Amaryllis flinched as the girl across the aisle popped her gum again. To be sequestered in the human realm and forced to ride public transit was unfortunate, but it was simply intolerable to observe a child masticating bubblegum like a cow chewing its cud. As she watched, the juvenile smacked and chomped and pushed her vile tongue through the candy before blowing yet another bubble.

Her Queen had commanded Amaryllis to stay hidden among the mortals until her mission was complete, and though this vital task was supposed to be an honor, surely this banishment was a reprimand. Painful as it was, Amaryllis would do best to ignore this child’s behavior. Everyone knew humans lacked magic, but she wished that someone had warned her how revolting they could be. Even the adults lacked proper manners, but human children were the most egregious beings she had ever encountered. They yelled and ran and often left a sticky residue in their wake.

She shuddered at the thought. Though Amaryllis tried to force herself to look elsewhere, she found her attention riveted once again on the girl’s terrible little, ceaselessly chewing mouth.

Before she could stop herself, Amaryllis’s magic surged out in a rush, and a bewildered calf appeared where the repellent child had been. An older woman let out a piercing shriek when she spotted the unexpected livestock, which in turn panicked the driver, who slammed on the brakes. The calf let out a baleful moo as it scrabbled for purchase on the slippery seat.

Amaryllis sighed. She flicked a reluctant hand in the calf’s direction, returning the brat to its original human form. The returned child’s mouth dropped open in stupefaction; her gum fell unbidden to the bus floor.

Well, thought Amaryllis, that was one problem solved.

More next week! OKAY, BYE! 🖤