Read Online Magic in the Mix by Annie Barrows - Free Book Online

time, she was focused on completing projects, on getting things done, and if that meant sweeping everything from the desk onto the floor to make more room, that was what she would do.
    Now, standing at her dresser, Miri absently put some hair clips back into their tiny drawer and gave Molly a quick sideways glance. There she was, at thedesk, bent over a book. Homework. Miri got into her pj’s and brushed her hair. Putting on her glasses, she leaned into the mirror, fingering the rhododendron scrape on her forehead. It was long and crooked and purplish. It would be a great scar, Miri thought. She could say she’d received it in a duel. “Hey, Molly, you think I’m going to get a scar?”
    Molly twitched. “What?”
    â€œSorry,” said Miri, subdued. “Never mind.” She watched Molly’s reflection, her stillness, her unblinking eyes. Slowly, Miri continued to brush her hair, watching. Molly didn’t move. “What homework are you doing?” she asked.
    â€œWhat? Oh. Math,” said Molly.
    Miri frowned. “Pretty weird that you’ve got your Spanish book in front of you then.”
    Molly looked down at her book. “Oh.”
    There was a long silence.
    Miri tried again. “How’d you know about that Meridan guy?”
    After a moment, Molly frowned. “What?”
    â€œThat guy. Come up if you love your country,” said Miri. “The general. You know.”
    â€œSheridan,” said Molly, still not looking up. “It’sfrom before. The Civil War was still a big deal in 1935. Everyone knew that stuff. There were still people around who’d been in it.”
    Ugh. Before. So much for changing the subject. Miri decided to go for it, “Molly, what’re you thinking? I mean, I know you’re worrying, because—because I know, but there’s nothing you can
do
.” She frowned at the back of Molly’s head. “Even if we could go back, through the kitchen door like today, what would you do? I mean, there’s no way for you to stop it or fix—” She broke off. It occurred to her that there
was
one way to fix it. Maudie would remain alive if Molly were never born. Miri glanced incredulously at the back of Molly’s head. “You’re not thinking that you shouldn’t be born, are you?”
    Molly shifted in her chair.
    â€œMolly, that’s totally crazy. You can’t stop yourself from existing, because you
do
exist, so you have to exist.” Miri realized she was arguing herself into a corner, but she kept going. “You can’t just subtract yourself from the world. You’re already here!”
    Molly said softly, “I wasn’t always here. You know that. I was added. I could be subtracted.”
    â€œNo, you couldn’t!”
    â€œMagic is just a way of setting things right,” Molly continued as if Miri hadn’t spoken. “Why would magic have sent us back to 1918 today unless I’m supposed to save Maudie?”
    â€œThat wouldn’t be setting anything right!” Miri yelled. “That wouldn’t make anything better! That would make things a lot, lot worse!”
    â€œNot for Maudie. Not for my dad,” said Molly.
    â€œWhat’re you going to do, kidnap her and take her away so she never meets him?” Molly looked quickly away, out the window, and Miri realized that her guess had come fairly close to the truth. “You can’t! That’s crazy!” she snapped, rubbing at the tears that were leaking out from under her glasses.
    Molly turned to look at her, and Miri saw her bite her lip. “I guess you’re right,” she said. “You’re probably right. It’s a stupid idea.” She blinked. “Don’t worry about it.”
    Miri swiped at her cheeks angrily. “Don’t worry about it, she says. Don’t worry that you want to go back in time and stop yourself from being born. Okay, I