Pet Psychic (Krystal Ball)

by Ruby Ann Phillips

  Table of Contents

  My Future Awaits

  Chapter 1  ASAP

  Chapter 2  Xena

  Chapter 3  Say What?

  Chapter 4  Pet Psychic

  Chapter 5  The Sphinx

  Chapter 6  The Moon

  Chapter 7  Doggone It!

  Chapter 8  Written in the Stars

  Chapter 9  Calling All Critters

  Chapter 10  Together Again

  My Future Awaits

  Hi there! My name is Krystal Ball. I’m from Queens, which is a part of New York City. Some people call this place the Big Apple. But I live in a tiny, two-bedroom apartment with my mom and dad, so it seems pretty small to me.

  Don’t get me wrong . . . I love my parents. My mom works as a hair stylist on the first floor of our building. My dad’s a high school history teacher. He’s always saying things like, “History repeats itself, sweetie.” Whatever that means.

  I’m not that interested in the past, though. I’m much more excited about . . . the future.

  I like astrology, palm reading, and stargazing. Why? Well, let me tell you a little secret. I’m not exactly normal. I may look small, you see, but I’m really a medium. That means I have a special ability, kind of like a sixth sense. My grandma calls this my “gift.” It helps me see what the future holds, but it’s never quite clear. I can learn things about a person or an object by touching them, and sometimes my dreams show little glimpses of events that haven’t happened yet.

  I usually have trouble understanding these visions, or premonitions, but I’m working on improving my skills. I also go to Nikola Tesla Elementary School, and being a fourth-grade fortune-teller while juggling science projects, math tests, and homework isn’t easy.

  What else can I tell you about me? Ah! My best friend, Billy, lives in the apartment above ours. I’ve known him my whole life, and that’s a really long time. Almost ten years . . . Whoa! My other best friend, Claire, is the new girl at school. Both Billy and Claire know about my amazing gift, but they have pinky-sworn to secrecy.

  Together, we zip around the neighborhood on our scooters, seeking out adventure. But with my abilities, adventure usually finds us first!

  Okay, so you got all that? Good.

  Now take a deep breath, relax your eyes, and clear your mind. My future awaits . . .

  Chapter 1

  ASAP

  “Come over quick!” Claire cried on the phone. “The most amazing thing just happened!”

  Then click. She hung up.

  I stared into space for a few seconds before my brain kicked in and told me to MOVE IT! I jumped out of bed and started pulling off my comfy striped pajamas.

  There goes my lazy Sunday morning, I thought.

  It was my plan to stay in my room and read the new astrology book that I checked out from the library. My homework was finished, my chores were taken care of, and all that was left to do was fun stuff. Like reading about astrology!

  But when your best friend calls and tells you to come over because “the most amazing thing” just happened, well, you drop everything.

  I pulled off my pajamas, curled them into a ball, and threw them onto my bed. My shirt got loose and landed on Stanley’s head.

  Stanley is my stuffed Stegosaurus. I’ve had him as long as I can remember, which is, like, forever.

  “Sorry, Stanley,” I called out over my shoulder. “Now, what should I wear?”

  I rummaged through my dresser and found my favorite purple tights at the bottom. I tried to pull them out, but they just wouldn’t budge.

  Suffering solar systems, what’s going on in there? I wondered.

  I reached into the drawer and tugged harder. The tights seemed to be stuck on something.

  “If you pull any harder, Krystal, they’ll rip!” I said to myself.

  I’ve learned that it’s best to say things out loud when you’re talking to yourself. That way, if you actually hear it, you will remember it. Especially when it’s going to keep you out of trouble or avoid a disaster like ripping your favorite tights!

  I decided to pull the drawer out in hopes of discovering the problem. The clock was ticking, and Claire wanted me to come over ASAP. That stands for as soon as possible.

  I jiggled the drawer left and right and up and down. Everything on top of my dresser clattered back and forth.

  A heavy hairbrush tumbled off and bonked me on the head. Luckily, my curly hair is thick enough that it didn’t hurt, but unluckily, the brush still got tangled in my unruly mane.

  “Oh, this is ridiculous!” I shouted to Stanley. He still had the shirt over his head. Then I said, “It’s a good thing you can’t see how silly I look.”

  I jiggled the drawer harder, and the dresser banged against the wall.

  Soon, there was a knock at the door.

  “Come in!” I called out.

  The door opened, and my mother walked in. Half of me was sticking out of the bottom drawer. The rest of me, meaning my arms and head, were on the inside.

  “Good heavens, Krystal,” gasped my mother. “What on earth are you doing?”

  “Trying . . . to rescue . . . my tights!” I grunted.

  When I pulled my head out, the cool air was a refreshing relief on my face. Frustrated, I blew the loose curls out of my face and pouted.

  “Let me help you,” Mom said.

  In the blink of an eye, she reached under the second to last drawer, unhooked my tights from the loose screw they were caught on, and held them up for me to see.

  “How did you do that?” I shouted with glee.

  “You’re not the only one with special gifts,” she replied with a smile.

  I gave her a huge hug, and she kissed my head. Then she removed the brush from my hair.

