Chapter 9
Later that afternoon, Billy and Claire came over to my house. We were sitting in my bedroom discussing Emily’s accident.
“The school nurse says that Emily sprained her ankle. It’s swollen and she needs to wear an air cast over it.” Claire said. “Then her dad came and picked her up.”
“Good riddance,” Billy replied. “I hope they went back to her home planet.”
“This is no time for jokes, Billy,” I reminded him. “The nurse says that Emily can walk in the cast by the play’s opening night. That makes me feel hopeful.”
“But did you hear what happened after?” Claire asked. “Susan and Kate said that Emily’s foot was so swollen and ugly it couldn’t fit into her silver shoe. She told them that there was no way she would play Dorothy wearing her air cast and to forget the whole show!”
“But isn’t it a famous saying that the show must go on?” said Billy.
“Without a Dorothy!?” I exclaimed. “There is no show!”
“Bah,” Billy said waving his arm. “Paint a smiley-face on a pumpkin, slap it on a broomstick, throw a wig on it, and call it Dorothy. No one will even notice.”
Claire and I chuckled.
“It’ll be more pleasant than the real Emily, that’s for sure.” I said. “Now let’s get serious. There’s only one thing to do in a crisis like this. Consult the cards!”
I got up and walked to my dresser. Picking up a small, hand-carved wooden box, I opened it and pulled out the tarot cards Grandma gave me on my birthday.
“The tarot cards will provide guidance. They always show the right path to the future,” I said fanning them out face down on the carpet.
Then I reached under my bed to pull out a thick leather-bound book. This helped me understand how the cards could be interpreted. (Another gift from Grandma. Isn’t she the best?)
Billy and Claire leaned in closer. They held their breath as I picked up the first card.
It had an image of a beautiful woman seated on a throne. She had on a long white dress and a light blue cape that draped around her feet. On her head was a light blue and white crown. There was a column on each side of the throne. One black, and the other white.
I read the name of the card, “The High Priestess.”
Leafing through the leather-bound book I found the chapter on the High Priestess and read aloud: “The High Priestess symbolizes Knowingness, Love, Wisdom, Intuition, and Mystical Vision. She is an interpreter of secrets and mystery and is one who holds onto the truth or reveals it. Commonly this card is associated with the card reader.”
We silently exchanged looks as I picked up another card. “The Chariot.”
A powerful, princely figure wearing a golden crown was sitting in a chariot being pulled by two sphinxes. One was black and the other was white.
“Ooh, can I?” Claire asked, pointing to the book.
“Sure,” I said.
Claire started reading. “The Chariot is one of the most complex cards to define. On its most basic level, it implies a struggle and an eventual hard-won victory over an enemy or obstacle. Qualities needed to win the battle include self-reliance, discipline, bravery, and pride.”
Then she continued, “The steeds represent powerful forces that can be controlled to achieve the goal. Because they are opposites, it is the Charioteer’s duty to use willpower and conviction to unite them.”
“Whoa, that’s some heavy stuff,” Billy said.
I sat quietly trying to take it all in.
Then I turned over the final card. “The Magician,” I told them.
The picture showed a man wearing a long red robe cinched in the middle by a golden belt. His arm was raised over his head and in his hand he held a magic wand.
I pulled the book back toward me and started reading.
“The characteristics defined by the Magician are Concentration, Personal Power, Creativity, Self-Confidence, and Initiative. When the Magician appears in a spread, it points to the talents, capabilities, and resources at one’s disposal. There are choices and directions to take. Guidance can arrive through one’s own intuition or in the form of those who bring about change or transformation around them.”
I closed my eyes. Images from the cards floated around in my head. I thought my brain was going to burst.
Finally, I made a decision.
I sighed and said, “We have to help Emily.”
“Yes,” Claire agreed. “You’re right. It’s the only way to save the play.”
Billy stood up and cried, “Is this real life? Has the planet gone mad?”
He put his hands on his head, “Why should we be nice to that brat after all she put us through? Let her suffer!”
“Billy, the point is that we’re all in this together. If Emily doesn’t participate, all the hard work we put into this project will be lost,” Claire explained.
“Who cares? So we don’t have to put on our silly costumes and waste our time on a Saturday,” Billy huffed. “I’d rather sit at home, watch cartoons, and eat pizza!”
“Now you’re just being stubborn and selfish,” Claire shot back.
“Me? Stubborn?” Billy shouted. “I’ll show you stubborn!” Billy crossed his arms and turned his back.
“Fine!” Claire shouted back and did the same.
I stood there as my best friends fumed.
Suddenly, it was all clear. I had a choice to make, a path to take, and two stubborn steeds to unite.
If I could do all that, then I would really be Krystal Ball, the Great and Powerful!
“ENOUGH!” I shouted, jolting Claire and Billy out of their feud.
They looked at me with eyes open wide. They may have even been a little frightened.
“Now that I have your attention, here’s my plan,” I said. “First, we’re going to apologize to each other and work together. Like Claire said, best friends need to trust each other. We also need to be united for this to work.”
“Well, she started it,” Billy complained.
“I don’t want to hear it,” I said putting up my hand. I felt just like my mother. “You’re both being stubborn donkeys.”
Claire giggled. “Donkey is such a funny word.”
I smiled.
Billy said, “My grandpa has a pet donkey in Greece. He’s really stubborn, and he’s named after my father!”
Claire and I started laughing.
“I’m sorry I called you stubborn,” Claire quietly said to Billy.
“That’s okay,” Billy replied. “The truth is, I am! Are we friends again?”
“Of course. Best friends!” Claire said and shook his hand.
“Excellent,” I told them. “Now, here’s what we’re going to do...”
I walked over to my desk. “In order for the show to go on,” I said, “we’re going to help Emily back on her feet and into those Silver Shoes.”
“But remember how her foot looks like an eggplant now?” Billy said.
Claire laughed again. “He’s right. And besides, why would she want help from us? We’re her enemies,” Claire said, making quotation marks with her fingers.
“Yes, but remember the tarot cards?” I asked. “They represented each one of us. Claire is the High Priestess, Billy is the Magician, and I am the Charioteer. We need to combine our special talents to overcome this obstacle.”
“All right, Chief Charioteer,” Billy said with a salute. “What did you have in mind?”
“Glad you asked.” I reached into my desk. Inside were bins full of arts and crafts supplies.
Lifting it out, I said, “We are going to improvise and accessorize!”
“That sounds like an exciting adventure to me,” said Claire, placing an arm around Billy and myself.
“The Wizard, the Witches, and the Wardrobe!” I exclaimed.