Moving on down

As a sleek black SUV, bumped along the road, Cassandra Garcia shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She tried to tune out the sound of her siblings’ laughter and focus on the passing scenery. Nestled among the boxes in the back row, she could hear her parents conversing in a mix of English and Spanish. Occasionally, they would chuckle at each other’s jokes.

Although her mother had assured her that the move to the mortal realm would be beneficial for the family, Cassandra hated the idea. It meant leaving behind everything she had ever known and starting over in a strange new world. She stared out the window, lost in thought as the SUV continued down the road.

Cassandra sighed, her dark copper hair falling in her face. Arching her back a little as she looked at her reflection through the car window. She remembered the teasing she used to receive as a child for her striking red hair, and a girl staring at her from across the street brought back those memories. She sighed and tried to shake off the feeling, telling herself that she was older now and wouldn’t let others’ comments get to her.

As they approached the house, she could see a grand colonial-style home with white walls and dark green shutters. The house has a beautiful red brick chimney with a slate roof. The front of the house has a big bay window that allows natural light to flood into the house, making it feel bright and welcoming. The window frames are painted the same dark green as the shutters, adding a pop of color to the facade. The front yard is well-maintained, with a manicured lawn and a path leading up to the front door.

The Garcia family’s car, slowly pulled into the driveway of their new home, nestled in a quiet and quaint suburban neighborhood. The overall effect is one of elegance and charm. With a fond smile, Daisy turned to glance back at her children. Her gaze first landed on Zoe, the family’s resident animal whisperer. Zoe was a few years younger than Cassandra, and her pixie-like face was currently crinkled in concentration. A bird - a Carolina chickadee, native to South Carolina - was flitting just outside her window, chirping in a friendly manner.

Zoe’s eyes lit up and she started to speak softly, her lips moving as she communicated with the bird. The chickadee responded, its chirps growing more animated as it relayed what it saw from its bird’s-eye view. Zoe’s power was a sight to behold, even if Cassandra sometimes found it exasperating.

However, this tranquil scene was abruptly shattered by their younger brother, Christian, a mischievous smile spread across his youthful face. He was the youngest in the family, and a constant source of both laughter and headaches. His special skill was transfiguration, the ability to change one creature into another.

He held a pet naked mole-rat in his hand and was reciting an incantation to change it into a cat. Their parents were unaware of Christian’s intentions as he whispered the magic words. ““Formosus Felis, Ex Rodentis Transmutare. Felix cattus natus, forma qualis oratus.” His eyes closed tight in concentration as he made the final gesture, but something went awry. There was a flash of light and a loud roar, causing everyone in the car to jump.

The naked mole-rat was now a large Bengal tiger, blinking its green eyes in surprise and confusion. The tiger was massive, its striped body dwarfing the petite Christian and barely fitting in the confines of the car.

The car erupted into chaos. Cassandra shrieked, scrambling to the far end of the seat, while Zoe’s eyes widened in shock. The Bengal tiger was just as startled as the rest of them, it snarled and swiped a paw at the car door, the air filled with the sound of tearing upholstery and the heavy scent of fear.

“Christian!” Cassandra yelped, her eyes darting to her brother. “Change it back!”

“Dios mío!” Daisy gasped, turning in her seat to stare at the massive feline that had suddenly materialized in her car. Manuel slammed the brakes, the sudden halt causing the tiger to tumble forward, it’s powerful body smacking into the back of the front seats.

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Manuel turned to his son, a mixture of incredulity and annoyance on his face. “¿Qué hiciste, Christian?” Manuel Garcia was known for his even and gentle nature, and despite the precarious situation they were in, he let out a hearty laugh. His laughter echoed in the confined space of the car, a stark contrast to the situation’s chaos. He shook his head, the lines around his eyes deepening as he continued to laugh, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement. The sight of the large Bengal tiger awkwardly trying to balance in the backseat, amid the surprised cries of his family, was an unexpectedly humorous spectacle.

