Chapter Twenty-Nine

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"Let me get this straight," Karma said. "The music box that belonged to your own grandmother...can make all your dreams come true?"

I put my finger over my lips. "Shh. Do not talk so loud. You do not want the other students to know about this music box, do you?"

Karma and I were hanging out backstage with the rest of the students and catching up with each other. I was explaining everything that Karl told me to Karma. She was super excited. She was acting like a toddler excited for ice cream. She was kicking her legs and tugging on her ponytail. I could tell that Karma wanted to use my music box.

Karma covered her mouth and lowered her voice. "My bad. I am just sooooo eager to use your wristwatch and music box." She uncovered her mouth and clasped her hands in her lap. "That is...if you will let me."

I flashed her a smile. "Of course I will. You are my best friend." I patted her back. "I trust that you will not use them for your own selfish needs."

She raised her right hand. "I swear to use these powers only for good and to help others."

I giggled. "Put your hand down, silly." I opened the lid to my music box. "Where do you think that we are? In court?"

It was her turn to giggle, and she lowered her hand. "I am thankful that you are my friend, Carmen. I am not sure if I have ever told you that."

"You do not need to tell me." I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I can tell that you are thankful because you always look out for me. You are like the sister that I deserve."

"Do you not mean...do not deserve?"

"No. I do deserve you. Unless that you forgot just who I am living with."

"How can I ever forget your brothers? They have left a permanent memory in my brain." She tapped her head and moaned. "It is impossible for me to forget them."

"Oh, Karma. Why are you mooing like a cow?"

This time, I moaned with Karma. We were hoping that she would leave us be, but we knew just how much she liked - no, loved - creating problems for us. We should have expected this.

"Karma. I asked you a question," Vicky said. "You need to answer it."

My best friend gave her a glare that could kill. "I do not have to tell you anything."

Vicky was clutching a microphone and fiddling with it. "But I am concerned about you."

"Since when have you been concerned about me?"

"Since that I have heard you moo like a cow, which was a few seconds ago!"

"I did not moo. I moaned."

"Moaned like what?"

"Moaned like a normal person would do when they see your hideous face."

I laughed. "Good one, Karma."

Vicky snorted. "I do not know why you losers made the decision to come. To show your faces here. Everybody knows that I will be the winner again, so if I were you, I would drop out and head home."

Karma jumped to her feet and cleared her throat. "Gee, Vicky. That is such great advice. But you know the only problem with it is?"

"What?"

"I am not participating in the talent show. But can you guess who is?"

"Who?"

"My best friend in the universe!" She motioned to me. "Carmen is participating in this year's talent show."

Vicky was flabbergasted. "Why?!" She then stormed up to me and jabbed a finger in my chest. "Why, Carmen? Why are you entering the talent show?!"

"Last time that I checked, Vicky, Forlot is a free town," I said.

"Forlot is not for sale."

"No. I mean that folks can do whatever they want here as long as it abides by God's Word." I leaped to my feet and crossed my arms. "Since that the Lord wants me to enter the talent show and show off my talents, I will do just that."

She was silent for a minute or two - and then burst out laughing. "Oh my goodness!" She forced herself to stop laughing. "Wow. I did not know how hilarious you are, Carmen. Thinking about how talentless you are makes my heart want to give out." She tugged on the fabric of her shirt. "Oh, no. I am having a heart attack! Carmen! Karma! Call the hospital! Hurry!" She snickered. "Like that a talented person like me would ever receive some heart attack."

Karma and I were disgusted by her latest act.

"That is low, Vicky," I said. "Even for you. You ought to know that joking about heart attacks or other illnesses come back to bite you. Do you actually want to suffer a heart attack?"

"Yes, Carmen. I want to have a heart attack."

Karma and I will never forget what occurred next.

The microphone slipped out of her grasp and clattered to the ground. Vicky dropped to her knees and gripped the fabric of her shirt. She was having trouble talking.

My friend and I understandably assumed that she was faking again and did nothing to help her.

"Help...me..." she managed to choke out.

"Like that we are going to help you," Karma said in an annoying tone.

"Please...help me...before I die..."

"You are not going to die, Vicky. So stop being a drama queen and get back up. Be a man. I mean, a woman."

Now I was getting worried about Vicky. "Uh, Karma? I do not think that she is faking it."

"Of course she is. Why else would she be on the ground and begging for our help? She would never beg for our help."

That is when it hit me. I looked at my magical box and closed it. The music stopped playing. I told Vicky to lie on her back and searched for a phone.

It was my fault.

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