Ritual

Marion walked quickly up to the front door, dismayed that the porch light was on and the neighbors might see her and recognize her. She quaked with nervous energy, steeling herself to enter irregardless of what she might see when the door opened. "This is it for me," Marion whispered to herself. "I'm joining a coven." The door opened to Vera's smiling face and subtle-but-expertly-covered amusement to find Marion in the largest pointy witch's hat the costume store probably offered. "Welcome, Marion," Vera said, inviting her into the living room. A mix of women and men sat around in a loose circle laughing, talking, and eating chips and dip with a glass of wine. "Are you ... are we ... is this ... how all of the big rituals start?" Marion asked nervously. Tony stood up and handed her a glass, taking her hand to help her sit down. "You just wait," he said with a broad smile. "At midnight, we grab the rye and open the Twinkies." Marion eventually relaxed, proving in her own way (and beyond doubt) that magick is real.