Американские боги

           Sheshowedherhowtomakeawishingbag,asmallleatherbagcontainingthirteenpennies,ninecottonseedsandthebristlesofablackhog,andhowtorubthebagtomakewishescometrue.

           TheWidowParislearnedeverythingthatMamaZouzoutoldher.Shehadnorealinterestinthegods,though.Notreally.Herinterestswereinthepracticalities.Shewasdelightedtolearnthatifyoudipalivefroginhoneyandplaceitinanants’nest,then,whenthebonesarecleanedandwhite,acloseexaminationwillrevealaflat,heart-shapedbone,andanotherwithahookonit:thebonewiththehookonitmustbehookedontothegarmentoftheoneyouwishtoloveyou,whiletheheart-shapedbonemustbekeptsafely(forifitislost,yourlovedonewillturnonyoulikeanangrydog).Infallibly,ifyoudothis,theoneyoulovewillbeyours.

           Shelearnedthatdriedsnakepowder,placedinthefacepowderofanenemy,willproduceblindness,andthatanenemycanbemadetodrownherselfbytakingapieceofherunderwear,turningitinsideout,andburyingitatmidnightunderabrick.

           MamaZouzoushowedtheWidowParistheWorldWonderRoot,thegreatandthelittlerootsofJohntheConqueror,sheshowedherdragon’sblood,andvalerianandfive-fingergrass.Sheshowedherhowtobrewwaste-awaytea,andfollow-mewaterandfaire-Shingowater.

           AllthesethingsandmoreMamaZouzoushowedtheWidowParis.Still,itwasdisappointingfortheoldwoman.