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Perfect... absolutely perfect. Jamie, a beautiful shadow
Lupe pressed her nose and paws against the decorated glass display window of a
shop called Angel. Sitting nestled on a velvet blanket in a small basket was her
sister, Jessie, ideal birthday present -- a Ballerina Usuki.
I have to get it. Jessie will love it! Jamie
decided. She scampered into the store. The bell tinkled when she pushed it opened
and stepped inside. The shop was bright and cheerily decorated with red and
white paper hearts hung on the ceiling. Shelves stocked with items were everywhere
and a large sign hung over a shelf wrote, "Welcome!" in cursive font.
The shop was small but everything was neat and
presentable.
"Hello, welcome! How may I help you?" A purple
Shoyru stepped out from behind a shelf. She walked over, smiling. "I'm Polly."
"Um, hi Polly," Jamie smiled back. "I'm Jamie,
and I'd really like that Ballerina Usuki in the window for my sister's birthday
present next week," she pointed.
Polly followed her gaze and brightened. "Oh!"
she grinned. She walked over to the display window and returned with the Ballerina
Usuki in a gleaming display case. "You mean this? If you buy it, it comes with
the case, absolutely free!" Polly said cheerily.
Jamie took the case and examined it. It was
perfect. "How much?" she asked giving Polly back the case and crossing her paws.
"I'm afraid it's costly, 7300 NP," Polly said.
"But it's worth it! I mean, it's a collectibles item. Your sister will love
it, Jamie."
Jamie stared wistfully at the Usuki, and then
shook her head. "I'll think about it," she said starting for the door. "Can
you reserve it for me?" she asked hopefully.
Polly nodded. "Sure, but only for a week."
"That's fine, thanks!" Jamie waved then hurried
home.
* * *
Half an hour later, Jamie sat on her bed, a small amount of NP in front of
her. She counted it then sighed. 3000 NP That wasn't even half of the amount
she needed to buy the Ballerina Usuki for Jessie.
"Jamie?" Jessie, a Faerie Kougra knocked on
the door of Jamie's bedroom. "Can I come in?"
Jamie sat up and shoved her NP under her pillow.
"Sure."
Jessie came in and sat on the bed beside Jamie.
She pulled the backpack she was carrying off her shoulder, unzipped it then
reached it and yanked out a box wrapped in shiny blue wrapping paper. She smiled
as she handed it to Jamie.
"For me?" Jamie asked, surprised. Jessie nodded.
"But it's not my birthday yet!"
Jessie grinned. "I know. But remember that Math
exam you studied so hard for last week? Well, I know Math is your worse subject,
and you aced the test -- with flying colors! I just had to buy you a present.
I'm so proud of you, Jamie."
Jamie smiled, touched, and accepted the present.
She opened her mouth to thank her sister but Jessie held up a paw. "Your welcome,"
she said still grinning. "I've got to go now, spelling tomorrow," she said,
gathered up her things and went out.
A minute later, her head appeared again. "Oh
yea," she said smiling. "I hope you like it!" Then she disappeared. Jamie could
hear her room the close quietly next door.
Excitedly, Jamie tore apart the wrapper and
pulled the lid of the box. Inside, on pink tissue paper was a beautiful sliver
friendship necklace. Only, it had SISTERS FOREVER engraved on it, and there
was only half a heart. Where it ended was a jagged sort of line.
"It's beautiful!" Jamie gasped. She lifted it
out of the box and clasped the necklace around her neck. Then she hopped off
her bed and hurried next door. She knocked softly but when no one opened, Jamie
opened it a tiny crack.
She could see Jessie sitting at her desk, frowning
as she tried to study her spelling. She was really a hardworking girl.
"I have to get that Usuki for Jessie," Jamie
decided, fingering the necklace. "No matter what."
***
For the next few days, Jamie went to play games everyday; playing every game
she could lay her hands on. She wasn't a very good player though, but after
all her hard work, she managed to raise a cool sum of 10,000 NP
"Thanks!" Jamie said, trilled as the Usul behind
the Games counter held out a fat bag of NP She grabbed it and raced out of the
Games counter and all the way to the store, Angel.
It took a good ten minutes to reach but Jamie
was glad when she did. Breathless, she ran up the front store steps and pushed
opened the door.
"Well hello!" Polly, the Shoyru looked up from
a book she was reading at the counter. "You're back!"
Jamie paused to catch her breath. "Yea," she
nodded. "So, can I have the Ballerina Usuki please?" She held up the bag of
NP "I can pay for it now."
Polly nodded and went to the window. But she
reappeared a minute later with a worried look, empty-handed. Jamie's heart started
to beat faster. "Where's the Usuki?" she asked worriedly.
Polly bit her lip. "Let me check the back room."
She said and flew again. But she came back later looking apologetic. "I'm sorry
Jamie," she apologized. "But I think we're out of stock."
"What?" Jamie screeched. "But you reserved it
for me, for a week, and it's just the fifth day."
