I have no idea where this is going. Thought I was done with it, until the first sentence hit me while I was showering.

Don’t Yawn with your Mouth Open Part I
Don’t Yawn with your Mouth Open Part II

“Cultivate anonymity.”

“I know Gramma. You’ve told me.”

“And I’m telling you again. It will do you no good if people notice you, recognize you. Jeans–jeans were the best invention. Everyone wears them. They’re anonymous. And they’re tough. You can run, kick, slide. Nowadays, they’re torn up? No one even notices. When you walk away, no one will see you, no one will remember. ‘There was some girl here, brown hair, brown eyes, wearing jeans.’ Could be anyone.”

“I know Gramma.”

Marie could her the impatience in Con’s voice, and understood it, but she would keep repeating the message. ‘No one should see you. No one should notice you.’

“Sit.” Marie pointed to one of the wooden folding chairs in their workroom. Constance sat obediently, and Marie sat down beside her.

“We cannot be noticed. We cannot be seen. We have tricks and magic to help us, but it is far better that you be average, unnoticeable underneath the tricks. Far easier to clean up afterward.”

“You’re talking about David, aren’t you?” asked Constance.

“Yes. Stella is good. Much better with technology than I. She is slowly finding and erasing all traces of what the demon did while wearing David’s body. But it is hard work. Very tiring.”

“But when she’s done, David can come back, right?” The hopefulness in Con’s voice cut Marie to the quick.

“No,” she said as gently as she could, “David can never come back. If he returns the spells will unravel.”

Constance sat silently for a few moments. “Is that why Grandpa never went back home when you–when we–traveled to see The Aunts?”

“Precisely. Even after fifty years, it is still possible someone might recognize him, might remember. So it will be with David. Stella did an amazing working. We feared at first that technology might react differently–it is different from human memory after all–but the spells work precisely the same. As long as David does not return, he will remain safe.”

“But we can visit him, right?”

“Eventually. But not now. Now he has much healing to do. He must learn to forgive himself.”

“But he didn’t do anything wrong!” Constance was indignant.

“His body did. And he was in his body. He saw his hands do terrible things and could not stop them. It will take time to accept there was nothing he could do. It will take longer to forgive himself for letting it happen in the first place.” Marie sighed. She had her own share of guilt to get over.

“Why didn’t you tell him the way you did me? Would that have saved him?” Constance’s tone was not accusatory, but it was the question Marie had been asking herself over and over again.

“Traditionally, siblings without talent, without gifts, are exposed to magic as young children, then allowed to forget until they are grown. Only then are the told of the family secrets. Once the family decides they can be trusted.”

“Are you saying you didn’t trust David?” Now Constance was indignant.

“Not yet.” Marie was blunt. It would be easier that way. “He was spoiled by your mother, and reacted more than he acted.” Constance sighed at the familiar phrase. “But he was growing up, and I had hopes to take him into the family this year.” She sighed bitterly. “But not this way.”

“How will he live? What will he do?”

“The family will take care,” Marie said. “That is what we do, what we have always done.” She paused for a moment then stood up. “Let us go to the study.”

In the study, Marie pulled down a leather photo album–not the album filled with pictures of those with the gift, but the album of Marie’s family.

“Do you remember Auntie Vivian?” she asked Con, opening the book to a picture of a woman who had looked old in the seventies when the picture was taken.

“Yes, I think so. But I thought she didn’t have the gift?”

“Auntie Vivian has a gift–she just doesn’t have a magical talent. Her gift is money–finance.”

Con stared at the lady in the photo. The old fashioned dress and shoes didn’t mesh with her idea of a financial wizard.

“Every couple generations one family member shows a special talent–a talent for making money. That person cares for the finances of the family. They’re all good, but Auntie Vivian is a genius. Mikhail is going to have a hard time following in her footsteps. But he’ll do fine keeping our finances together.”

“So you’re saying we have money?”

Marie laughed, “Do you think we could have afforded this house on your grandfather’s income? He was a good man, and a hard worker, but pipe-fitters don’t make that much money. No, the house comes from the family. And once you start taking over some of my duties, you’ll start to receive a stipend from them as well.”

“An allowance? I’ll get an allowance?”

“It’s not like you’ll be able to become a doctor or any other job that would interfere. So when you work, you will receive a paycheck.”

“From Auntie Vivian?”

“Or Mikhail. He’s starting to take over more of the day-to-day operations, and leaving Auntie Vivian to simply making money.”

“How much money?”

Marie laughed, “If you can get Auntie Vivian to tell you that, you’ll manage something no one has done since she took over. Let’s just say that Auntie Vivian tends to buy into promising young companies very early. Microsoft was probably her biggest coup of the past several decades.”

“We own Microsoft stock?”

Marie laughed again, “Of course not! She sold almost all our stock before the American stock market crashed. No idea what she’s holding now, but never fear, your future is secure. And now, it’s time to exercise.”

Constance groaned, “Do we have to do staff today? My arms and legs are still bruised from our last session.”

“Of course we’re going to do staff,” said Marie. “And after that, you’re going to clean the work room. There is still cement dust everywhere.