“This sucks, Arley,” said Alpin. “Your parents
are going to think you got rid of your sister because you are jealous of her.
They will think you sold her like Joseph’s brothers sold Joseph.”
“I don’t care what they think. I care what
might happen to her!”
“Well, maybe she will get to be an Egyptian
Queen, like Cleopatra. That’s not so bad. And get bitten by an asp and die.
That’s not so good. Who knows?”
I got on my feet and began to run wildly about
the field, hoping the busker had only shrunk himself and the baby and they were
still there among the flowers. I was about to shrink myself too, so I wouldn’t
step on them when who should I bump into but Gregoria Tenoria.
I burst out crying and Gregoria at once began
to recriminate Alpin, “What have you done to Arley, you little ruffian?”
“Me? Alpin’s new sister has just been kidnapped
by one of those alternative types. I wasn’t thinking of helping him find her
because I don’t think she’s worth the effort.But his parents might kill him and
I will lose a friend. I don’t like to lose things, so help him, Gregoria.”
“A chanceupon fairy,” I stuttered. “A
busker...”
As I spoke, Gregoria was already sniffing the
air like a hound. She had the spoon my sister had been eating her yoghourt with
in her hand and was sniffing it too.
“Follow me!” she ordered, and darted high up
into the sky.
I flew after her for all I was worth.
While we were following my sister’s trail, the
busker had already gotten to where he wanted to be at.
He put my sister on the branch of a large tree
that spread its shade over the wall of a schoolyard. And he spoke to her like
this:
“You don’t be scared, doll. I don’t mean to
exploit you. I don’t approve of child labor. I believe in education. I only
kidnapped you to remove you from the influence of those rotten kids you were
with. You don’t want to grow up to be rude and mean like they are. But the life
of a wandering minstrel can be tough for a kid. You see that school building down
there? I’ll leave you here. They are sure to take you in.You’ll have to hide
your wings or they’ll prune them. But you’ll learn a lot, and when you are
educated and grown up I’ll come for you and if you like, turn you into a great
entertainer. I’ll be your fairy godfather. Don’t think I don’t know people in
the biz, because I do. I’ll be able to do a lot for you. Now, I don’t want
anyone to say I left you here with nothing but the clothes on your back, so you
can have this pencil I always carry with me. It looks kind of used up, but the
truth is it is everlasting. And you can do gorgeous graffiti with it even on
the clouds. Now don’t worry. Someone will soon notice you.”
And the unbalanced busker flew away, leaving
the baby up in the tree.
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