Science fantasy novelette. Hallelujah Tuckett came to Midway to escape her home world's slums, only to discover that Midway was probably the most boring planet in the galaxy. Augmenting her salary as a forklift driver by moonlighting in a beauty salon, she's saving every penny so she can get off the planet. Then she discovers that the alien taleweaver she has been visiting can really do magic.

Originally printed in Realms of Fantasy, February 2004. Finalist for 2004 Utah Speculative Short Story Award.