Rogelia's House of Magic (25 page)

Twenty-eight

X
ochitl gripped the handlebars of her bike, turning it away from the side of the garage, where it had rested unused for several days. A fountain of morning glory vine had grown ivylike leaves and soft purple flowers around her bike. She ripped at a vine that had twined itself around the spokes of the bike’s front wheel and tossed the tendrils to the ground.

Xochitl swung her leg over the bike and began pedaling toward the Santa Ana River with the intention of following it to the ocean. As she rode through the neighborhood, the heat rose in undulating waves off the asphalt streets. The warm wind dried the back of her throat. She squeezed the grips, guiding the bike over the sandy and rocky path preceding the bike trail. Tall eucalyptus, sycamores, cottonwoods, and drooping willows grew on the left side of the two-lane paved trail. To her right, boulders made up the embankment that led down to the Santa Ana River.

Ever since Nana had come home from the hospital a few days ago, Xochitl had felt a strong urge to get to the ocean. But she couldn’t leave her nana at first. She was so relieved that Nana was well. And on top of Nana’s recovery, Xochitl felt ecstatic to realize the truth about her new friends. She just wanted to stay put at home and not do anything that would shatter her newfound security. But Nana would never let Xochitl play it that safe. And, to be honest, Xochitl didn’t want to anymore. After Nana had begun to see some of her clients again, Xochitl knew the time had come to make this trek to the sea.

Xochitl could smell the ocean’s salty air floating down the watery corridor. She didn’t know what she would do when she got there, but she knew she was heading in the right direction. Xochitl smiled when she saw a big brown pelican dive-bomb a silver fish that had flopped out of the river. The closer she rode to the ocean, the higher the river rose. Swimming—or in this case, flying—fish must mean she was very close.

The bike trail dipped underneath the Victoria Street Bridge. When the trail rose, Xochitl could see the palm trees swaying in rows on either side of the river mouth, and the white line of crashing surf. She pedaled harder. A snowy egret stood on spindly legs in dark blue water that snaked through tall marsh grasses on her left. She squinted against the setting sun, which was about a hand’s width from the horizon.

At the end of the trail, Xochitl hopped off her bike and walked it over the top of the rocky embankment. She crouched over her bike as she pushed it through the soft sand under the cement bridge. Cars roared above her as they sped along Pacific Coast Highway. She pushed the bike up the sand dune onto the northernmost point of Newport Beach. In front of her was a brown lifeguard tower, and across the river she could see the fire rings of Huntington Beach.

Xochitl propped her bike against a
NO DOGS
sign and kicked the stand into place. She locked the rusty bike, laughing to herself and wondering who would ever steal it. She took her towel out of a metal basket and began marching through the sand, taking in gulps of sea air.

A short hike later she stood on the sand shelf above the booming waves pounding hard onto packed sand. With eyes glued to the blue-green faces of the breaking waves, Xochitl dropped her towel and peeled off her shorts. She watched a sandpiper poke its long beak into the sand, seeking edible creatures.

“Hope you find what you’re looking for,” Xochitl said to the bird.

Xochitl pulled her shirt over her head. Adjusting her triangle bathing-suit top, she walked directly into the ocean. Wearing this bathing suit was almost more daring than anything she had done since arriving in America. Xochitl spun to face the shore when the first wave hit, allowing the cold spray to splash her back. She turned and trudged against the swirling water. The ocean stretched out in front of her for miles. In the distance, she could see the jagged outline of Catalina Island. Last week she might have debated whether or not she should keep walking into the ocean until she couldn’t go any farther. But that wasn’t what she had come for today.

For the past few months, Xochitl had been visiting the river because it had reminded her of the times she swam with her sister. But it was never the same. In Orange County the river was too low and too dirty to swim in. Today Xochitl had come to the ocean instead, where she
could
swim.

Xochitl dove under a looming wave. She pushed through the current, reaching for the sparkling sun low on the horizon. Xochitl broke the surface of the water with her black hair plastered against her back. As the next wave approached, she turned toward the shore and started swimming. The wave caught Xochitl, lifted her, and gave her a ride.

Xochitl gave out a holler, in love with the freedom she felt because she could trust this wave long enough to let it carry her along. Then, out of the corner of her eye, Xochitl saw something or someone riding the wave with her. She turned and her breath caught in her throat. There, beside her on the wave, was Graciela. Tears welled in Xochitl’s eyes. Was it possible? Scared that it was just a dream but more hopeful than she had been in months, Xochitl reached her hand toward Graciela.

