Chapter 29: Back In My Day

Another usual early morning for the market stalls in Bonesborough. And on a quaint little street corner, were two small stands, attached to the Ferburn household. And in those quaint little stands were a mother, her daughter, and a crab.

It was an unusual weekend for Larry. Well, it was normal for the most part running the stands. The weekend is always the most profitable, as kids now have the free time to run around and buy snacks. But she always has to be up early to bake and prepare… Luckily the work is split, as her daughter is helping her out. Albeit she's not as well-versed in cooking or baking. But she can trust her enough to really knead dough.

But what's unusual is Boscha offering to help out that day. And as adorable as she is cooking with a crab on her head, she doesn't usually like to hang around her old mom unless she was upset. Did something happen with her?

There the 14-year-old stood. Larry watched her closely as Boscha was balancing a crab hat, deep-frying fries over a large vat of oil, and sliding a tray of buns into the oven with her other hand.

"Maya stop jumping—I'm going to—AGH!"

Boscha hisses as she accidentally hits the wall of the hot preheated oven.

Maya yoinks a nearby towel and wets it in the sink and offers it to Boscha. Which she accepts with a curt smile. Which shocks Larry as she would expect her to be threatening to make deep-fried crab legs right about now.

As Boscha rubs the burn on her arm, Larry can't help but think how they're almost nothing alike. She takes after her mother in both looks and personality when they were younger. She barely inherited anything. Not her heavyset build, not her magic… The only thing she inherited are blue eyes, her tomboyish vulgarness…

and the occasional quietness from Boscha when she's upset.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine," Boscha huffs out. "It's just a burn."

"I mean… Are you okay? You don't usually want to help."

"…"

"I thought you don't like it when your friends see you working here?"

"..."

She's right. Boscha was never fond of letting Amity and the others know that this is where she lived. The only person who she ever trusted enough to keep that secret was Skara. Because while Skara tends to be a bit of a gossip girl, whatever she said would only ever be spread as rumors. Amity on the other hand though? If it were something deemed unworthy, it would spread around the entire school.

Of course, Amity isn't like that anymore. But Boscha still refuses to shatter her pride and reveal that to her.

Larry playfully jabs at her. "I asked you three things and you haven't answered a single one."

"I don't know… I just wanted to think…"

"Wanna talk about it?"

She shakes her head.

Larry sighs. "Okay well—" She sets down her face towel, finishes arranging the snacks, and opens up shop. "How about you run the stand for today?"

"By myself?"

"Can you handle it?"

Boscha ponders if she should. She just wanted something to keep her occupied, so that she wouldn't get carried away in her thoughts.

Boscha nods. "Sure."

And soon enough, Larry is off to sleep on the couch in the living room, leaving Boscha to sit, wait, and watch people who pass by.

All the while, Maya listens to Boscha sigh dreamily on her the counter, and naps her comically large claws at her owner.

"Pfft! I'm not thinking about her Maya!"

Maya disagrees.

"Oh haha right you didn't mention her—I… UGHHH!"

Boscha groans and smacks her face into the counter out of embarrassment. And while Maya can fly, she doesn't appreciate her owner hitting herself.

"You don't get it! You weren't there!" She sighs into her arm. And right on cue, the oven dings.

Maya clicks at her.

"I do want to…" Boscha says softly, getting up from her post and stuffing her hand into the oven mitt.

But she feels like she's idolizing her. But she feels like she doesn't love Willow the way Willow loves her.

She gazes lovingly into her batch of bread. There are no butterflies. No feeling of spark. Only softness and warmth as she imagines what it would be like to be with her forever.

Boscha sets down the tray into the bread display, rolling steaming hot buns and causing the glass to fog up.

But what if the Willow she's imagining isn't actually the real Willow? What if the sweet and powerful witch was also the person who named her plants and treated them like people? What if she doesn't really know her…

What if she doesn't even know hersel—

"OW!"

Maya pinches her nose. Enough internal monologues!

Normally Boscha would bark or snap back, but instead she sinks down like a sad pup getting scolded by its owner. Who's the owner here?!

"No no she likes me… I just have a lot on my mind okay?"

As Boscha sits back down on her post, she mindlessly plays with the snails stacked neatly in the box under her table before she hears familiar voices in the distance.

She peeks around the stand, and notices Amity, Skara, and Willow walking in the direction of the Snack Shack. They seem to be discussing a matter of importance, as Willow looks deep in thought.

