“Maybe!”
For a moment there was nothing but the wind and the squeaking of the swinging car. As Carter looked out over the small town, he felt that warm feeling wash over him. He was on top of the world in more ways than one.
“Do you guys like it here?” Carter asked.
“In Mineral Wells?” Ridley said. “Sure. As small towns go, it’s not so bad.”
“Not so bad?” Leila chimed in. “It’s wonderful! There’s fresh air. The trees and hills are great for hikes. The people are nice—”
“The people are okay,” Ridley interrupted.
“I guess the kids at my school aren’t so great,” Leila admitted. “But I don’t think they mean to be as cruel as they are.”
Ridley nudged Theo’s arm and then whispered to him, “Uh, yes they do.” He smiled politely at her.
“You always think the best of everyone, don’t you?” Carter asked. He’d never known someone like Leila.
“I try to,” Leila said, her voice dropping. “Before I was adopted, I lived in an orphanage. It… wasn’t wonderful. So ever since, I’ve tried to be thankful. It’s not easy. But it’s better than feeling sorry for myself.”
DING-DING-DING-DING-DING.
(That was the sound of a bell from someone winning a prize down on the midway, but I bet you thought it was a symbol that Carter suddenly realized he and Leila had lots in common. Nope! It was just a bell…)
(…Or was it?)
“I never feel sorry for myself,” Ridley said. “Whenever I’m angry or frustrated or lonely, I put the energy into something constructive, like practicing magical transformations.”
After the Ferris wheel, they regrouped in the center of the midway as crowds of people pushed around them. Theo checked his watch. “We have time for one more activity before the big-top show begins.”
“Maybe your parents will be there, Carter,” said Ridley. “Everyone loves a big-top show.”
“Your parents?” Leila asked. “I thought—”
Flustered, Carter blurted out, “Oh! Well, I mentioned to Ridley that we’re staying at the resort up the hill.” He wiped sweat from his forehead. Stupid, he thought. If they find out I lied, they’ll never talk to me again. “But none of that’s important right now.” He hated to flash Uncle Sly’s smile at them, but he didn’t know what else to do. “I think Theo’s right! Let’s get out of this horde and find somewhere else to go.”
A purple tent with golden tassels was only steps away. Outside, a wooden sign said PSYCHIC. “Hurry,” said Carter. “This way!” He held the velvet curtain aside for the others, then grabbed the coins he’d found in his pocket that morning. This wasn’t an emergency, and it certainly wouldn’t fill his belly, but he wanted to do something special for the others. They’d given him the best night of his life, and he wanted to give them something in return.
The walls of the dim tent were decorated with intricate indigo tapestries. Incense perfumed the air with a dark, spicy aroma. In the center was a round table draped in faded red scarves. A wrinkled old woman sat gazing at a cloudy crystal ball.
“The Gatekeepers of Destiny have brought you to Helga,” she said, her eyes darting among their faces. “Your future waits to be revealed.”
“Give me a break,” muttered Ridley.
Carter set a coin on the table. Helga snatched it and tucked it inside her belt. “You must hold one another’s hands.” She arranged herself on her chair and waved her palms over the cloudy crystal ball.
“Bring forth the future and give me true sight,” she chanted. “Unfurl their path in darkness or light. Show me the way these four will tread. Reveal what’s to come… be it white, black, or red.”
She brought her face close to the crystal ball. The milky whiteness within the glass swirled and cleared, like clouds parting to reveal the sky.
Helga’s eyes froze, transfixed. “I see…” She bent closer. “A new friendship has formed among you. One of you is a traveler. One of you has great advantage. Another has terrible hardships. And the last of you has much love to share. But each of you has a long road ahead. It will be hard at times, but if you work together and stay true to one another, nothing will bar you. Alone you are weak. Together you are strong. So say the Gatekeepers of Destiny.”
As the friends exited, Leila said, “Did you hear that? She knew everything about us! Mind blown!”
“No way,” Ridley said. “All that was a bunch of generic mumbo jumbo. I’ve read fortune cookies with more insight.”
“True or not, I liked her message,” Theo said. “Sometimes it is worth a little pocket change to feel reassured.”
“I liked it too,” Carter agreed.
Sure, it was probably just the usual trickery of psychics, Carter thought, but what if she was right? What if the Gatekeepers of Destiny did want Carter to stay here?
Across the carnival, sirens blared and clowns ran around calling, “Time for the big show at the big top! One and all, come and join!”
“I think my… uh… my parents are probably waiting for me back at the resort,” Carter mentioned, trying again to avoid being seen by Bosso’s gang. “Maybe we should just go.”
“But we already have tickets,” said Theo.
“Don’t be a goose, Carter,” Leila said, doing a cartwheel. “Madame Helga said it herself. Together, we’re strong.” She tilted her head as she examined his face quizzically, as if searching for the truth. “Your parents won’t mind, I’m sure of it.”
Reluctantly, Carter followed his friends.
The big show was in the largest tent at the center of the carnival. The Pock-Pickets were already on the circular stage, wearing their striped costumes, as Carter and the others made their way through the crowd and found their seats.
Theo tossed Carter a knowing look, reminding him of how they’d foiled the barbershop quartet’s pickpocketing plan that afternoon. It felt so long ago. Carter wondered if he should be ready to help stop them from stealing again.
They sang:
“We’ve had fun, we’ve had laughs.
You’ve played games—all those gaffes!
Cotton candy, popcorn too,
Corn dogs made of not-a-clue,
Rides that tossed you to and fro,
And now it’s time for the big show!”
As they sang, the Pock-Pickets made a human arch, one pair of them standing on the shoulders of the other two and pressing their palms together.
“The night’s caboose is the best part.
You fed the horse, now here’s the cart,
The man who makes your dreams come true,
The Brilliant Boss of Ballyhoo,
The grand, the great, the Heavyweight,
Master of You-Never-Know:
It’s the man of the hour, B. B. BOSSO!”