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Kathleen Wells took a final glance in the mirror, giving her outfit one last look. Today’s beige tunic and denim jeggings felt perfect for her meetup with Mag Masters and Leta Morgenstern, her new friends in this world of extraordinary realities. She rarely wore makeup, but a little foundation and mascara added a special touch for this "girls' day."
She stepped into her bewitched doorway, dialing it to the color Mag and Leta had arranged. The doorway shimmered, and she found herself outside the massive castle where Mag and her family lived. Everything felt straight out of a fairy tale, down to the gardeners tending vibrant flower beds on the sprawling grounds.
Mag opened the grand castle doors with her signature radiant smile. “Kathleen! I’m so glad you could come. It’s just us girls today—Vlad’s away, and the kids are off in the Ghost Zone.”
“Perfect!” Kathleen said, hugging her friend. “Nothing better than a day just for us.”
Leta joined them with a wave and a bright smile, her presence warm and effortlessly stylish in a magenta shirt and faded jeans. “Kathleen! Ready to head out? I’m taking my pride and joy—the Camaro,” she added, nodding to her restored, cherry-red vintage car.
The three friends soon arrived at Brook’s Brew, where the morning crowd was in full swing. They settled into a cozy booth with steaming coffees and fresh bagel sandwiches. It was a relaxed, easy start to the day, and after a few bites, Mag broke the ice.
“So, what’s been on everyone’s mind lately?”
Kathleen took a sip of her latte and thought for a moment before launching into her latest interest: the Downton Abbey subreddit. “I finally got into the series a few months ago,” she confessed, “and I've noticed how invested people get in the rivalry between Mary and Edith. Some think Mary’s the worst sister, others argue Edith’s more of a mess… but I think both of them have their reasons.”
She explained her take on the two sisters—how Mary’s aloofness was likely armor for the pressures of being the eldest and maintaining family status, while Edith, caught as the middle child, often seemed drawn to risky choices, especially in love. Kathleen continued, “They’re so often judged by modern standards, and people miss how complicated family dynamics were back then, not to mention how they were raised mostly by nannies.”
“True!” Mag chimed in, nodding thoughtfully. “Not all siblings get along, and some have a lifetime of rivalry that’s hard to break. It’s so human, honestly.”
“Yes, why is it that people want fictional characters to be perfect?” Leta asked, laughing a little as she shook her head. “They’re far more interesting this way—flawed, messy, and real.”
As the conversation turned to world events, Kathleen took a deep breath, then asked Leta about her feelings on the ongoing conflict in Israel.
Leta’s face softened as she gathered her thoughts. “It’s heartbreaking to see so much pain and violence,” she said, looking into her coffee. “The hate and anger we see on all sides—it’s just so heavy, you know? I wish we could have peace without so much suffering.”
Mag nodded, her expression growing serious. “The world feels tense, doesn’t it? It’s worrying. I just wish leaders would put their people first rather than using their positions for personal gain.”
Kathleen sighed, looking between them. “The world can be a mess, but I think we can all agree that kids deserve a chance to just be kids. No heroics, no pressure. Just a normal life.”
They exchanged a knowing look, each one thinking of the ghostly burdens their families sometimes carried. Kathleen continued, “Growing up means making mistakes, going to school, having fun with friends… It’s all so important.”
With their coffees finished, they made plans for a bit of shopping and a trip to the nail salon. As they wandered from shop to shop, their laughter and conversation weaving around them, their friendship felt solid and natural, a bright spot in a world that didn’t always make sense. For today, at least, it was about joy, support, and a little bit of indulgence—exactly what a "girls' day" was meant to be.