Her sister firmly clasped her hand, interlocking their fingers once more. Tears fell freely down Xochitl’s cheeks, and she laughed out loud. Chills raced each other down to her toes. Xochitl took in all of Graciela’s features, from her pug nose and heart-shaped face, identical to her own, to the smile that reached her eyes.

“I can’t believe I’ve finally found you,” Xochitl said joyously.

I have never left you,
Graciela said.
And I never will.

“How come you’re revealing yourself to me now, after all the times I tried to talk to you?” Xochitl asked.

You were so focused on the fact that you didn’t have me in a physical form that you couldn’t see what we did have,
Graciela laughed.
Not until you remembered your faith in the most precious thing we shared.

“Magic,” Xochitl said wistfully. “I guess that’s why you talked to Marina first.”

It is,
Graciela said.
But from now on, I will be only talking to you, Xochitl.

The wave subsided and, with it, the image of Graciela.

Xochitl scanned the ocean in vain. “Where are you? Graciela?”

I’m right here,
spoke Graciela’s voice.

A gray-flanked dolphin flipped in the water only ten feet from Xochitl. The dolphin swam in a circle around her. Xochitl watched the dorsal fin divide the water. She felt a rush of joy as the dolphin’s entire side undulated through the wave. In the ocean mist, Xochitl saw the outline of her sister’s smiling face.

Xochitl watched the dolphin join another dolphin, then another. Xochitl spun around and found herself in the middle of a dolphin pod with more than twenty members. A dolphin flipped backward, its tail catching the sun as it hit the horizon, the last light of the day. And as it sometimes does when it sets over the ocean, the sun ended the day with a green flash of light shooting across the horizon.

You are
mi hermana, Graciela’s voice echoed all around her.
I will never leave you.

The music of the ocean filled Xochitl’s ears. The seagulls squawked. The dolphins chirped and squeaked their songs. The waves collided with each other and the sand. The ocean was singing. Xochitl floated on her back with her arms outstretched and her bracelet tight around her wrist. Above her, tangerine, raspberry, and golden yellow veins streaked against a cornflower-blue sky. Xochitl closed her eyes and imagined she and Graciela flew with the seagulls toward the eastern horizon, where the stars began to shine.

Twenty-nine

O
n the last day of summer vacation, Mr. Garcia and Xochitl decided to throw a huge party to celebrate Rogelia’s recovery. The mariachi band donned their white and gold outfits and played in the corner of the Garcia’s backyard, next to the vegetable patch. Brightly colored banners were strung from the avocado tree to the frame of the house. Rogelia sat at the small table next to her garden and watched the party guests mingle.

The rich smell of carne asada cooking on the barbeque wafted toward Rogelia, causing her to turn and look around. Xochitl animatedly flipped her hands in the air as she spoke to her father and helped him place the cooked meat on a platter. Rogelia had not seen her first grandbaby this happy in a very long time. A light shone from Xochitl’s eyes. The brightness that had faded the day of the accident was back.

Movement caught Rogelia’s attention. Tristán was pushing Fern on the swing that hung from the avocado tree. Fern giggled as he caught her and the swing and gave her a kiss. Danny and Miguel ran by and teased her. Fern jumped off the swing to chase them. Fern’s mother caught hold of her and gave her a quick squeeze before heading out to dance. Mrs. Fuego had cut down on her nighttime partying to spend more time at home. Just because Fern was strong and able to put on a happy face, it wasn’t right for her optimism to be taken for granted.

Marina and her mother also danced together on the grass in front of the band. It was good to see Mrs. Peralta in Santa Ana without that scowl upon her face. She looked a little out of place in her navy Chanel dress, but she was clearly enjoying her daughter’s happiness. Nearby, Monica, Samantha, and their father waltzed to a Mexican polka led by the accordion player.

Rogelia sighed happily. Her students had learned that a spell works only if the outcome benefits the highest good and if they speak from their hearts. And working together, they had healed her, possibly even saved her life. What more could anyone ask of their apprentices? She couldn’t have been prouder of them.

Rogelia stood up and felt the creak in her bones. She glanced meaningfully at her apprentices. As if on cue, Marina, Fern, and Xochitl turned to look at their mentor. Rogelia beckoned them to her. Without hesitation, the girls dropped whatever they were doing and joined each other at Rogelia’s side.

