by Megan Bauer

Created on: August 17, 2010

I was shopping with a friend of mine at an outdoor marketplace when I noticed a very cool fortune teller shop.

“Becky!” I yelled, trying to get her attention away from the table of bedazzled metal she called jewelry. I ventured closer to the store and found myself desperate to go in.  Becky finally drew her eyes away from all the glitter and tottered over to me. I kept on telling her to give the heels a rest but she insisted it was all part of the package. I reminded her hammer toes were never cool and stifled a resigned laugh as she made her way over.

“What?” she demanded. “I was right in the middle of making a deal!”

I fixed her with a pointed stare. “Becky,” I said, “There really can be too much glitter.” She glared at me and I dragged her into the gypsy’s lair.

As we opened the door, the smell of incense and sweat hit us. Never a good combination, I almost turned around and walked out but something compelled me to walk over to the wizened woman sitting at a round table. She looked up at me and I inhaled sharply. Film had settled over the woman’s eyes turning them a gray blue. I thought she was blind until she noticed Becky.

“Good gracious girl. You’re sparkling like a nebula. Less is more, dear…less is more.”  I coughed  and looked at Becky.

“And you, girl,” she said as she lifted a wrinkled finger to point at me, “You are in need of an adventure.” I had no idea what that meant but was always up for a bit of fun. Her arm shot out and she placed a crystal in my hand. I grabbed hold of Becky just as the crystal began to glow and when I next blinked we were standing in the middle of a dusty road.

Becky and I looked at each other and we both muttered words our mother definitely wouldn’t approve of. “Becky,” I whispered, “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.”

Becky snorted. “Gee, master of the obvious. Was the dude riding up to us on a white steed your first clue?”

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