A Snicker of Magic

It’s the day before the Duel. Felicity sits in Jonah’s mother’s salon, getting her bangs trimmed by Jonah’s mother, Jewell Pickett. Jonah sits in the garage outside, helping clean tools for the mechanics. Felicity has opened up to Jewell during their visit. She told Jewell about the curse and about how Mama is excited to move to Seattle. When Jewell finishes with Felicity’s bangs, Felicity tries to hold back tears. She tells Jewell that Mama won’t stay anywhere very long and muses that she’ll end up like Florentine, always drifting. This reminds Jewell of something important, and she calls Jonah in to hear. 

Jewell tells the kids that Florentine visited her shop the previous day and talked about her history. Florentine came to Midnight Gulch because her great-grandmother was born and raised in the town. Florentine’s great-grandmother “stole some burdens that did not belong to her…but she left a perfect memory in their place” (248). Florentine believes finding that perfect memory will help her release her burdens. Finally, Jewell reveals that Florentine’s great-grandmother was Isabella Thistle.

Jonah and Felicity look all over town for Florentine but cannot find her. Felicity believes Florentine will be the key to solving the curse. They search until the sun goes down, but Florentine is nowhere to be found.

At home that evening, Felicity works on her poems. Mama has already packed some things and left them by the door. Felicity compliments Mama on the Gallery. Mama says something is still missing. Felicity tells her to take her time and asks when she thinks they’ll be leaving. Mama says the day after tomorrow. Boone, Frannie Jo, and Cleo all look disappointed.

Banjo music comes from outside. Boone steps onto the balcony and announces that Day Grissom is playing banjo in the parking lot. Day calls up to Cleo, declaring he’s written a song for her. Cleo steps out and tries to shoo him away, but Day plays his song. Cleo tells him to leave, but Day refuses; he has come to apologize to Cleo. Cleo is taken aback by this. She says she needed to hear that 20 years ago. Day says he should have married her, and he still wants to. After some banter, Cleo agrees to go down and speak to him. She checks herself in the mirror, self-conscious about how she’s aged, but Boone assures her she’s still beautiful. Cleo leaves.

Felicity finishes her poems and recites them for Boone, Frannie, and Mama. She does better after asking Boone to play banjo while she speaks, eventually nailing her recitation.

Later, while the apartment is dark, Felicity sneaks into the kitchen to retrieve the Blackberry Sunrise from the freezer. Felicity faces her fears and tries the ice cream. She recalls the last time she saw her father, Roger Pickle. She was very young. As the school bus pulled up to drop her off, she saw her dad’s car backing out of the driveway, but he stopped to greet her. He got out of his car, and Felicity ran to hug him. She asked him why he was crying, but he told her it was allergies. He said he was going to work early. They told each other they loved each other. When it was time for Roger to get home, Felicity waited on the front porch for him, but he never returned. Mama carried her inside to bed after she fell asleep waiting.

Mama catches Felicity in the kitchen writing. Felicity has made a list of “factalactuses,” which are difficult truths to accept. Her factalactus list includes how Roger left them and won’t come back, and how “Saying ‘I love you’ doesn’t make people stick around” (263). Felicity hopes Mama did not see everything she wrote. Mama asks about the definition of a factalactus and then asks what a good truth could be called. Felicity makes up the word “factofabulous.” Mama tastes the Blackberry Sunrise. Felicity fears she’ll have bad memories, but Mama recalls positive times spent with her children. Felicity asks how Mama can make sure she has good memories, and Mama explains that she replaces bad memories with good ones. Felicity tells Mama about her memory and asks if Roger Pickle is why Mama stopped painting. Mama says that is partially true, but she’s thankful Felicity encouraged her to paint again. The next time Felicity takes a bite of Blackberry Sunrise, she tries to think of good things and remembers the day at the pond with everyone in fairy wings.

When Felicity goes to bed, Frannie confesses her own factofabulous. After Felicity embarrassed herself speaking at their last school, Frannie stuck a peanut butter sandwich to one of the bullies’ pants. They share a tender moment and fall asleep.

