Zauberling

The lights were already switched off when the elevator doors opened. With a forceful push the cleaning trolley mastered the gaps in the floor. Just as the young woman stepped out as well, the doors closed, almost catching the back of her grey overcoat.

The emergency light illuminated the empty corridor enough for Pearl to avoid the benches and few of the potted plants. She slowed down.

Wouldn’t be wise to break something now.

Suddenly, some music travelled her way. Followed by a cacophony of giggles.

Rather cackles.

With a small grunt the young woman pushed the cleaning cart toward the cone of light. The wheels were rattling and echoing dully in the corridor. Her soles squeaked in an irregular pattern, reminding her of her brother’s pet rat.

At least Gruffy is in a better place now. Mother should have told Opal off more often.

The thought of her brother sent a shiver down her spine. She shook her head and concentrated on the sensation of the clean floor under her feet.

They did a good job today. No more soap residue.

Just then, her shoe wasn’t met with resistance but lubrication. With a loud outcry, her hand gripped the handle tighter. The cart changed direction. Her direction.

“Steh!”

The shout came out louder than she had wanted. Immediately, grey mist engulfed the wheels. The cart stopped. Pearl’s body didn’t. Pain travelled up her stretched arm. It licked her wrist and elbow and finally bloomed in her shoulder. She ground her teeth not to curse out loud.

“Are you okay?”

The gentle voice cam from a short woman with the same grey overall Pearl was wearing. She was standing in the half opened door. There was no more music coming from the room. The giggles and conversation had also died.

“Weg.”

Despite the harsh whisper, the grey mist lingered. With a quick glance toward the older lady, Pearl stared at the wheels. She repeated the word. Her voice slightly louder. Pearl looked up quickly just to focus on the mist again. This time it had heard her. It started to slowly fade.

Come on! Faster!

With a weak smile she met the other woman’s eyes. It was too dark to see her expression clearly, but Pearl thought she saw the older woman frown. Quickly, she let go of the cart and made circular motions with her hands.

“Yeah. Everything’s fine. Are you already done?”

A chuckle came from the other woman. Pearl was sure that the frown must have been in her imagination.

“Sure, dear. We’re done. We’ve been doing this for over forty years. Come now! Rest a bit. Before they pick us up.”

With a loud clicking sound Pearl secured the trolley breaks. She wanted to follow the woman, when a frazzle of the silver mist came into view. It wriggled as if in pain. Pearl hesitated.

“Weg!”

The other woman stopped in her tracks.

“What did you say?”

Pearl’s eyes darted to the woman then to the wheel and back to the woman again. She rubbed her palms on the overcoat.

“Well, let’s go.”

This time she was sure that there was a frown.

They can’t find out. The next punishment will be more severe.

“Hm, sure. Come in. Selma found a cure video.”

One last time Pearl turned around to see that the mist was completely gone by now.

“No, no. Play it from the beginning again. She doesn’t know it!”

Pearl was squeezed between Selma, Hatice and Dunya. The smell of detergent and chlorine, as well as some strong liquor and sweat was lingering in the air. Hatice picked at her headscarf, while Dunya positioned her mobile phone.

Pearl couldn’t but stare at the new model. The screen was big and without any scratches unlike the phone which was shoved in Pearl’s bag.

Maybe I should save up for a new phone. But … It’s only three more weeks.

“You don’t know it? Your parents never watched Disney® with you?”

All the women gasped at her reaction. Pearl could feel the heat creep up her cheeks.

It’s not as if you know about ‘The Moonstone’s Travels’ or ‘Witching Hour for the Girl’.

She looked down on her lap. The fabric was crumpled in her fists.

“Don’t worry. It’s never too late. My Merve sent it to me. She just had her second child.”

While the other two women complimented Hatice, Pearl’s gaze was focused on the screen. There was a man in blue robes and a pointy hat with stars on it. The white triangle in the black circle made it impossible to see anything else.

“Let’s watch it! There’s only music. It’s a nice way to end the day.”

The strong rough finger tapped the screen. The triangle disappeared. Instead, the man in the video began to move. There was a mouse in a red robe as well.

Fascinating. This is how they see magic.

Just as eager as her nightshift colleagues Pearl followed the small mouse getting into trouble with the water buckets. A few times, she laughed out loud, earning her raised eyebrows from Danya and Selma. But at the end, all four of them were giggling at the light punishment the mouse received.

“So, what do you think?”

“Hm? It’s a bit off the mark. We never have to …”

Pearl clamped her mouth shut. Immediately, she felt a crackling in the air. A high-pitched ping reached her ears. Her eyes darted through the room. In the corner she finally saw it. The red glowing mark.

“You never have to what?”

But Pearl only shook her head. Fear made it difficult to collect her thoughts.

“I mean … the music. It was a bit dramatic, wasn’t it?”

“We’ll meet in half an hour. Are you sure you can handle it?”

Pearl nodded and pushed her trolley into the empty corridor. Selma would go up to the fourth floor while Hatice and Danya already were taking care of the lower corridors.

“You can check on me, as soon as you’re done.”

Selma’s face lit up. Pearl reciprocated the smile which stayed on her lips until the doors of the elevator had closed.

Showing respect to the Elders always works. At home and in the human realm.

With a sigh, Pearl took out the cleaning supplies she would need. A broom, the dustpan and finally the mop. Then she pushed back the grey sleeves of her overall. Yesterday’s mouse with its red robe came into her mind. A grin tucked on her lips.

Channeling the dramatic images, Pearl lifted her arms.

“Walle! walle

Manche Strecke,

Dass zum Zwecke

Wasser fließe,

Und mit reichem, vollem Schwalle

Zu dem Bade sich ergieße!“[1]

There was a pause. Silence.

The cleaning supplies rested against the trolley just like Pearl had prepared them. Slowly the young witch lowered her arms. A snort escaped her.

She rubbed her thumb against her middle finger. After the third rub, she snipped her finger.

“Sauber machen! Los!”

[1] Johann Wolfgang von Goethe „Der Zauberlehrling“ (1797)