Page 113 of The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium

Talula closed her eyes. She thought of Samhain’s past and smiled. “Because the Samhain festival is wonderful. I can’t wait for you to see it; it’s like Halloween Land. We always do cool educational stuff about paganism and other cultures’ fall celebrations. Plus, there’s scavenger hunts, carnival games, and pumpkin-spiced funnel cakes. And no matter what happens during the year or how much time has passed, you’ll see everyone at Samhain. Like, my high school English teacher and I almost never talk during the year, but we always catch up at the caramel apple stall.”

“So Samhain is about the people.”

Talula kept her eyes closed. “Not just Pine Hollow people. People who feel like family to me.” (Talula thought of all the magical beings that visited during Samhain to use the Volta.) “They stop by, and it’s the only time I get to see them all year. Really, Samhain is the only time that my two worlds coexist, and it’s…” Talula swallowed. “It’s the only time of year I truly belong to both. Like I’m wanted by both.”

Talula felt a cold, wet something poking into her temple. She opened her eyes. Simon had hopped onto the couch to press his nose to her face. He gave a gentle, heartfelt whuf.

“Thanks, Simon.” Talula tipped herself back up to look at Dahlia.

Dahlia’s gaze was so full of some raw, nameless emotion, it made Talula’s breath catch in her throat. Dahlia turned away, and whatever it was, was gone. “My mom was a nurse; did I tell you?”

Talula shook her head, sitting up to look at Dahlia.

“She dealt with anger all the time. She said anger almost always comes from pain, and usually, that pain is wrapped up in love.” Dahlia continued, “Like, when a patient’s family would get in her face about pillows or IVs or whatever. Mom knew they were angry because their loved one was in bad shape and it hurt to see them that way. There wasn’t anything they could do about it but be angry.”

“Your mom must be really patient.”

“Not at all!” Dahlia grinned, dimples at maximum. “She doesn’t let anyone give her shit.”

“Am I the angry relative in this scenario?” Talula asked.

Dahlia shook her head. “You’re angry because you love Samhain and you love this town. You’re hurt because the town you care about is turning on you. So, when you talked to the protesters and to Mrs. Bochart, you were letting your anger speak. But if you show them where the anger is coming from, show them the love, maybe they’ll want to listen.”

“What happened to ‘suffer no fools’?”

“Give yourself your best chance to be understood first.” Dahlia shrugged. “Then, fuck those fools.”

Talula laughed. “Good advice.”

A few hours and a refilled teapot later, they had a semblance of a plan and GIFs on every important slide. Plus, Talula had homework.

As Dahlia packed up to go, Talula stared at a yellow legal pad like it was challenging her to a swordfight. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

“Just speak from the heart.” Dahlia tapped the legal pad with a glittery black nail.

Talula groaned. “I just hope they can hear what I have to say and look past their judgments about who’s saying it.”

An odd look crossed Dahlia’s face. “Huh.”

“What?”

“I might have an idea.”

“Are you going to tell me what it is?”

“Yes. Eventually. Maybe. If I’m right.” Dahlia flung an arm around Talula in a quick hug, then darted out the door. The bell chimed curiously behind her.

Simon hopped up on the couch next to Talula. They both stared at the legal pad.

“Do you think I can do it?” Talula asked.

“I think you essentially tossed yourself into a magical tornado last night to save your mother and survived. If you can do that, you can probably make a speech without being burned at the stake.”

Talula rolled her eyes. “Thanks.”

“But when are you going to start that next recipe? The cake?” Simon asked, batting a paw at the air impatiently. “That jinn’s cookbook may have the answers we need to our many, many problems.”

“Tonight, when we’re home.” Talula ran a hand through her hair. “I can’t make the cake at the café. We don’t have an oven here.”