“I didn’t see one,” I cried. “I heard one. It spoke to me, and it knows my name!”
Claire and Billy giggled.
Looking up at the ceiling, I cried, “Are you there, Ghost? It’s me, Krystal! If you’re still here, say something.”
“Something!” the voice said.
“There! Did you hear it?” I exclaimed.
Billy, Claire, and her parents exchanged looks.
“All we heard was Xena bark,” Claire said. “I think you’re spooking her.”
“Don’t be silly,” the voice said. “You’re not spooky. You’re funny. I really, really like you.”
Just then, Xena hopped into my lap and started licking my face. My brain was trying to make sense of what was happening.
“Xena, are you the one talking to me?” I asked the dog.
“YES!” she barked. “And I’m so happy to finally find someone who understands me, Krystal!”
I took a step back. My body started to tingle all over, and I felt sick.
“Krystal, are you okay?” Billy asked.
I looked at him and said, “I must have hit my head harder than I thought. Outlook not so good.”
Chapter 4
Pet Psychic
I needed to leave Claire’s house ASAP. My head was spinning, and I was going bonkers.
Can you imagine having a conversation with a dog? Sure, people talk to their pets all the time, but the pets don’t usually talk back.
I smiled and said, “If you’ll excuse me, I think it’s time I went back home. I don’t feel so good.”
“Do you want me to call your mother?” asked Mrs. Voyance, looking concerned.
“Oh, no,” I said. “I’ll be fine. Thanks for having us over. Claire, I’m super excited about your pet. See you tomorrow at school.”
Grabbing Billy by the elbow, I hurried to the front door.
“You’re acting stranger than usual,” Billy whispered as we put on our shoes and helmets.
“That’s because things are stranger than usual,” I whispered back.
“Oooh, how mysterious. Tell me everything!”
* * *
On the ride home, I waited until we were far enough from Claire’s house before I told Billy about my conversation with Xena
He was silent for a moment, and then he practically burst. “That is so awesome. You can talk to animals!”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I said. “Maybe I can only talk to Claire’s dog. Maybe Xena is a spirit from a past life that’s come back to haunt me!” I started to panic.
“Take a few deep breaths,” Billy said.
“I know,” I replied. “It’s just that I have so much difficulty trying to control and understand my gifts, the last thing I need is another one.”
“Oh, boohoo!” Billy said playfully. “I’m Krystal Ball, the Great and Powerful. Pity me for being so cool and amazing.”
Maybe Billy was right. This could be the beginning of another exciting adventure.
Then suddenly, I heard another voice say, “Excuse me.”
I looked behind me. No one was there.
“Watch it, will ya!” repeated the voice.
“Who said that?” I called out.
Billy stopped short and looked at me.
“Down here, Curly,” said the voice.
I looked down and saw a pigeon pecking at my scooter. A piece of soft pretzel was stuck in the wheel. The bird was pulling it out with its beak.
“Are you talking to me?” I asked the pigeon, who was eyeing me up and down.
“Who else would I be talkin’ to?” said the bird.
I gasped. Billy came over and put his hand on my shoulder.
“Humans!” the pigeon continued. “They never watch where they’re going! They hog the sidewalk, they shove us out of the way —”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Pigeon,” I stammered. “I’ll be more careful next time.”
Billy looked on, scratching his head. “Are you seriously talking to this bird right now?” he asked.
“What’s it to you?” the pigeon snapped. “This is between me and Curly Sue. Mind your beeswax!”
My day was getting weirder by the second, and this mean little monster was making matters worse. “SCRAM, birdbrain!” I shouted.
The pigeon ruffled his feathers, grabbed the piece of pretzel, and flew off.
“Um, did you just get into a fight with a pigeon?” Billy asked.
“Well, he started it!” I cried.
The two of us looked at each other and burst out laughing.
* * *
Soon, we had arrived at the House of Sweets.
“This is my stop,” Billy said. “My dad wants me to sweep the floors before he closes up.”
“Okay, Billy,” I said. “I’ve got to get home and eat dinner with my parents.”
“Krystal,” Billy said, “did it cross your mind that you can help animals with your new talent?”
“You mean, like Dr. Dolittle?” I laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. He was an old vet who learned to speak different animal languages. I’m just a sideshow freak that can read animal minds!”
“Then let’s pitch a carnival tent and charge admission,” Billy said. He climbed up on the bench outside the shop. “Step right up, folks, and meet the amazing Krystal Ball, Pet Psychic!”
“Will you stop that?” I cried.
Billy climbed down. “You’ll feel better after dinner. I always do!” he said. “See ya at school.”
I put my index fingers on the side of my head and closed my eyes. “Not if I see you first!”
Chapter 5
The Sphinx
That night, I was really quiet during dinner. My mind was replaying everything that happened.
“Krystal, dear, you barely touched your food,” my dad said.
“I’m not really hungry,” I mumbled.