Felicity runs to school the next morning. She believes running will help her face her fears at the Duel. She meets Jonah out front. Nearly the whole town is in attendance. As they enter the auditorium, Felicity begins to feel afraid. She’s afraid of leaving all the townspeople as much as she’s afraid of performing in front of them. Jonah tells her to concentrate on her bird instead, but Felicity confesses that she sent the bird to Jonah’s father. She begins to mess up her speech as she speaks to him. Jonah comforts her by writing positive words on her arm, words that Jonah thinks describe Felicity. He tells her she doesn’t need the bird. He wants to write more words, but there’s no more room. He says he’s keeping the word wonderstruck for himself because it describes how he feels about Felicity.

Jonah says he tried to solve the curse but couldn’t figure it out. He admits he believes in the curse, but he has faith in Felicity. Felicity impulsively kisses Jonah on the cheek, then runs to sit down away from him, embarrassed.

Cleo, Mama, Frannie, Boone, and Day Grissom file in together. Day has cleaned up his appearance for Cleo. Boone has brought his banjo, at the request of Miss Lawson. Felicity suspects Miss Lawson has a thing for Boone. Felicity feels more confident with her family present; she feels herself overflowing with love. She reaches for her blue book to write down some thoughts but discovers that she doesn’t have it. She begins to panic. She feels the locket warm against her chest. Toast takes a seat next to her and asks what’s wrong. When Felicity looks at him, she can’t speak, but she notices he has Rosie’s guitar. Felicity manages enough words to ask about it. Toast explains that Miss Lawson asked Rosie to bring it, but she doesn’t want to play because she just got a manicure. Instead, Rosie asked Toast to play it.

Felicity realizes the significance of having the Weatherly brothers’ string instruments together in the same room. She feels they’re connected to her locket and to the curse. Miss Lawson takes the stage and greets the guests. She calls Felicity up to start off the Duel.

Felicity takes the stage, terrified. She introduces herself but struggles to say much more. She makes eye contact with Boone, who recognizes she’s in trouble and rushes to the front of the stage to play banjo for her, like he did while she practiced. Felicity sees negative words across the room, but she ignores them. She looks at Mama and mouths that she’s OK. For the first time ever, Felicity sees words come from Mama. Love you floats above Mama’s head. Felicity whispers the words back. She thinks about her family, everyone present, and even Roger Pickle. She can feel their love and thinks about how love is its own magic. She hears the wind chimes. Her locket feels warm. The word chords appears above her family, and she realizes the curse has to do with music. She bends down to Boone and asks him to play “Fair and Tender Ladies” when she finishes her talking. Then she runs offstage for a moment to ask Toast to do the same, and he agrees.

Felicity returns to the stage and begins her tale. The words come easily to her. She tells about the Brothers Threadbare, and how magic isn’t entirely gone from Midnight Gulch. She talks about how the brothers realized too late that they needed to apologize and tell each other they loved each other. Felicity talks about her family and the importance of love, adding that it’s magic to her. People clap, and Jonah looks at Felicity with admiration. She signals to Boone and Toast to begin playing. They match their songs. Felicity recites the words from the curse, “Chords align [...] And all’s made right” (283).

Day Grissom leaps out of his seat and begins kicking his legs. His shadow moves on its own, detaching itself from Day. Day’s shadow reaches out for Aunt Cleo’s shadow, and the two shadows begin to dance. Everyone else’s shadows come to life. Boone’s shadow dances with Miss Lawson’s shadow. Several people begin dancing with their own shadows, including Frannie Jo. Felicity’s shadow goes to Jonah’s shadow, and they dance wildly.

Felicity feels she’s broken the curse, but when she realizes Mama is gone, she leaves the stage. Jonah asks what Felicity did, and Felicity explains that Isabella’s curse wanted the brothers to play together again to make amends. Jonah points out that Felicity’s locket is open. They look inside. A scene of a woman, Isabella Thistle, dancing in a field with one of the Threadbare brothers plays on repeat. It’s the “perfect memory” that Florentine was searching for. Jonah and Felicity agree that they must find Florentine, but Felicity wants to find Mama first. The crowd and their shadows continue to dance. Felicity goes to Cleo and tells her that Mama is gone.