Jon got dressed as quickly as he could, throwing on a pair of blue jeans and an old grey T-shirt. Grabbing a pair of socks, he ran downstairs and threw a couple of pop tarts into the toaster. While he was waiting for them to heat up, he did a mental inventory. He had his trapper keeper, along with the little bit of homework they'd been assigned on the first day and his wallet which contained his newfound wealth so that he could show Karyn. At least he could show it to her if she ever bothered to show up. He was starting to worry about her. It wasn't as though he was running so late that he wouldn't make it to school on time, but he and Karyn were usually well on their way by now. He hoped that something had come up, something completely and totally unrelated to the wishing rock.
He grabbed the toaster pastries and was about to head out the door when his sister Zoe came walking down the stairs. Having embraced the Goth lifestyle to its fullest, she was decked out in black clothing, dark eyeliner, and the works. Ordinarily when they passed each other in the house, they did their best to completely ignore each other, each secretly hoping that enough apathy would somehow negate the other's existence. It never worked though.
Today it was different though. Zoe looked at him, and for a moment there was a questioning look in her eyes. For a moment, it looked as though she was going to say something. That moment passed silently however and things returned to their normal order. Jon couldn't help but notice how strange it was though.
"Morning," he said slowly, attempting to test the waters.
"Bite me," she fired back. So things were back to normal.
"Seriously, I wish you two would just learn to get a long," it was their mother Linda who broke the tension as she passed through the kitchen. She was fully dressed for work in a black pant suit. Purse over her shoulder and portfolio in hand, she looked as though she was about to head out the door. "Even if only for a day."
Neither of her children responded.
"You need a ride Jon?" She asked, grabbing a granola bar from the cupboard. "I've got time if you're running late."
"Thanks mom, but no," he said. He had too much on his mind right now and didn't really feel like sitting through a car ride with his mother. "I should be fine. I'm gonna head out now." He took his trapper and left the house, his mind heavy with worry.
"Hey Jon-Boy. Sorry I'm late."
Jon turned to see Karyn coming around the corner of the house. Except, she looked different. More accurately, Karyn looked the same. She looked exactly like she'd looked before she'd made that careless wish. Her short hair had returned to its natural red, and her chest was no longer noticeable beneath that green jumper she always wore. It was as though she'd never made the wish, or maybe
"Karyn," Jon finally said, recovering from the shock. "What happened? Your hair, your "
"Breasts? Yeah, I really don't know." As he caught up to her, they both turned and started walking toward the school. "I just woke up this morning and everything was back to normal." Scrutinizing every detail, his own suspicions building, Jon couldn't help but believe her. He'd known her a long time, and could usually tell when she was lying. "Maybe it's part of that wish you made. Speaking of which, did you bring the rock with you?"
"No. I wanted to talk to you about that actually," he said slowly. "When I woke up this morning, the rock was gone. I don't know what happened to it, but I found this," he opened his wallet and produced the stack of hundred dollar bills he'd found. There had been fifteen of them in all. "This is just too weird. I need to know what happened."
Her eyes lingered on the money for just a moment, and Jon almost thought he caught a glimpse of recognition there. He was either imagining it, or it vanished, because now Karyn looked as surprised as he felt.
"Did you sell the stone Jon?" she asked quietly.
"Of course I didn't sell it, especially not for fifteen hundred dollars." He paused. He didn't like having to ask this question, but he felt that he had to. "Karyn, you don't have the stone do you? I only ask because one minute its gone and then I see you the next morning and you're well, back to normal for lack of a better way of saying it."
His friend became indignant, "You think I stole it Jon? Seriously?"
"I didn't say that," he said. "I just "
Karyn seemed to calm down. "It's okay. I'm sorry for jumping down your throat. I can only imagine how paranoid I'd be in your place right now. If it'll put your fears to rest, no I don't have the stone Jon. I have no idea where it is."
Everything Jon knew about Karyn told him that she was being honest, that she was telling the truth. Still, he couldn't seem to put to rest the little tingle of doubt that he felt. His instinct had to be wrong. "Okay," he said slowly. "You say you don't have it, and you don't know where it is, I believe you, but we need to find it."
"Thank you," she said cordially, "We've been friends for years Jon. I wouldn't lie to you, especially not about this."
"I know," he relented. "I'm sorry for even suggesting it." They were approaching the school now. "We'll talk about it at lunch," he said as they parted ways.
***
As they went their separate ways, she watched Jon go and took a deep breath. That had been far too close