“What was Claire’s surprise?” Mom asked.
“Oh,” I said, distracted. “She got a dog.”
“That’s wonderful,” my mom said, trying to sound cheerful. “You both love dogs so much!”
“Is that why you’re upset?” asked my dad. “I know you’d like a dog, sweetie, but I’m very allergic to them.”
“I don’t know if I want a dog,” I said.
Mom and Dad exchanged looks. Mom said, “Krystal, sweetheart, do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?”
I shook my head no. “Can I call Grandma?” I asked. “I want to talk to her about my gift.”
For those of you who don’t know, Grandma is special, like me. She can see the future too. Grandma helps me whenever I feel lonely or lost, and this is certainly one of those times.
“I’m sorry, honey, you can’t,” Mom answered. “Grandma is in Egypt.”
“She’s riding on a camel and going to see the Great Sphinx at Giza!” my father said excitedly.
“Do you remember who the Sphinx was?” he asked me, speaking like a teacher.
“Yes,” I replied. “The Sphinx was a mythical monster that had the upper body of woman and the lower body of a lioness. Sometimes she had the wings of a bird and the tail of a snake!”
“Very good,” Dad said. “She would stop people on their path and ask them a very difficult riddle. If they failed to answer correctly, she would gobble them up and spit out their bones.”
“Oliver, please!” shouted Mom. “We’re eating.”
“So is the Sphinx,” I chimed in.
Dad and I giggled together.
“The only person who could answer her riddle was Oedipus, the King of Thebes,” Dad added.
I stopped smiling when the reality hit me. “So Oedipus could talk to animals?” I asked.
“I guess,” answered Dad. “In mythology, anything is pos
sible.”
I don’t know if that made me feel better or worse. This was real life, my life, not mythology.
* * *
After dinner, I headed straight to bed. Tucked under my covers, I hugged Stanley tightly. I tossed and turned until finally I fell asleep. But when I did, I had another one of my vivid dreams.
I found myself on a rocky hillside in ancient Greece. The area around me looked just like the pictures of ruins from my dad’s history books. Only everything was still new!
Behind me, a temple with white marble pillars gleamed in the sun. Their reflection was blinding, and I had to lift my hand to cover my eyes.
The jangling of gold bracelets caught my attention.
I looked down to see that I was wearing several bracelets on both wrists. They were beautiful and had twisting, swirling designs.
They matched the gold sandals that were on my feet. The laces were long and twisted all the way up to my calves.
My body was covered with a white, knee-length dress that cinched at the waist with a gold belt.
I touched my hair. The long curls were pulled up onto my head and braided with a gold thread.
“Gosh!” I exclaimed. “I must look just like a Greek goddess.”
I walked along a dirt road admiring the scenery, a dark shape flew by overhead. Suddenly, I heard a loud thud up ahead. Something big was blocking my path. It was hidden under the shadow of a large tree.
The figure looked like a tall woman, with long black hair and feathered wings on her back.
Could that be an angel? I thought.
The woman stepped out of the shadows. Her body was covered in golden brown fur. She had four legs with four paws just like a lioness.
“The Sphinx!” I gasped.
The Sphinx growled and chomped her teeth.
I screamed and ran down the dirt road.
I headed toward the coast and finally reached a quiet beach. There was nowhere to hide and no one to help me. I ran to the water and came upon a large open clamshell.
“Get inside,” said a squeaky voice.
I turned toward the sound. The smooth, round head of a bottlenose dolphin was peeking out of the water. “I’m Fini,” it said. “Hurry, there isn’t much time!”
I climbed into the clamshell and found a long coiled rope made of seaweed.
“Throw me the reins,” squeaked the dolphin.
“Is this some sort of chariot?” I asked.
Fini nodded. I tossed over the reins, and the dolphin looped them around her body.
“Hold on tight, dear!” she said.
I wrapped the rope around my wrists.
Without warning, I jerked forward and the clamshell was dragged into the water.
Fini’s dorsal fin cut through the surface as we glided along the turquoise water.
“This is awesome!” I shouted.
For a moment, I had forgotten the danger I was in and enjoyed the amazing experience.
Then a dark shape blocked out the sun. The Sphinx had taken flight with her enormous wings and was now above me. I screamed again.
“Never you fear, dear!” Fini shouted.
The dolphin gained speed, pulling me faster and faster across the water, away from the sphinx.
The seaweed ropes started to burn against my skin. I held tight, but Fini was moving too fast.
All of a sudden, the reins snapped, and I fell backward into the clamshell.
“OOF!” I grunted.
Dazed and confused, I scanned the ocean for Fini. There was no sign of her. I called her name as loud as I could. “FINI!”
No answer.
I was alone again.
Except for the Sphinx!
I looked up, and the mean monster swooped down in my direction. She came charging with her paws extended. Those razor-sharp claws were coming closer and closer.
I shut my eyes and screamed.