“
Mi’jitas,
how can I begin to thank you for healing me?” Rogelia asked, beaming at the three of them. “I’m so proud of you, so grateful for your love. But you know, we’re coming to the end of summer, and your commitment to me is just about over,” Rogelia said, grinning widely. “I want to give you a hug before this party takes you all away from me.”

They wrapped their arms around each other and gave a tight four-person hug.

“This doesn’t have to be the end,” Fern whimpered.

Rogelia pulled away and looked at each of the girls in turn. “Does this mean you want to return to your lessons?”

Fern, Xochitl, and Marina looked at each other and smiled. “Yes!” they all answered simultaneously.

“I get the first
plácita
!” Xochitl exclaimed. “And not just because I’ve been with you the longest, Nana, but because I want to. I’m going to need it with school starting on Monday.”

“I’ll be there for you, Xochitl,” Fern reminded her, and she gave her friend a squeeze on the shoulder.

“And I’ll be starting a MECHA group at my school,” Marina said.

“MECHA?” Rogelia asked.

“Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán,”
Marina said with a perfect Spanish accent. “The Chicano Student Movement of Aztlán. Won’t that be great?”

“Yes, it will.” Rogelia smiled secretively, knowing what adventures lay ahead for her girls.

Magical Spells and Incantations for Beginners and Believers

Before performing any spell or incantation, make sure you follow the guidelines used in
Rogelia’s House of Magic:

1. Be responsible. Try to get your wish without magic first. And only ask for one wish at a time.

2. Be clear. The surest way to get what you want is to have clear and precise wishes.

3. Be honest. Make sure no one could be harmed by your wish coming true.

4. Be open. Keep an open mind so that you will recognize all the different ways your magical wish can show up in your life.

Charging a Crystal Wand

Wands are special instruments of magic that help you direct your intention. Wands made of crystal or with a crystal point carry with them all the power of the earth and the ability to make dreams real and tangible. Charging a magical object makes this tool specifically yours and gives it an extra boost. Charging a crystal wand begins with erasing and clearing your wand of all negativity or former energy. Dip your wand into a bowl of seawater or salt water three times. As you do this, say:

I release energies of old and impure,

Imprints of others cannot endure.

I seal this wand with my own intent

To create a life of empowerment.

Next, you want to fill your wand with your energy. Hold on to your wand, close your eyes, and imagine a fire in your belly that travels up your arms and into your wand. Place the crystal wand where it can be bathed in moonlight for several hours. Your wand will soak up your intent and the moon’s energy of dreams and be ready for more spellwork.

Confidence Incantation

On the night of the full moon, surround yourself with the things that make you feel good—including wearing a favorite color, perfume or oil, clothes, etc. Prepare a comfort food or drink. At moonrise, rub a dime-sized amount of olive oil or an essential oil of your favorite scent on a candle. As you do this, keep a straight back and imagine yourself to be confident, self-assured, and poised. Light the candle. If you have any doubts or insecurities, send your fears to the candle and imagine that the flames will transform any uncertainty into trust and conviction. Repeat this incantation three times every hour until you go to sleep.

I am the place that Confidence shines through.

I believe in myself to do what I must do.

Rising to the greatness that lives within me,

This I will find when I remain relaxed and free.

Silky Smooth Skin Spell

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup organic white sugar

1/3 cup avocado oil

1 teaspoon aloe vera gel

1 teaspoon cocoa butter

6 drops lavender essential oil

Mix together the sugar, oil, and aloe vera gel. Place the cocoa butter in a container in a bowl of hot water to soften it. Add the cocoa butter to the first ingredients using a hand mixer on high speed for 3 to 5 minutes. Add the essential oil. Use the sugar scrub in the shower or bath for two continuous nights. Repeat the following incantation three times:

My dream of [fill in the blank] is coming to me,

Fast as flying horses doth it flee

To rest on my lap as sure as can be.

Be sure to rinse out the tub after use, before the ants come marching in.

Creating a Magical Altar

An altar is any place where you go to make a special wish or to feel comfort. Begin by placing symbols that represent the four directions of east, south, west, and north. Symbols can be photos, images, or objects. East can have symbols of wind, air, yellow, animals that fly, or beginnings. South can have symbols of fire, orange, red, a candle, or courage. West can have symbols of water, blue, animals of the sea, or feelings. North can have symbols of earth, green, brown, trees, or family. Add something that represents you. Repeat the incantation:

Magic is true and I believe, too,

That what I wish will come true.

When I honor the directions four,

I will open a magical door.