Haunting Leigh: A Paranormal Romantic Comedy (Literal Leigh Romance Diaries Book 4) by Melanie James

or whatever it’s called.” That was it! I had just uttered a great defense statement. I knew I would have to remember that line.
    “Leigh, let me give you some advice. You have to pick your battles, maybe this is one you should just forfeit. You have enough on your mind right now.” Max said in a fatherly voice.
    “Sorry, Max. I know what you are saying, but I’m not going to roll over for the likes of Clarice. I can handle her. If she thinks she will get me fired, she is sadly mistaken. She thinks she can be a bitch? Well, she just picked the wrong teacher to mess with. I can be a real bitch, too.” I had to think about it for a moment. Could I be a real bitch? “Well, I think I can. I mean, I’ve never tried to go all bitch before, but a good effort will produce good results. Or so I’ve always heard.”
    Max looked at me in disbelief. “Just try to keep your cool, Leigh. When I was younger, I was always trying to take on the world. I’ve learned that you can’t change people overnight, no matter how hard you try. And you’re not going to get people to convert to Wicca overnight either.”
    I pressed the brakes again. “Huh? Max, I was trying to say that I’m not trying to convert…Oh, never mind.” Max seemed like a nice man, but I’m pretty sure he killed off one too many brain cells over the years. “Max, I’m going to drop you off at your store so you can find whatever we’ll need for a séance tonight. I need to go to the school and get this straightened out.”
    “That’s perfect. I’ll get some things together and pick up our van. I’ll meet you back at your place.”
    We dropped Max off at his corner store. It was an old red brick building with large display windows. It looked like it was jam packed with brightly colored items that were made with blown glass, copper, and brass. There was no time to check it out. Gertie and I headed directly to the school.

Chapter Twelve
    School Daze
     
    Gertie and I walked down the hallway past my classroom and it already looked different. “Gertie! Look at the walls. All of the little witches the kids made are gone. So are the cute ghosts in the graveyard.”
    “So are the little moon and star designs they made.” Gertie sadly pointed out.
    “It makes me more sad than angry when I think about all of the work my students put into those projects.” I said as I stared at the spaces left empty by the actions of a tyrant.
    “So you’re not angry? Good, because I have a confession. That papier-mâché golem should be coming alive any minute now, if it hasn’t already.”
    “Huh? Wait a second. Did you just tell me that you’ve created a real golem? In my classroom?”
    “Well…yes, but technically it’s not in your classroom. You put it in the library. I came back here to bring it back to the plantation. I wanted to have a golem that could take care of all the chores, then I would be able to get away and see Brad as often as I wanted.”
    “Ugh! We have to find that thing. I have a confession to make, also. Golems are not good guys. They always turn out to be horrible monsters that go on killing sprees and destroy everything in their way.”
    Gertie was stunned into silence, which is completely unlike her. I leaned my forehead against the wall and imagined several catastrophic scenarios made possible by a rogue golem. Suddenly, Gertie spouted a rapidly delivered explanation for creating such a monster. “Oh, I suppose that would have been good to know. I would never intentionally create a bloodthirsty killer that would go on a murdering rampage. I know I should have told you what I was going to do. I just didn’t want to upset you. I promised I wouldn’t bewitch Brad in any way and having a golem around seemed like a good solution. When I was at the anniversary dinner, Rabbi Magic Man was telling…”
    That was the Gertie O’Leary I knew and loved. Her dizzying words spun around my ears and flew away. I knew what she meant. When she said