In Charm's Way: A Samantha Laurence Adventure

By Zanne Serig

Samantha Laurence and her friend Carl once again venture into the bewitching world of magic as they learn to use their newly discovered powers. When Carl vanishes, Samantha enlists the help of Ryan, a mortal. Together they find Carl in the basement of the library and rescue him. They take him to the home of their science teacher, Mrs. Lawrence. After Ryan leaves, Samantha and Carl learn that Carl created a dilemma when he used magic in the library. Again Samantha turns to Ryan for help.
The adventure continues when Samantha attends a sleep over at her friend Haleys. During the night, the girls hear glass breaking and realize that intruders have entered the house. Without thinking about the consequences, the girls venture downstairs to confront the burglars.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 17, 2007
• ISBN: 9781467864541

Zanne Serig

Zanne Serig was born in Decatur, Ill. She attended Pembroke University in North Carolina. After graduating, she moved to Virginia where she currently lives. Serig spent more than 30 years of her life in the classroom as a teacher. Now retired, she taught English at the high school and middle school levels. In addition to writing fiction, Serig enjoys writing poetry, reading, camping, and fishing. In Charms Way is her second novel.

Book preview

In Charm’s Way

A Samantha Laurence Adventure

Zanne Serig

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AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2007 Zanne Serig. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 12/8/2007

ISBN: 978-1-4343-5487-7 (sc)

ISBN : 978-1-4678-6454-1(e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2007909466

Printed in the United States of America

Bloomington, Indiana

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This book is dedicated to my grandchildren.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Close Call

The Warning

A Gift

A Strange Encounter

In The Library

Dazed and Confused

Carl’s Find

The Photograph

Cool Breeze

Unexpected Visitor

Lights Off

Head Over Heels

Don’t Touch

A Regular Person

Reluctant Witch

The Perfect Gift

Snow Angel

News Story

Along Came a Spider

More Information

Charms Revealed

Acknowledgements 

The writing process would not be complete without acknowledgement of the people who made the final product a reality.

Thank you, Cathy Palmer, for your tireless effort and valuable assistance in the finalization of these pages.

Thank you, JJ Stephens, for the time you spent catching the little items that Cathy and I overlooked.

Thank you to all the people who kept wondering where the second book was. Here it is, so enjoy.

1

Close Call 

As Carl and I stepped out the door at Mrs. Lawrence’s, the first snow flakes fell. Carl grabbed his skateboard from my basket as I mounted my bike. Betcha can’t keep up with me! Carl hollered as he took off down the driveway like his wheels were on fire and he was trying to outrun them. I jumped on my bike and chased after him. I caught up with him at the foot of the hill and we raced headlong down the street, narrowly missing Ms. Zibodi as she turned into her driveway. Just as Carl started to pull ahead of me, I heard the sound of screeching tires approaching. The speeding car rounded the corner on two wheels just inches in front of Carl. I stood on my brakes and watched in horror as Carl’s battered skateboard disappeared underneath the vehicle, and Carl hung in the air for a moment before landing on his back on the wet grass at the edge of the street.

The car roared off down the street, engine revving, as I dropped my bike and ran to my fallen friend. He looked so pale lying there with his eyes closed that I knew he must be dead. I bent down to touch his face and his eyes opened slowly as if the lids had heavy weights on them. Carl blinked a few times and his eyes gradually focused. That was close!

Are you okay? We need to call the police and report that guy. He almost killed you, and he didn’t even slow down, I worried as Carl put his hand on my shoulder and dragged himself to his feet like an old man.

No police. Carl muttered. There’s no way we could explain to the police what happened.

What do you mean we can’t explain? That car hit you and almost killed you. Oh, Carl, I thought you were dead when I saw you lyin’ there. I could still feel the way my stomach had dropped like it does when the roller coaster begins its steep descent.

Carl looked around as he talked. Sam, don’t you understand? The car didn’t hit me. I used my powers to throw myself out of the way. How would we explain that to the police? They wouldn’t believe any of the things we could tell ’em. Let’s go before they get here. We could hear the faint sound of sirens in the distance. Ms. Zibodi had probably called 911.

There it is! exclaimed Carl as he rushed into the street to retrieve his mutilated skateboard. He examined the flattened wheels and shrugged as he tucked the remains of the board under his arm. I’m not hurt. You know, Sam, it’s a good thing you brought me an old board, he remarked, turning to look directly at me for the first time since his mishap.

As I returned his gaze, I could tell that something was wrong. Although Carl insisted he was not hurt, the boy standing beside me was not the same Carl as the one I had raced down the street. The change was subtle, but it was there. The lopsided grin I knew so well was not quite the same.

Carl threw his damaged skateboard into the basket of my bike. The sirens were getting closer.

You’re right, Carl. We can’t explain. Let’s go before they get here, I agreed as I started pushing my bike.

We walked quickly, not quite running, and slowed to a normal pace when we were a block away. The sirens wailed behind us, and we turned, as any normal people would, to see what was going on. We stood and watched as the lights on the police car went off and the car moved on. We were safe, at least for the moment.

The snow flurry stopped as suddenly as it began. Carl and I doubled our pace as we continued our homeward trek. We didn’t take time to discuss any of the events of the last couple of days. Besides, there was nothing to discuss. We were both different, and we knew it. Carl was right. There was no way to explain what had happened without sounding like we were crazy.

When we arrived at my house, Carl and I went into the garage, and Carl hid his crushed skateboard behind a tool box. He left me at the foot of the steps to the porch and headed for his own home across the street.

