She be Different and that be her Charm
"World is gonna burp a spell," Heckuba said, as I join'd her.
You gotta be 'round Heckuba quite a spell til the creeps you get, seep outta you. Once that happens you meet a deep soul and a great friend. She be a good Witch. With a wise spell guid'n her journey in this dream of life.
Been her friend go'n two score. Only thing of her that still creeps me is her ability to walk on her toes. Like two fingers walk'n. But with each toe mov'n individual-like. All her toes be the same length.
Ain't got a clue to how she does it. I can live with it. But it still be creepy.
Every Christmas, Heckuba puts a large plastic ghost wear'n a Santa hat outside her hovel. Ask'd her why once. She blink'd and said, "What you got a'gin the 'Ghost of Christmas past?"
Well, she puts a green light bulb in it, so it blends. Dickens spins I reckon.
Heckuba's mom was named Hekuba. Her granny was Hecuba. Heck of a family tree, I a'reckon.
I like sit'n 'round Heckuba's fire pit. Homey-like. A'course her hovel be over-flow'n with witch stuff. Bronze snake eat'n its tail surrounds the pit and a Faylyn pot hangs over it.
Heckuba don't do spells. Gave 'em up after the change. Instead the old girl sits quiet. Look'n in the pot fill'd with water. She once said t'was good 'enuff for Nosey Damus, be good 'enuff for her.
Reckon so. She ain't usually wrong. Twist'd 'round at times. But if off, tis a smidge.
How Heckuba knows 'bout things is goofy. She ain't got any modern stuff 'cept electricity, but she knows everything go'n on. Here and there. Inside and out.
"What ya mean, 'world gonna burp'?" I ask'd, while get'n comfy on a sheepskin and warm'n my finger bones from the fire. Start'n to bone creak more'n usual this year with all the rain we be get'n.
Put'n more pinon wood on the fire, Heckuba smiled and said, "You don't feel it yet? Figgers. Few do."
"Feel what, Hekky?" I beg'd.
She adjust'd her butt, took a pause, then said, "Click go'n off in folk's heads. Happen'n all over the world. Fear get'n very thin now."
"Be guess'n you got a point?," I ask'd.
"Yep. More folks are get'n awake to what be go'n on with domestic enemies. Be lose'n their fear of the few who control. Folk be learn'n agin what be fair. Start question'n.
Heckuba drop'd some hot pebbles from the fire pit into our mugs to heat up the cider. I always like the hiss. But I still be try'n to get what Hekky means.
"Don't you read the Great Orange Satan?" She said. "Call'd the Daily Koops or some such. Kinda gives a pulse on what people be a think'n."
Couldn't help it. I start'd have'n a giggle fest. Heckuba just watch'd me and be'n amused, till I stop'd to check if'n I pee'd my britches. Happens. Peek'd. I didn't.
"Hekky," I said, "Daily Kos is on the inner net. How do you know about it? You ain't got a 'puter."
"Don't be need'n one," She replied with a huff.
"How that be possible?" I plead'd for an answer I could understand.
Heckuba heft'd herself up and went over to give Tweety, her parrot, a few blueberries. Bird has some kinda impediment or somethin 'cause it can only say, "It's the plumber." Never liked that bird. Tweedy ain't fond a'me, either.
Heckuba said, "I be a witch, silly."
I ain't in a position to argue. Hekky be mighty strange. Half a beat off of everybody else. Lives oblique-like from the rest of us.
"So, what else do you get from Daily Kos, Hekky? I ask'd.
"Life is penance," She replied softly.
Knock came upon her door. "Wonder who that be," said Heckuba.
"It's the plumber," said Tweety.
Think a real witch would'a known who was a'knock'n, I was think'n.
T'was a plumber look'n for the Snoots house. "Be a couple'a thousand spits further down the road," Heckuba told him and then added, "where the rich folks live. Can't miss it. You be smell'n the greed and ya be know'n you got there.
Now I double hate Tweedy.
Heckuba closed the door and came back to sit by the fire pit. I told her the government be shut'n down soon. She shrug'd her shoulders and said, "Been closed down since Reagan drool'd in and outta office. Those extremists still slip'n on it."
I couldn't argue with that, but said, "Lottsa people be go'n without a paycheck. Don't that bother ya any?"
"Nope," she replied. "Lot'a people now go'n without. Have been a good long time. Best this gov'ment shut the doors a spell. Redecorate or somethin."
"How can you say that, Hekky? I replied.
"Ain't had a real gov'ment for a long time. Nobody will miss it after a bit. Good time to get that Constitutional Convention thingy a'go'n. What we be 'suppos'n to do, if'n ya believe those forefathers and all. Modernize a tad."
"What ya gonna do, Hekky?" I asked.
"Put a hex on the House of Pox," she replied.
She'd do it, too, I a'reckon.