Boscha can't help but feel they're talking about her.

"I don't know, Willow. I didn't start the grudgby team," Amity says.

"Yeah we just joined," Skara adds, scrolling through her Penstagram. "Buttt I'm just saying I would love to join your flyer derby idea."

Willow laughs. "But aren't you the captain for grudgby already?"

"Oh you know—" Skara swings her arm and pats Willow's shoulder playfully, "Being captain is soo exhausting. And I've been playing since forever… Plus, have you seen how great derby strategies are?!"

"Ack—" As Skara shoves her scroll in Willow's face, they just pass by Boscha, who's hiding underneath the counter.

"Ah." Amity interrupts Skara's blabbering. "I think they're closed."

"Aw! What a shame!" Willow exclaims. She peaks into the glass cabinet filled with loaves, muffins, and cinnamon rolls. She catches a glimpse of a white apron and a dark red shirt. But couldn't recognize who or what it was. "I was thirsty."

Boscha and Maya jolt up from underneath the counter. "UH hi welcome to the snack shack—whaddaya want?"

The three witches squeal at the jumpscare.

"BOSCHA?!"

Boscha blushes, but laughs like she totally just caught them. "HAHA yep. It's me. Whaddaya guys want."

Amity leans over the counter. She just can't fathom the idea of Boscha of all people working at a worn-down greasy shack… Okay, maybe she can kinda believe it. With how oily her skin is.

No wait that's rude. Don't say that.

"I didn't know you work here," Amity says.

But it does explain why she always asked to meet up there. And why she never buys anything.

"Yeah well, there's a lot of things you don't know, Blight." Boscha winks at her, feigning confidence as always. And while she technically just insulted Amity's intelligence, it felt… lighthearted.

Willow's ear twitches. Slightly jealous that the wink wasn't directed at her. "So can I have a… sodipop…?"

Willow curses herself for her odd vocabulary. SODIPOP?! She must have gotten that from Gus!

Boscha's eyes dart towards Willow's, before turning away with a light tint of blush on her ears. "Sure thing."

As Boscha grabs a soda from the fridge, Skara and Amity both notice the corners of Boscha's lips curling into a subtle lovesick smile.

Boscha tosses the drink to Willow, and she catches it perfectly despite the lack of warning.

"Can I… Have some of your—" Willow catches herself and points at some of the bread rolls. "Can I have five of these too? Please."

"S…Sure," Boscha covers her hand with some plastic and grabs the still steaming hot rolls. She tosses them in the air and catches them perfectly in a plastic bag.

Skara scoffs. "Show off!"

Ignoring Skara's comment—despite the ego boost—she swiftly places the bag on the counter in front of Willow. "Anything else ma'am?"

Willow laughs at the confident grin on Boscha's face. "No that's all!"

"And that'll cost you… 15 snails," Boscha says. And part of her is feeling a bit cockier after her perfect throws. But not cocky enough for Willow to respond to her. So she mutters, "and several kisses."

"Thanks!" Willow pretends she didn't hear. She tosses the snails onto the counter with a loud clink. Almost to drown out how she just said thanks despite the fact that she's the one paying.

As the two girls walk away, to continue their walk or whatever it is they're doing that fine afternoon, Willow lags behind them to whisper out of earshot. "And maybe I'll pay you the rest on your birthday."

She winks.

Boscha jolts, the wink cursing through her veins like an electric shock.

Because since when was Willow that confident?

As Willow catches up with Amity and Skara, Maya judges Boscha for her horrible attempt at flirting.

"SEE?! That's what I mean!" Boscha squishes her warm tomato cheeks. "It's like I barely know her!? SINCE WHEN WAS SHE… SO…"

Boscha screams and gurgles, into what is the real-life equivalent of a keysmash. Maya comforts her, by plopping herself down on Boscha's head and giving her some insight.

"Courting…? That sounds like something old hags d—"

Maya pinches the stubborn teen before snapping more at her.

"Wh—'Date' her parents..? SING to her? But don't you do that for actual current partners and not… Your crush?"

Maya shakes her… head… shell? … She means no.

"I don't get how this would make me know her better."

The crab is inches away from pinching her again.

"Trust you…? Ugh fine… But what if I mess things up in front of them?"

The tiny crab pokes and winks at her.

"…What do you mean… I'll know?"