Aunt Kate was in the kitchen washing dishes. Carl’s mom called and told me you were on your way home. I’m glad you found him. Where was he?

I gulped. How much could I tell her? How could I tell her that Carl had taken a little trip in his invention, a time machine of sorts?

When I got to Mrs. Lawrence’s, we looked in the basement again. We found Carl locked in his newest invention, a time machine that Kenny helped him build. He calls it an E.A.T.T. machine. He says it stands for Element Alignment Time Transport. I replied as I took the milk from the refrigerator and got a glass from the cabinet. I poured some milk into the glass and continued, After we freed him, Mrs. Lawrence made him call his mom so she could stop worryin’.

Aunt Kate laughed, Trust Carl to get in trouble with one of his inventions.

Yeah, I agreed, but it won’t stop him. Carl loves to create or improve gadgets. Remember when he tried to supercharge the vacuum cleaner and Gumby almost got sucked in? Gumby was my black cat that had a disposition that would make a rabid raccoon seem friendly.

You’re right. I don’t think that cat has ever forgiven Carl for that traumatic experience. I’ve noticed that Gumby manages to disappear whenever Carl comes over. Aunt Kate placed the last dish in the drain rack and turned to me, pushing a stray lock of blond hair behind her ear. Oh, I almost forgot! Haley called. She sounded excited and wants you to call when you get a chance.

I rinsed my glass and put it in the sink. Haley always sounds excited. I wonder what it is this time. I’ll call her in a few minutes.

Aunt Kate picked up the dish towel and began drying a plate. I took the plate and put it in the cabinet. It didn’t take us long to dry the dishes and put them away. As I placed the last glass on the shelf, I said, We never did get to go on that shoppin’ trip to the mall. Should we wait until I get home from school on Monday, or do you want to go now?

Before we make that decision, why don’t you see what Haley wants? Maybe she can go with us, Aunt Kate replied as she dried her hands.

Thanks, Aunt Kate. You’re the greatest! I gave her a hug and reached for the phone.

Let me know what you decide, my aunt said, closing the door behind her as she left me to make my call in private.

I dialed Haley’s number, and she answered on the second ring. Sam, she trilled before I could say a word. I’ve been waitin’ for you to call. I’m glad you reached me before I have to leave for my dentist appointment.

I didn’t ask how she knew it was me. Caller ID is a wonderful invention.

Did you find Carl? Is he okay? Where was he? I have great news! Mom gave me permission to have a sleepover on Friday night. Can you come? I plan to invite Tara, Jasmine, and Brenna, too. We’ve got so much to talk about. Haley always talked a mile a minute. Sometimes, I thought she would run out of breath and keel over, but she never did.

I’d love to come, but you know my parents are away on a cruise right now so I can’t ask ’em.

Ask your Aunt Kate. She’s pretty cool for an adult. I bet she’ll let you come, Haley gushed.

Yeah, she’s pretty cool for an adult. I’ll ask her and let you know.

Good, I know she’ll say yes. Now tell me about Carl.

Well, you know Carl. He went into the E.A.T.T. machine and somehow sent himself to the library. Mrs. L. and I managed to get him back, but he had given himself a scare, I laughed.

I guess it’s a good thing you knew where to look for him. Can you imagine Carl stuck in a library? I can’t. Haley’s giggle was so loud I had to hold the receiver away from my ear,

Yeah, poor Carl. And let me tell you about what happened on our way home from Mrs. L.’s. Carl almost got hit by a speedin’ car. He saved himself by usin’ his powers. It really scared me. I shuddered just thinking about the incident.

How did he use his powers? Haley sounded breathless.

I hesitated. He used levitation and threw himself back from the car. He landed hard on the grass, and I thought he was dead. You know, I have a feelin’ that Carl isn’t totally himself. There was somethin’ strange about the way he looked after his close call, but I don’t know exactly what was different, I told my friend.

Carl will be fine, Sam. He’s bounced back from worse. Don’t you remember the time he tried to fly and fell two stories to the ground? He’ll be fine. He always is. She paused. One of these days, he will get into some real trouble, but Carl doesn’t let anythin’ stop him.

Well, he stopped me from goin’ shoppin’ today. Since Haley had a dentist appointment today, I decided to go shopping on Monday, when Haley might be able to go with us. Aunt Kate said to ask you if you can go with us to Newport News after school on Monday. She can pick us up at school. Go ask your mom. I waited while Haley talked to her mom.

Mom said yes, Haley almost shouted when she returned to the phone. I can hardly wait. This should be fun. I’ll see you Monday, Sam.

Okay. And I’ll ask Aunt Kate about the sleepover. Bye, Haley. I hung up and went to find my aunt.

Haley wants to know if I can go to a sleepover at her house on Friday. I sat down beside Aunt Kate on the couch. She’s invitin’ Jasmine and Tara, too.

You know I’d give you permission, Sam. But have you forgotten that your parents will be home tomorrow afternoon? Maybe you’d better wait and ask them. Aunt Kate pushed her glasses back up on her nose.

Okay, I’ll do that. Oh yeah, Haley said she could go with us to the mall on Monday.

Good, Aunt Kate said as she put her arm around my shoulder and gave me a hug. The three of us should be able to find some bargains. Haley has a nose for sniffing out a good deal. I can hardly wait.

2

The Warning 

I awoke to the sound of rain hitting the roof. It was Sunday morning and my second full day of knowing that I have magical powers. I lifted my hand and pointed at my dresser. When I wiggled my finger, my hairbrush rose