The Maverick Pride Tales

Welcome to Uncle Uzzi's Magical MatPurrfectly Matedchmaking Service! Uzzi Stregovich sat at his dining room table and perused the comic section of the Sunday paper with his usual steaming mug of black tea and a heaping plate of cookies beside it. Richard, the housekeeper, came in once a week to keep the old Witch stocked, and his efforts were appreciated. His services had been a gift from Uzzi's beloved wife, Betty, when she'd been in hospice. “You see, liebling, they still have Dagwood in the funnies during the holiday season," he mused aloud. Humming to himself, Uzzi ignored the first tingle of awareness that buzzed along his skin. It was always that way when the Magic wanted his attention. For eighty-three years the Witch had been matching up supernatural pairs, and he was still going strong. Though, to be fair, he had lost some oompf when his own beautiful wife had passed on to the next part of her existence. Uzzi often got requests, but that was not the way his Magic worked. This was no on demand service. He wasn't Netflix, for pity's sake. He was a Witch. A direct descendant of the Goddess of Love herself, in her many incarnations, truth be told. As such, he had special talents. Finding fated mates and bringing them together, was of course more than a talent. It was a gift and a responsibility. After he found his own soul in his sweet Betty, he'd made a vow to help others. His wife had been all for it. She'd even designed his business cards. Uncle Uzzi's Magical Matchmaking Service was happy to provide consultations. Of course, after he met with prospective clients, Uzzi's Magic was the final decision maker. It chose whether or not to take on such and such as his next project. If a client was rejected, it was usually because the timing was not right. On rarer occasions, it was because that person did not have a fated mate. Sad for sure, but Uzzi knew better than to question the powers that be. The Universe had its own ideas of who deserved a fated mate and when and where such mates should meet. Uzzi preferred to not work against such an ever present force. He was merely there to assist. Working with the Fates, the Muses, and the Universe at large was always better for business, and for his clients. Harmony, balance, duty, honesty, and honor were tantamount in his business, and necessary for his Magic to work. Magic had its own way of letting him know which clients to choose next, and since his skin was tingling right then, he knew. His next project was coming, and soon. Uzzi made a few calls, packed a bag, and then sat down to wait. It wouldn't be long now. Prologue U ncle Uzzi logged onto his new laptop with a sparkle in his eye and winked at his dearly departed Betty's picture that he kept in a silver frame on his desk. “Twenty years without you, love, and I still remember the day I took that picture, liebling," he whispered. Being a male Witch, and the indirect-direct, depending on who was telling the story, descendant of the goddess of Love, Aphrodite herself, Uzzi had been gifted with many talents in his lifetime. Finding fated mates for supernaturals, including himself, was one of them. If only Uzzi had known that he would have to live without his Betty for so long, he thought and shook his snowy white head. His locks were just as full and thick as when he'd been a young man, but instead of brown, they were white. His full beard, too. “Someday, liebling, I will join you. At least I have my work," he said, and told Betty about his newest case. The supernatural community had been contacting Uzzi Stregovich for years, hailing his Magical Matchmaking Services as the premier place to find a mate. What could he say? He had a gift, and he insisted on sharing it with the world. “Ah, here we are. Maverick Point, New Jersey. Ooh, I wonder if that is near the famous Bear Claw Bakery," he mused. Uzzi scrolled through his email and clicked on the email he'd received. It seemed the Maverick Pride Neta needed help finding a mate. Now that was something Uzzi could do beyond a doubt. After another lengthy perusal over the message from the unfortunately mate-less Shifter, Uzzi felt his Magic spark and sizzle. “Tiger, tiger, burning bright," he said aloud, and grinned at his own joke. “Let's see, Maverick Point, yes, yes, I remember you," he told the email. Grabbing a picture of his wife, he kissed the image and winked. His Betty always knew which matches were worth making. She was his whole heart, even more so now that was gone. “Time to make another match, liebling. Come, let's go to work now," he told the photo, turning back to close his computer screen. “And as for you, I shall see you soon, my boy. Leave it to Uncle Uzzi," he said, and clicked the power button. Uzzi took his cell phone out and dialed the number to his favorite driving service and ordered a car to take him to the Jersey town that very night. When there was a mate to be found, time was precious. “We are off, liebling. Time for some Magic," he said and pressed a kiss to his finger before touching the glass over her cheek. His wife was always with him. She was his inspiration, and his compass, always pointing true. Nothing could stop true love, he remembered her saying with a small smile. It was a message he carried to all his clients, and the Tigers of Maverick Point were about to find out what that meant, starting with the Neta. Uzzi felt the Universe's approval in the air around him and in his Magic. It was time. “Oh yes, Neta, you are going to meet your fated mate, and very soon."