Broomstick Tales: Pandora’s Puzzle Box

By Arnie Grimm

New York crime detective Lieutenant Kovar discovered a murder scene wasn’t the normal Saturday night murder mystery crime drama he was so used to.
Lieutenant Kovar made his way back to the broken window and stared out. “Not possible,” he mumbled. “That a huge dirt clod with dynamite stuffed in it could be thrown through the window.”

“What you have here is a crossover crime from our magical world into your knotem world,” said Agnes.

“Magical world and knotem world, I knew this was going to get weirder before it will make any sense. What is a knotem?” asked Lieutenant Kovar.
“Not magical slurred together,” said Agnes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665563895

Arnie Grimm

Arnie Grimm and Wazoo the Wizard have conjured up a thrilling tale of dark magic that has a lasting effect over time, better known as a lingering curse after death. Arnie Grimm is once again listening to his imaginary friend Wazoo the Wizard tell stories while sitting in the Poison Apple Tavern. Does that mean Arnie Grimm is sitting there in the Poison Apple Tavern listening along with the other patrons of the Tavern while Wazoo spins his tales? Of course the Poison Apple Tavern and the town of Broomstick only exist in Arnie Grimm’s mind, says Arnie Grimm. Ha ha ha ha, laughed Wazoo the Wizard in the background knowing the magical world really exist and Arnie Grimm is drowning deep in the middle of it.

Book preview

cover.jpg

Broomstick Tales

Pandora’s Puzzle Box

Told by Wazoo the Wizard

Written and illustrated

by Arnie Grimm

AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2022 Arnie Grimm. 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.

Published by AuthorHouse  08/16/2022

ISBN: 978-1-6655-6390-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-6388-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-6389-5 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Benjamin Franklin said, Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about.

To my family, my wife Karen and her sister Joyce (You know why), my son Blake who promotes my books to all his friends, my Daughter Kathleen who worries about my sanity after reading my stories, and to my Granddaughter Elizabeth who inspires me to think young.

Contents

Chapter One

Mistakes

Chapter two

Cat’s Eyes

Chapter Three

Scaredy Cat

Chapter Four

Playing the Fool

Chapter Five

Coffee

Chapter Six

Dear Diary

Chapter Seven

Duncan Candlewick

Chapter Eight

The Box

Chapter Nine

Mule Run

Chapter Ten

Bombs bursting in Air

Chapter Eleven

Let’s Make a Deal

Chapter Twelve

Welcome to Broomstick

Chapter Thirteen

Believe It or Not

Chapter Fourteen

Tarot Card Revealed

Chapter Fifteen

The Twitxch

Chapter Sixteen

Twitxched Out Cat Bugler

Chapter Seventeen

Paper Chase

Chapter Eighteen

Three Blind Mice

Chapter Nineteen

County Fair Food

Chapter Twenty

Duty Calls

Chapter Twenty One

Twitxch with an Itch

Chapter Twenty Two

Clean up your Act

Chapter Twenty Three

Dr. Scammer

Chapter Twenty Four

Too Easy

Chapter Twenty Five

No Q for You

Chapter One

Mistakes

There it was. It was just sitting in the display window of Edna’s Antiquities. It wasn’t fancy, yet it caught the eye of the young woman standing there outside of the store.

Her last name was McGill. Her first name was Lillian, but everyone knew her by her middle name of Nancee.

Nancee McGill worked out of New York City as an antique acquirer. Nancee McGill’s cover story for being in Broomstick was, she was just visiting friends.

Nancee supposedly had wondered off alone to see the town of Broomstick. At age twenty three, she was a lone in the world with no recordable past to speak of.

Nancee sat down in a seat on a southbound transit bus and rode it to the end of the line.

Your destination is right down this street, said the bus driver.

Nancee peered into the bus driver’s mirror with a perplexing stare. As if the bus driver seemed to know something she hadn’t revealed about herself.

Nancee got off the bus and started walking down the street void of any car traffic.

There Nancee stood in front of Edna’s Antiquities in the heart of the Preter-Normal Business District in the magical town of Broomstick staring at the puzzle box.

Nancee’s reflection in the window showed a rounded face with large lips wearing a matte nude shade of lipstick. Her eyes had clumpy sticky poorly applied black eyeliner with scruffy dark eyebrows. Hanging to one side of her shoulders was her natural black hair.

A young man, who was dressed oddly, at least to Nancee, appeared behind her.

Be careful of what you buy in there. It may come with a curse, said Duncan Candlewick.

Nancee didn’t turn around. Instead, she focused her eyes on the reflection in the window. There was a man with dark hair and dark eyes.

He had on an off white to beige cotton shirt that opened in front and tied close at mid chest. Neatly tucked into his knee high brown leather boots was his puffy pant legs.

Over all this was an open robe that didn’t have sleeves. On top of Duncan’s head was a pointed floppy hat with the point hanging to one side.

It’s only cursed if you believe in such nonsense, said Nancee.

