Pretoria Preetus and the Shop of Troublesome Household Goods

PHOTO PROMPT © Mary Shipman

PHOTO PROMPT © Mary Shipman

“Returnis Shelvum.”

Nothing happened. Exasperated, Pretoria peered in the cubby beneath the register for the Book of Retail Spells. But of course, it was gone.

“Does nothing stay put in this store?” She blew a wisp of hair off her forehead and looked up. The sleepwalking nightgowns had arranged themselves nicely over the bed-buggery short-sheets. But everything else had been a complete disaster since Madame Terminus had left for lunch.

The rickrolling pins had beaned the last two customers.  Madame Terminus was due back any minute. There was only one thing to do.

She lifted her wand and waved. “Confringo!”

This has been an edition of the Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff Fields. This week’s photo courtesy Mary Shipman. To read more or to submit your own, click the blue froggy button.

29 Comments

  1. That’s delightful. I can almost hear the music.

    Like

  2. Where’s Snape when you need him? This was a lovely romp

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know, right? Thanks for reading!

      Like

  3. Dear Karen,

    A fun little foray into the supernatural.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Somehow I’m reminded of the wonderful Disney film “the sorcerer’s apprentice” here… maybe using the wand will bring worst trouble. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rrm8usaH0sM

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I hadn’t even realized but you’re right. And yes, it’s going to go really wrong, I fear. Thanks for reading.

      Like

  5. I, too, thought of the sorcerers apprentice! Five wands for this tale

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you kindly 🙂

      Like

  6. Bibbety bobbedy boo! Smiling I am 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Mike

    Troublesome household goods indeed. Like😀

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Very imaginative and I loved the idea of bed-buggery short sheets. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lol can’t imagine one would get much rest in them. Thanks for reading.

      Like

  9. This is a wonderful story, Karen. I too had images of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice as well as hints of Harry Potter. You crafted a delightful scene into such a short tale.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for the kind words! Glad you liked it.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. I loved this, JK Rowling may be stealing it 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Caerlynn Nash

    Tons of fun! Great job.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. This reminds me of bed knobs and broomsticks.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Hmmm. Reminds me of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice in a way. Pretty cool story, though. Well-told!!! Marvelous, Karen. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Josslyn Rae Turner

    A cute story! And what a title! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  15. IfeomaO

    Another Harry Potter series in the making 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Love this! Love the idea of nightgowns that move on their own and I love the language you’ve used, the world you’ve constructed in such a limited word count. Super writing – would love to read more magical tales 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  17. I think maybe it’s time for her to put the wand down and do everything manually 🙂

    Like

  18. Lovely story. Great fun. Magic.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. lillmcgill

    Very clever!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Brilliant. This story was so much fun! And quite well written.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. gahlearner

    Whoa, whoa, Confringo may just be a bit over the top, no? Great story, just the right grade of whimsical, fits perfectly into the potterverse.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. What fun. I love this. ‘Troublesome household goods’ – fantastic.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. There is often a confringo in my classroom. I could do with some of those rickrolling pins to sort it out.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. LOL what could possibly go wrong? 😉

      Like

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