  “So what’s with all the racket?” Mom asked.

  “Claire called and said the most amazing thing just happened. I have to get over there ASAP!”

  I rushed to my chair and put on my tights. Then I picked out a baggy sweater with a smiling dolphin on the front.

  “I love that sweater,” Mom said. “Your father bought it for you when his class went on a trip to the aquarium.”

  “I love it, too,” I said, looking in the closet.

  I picked up my scarf box, turned it upside down, and dumped all my scarves onto the floor.

  “Krystal —” my mom protested.

  I interrupted. “No time for neatness. I gotta hurry!”

  In the flurry, I found just the scarf I wanted. It was purple and matched my tights, and it was sequined and trimmed with gold fringe. I grabbed the scarf and held it triumphantly in the air.

  “Aha!”

  Then I ran to my closet mirror and stopped to look at myself. I carefully wrapped the scarf around my head. One reason was to hold my hair down, which was practical when you were riding your scooter and wearing a helmet.

  The more important reason was that I wanted it to look just right. A little off center with the knot tied under my left ear so the ends would drape over my shoulder.

  “There are some things you just can’t rush,” I said.

  My mother glanced around my room and then looked at me. I knew what she was thinking before she even said it.

  “I’ll clean it up when I get back!” I said.

  Scrambling to scoop up my helmet and my scooter, I blew Mom a quick kiss and hurried out the door.

  “Be careful, and be back for dinner!” Mom shouted after me.

  I was out the door and headed toward the stairs when I crashed right int
o Billy.

  Billy’s glasses were knocked onto the ground. He put them back on to get a better look at me.

  “Hmm . . . glittering tights . . . sequined scarf,” he said, rubbing his chin. “You’re off on another fashionable adventure!”

  “I think so,” I said and filled him in on Claire’s urgent phone call.

  At that moment, my body started to tingle. This usually happened when I was getting a vision or feeling.

  I closed my eyes and tilted my head. “I’m getting a sensation,” I said to Billy. “It feels warm and fuzzy like my favorite winter socks.”

  I opened my eyes and smiled. “An amazing adventure does await. It is decidedly so!”

  “Then what are we waiting for?” Billy said. “Let’s go!”

  Chapter 2

  Xena

  Billy and I zoomed out of our apartment building and down the street on our scooters.

  “Make way for the Human Torch!” Billy said, weaving in and out of the crowded street.

  Claire lived only a few blocks away. Billy and I rode up 30th Avenue. The street had all sorts of fun little shops, including the bakery that Billy’s parents own, House of Sweets. Everything in there is delicious! Even the napkins smell good.

  Moments later, we arrived at Claire’s house. Billy and I carried our scooters up the stairs and dropped them at the side of the door.

  I rang the doorbell and called out, “It’s me, Krystal! I’m here!”

  “Hey, what about me?” Billy added.

  As the front door opened, my body tingled again. I could feel danger was near . . .

  All of a sudden — BOOM — something hit me!

  A brown and white beast knocked me to the ground. I banged my head, scratched my elbows, and hurt my bottom.

  Something heavy sat on my chest, and I couldn’t breathe.

  When I opened my eyes, a slobbering tongue was licking my face. The foulest stench in the history of the world filled my nostrils.

  “UGH!” I cried in disgust.

  The tongue started licking my face again. I put my hands on my attacker and felt soft, warm fur.

  “Krystal, I’m so sorry!” I heard Claire yell.

  The world was spinning. I didn’t know which way was up or down, and my head throbbed.

  “Oh, my stars!” I said. “It’s I good thing I’m still wearing my helmet.”

  “You got a dog?!” Billy shouted. “That’s so AWESOME!”

  Claire and Billy pulled the pooch off me. I sat up and saw the cutest thing EVER looking back at me with a smile from ear to ear.

  Even though my heart was beating faster than a rabbit’s, it melted into mush.

  I dusted myself off and got onto my feet.

  The dog ran in circles, wagging its tail and sniffing our hands.

  “Are you looking for treats?” Billy asked. “Hmm . . . I could go for some too.”

  “Marvelous moonbeams,” I said. “Is this the ‘most amazing thing’ you had to tell us?”

  “YES! This is it!” Claire exclaimed.

  “Oh my!” I exclaimed. “She’s the most precious darling I’ve ever seen.”

  “I know!” squealed Claire. “My dad adopted her from the animal shelter over on Steinway Street. It was the best surprise.”

  The pup scurried back into the house. We took off our helmets and shoes and followed her into the living room. She had jumped up into the lap of Claire’s dad, Mr. Voyance.

  “Meet the newest member of our family,” he said. “This is Xena, our brilliant new beagle.”

  “Xena!” Billy exclaimed. “Like the Warrior Princess?”

  “Yes, Billy,” said Mr. Voyance. “You’re absolutely correct.”

  Xena: Warrior Princess was an old TV show about a fierce fighter who used her strength and courage to help those in need. It took place in ancient Greece and came on after another show called Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

  Billy was obsessed with both shows. He owned every season on DVD. After we watched an episode, we would act out the scenes and make up our own stories.