That was Nancee’s first mistake of many she will make while in Broomstick.

Allow me to show you some hospitality and offer to take you to lunch, suggested Duncan.

Only if you let me pay for my own lunch, said Nancee.

That was Duncan’s first mistake of many he will make while Nancee was in Broomstick.

Oh, I have made a mistake also. I forgot to introduce myself. Who am I you ask? I’m your storyteller. I am Wazoo the Wizard and this Broomstick Tale is appropriately named ‘Pandora’s Puzzle Box’.

Duncan, being a gentleman that he was, opened one side of the double doors to the Poison Apple Tavern. Nancee stood for a moment looking up at the flaming sign above the doors before she walked in.

When Nancee entered the tavern, goose bumps ran up and down her arms. Nancee felt as if she had just walked into a nest of little hungry spiders.

She started to turn to leave, but Duncan was right there with his left arm gently on her shoulder and his right arm out pointing the way to a booth.

Bee, a long time server, walked right over to the booth before the seats had an impression pushed into the cushions.

What will you two have today?

Duncan spoke up quickly, Two lunch specials and two rich foamy carbonated witch hazelnut sodas.

Bee looked at Nancee with a smile.

First time in Broomstick? asked Bee, already knowing the answer.

Just visiting, said Nancee.

Bee pulled out her deck of tarot cards.

Would you like a reading while you food is being prepared? asked Bee with a pleasant smile.

No thanks. I don’t believe in that mumbo jumbo, stated Nancee.

That was Nancee’s second mistake of not believing in magic.

Bee gave Nancee a look of suspicion. She spread the tarot cards out on the table anyways.

Just pick one card, said Bee.

Nancee leaned her head to one side and looked up at Bee through her black eyebrows. She grabbed a card and looked at it.

Nancee stared at Duncan then to Bee. She also made a quick sweep of the tavern with her eyes.

Well, what is it? asked Duncan.

Without a word, Nancee seemed to put the card back into the deck and scrambled the cards around the table.

Then Nancee said, Pure foolishness.

Bee picked up the cards and put them back into her apron pocket.

I’ll check to see if you order is ready, said Bee as she walked away.

With the card trick out of the way, maybe we should introduce ourselves. I am Duncan Candlewick.

Nancee McGill.

What brings you to Broomstick? asked Duncan.

Visiting some friends, was Nancee short answer.

I suppose not near here, more like the northern part of town, said Duncan.

Don’t play physic games with me, said Nancee.

I’m just trying to make conversation by stating the obvious. The not so obvious is what or who you are trying to get away from? said Duncan.

It doesn’t take a scholar to figure out I’m getting away from work for a while, said Nancee.

Yeah, I should have figured that out. So, what was the card you picked? asked Duncan.

I don’t know. It had a strange picture that had no meaning, answered Nancee, not wanting to tell.

What about you. Let’s talk about you. What were you doing staring at me in the window reflection?

I just happen to see you through the window and wanted to meet you, said Duncan.

Nancee said, with a slight elevated voice, You saw me through the window? You were inside the store looking at me?

I work at Edna’s Antiquities, said Duncan. I see everyone that looks in the window.

Oh, I see, said Nancee.

You’ve been the most attractive person that has looked in the window since I started working there, commented Duncan.

Here’s your two lunch specials and two rich foamy carbonated witch hazelnut sodas, said Bee.

Nancee stared at the sandwich. It wasn’t exactly a tuna on rye. It looked more like a dome of bread with stuff stuck in it with…she assumed melted cheese.

What’s inside of this? asked Nancee.

Just air, said Duncan as he poked his sandwich with a fork to deflate it.

Conversation was at minimum to zero while they ate. Nancee was glad to get out of the tavern and back on the street. The creepiness however didn’t quite go away.

I should get back uptown, said Nancee.

I too have to get back to work, said Duncan. Will I see you again?

I doubt it. I’m just here for couple of days, answered Nancee.

Nancee started walking down the street to where she had gotten off the bus.

Duncan watched her as she pretty much walked out of his life forever. Duncan went back to work in Edna’s shop.

Nancee stopped at the corner and looked back. Duncan wasn’t there. Nancee made her way back to the bus stop and got on the north bound transit.

She sat in the back of the bus alone. In her seclusion, Nancee pulled out the tarot card she had pulled from the deck and stared at it.

Nancee had pulled the only card from the deck that told her story of why she was at Edna’s Antiquities in the first place.

The very next day, Nancee was again in the Preter-Normal Business District. She was walking down the street looking at the odd business signs.

Astradom Obsession, Nancee read aloud.

Nancee hesitated for a moment then pushed the door open. Inside she found rugs and blankets hanging from the ceiling. There were shelves of incense burners and multiple flavors of incense. On the back shelf were books on enlightenment.

Sitar music was playing and the smell of dragon’s blood incense was in the air.

Can I help you find something? asked an Indian style dressed salesperson.

No thank you, just looking, said Nancee.

