Chizu

***

“Your ears are poking through your hat, Chizu.”

My hands quickly pull my beanie over my ears, making sure my short hair is covering the blank space where my human ears should be. “I can’t believe I haven’t gotten the hang of my magic.” I sigh.

“You’re only four years old,” Ania says reassuringly. “You’ll get it.”

I fidget, looking around at the busy, bustling humans around us. There’s teens skateboarding on the other side walk. Absentmindedly, I mutter, “If my magic gets better, can I permanently turn into something else?”

I’ve caught her off guard. She looks at me, observing. “I’m not sure. I don’t have a lot of experience in magic.”

“But...it’s...it’s possible?”

“I believe so. Did you bring the shopping list?”

I nod, pulling the folded paper out of my pocket.

It’s possible.

I don’t have to die a mouse.