“Alright, alright,” he managed between laughs, raising his hands in a calming gesture. Turning to Christian, his eyes softened, and his voice took on a gentler tone. “Christian, mi hijo, remember what I told you about being careful with your transformations, yes?”

Christian nodded, a mixture of guilt and fear in his eyes as he looked at the large cat now occupying the majority of the car. The tiger let out a soft, confused growl, its green eyes scanning the car as it tried to understand the situation.

Manuel’s hand disappeared into his jacket pocket, and when he pulled it out again, he was holding a simple, well-worn wand. It was made of hickory, inlaid with a phoenix feather, a reliable partner for all his magical needs.

“Now, let me handle this.” Manuel said, his tone firm but kind. He raised his wand, pointing it at the large feline. With a swift flick of his wrist and the utterance of a carefully chosen incantation, there was a burst of silvery light.

When the light dissipated, instead of a confused Bengal tiger, a small naked mole-rat sat blinking on the floor of the car. Its tiny, pink body wriggled as it adjusted to the change, appearing just as disoriented as the tiger had been.

“There we go, much better,” Manuel said, lowering his wand and giving Christian a warm smile. “Next time, Christian, try to remember the correct words for the spell, alright?”

Christian nodded eagerly, relief washing over him as he reached to pick up the mole-rat. “Yes, dad, I’ll remember. I promise.”

Manuel Garcia turned to his wife, not letting the events from the past moment effect his mood, with a smirk on his face. “¡Mira, mi amor! This house looks even bigger than our old one in the magical realm. We might get lost in here!” Daisy rolled her eyes, “No seas tonto, Manuel. It’s not the size of the house that matters, it’s the memories we make in it.” Manuel laughed, “Si, si, of course, mi amor. But let’s be real, this house is pretty impressive, now that we may have pet tiger!”

A wave of laughter washed over the family once more, their car filled with a sense of relief and shared amusement at the bizarre events that had unfolded, their new start in the mortal realm already proving to be quite an adventure. Daisy couldn’t help but smile at her husband’s teasing.

As the car came to a stop, the family members stepped out one by one. Christian, the youngest, eagerly jumped out of the car and ran around the lawn, his dark hair bouncing with each step. Zoe, his older sister, followed behind, her brownish red hair standing out against the green grass. Followed by Daisy and Manuel, emerged from the car next. Daisy, a petite woman with light brown hair, looked around at their new surroundings with a mix of excitement and apprehension. Manuel, a tall man with piercing dark eyes, had a grin on his face as he surveyed the new home.

Together, the family began to unload the boxes from the car, each one filled with personal belongings and treasured items from their old home. As they worked, the sound of excited chatter and laughter filled the air, a sign of the family’s strong bond and the anticipation of the adventures that lay ahead. The kids giggled at their father’s antics, excited to see what other surprises the mortal realm had in store for them.

Daisy Garcia stood outside, arms crossed, and gave directions to the movers as they unloaded furniture from the truck. Cassandra watched as the movers struggled with the large sofa that Daisy was directing them to place in the living room. “Just a little bit more to the left,” she instructed them in a firm but polite tone. Cassandra stepped out of the house and rolled her eyes at her mother’s micromanaging.

“Mom, why don’t you just use your magic to move all this stuff? It would make things so much easier,” Cassie said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Daisy shot her daughter a stern look. “We don’t use magic in front of humans, you know that.” Cassie rolled her eyes,“Aren’t they magic movers mom, ?!” “ We’re in the moral realm Cassie” replied to mother. Cassie sighed, knowing that her mother was right.

She watched as her younger siblings, Zoe and Christian, ran past her, bickering over which room would be theirs. Cassie could already feel the headache coming on. Cassie rolled her eyes as she heard her younger siblings bickering over which bedroom they should have. “Mom, can’t you just tell them to flip a coin or something?” she called out.

Daisy turned to her daughter with a smile. “Oh, they’ll figure it out eventually,” she said, her voice dripping with amusement. “Besides, it’s good practice for them to learn how to compromise.”