We have Guru Hoagie here today to guide you through your journey of the mind, offered the salesperson.

Not today, thanks, said Nancee as she made her way to the door.

Nancee passed clothing stores, healing clinics and clairvoyant parlors. Once again, she found herself standing in front of Edna’s Antiquities looking at the puzzle box.

Duncan saw Nancee through the window standing there gazing at the puzzle box. He went to the door and opened it.

Why don’t you come in and get a closer look at it, said Duncan.

Nancee didn’t turn away from the window. She just stood there staring at the puzzle box.

I can’t, said Nancee.

You can’t what, come in? asked Duncan.

I can’t afford it, said Nancee, as if she was talking to someone other than Duncan.

Come on in anyway, I have something to show you, said Duncan.

Nancee turned away from the window and looked at Duncan.

You act like you knew I would be back, said Nancee.

I made a wish for you to show up again today, said Duncan smiling.

A foolish wish didn’t make me come here. I just didn’t have anywhere else to go, said Nancee.

Come on in anyway. Let me show you the other item that goes with the puzzle box, said Duncan.

Nancee walked through the door as Duncan held it open. She was expecting a creepy feeling to come over her.

That didn’t happen. Instead an attraction to Duncan fluttered through her soul. Another feeling inside her made her feel that last feeling was counter-productive.

Duncan led the way to the back area of the shop where new arrivals come in are uncrated. On a workbench, lying on an indigo silk cloth was a gold locket. It was adorned with a cobalt sapphire.

This locket is supposed to be inside the puzzle box. However, no one can get the box to open.

The supposed curse you mentioned yesterday has something to do with it? stated Nancee.

When I saw you staring at the puzzle box, I thought of the locket. I thought how nice it would look around your neck, said Duncan.

Why would you think of me in that manner? You don’t even know who I am, exclaimed Nancee.

I have this feeling. It’s a feeling deep down inside. Right now you’re just showing me window dressing. However, you want to pull off the camouflage and reveal yourself to me, said Duncan, as he stared at her.

There is nothing to reveal. What you see is the real me, said Nancee, not exactly making eye contact.

Duncan picked up the locket and clasped it around Nancee’s neck. The sapphire picked up the light and reflected it up to Nancee’s face giving a blue shadow appearance to her.

Nancee felt perplexingly drawn to the locket, as if… it was talking to her. The momentary trance was broken when Duncan spoke.

You look very beautiful with the locket on, said Duncan.

Duncan leaned forward and started to kiss her.

At first, Nancee was about to let him kiss her. At the last second she pulled away and turned her head.

No, I can’t. It isn’t right. I’ll be gone by tomorrow and I will never see you again, stated Nancee.

Then the feeling I sense from you is correct. I feel the connection also. Something has brought us together, you can’t deny that, said Duncan.

No, I don’t believe in that rubbish. We met by pure accident, random occurrence nothing more. I have to leave. My friends are expecting me for dinner at five and it is a long bus ride, said Nancee, as she turned to leave.

Wait, said Duncan.

No I can’t wait, answered Nancee.

Wait, the locket? said Duncan.

Oh, yes the locket, said Nancee.

Duncan reached around her neck and unhooked the clasp. Without warning, he quickly kissed her then backed away holding the locket in his hand.

I won’t let you walk out of my life again. It is coming up on my lunchtime, let me take you somewhere where we can talk, alone, said Duncan.

Not that tavern again, said Nancee.

How about we go on a picnic? asked Duncan.

Nancee thought for a minute then answered, Alright that sounds safe.

Duncan put the locket back on the workbench and grabbed the ring of keys. Just outside as Duncan was locking the door, Nancee walked over to the window and began to stare at the puzzle box.

Come on, this way, said Duncan.

Nancee hesitated, not wanting to move from the window. Duncan grabbed her hand and gave a slight pull.

It will be there when we get back, said Duncan.

Chapter two

Cat’s Eyes

Rapaz was a famous artist of the eighteenth century. He created beautiful pieces of fine jewelry. The special bonus was Rapaz would also make a fancy puzzle box to store the piece of jewelry in.

On the back of the jewelry, Rapaz would engrave the letters PAZ with the date and a symbol.

On the bottom of the puzzle box was matching markings to show a certain piece of jewelry would go with a certain puzzle box.

The puzzle box and the locket at Edna’s Antiquities didn’t have matching markings. One question that couldn’t be answered was, If this wasn’t the matching locket, then what was inside the puzzle box?

The answer wasn’t easy. No one could open the puzzle box. It was apparent to collectors that the puzzle box had never been opened.

Or if it had, the locket was lost and a replacement was substituted in its place, hence the reason for the mismatched markings.

Two tales had been spun since the discovery of this lost puzzle box as to why the two pieces were together but separate.

The first tale goes like this. There once was man that was in love with a witch. He did not know this little fact about his future bride.

The man bought the puzzle box with the locket inside as a wedding gift for his bride. She opened the puzzle box and