Chapter 6
The Moon
“DON’T EAT ME!” I shouted.
I jolted up in my bed. Something was pressing against my neck. I gasped, but it was only Stanley!
Breathing a sigh of relief, I clutched the stuffed stegosaurus close to my chest.
“What a dream!” I told him. “I was certain that Sphinx would make a meal out of me.”
I looked at the time. “Great galaxies! I’m late for school!” I said, rushing out of my room.
When I got to the kitchen, Mom was making breakfast. Dad had already left for work.
“Good morning, honey,” my mother said.
She put a plate full of scrambled eggs and whole-wheat toast on the table in front of me.
“What happened?” she asked. “It’s not like you to oversleep.”
“I had a nightmare,” I replied.
“My goodness! Do you want to talk about it?”
“I don’t know what it means just yet,” I told her. “I was being chased by the Sphinx, but then a dolphin came to my rescue. It dragged me across the sea, but then it got lost underwater and the Sphinx was about to eat me . . .”
Mom stared at me with a half smile on her face, nodding her head.
“I know what this means,” she said.
“You do?” I asked, taking a sip of orange juice.
“Yes. It means I’m going to tell your father, ‘No more mythology before bedtime!’”
* * *
After breakfast, I got dressed and met my mom at the door so she could walk me to school.
When we arrived, Mom kissed me on the forehead and said good-bye.
I ran up the steps into the building. As usual, Claire was there, waiting for me. Her curly hair was piled up into a bun, clipped in place with a plastic, puppy-shaped barrette.
The hair clip reminded me of what happened at Claire’s house with Xena. I wanted so badly to tell her about it.
Here’s a quick update: Claire had moved to Queens at the beginning of the school year. She was the new girl, and we hit it off immediately.
After a few months, I shared my biggest secret with her. I told her about my gifts and abilities. It was nice to have a friend that I could share this stuff with. I mean, Billy’s okay, but sometimes he can be so immature.
Anyway, Claire didn’t breathe a word. She thought it was neat to have a best friend with special powers. She acts like I’m a superhero!
“Hi, Claire,” I said.
“Hey, Krystal,” she said back. “What happened last night?
“Let’s just say, we have soooooo much to talk about!” I replied.
At that moment, the bell rang, so Claire and I hurried down the hall to Miss Callisto’s fourth grade classroom.
“Good morning, girls,” Miss Callisto said with a smile.
Claire and I took our assigned seats. Luckily, our desks were right next to each other.
Once Miss Callisto had our attention, she announced, “This Friday is Show and Tell Day!”
The class cheered.
“Please bring in something special and personal that you’d like to share with us,” our teacher added.
Claire’s hand shot up.
“Yes, Claire?”
“Can I bring in my new puppy?” she asked.
“Of course you can,” answered Miss Callisto.
“Yippee!” Claire exclaimed.
The rest of the class was thrilled. They asked Claire questions about her dog, and Miss Callisto clapped her hands to calm them down.
I got a little nervous. Aside from my special gifts and powers, I didn’t really have anything special to share with the class. I wasn’t going to stand up in front of the room and say, “Hi, my name is Krystal Ball. I sometimes have psychic visions and can now communicate with animals.”
I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate. Suddenly, I had a
great idea. My tarot cards!
They always help me in my time of need, and they are very special to me. I can bring those in for Show and Tell.
Tarot cards date back to ancient times. Grandma had given me a deck as a birthday present. She said that they would help me think and learn and, in time, show me the future.
You’re probably asking yourself, “Can a deck of cards really do that?” They sure can!
While Miss Callisto moved on to fractions, I quietly opened my schoolbag and pulled out my tarot cards. I also took out a book of tarot card explanations that Dad bought me.
This first card I flipped over read THE MOON.
At the top was a yellow circle in a blue sky. Underneath were two dogs standing in a field. They looked as if they were howling at the moon.
Dogs, I thought. How NOT surprising.
I opened my book to the chapter on the Moon card and read its description.
The book said that the card represents sleep patterns. Someone who gets this card may be going through a particularly difficult time that can put them in touch with visions, insight, and psychic powers.
Psychic powers? I gasped.
Claire looked over from her desk and saw my cards and book. “This looks serious,” she whispered. “Is everything okay?”
I shook my head from side to side. “Cannot predict now.”
Chapter 7
Doggone It!
The school day passed in a blur. I tried to concentrate on the Declaration of Independence and photosynthesis, but it was just not happening. Billy’s voice kept repeating itself in my head: “Krystal Ball, Pet Psychic!”
I was packing up my stuff when Claire and Billy came to find me.
“Hey, Krystal,” Billy said. “What are you bringing in for Show and Tell?”
“Ask again later,” I said with a smile.
“Ooh, Miss Mysterious over here!” Billy teased.
We all chuckled.
“Well, I’m going to bring in my rocket ship,” said Billy.
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