Polly nodded, she looked really sorry but Jamie
couldn't help but feeling utterly hurt and disappointed. "I can't believe it!"
Jamie sank to her knees clutching the NP bag tightly.
"What's going on here?" a surprised voice said.
Jamie and Polly looked up. A tall, slender woman with curly hair stood in front
of them. "What's going on Polly?" she repeated.
Polly pulled Jamie to her feet. "This is my
owner, Ginger," she introduced, then she turned to her owner. "Mum," she started.
"Do you know where's the Ballerina Usuki in the display window? It was here
five days ago, this Lupe here reserved it for a week but now it's gone! And
I knew there was three more in the back room, too."
Ginger looked thoughtful, then she snapped her
fingers. "I know!" She said. "There were two Gelerts who came in yesterday and
were intrigued by those Ballerina Usukis and wanted every single one in stock,
I had no idea you reserved them hon." Ginger said glancing at Jamie.
Jamie's heart sank. "But I spent these few days
earning as much NP as I could for the Usuki," she said in a tiny voice, "and
now there's no more. My sister told me she saw one last month and wanted it
so much, but instead of buying it for herself, she bought me this," Jamie held
up the necklace, "for doing well in my Math exam."
Ginger stared at the necklace. "Oh my gosh!"
she grinned. "Is your sister a Faerie Kougra by any chance?" Jamie stared at
her, surprised.
"Yes, how did you know?" Jamie asked. Ginger's
grin got even wider.
"Follow me girls," she instructed. Polly and
Jamie exchanged looks then follow Ginger to a tiny corner of the shop. Ginger
opened a glass cabinet and removed a velvet box from it. "Look at this," she
said and opened the box. Inside was a necklace, identical to Jamie's!
"Oh wow," Jamie said. "That's the exact same
necklace Jessie bought for me!" Ginger nodded.
"She was here a few days ago and bought this.
She wanted to buy both, said she could give one to her sister and wear one herself,
but it cost 6000 NP each and she only bought one," Ginger explained.
"I can't believe it..." Jamie shook her head
in disbelief. "Did she see the Ballerina Usuki?"
"Yes, she did sweetie," Ginger replied. "I could
tell she liked it by the look on her face."
"Tell you what," Polly piped up, "since there
are no more Ballerina Usukis, how about you buy her the other half of the necklace
you're wearing?"
"Great idea!" Jamie brightened. She opened her
NP bag, took out 6000 NP and handed it to Ginger, who slipped the velvet box
into a glittery plastic bag and handed it to her with a big smile.
"I think she'll really like it," Polly commented.
Jamie smiled. "I think so too." She checked her pink plastic watch. "I can't
believe it! I'm late! It's almost dinnertime!" she exclaimed. "I have to go,
thanks for your help." She shot them a grateful look then hurried to the door.
She was almost out of the ajar door when Ginger
called out, "Wait!" Jamie stopped walking. Ginger was hurrying towards her holding
yet another bag.
"This is for you and your sister," Ginger said
in a rush. "I'm sure you'll like it, I bought it on a whim but Polly didn't
like it, so it's yours."
"Thanks!" Jamie didn't wait to find out what
it was, but slipped the smaller bag into hers and rushed down the street, waving
to Polly and Ginger until they were out of sight.
***
"I'm home!" Jamie rushed into her Neohome and into the kitchen. Jessie and
her owner, Sandy were about to start dinner.
"You're late Jamie," Sandy said sternly.
"I'm sorry mum, I went to buy... Jessie's birthday
present!" She grinned and gave the bag to Jessie. Jessie's face lit up.
"Really? Thanks Jamie!" Her wings flapped in
excitement. "Can I open it now?"
"Definitely," Jamie nodded. Everyone watched
as Jessie pulled out the velvet box and opened it.
"Oh, wow!" Jessie held up the sparkling, familiar
necklace and beamed at Jamie. "Thanks! You know I saw-- "
"You don't have to explain, I know the whole
story," Jamie said grinning. Jessie and Sandy looked curiously at her but she
shrugged.
"It's a long story."
"Jamie! You bought me two presents?" Jessie
exclaimed in surprise, pulling out the smaller bag.
"Oh no," Jamie took the bag from Jessie. "The
shopkeeper's owner, Ginger gave it to me," she opened the bag and peeked inside,
then let out a shrill shriek as she pulled out the item.
"A rare Alpine Adventurer Usuki!" Jessie yelped.
"That's like, really expensive! Ginger is really generous."
"You can have it," Jamie said generously. Jessie
shook her head.
"No way! I want us to share it!" Jessie grinned.
"We'll put it in the living room's class cardboard after dinner."
"Great! How about a picture how my two precious
darlings?" Sandy sniffled, wiping away a tear. She picked up a camera and aimed
it the two sisters.
"Wait!" Jessie said. She picked up her necklace
and put it on, then linked her arm through Jamie's. "Now I'm ready," she grinned.
"Say cheese!"
Click. The picture of a smiling Lupe and Kougra
was captured in the camera, just like this special day that was going to be
remembered forever.
The End
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