What chance do I have?”

“What about what I’ve taught you?” He says, a smile forming on his lips.

“What? Dad, you can’t do magic,” I say, not believing I had to remind him of that.

“Who said anything about magic?” he says, a twinkle in his eye. “Just say ‘please, can I have your wand?’ I’m sure she’ll hand it to you.”

I look at him unbelievingly for a moment. Then look up at the sky. There’s still time. I kiss my Dad on the cheek, before rushing to see Mom.

And using my Dad’s power—of politeness.