Normally she was greeted by a black cat, whose name she had recently learned was Juniper. But there was no Juniper today. Nor any sign of Lexy. Octavia Bottle seemed to be on her own in the shop.

“Cinnamon bun?” she offered as soon as she saw Effie. “Just took a batch out of the oven. I know they’re your favorite.”

“Thanks, Miss Bottle,” said Effie. “Where’s Lexy?”

“Off sick, can you believe?” said Octavia. “Not that we’re exactly rushed off our feet here today.”

Effie looked around. There was one young woman reading a book at a corner table by the window, but apart from that the place was empty. Somehow it still felt cozy, though, with bebop jazz coming out of the transistor radio as usual, and the small windows all steamed up. A fire crackled gently in the small wrought iron grate.

“And where’s Juniper?” Effie asked.

“Vanished,” said Octavia. “We’ve put signs up, but . . . Sometimes he does go through to the Otherworld after one of the small monsters he can smell and then he doesn’t come back for a few days. So who knows? Anyway, I’ll go and get your bun. Hot chocolate, too?”

“Yes, thanks,” said Effie. “Or . . .”

“What?”

“You don’t do nut milk frappés, do you?”

“Nope,” said Octavia. “Sounds more like something you’d get on the other side. But I can do your hot chocolate with nut milk if you like? Macadamia, cashew or almond?”

“Macadamia, thanks,” said Effie. “Oh, and would you mind scanning me?”

“All right, but your bun’s on the house, don’t forget.”

“Thanks, Miss Bottle. I just want to know what M-currency I’ve got.”

“All right, lovey.”

“Thanks, Miss Bottle.”

Octavia went and got her scanning machine.

“What’s wrong with Lexy?” asked Effie, when Octavia returned.

“Stomachache? Yep. That’s right. I was asked to send over a big bag of fresh mint leaves. Poor little thing. She’s been quite down in the dumps lately as well.”

“I know,” said Effie. “Do you think it’s the pressure of her M-grades?”

“Don’t ask me,” said Octavia. “You young people are always so intense about everything nowadays.”

“Oh well. I’ll pop down to her house afterward to see how she is.”

“You’re a good friend,” said Octavia. She took the scanning machine and waved it up and down in front of Effie like the bookseller had done. “M-currency pretty much dead on fifty thousand,” said Octavia. “Phew. You must have been playing a lot of tennis.”

“Nope,” said Effie. “I don’t even think that works anymore. I have no idea where it’s all come from.”

“I noticed you haven’t been wearing your ring lately,” said Octavia.

“Yeah. I don’t think it works the way I thought it did,” said Effie.