It’s nerve-racking when someone sneaks up on you literally out of thin air. It’s equally nerve-racking to discover that the wish you just heard was made not by your current practice princess (or regular girl) but by your former practice princess (or regular girl), who also doesn’t remember you at all because of (stupid) Rule Three C.
In other words, Isabelle and Nora both jumped and gasped. They both needed a moment to compose themselves.
Nora was the first to stop screaming. “Why did you sneak up on me like that? Did someone ask you to find out what I was doing?”
Isabelle tried not to laugh. She was so happy to see Nora, but the notion was ridiculous.
“No one told me to spy on you,” Isabelle said, frantically patting all of her pockets to make sure she hadn’t dropped her loaded wand. “I was just taking a walk and looking around. This seemed like a good place to sit down.”
“It is a good spot,” Nora said, giving Isabelle the stink eye. “Especially if you want to be alone.” (In other words, she was not inviting Isabelle to stay.)
Isabelle sat down anyway. It was sort of charming watching Nora be so completely unfriendly. And secretive, too, especially when anyone (even a fairy godmother in training) could see that something important was happening in the schoolyard. In every direction, kids were sitting in circles. Or practicing scenes. Others practiced a cool-looking dance.
“What’s going on?” Isabelle said.
“It’s the last recess before vacation,” Nora replied, looking up from her pages. “Did you just move here? They’re practicing for the play. Auditions are tomorrow.”
What perfect timing! This meant Isabelle didn’t have to go to school. “So why aren’t you practicing with them?”
Nora said, “Because I don’t think practicing in public is the only way to get ready.”
This was what is known as a silly excuse. Nora should have been practicing with everyone else, and she knew it. She just didn’t want to admit it.
Isabelle felt bad. She knew this meant that Nora was worried. But she also needed to get things moving along. In other words, she needed to meet Samantha. She asked Nora if it was too late to sign up for the play.
Reluctantly, Nora told Isabelle:
“What happened last year?” Isabelle asked.
“It’s more like what didn’t happen.” Nora picked at her nails like she was recalling a very bad memory. “First I forgot my line. Then I messed up the dance.” She looked over at the kids who were practicing, especially the tall girl in the middle. (It was Samantha!)
Isabelle was torn. And a little guilty. Even though she was here for Samantha, she could see that Nora still needed a friend.
More than ever, she hated Rule Three C.
She held out her hand. (She couldn’t help it.) “My name’s Isabelle. Pleased to meet you.”
“And I’m Nora.” Nora asked Isabelle what she liked to do for fun. When Isabelle said “hiking in the woods and making cookies,” it seemed that Nora was about to tell her all about cleaning up the world and ending hunger and all the things that Isabelle knew were really important to her. But then the bell rang and the dancing broke up, and two girls and a boy started walking toward Isabelle and Nora. The trio wore matching scarves and gloves. They looked like they couldn’t stop dancing.
First they took a big step with the left foot. Then they did the same thing with the right foot. Finally they all stopped, clapped their hands, and did a little twirl.
“They always walk like that,” Nora said, getting up to leave. But she wasn’t fast enough.
“Hi, Nora,” Samantha said. “Who’s your friend?” Isabelle didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This was almost exactly what Samantha had asked the last time they all stood here, except, of course, only Isabelle remembered that. When Nora introduced Isabelle, Samantha introduced her friends, Janet and Mason.
“Are you interested in the play, too?” Samantha asked. “Because we can teach you all the moves. But first, we’re starved. Want to go to Dairy Twirl for an ice cream sandwich made with chocolate babka?”
It was hard to imagine anything better than an ice cream sandwich made with chocolate babka. Isabelle turned to Nora. “Do you want to go, too?” She crossed her fingers. Maybe Nora would say yes.
“I have other things to do,” Nora said, holding up an empty bag that Isabelle knew would soon be filled with garbage she picked up around the schoolyard. Saving the earth was the most important thing to Nora. “But you can go ahead, if you want to.”
Isabelle wanted to clean up the world with Nora, but today, she really didn’t have a choice.
“Then I guess I’ll see you later,” Isabelle said. “Good luck with your lines.”
Ten to one, Samantha’s wish had to do with the play.
Ten to one, Samantha and Nora wanted the same thing.