The next day Damien didn’t tell anyone at work about his gift. No doubt they would just laugh at him as his father did when had mother explained how Damien was an early April fool. Besides it was not as if he was friendly with any of his colleagues. He always sat alone at morning tea and lunch. He supposed he should be grateful that he had been able to stay here for 4 years and no-one yet had discovered his nickname.
Damien’s day was busy enough. He was still a junior clerk. His job consisted of doing whatever his boss Cheryl wanted. Sometimes it was filing paperwork. Today it was transferring old handwritten receipts to the computer. It wasn’t exactly mind stimulating work but Damien knew he wasn’t the smartest person around. He just did what he was told and didn’t make waves. He didn’t mind that half the work he did was not for the firm that was paying him but for but for Cheryl’s private use. He knew if he said anything he would swiftly be out of a job.
That was no doubt why Damien still had his job. Only Damien was desperate enough to continue working for such a horrible boss.
…….
That night on the way home, while at the mall waiting for the connecting bus Damien made his way back to the SRU shop. He was intrigued how the shop keeper had known his name. He couldn’t really be a wizard could he? Did wizards really exist? He needed to fill in his 20 minutes and he recalled how his mother had said that a normal person would give the man a piece of his mind. Damien knew he wouldn’t do that as he didn’t stand up for anyone, let alone himself. But he had to fill in 20 minutes and perhaps he might get a glimpse of that girl again - the girl who had actually acknowledged his existence.
The old man wasn’t there. Neither was the girl. Behind the counter was a nerdy looking teenage boy. The boy saw him enter and said ‘Hi there, good to see you again. How did you like your gift?’
Damien was puzzled. He had never seen this teenager before. ‘Haven't yet. I suppose you’re a wizard as well’
‘Me? No. I just work here. It would be cool to become his apprentice but I don’t think he would take me on. I’m always getting into trouble. Some of those spells he casts do really weird things’
‘Are you suggesting the old man is a real wizard and the stuff you sell actually works?’
‘I have no doubt. He makes some pretty potent stuff’
‘So that wishing calendar he gave me would actually work?’
‘Of course. If the old man says something is magic you can bet it is’
‘Is he here now? I didn’t really take in what he was telling me yesterday’
‘No. I think he’s off in search of ingredients. He just shows up when he wants. Usually I’m here on my own’
‘Well can you tell me anything about my calendar?’
‘Sorry. Just do whatever the old man said. If there is a problem you know where to find us. Are you planning to buy anything? It’s closing time. I need to finish the stock take before I can go home’
That’s when Damien noticed the name tag on the teenagers chest “Brad”. “No you are right. I know where to find you. I’ll test out my calendar tonight’
……….
On his bus trip home Damien contemplated the chances of the gawky teenager and the hot girl sharing the same name. The teenager had inferred that it was just him and the old man who worked there. So who was that girl? No that simply wasn't possible