Take My Magic For Your Routine

Chapter 6

When ninety days were over, the magic in Hans's home, little by little, seized by itself. The same moment when it stopped, Hans completely forgot everything that was happening. He didn't stop taking care for himself, but, because he was already used to it, continued to wash, shave and shower regularly. One day, when he passed near the Rosamunda's garden, she gave him her phone number.

He called her, and they arranged to meet. One pleasant October night they got out into a restaurant in St. Johann and Hans asked for a table for two. The waiter took them into a corner in the restaurant where the light was dimmed, and the music quiet and pleasant. He passed the menu to his companion.

"Order anything you like" he said "Price is not important. "

"I'm vegetarian and I'll order only salad" answered Rosamunda "but really, why did you bring me into this restaurant? You will spend too much money!"

"Before I learned how to cook, I spent all my money in r restaurants like this one" laughed Hans "It's one more benefit from changing my routine, that I have more money. Maybe I will buy myself a speedboat and bring it to the Tiersi lake next summer."

"It would be nice if you renovated the house and decorate the yard, instead. They look quite neglected."

"Yes, but I want something else. I'm young and I want excitement. I crave adventures! The house and yard I could decorate always - and when I'm old and have fifty years. Now, while I'm still young, I want to do all that I may regret later I didn't!"

"Yes, you are young. I like that" said Rosamunda with a mysterious smile.

"You like that I'm young? Well, I'm not only young?"

"What else?"

"Well, I don't know... handsome, perhaps?"

"Handsome, who says you are handsome?"

"I am not?" asked Hans and a shadow passed through his eyes.

"Some time ago, when you passed before my house and wished me good morning, I was thinking : such a nice young man! And then I started to feel sorry for you. Time passed , and you weren't getting married. That is because girls do not like neglected men in their company, don't you think?"

" I'm afraid they don't. But I wasn't affected that they didn't like me, but you."

"I wasn't thinking about you as equal a bit, Hans, that's why I was turning you down. I thought I was exceeding you highly with my capabilities."

"Oh" Hans frowned a bit " that was why you didn't wanted to go out with me, because you thought I was incompetent?"

Rosamunda hurried to correct.

"No, no! From the beginning, yes! But when I saw the brochure with your photos inside I realised I have an equal opponent in you. But, Hans, to speak the truth, thinking about you as my life companion was impossible because I couldn't imagine living with a man with such unpleasant habits as yours. It must be awful, to always be next to someone so dirty and untidy!"

"But I succeeded to grow, Rosamunda." said Hans lively " Look at me today, I'm a new man. I'm not the same from three months ago. I shower twice a day, every day I wear clean socks, and I know to work everything around the house. You must admit it's some achievement, to change so thoroughly!"

On that, Rosamunda smiled and tilted her head a bit.

"Alright, you keep your hygiene and have a healthy routine. Isn't it what we all do?"

"I don't know about that! I'm very proud of my success. If I did that so easily, who knows what else I could do. Probably everything, if I only want!"

"Everything, if you only want? Come on, Hans!"

"Yes, there is no-one else like myself!"

Rosamunda looked at him wickedly.

"Everybody in your place would do the same, Hans."

"I very much doubt that!"

She pointed her eyes into him.

"Yes, you did it, but I can explain and how."

"How?"

"Here, you try to describe how the changing process went?"

"Ok. From the beginning it was hard and I couldn't stay on the decisions I made and carry them out. Then.."

"Yes, what then?"

Hans was thinking about what he was doing the past three months, but couldn't remember anything.

"Then, I started to do everything right and things started to happen. Oh, I can not remember! "

"Come on, remember!"

Hans trid deeply and remembered everything. The dancing of the broom, lessons his kitchen appliances gave him, his amusement by their charm and motive they were giving him - everything came out before his eyes clearly. And slowly, he told everything to Rosamunda.

"Hans! I have to tell you something" said Rosamunda and her eyes sparkled. "You know, I made those things happen in your house. I made you forget them, also. I thought I won't tell you, but as first, I don't want to be any secret before us, and secondly, you became too proud. It wasn't my intention."

"What do you mean you made them? How?"

"By magic, Hans. I know such things, because... I'm a witch."

Hans stood silent for a moment. Finally he spoke.

"Witch... and what is that?"

"Well I have great power. Everybody subdue to it.. if they have some advantage from that."

"And why would you care for their advantage?"

"To get something I want?"

"To get something you want! And you wanted me to start growing?"

"Well, I do, Hans. Didn't I ask you to?"

Hans went back into his chair and opened his eyes sadly.

"So, my transformation..." he uttered " so, I... No, I can't believe it. It can't be true."

"Why, Hans?"

"I'm a bit superstitious, Rosamunda. Witches are not good people and they do magic to cause harm and damage to their neighbor. Are you like that, too?"

"Of course I am not! Not only I will not do any harm, but I will help! Didn't I just show you what I am like?"

But Hans wasn't listening.

"Witch! Say it is not true, Rosamunda! It's some joke, isn't it? You are teasing me?"

"No, Hans! It is the very truth!"

"Then I'm sorry I must say this to you, Rosamunda, but we will not go out any more" said Hans and looked down "how disappointing!"