October 2024 Flash Lit 10:1 - Elbow Grease

“Mag, how do you find anything in this kitchen?” Cate demanded, looking at the jumble of pots, spoons, jars, and boxes garnished with the occasional spider on the pantry shelves.

“I know where everything is,” Mag replied.

 

Cate doubted it, since Mag had a carrot stuck in her messy bun, but chose not to tell her.

 

“We’re doing this the traditional way,” Mag went on.  “None of this newfangled lab kitchen stuff.”

 

“You’re using a food processor,” Cate said.

 

“I said traditional, not fucking stupid,” Mag snapped.  “I don’t want to spend all day chopping and neither do you.”

 

The two worked in companionable crankiness for a few minutes, Mag at the food processor, Cate at the stove.  The timer beeped and Cate said, “All right, I need your stuff in here.”

 

Mag scanned down the ingredient list, muttering.  “I added the eye of newt and the baby’s tears and the llama hairs and the toad slime.  Oh shit.  I forgot the elbow grease.”

 

The witches looked at each other.  Finally, Cate said, “We’ll tell them it’s the new low-fat version.”

 

Mag smiled.  “That’ll work.”