"So what's your fortune?" the taller teenager asked as they walked along the path that led away from the tent.
Wordlessly Sandy held up the card.
The other girl took the card and read it. "This? This can mean anything."
"Uh uh," Sandy disagreed. She pinched the card back and hid it in her skirt pocket. "It means I'm going to be rich some day."
"It can also mean that you're actually a boy or a hag."
"Oh, very funny," Sandy scoffed, "You won't be laughing once I'm rich!" She walked beside her friend with her fingers touching the card in her pocket. "Say, uh, Celeste? Can I borrow some money for the bus home?"
Celeste looked at the other girl with narrowed eyes. "What happened to yours?"
"I sort of gave it to the fortune teller..."
"Oh, for crying out loud! Don't tell me she conned you of all your cash!?"
"Well, she said I'd be rich and I wanted to know how..."
Celeste shook her head. "You're fourteen and going to high school next week and you still believe in such things!?" she lectured, "Besides, that card you got didn't really tell you how to get rich anyway."
"Please, Celeste," Sandy pleaded.
"Maybe I should make you walk all the way home. That'll teach you to be careful with your money next time!"
"But it's so far!" Sandy wailed, "It's on the other side of town."
(Not true. Her home was on the same side of town.)
"And my legs are tired from all the walking today," Sandy continued.
(That one was true. They had walked a lot that day, more than they usually did. It was after all a beautiful day to be out.)
"Please, please, Celeste," Sandy begged, "I'll do anything!"
Just the words Celeste had been waiting for. "Okay, I'll lend you the cash. But you're doing all my chores tomorrow!"
Both girls lived at an orphanage, where they had household tasks to perform. They were roommates there.
"Okay, thanks," Sandy agreed readily. Doing chores at home could not possibly be as bad as walking all the way home.
Celeste stopped near the queue to an ice cream truck. "Ooh, gonna get me some ice cream." She licked the thick lips of her wide mouth. "Too bad you can't afford your own."
Sandy stuck a little tongue out at her friend.
Celeste rounded towards Sandy with her hands on her hips. "You still want me to lend you cash?"
"Sorry," Sandy apologized sullenly.
***
The very next day, Sandy found out that Celeste had offered to do the chores of Juneida, another of their housemates. Then she had dumped all the work on Sandy. Sandy spent the day doing the chores of three people - hers, Celeste's and Juneida's. Celeste was going to teach her to be more careful with her money.
However, it was highly unlikely that Sandy would learn her lesson anytime soon.
***
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