  I would play Xena, of course, because she wore purple and gold armor and had a sword.

  Billy would be Hercules, the mighty mythical hero, and together we’d fight evil monsters.

  When Claire moved to Queens, she got to play Gabrielle, Xena’s best friend.

  “That’s so cool,” I replied. “Xena the Warrior is my favorite. I like her because she’s beautiful, and she kicks butt!”

  Mr. Voyance laughed when I said that. “Yes, and that is why we gave our new dog that name,” he said. “She certainly has the spirit of a princess and a warrior.”

  Xena must have agreed. She jumped up and gave Claire’s dad kisses on his mouth and nose.

  “Trust me, I know,” I said with a nervous laugh and rubbing my sore bottom.

  Claire giggled and clapped her hands.

  The beagle bolted off the couch and bounded toward her.

  “I want the two of you to start over and greet each other properly,” she said.

  I smiled and put out my hand.

  “Nice to meet you, Xena.”

  The smart little puppy put her paw in my hand, and we shook.

  Suddenly, a surge of energy coursed between us. I felt a wave of sadness and looked down into Xena’s big brown eyes. Something was hiding behind them.

  Claire and Billy saw my face change. I wasn’t smiling anymore.

  “What’s the matter, Krystal?” they asked.

  I tried to focus on the feeling, but it was fleeting. Then I turned to them and said, “Cannot predict now.”

  Chapter 3

  Say What?

  My thoughts were distracted when Xena jumped into my arms. She started licking my face again and rapidly wagging her tail.

  “She’s taken quite a liking to you, Krystal,” Mr. Voyance said. “When I first met her, she was really shy and timid.”

  “Can you tell us how you found her?” I asked. I wanted to know more about Xena in the hopes that it would explain my vision.

  “I was walking home from work today and passed by the animal shelter,” Mr. Voyance explained. “I’d been thinking about getting a dog for our family because I had one growing up.”

  Xena curled into my lap. I rubbed her warm tummy, and she closed her eyes. It looked like she was smiling and listening to Mr. Voyance’s story.

  “As I walked by the store,” he continued, “I saw this adorable puppy looking up at me. I couldn’t say no to her.”

  Claire’s dad smiled at the memory. “So I went in and asked about the dog in the window. The clerk told me that she had been found in a box outside the shelter.”

  “You mean, she was abandoned?” I asked. “That’s so sad.”

  I couldn’t help but think about the poor puppy, all alone, on a doorstep in the dark. It made me want to adopt every animal at the shelter.

  Claire came over and pressed her nose to Xena’s snout. They looked so cute together.

  “I want a dog too!” I blurted.

  Claire’s dad laughed. “They’re so darn cute, aren’t they? But Krystal, owning a dog is a big responsibility. Isn’t that right, Claire?”

  “Yes, Daddy,” Claire said. Then she looked at me. “Dad and I have come up with a schedule of all the things we have to do to take care of Xena. She needs to be fed, and housebroken, and bathed, and walked, and taken outside to poop.”

  Billy and I giggled.

  “And then you have to pick up the poop!” Claire said.

  “Ew!” I cried, pinching my nose. “How gross!”

  “Well, the job stinks, but somebody has to do it,” replied Claire.

  We all laughed at her joke, and Xena joined in by barking along. Ruff! Ruff!

  “Claire, honey,” called Mrs. Voyance
from the kitchen. “Please help me set the table.”

  “Okay, Mom,” Claire replied.

  As she got up to leave, Billy hopped up too. “I’ll give you a hand,” he said. “What’s for dinner? I’m sure I can help with the leftovers.”

  They chuckled all the way to the kitchen, leaving me alone with Xena and Mr. Voyance.

  I rubbed the dog’s tummy and thought of ways I could convince my parents to let me get one too.

  Then I heard a voice say, “I really like you!”

  I looked around the room. Claire’s dad was sitting on the sofa reading his newspaper. It couldn’t have been him. It was a girl’s voice.

  “Did you hear that, Mr. Voyance?” I asked.

  “Hear what?” he asked back.

  “Nothing, I guess,” I said.

  I continued petting Xena and rubbing behind her ears. Her eyes were still closed, and she nuzzled her snout against my leg.

  Then I heard the voice again. “You’re so sweet!” it said.

  It sounded like Claire.

  “Thanks, Claire!” I shouted.

  “Thanks for what?” Claire asked, sticking her head out from the kitchen.

  I stared at her. “Didn’t you just call me sweet?”

  “No, I’m setting the table,” she said, “and trying to keep Billy from stuffing the baked potatoes into his pockets!”

  What was going on? I thought. Am I crazy?

  “You’re not crazy, Krystal Ball,” replied the voice. “You’re special.”

  “AAAAGH!” I screamed.

  Xena jumped out of my lap.

  “Krystal, are you all right?” asked Mr. Voyance.

  “Is your house haunted?” I whispered.

  “Uh, not that I know of,” he responded.

  Claire, Billy, and Mrs. Voyance rushed into the living room. They looked concerned.

  “Krystal, honey,” Mrs. Voyance said. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”